United States Texas Houston Houston Guide Things To Do Essentials Where to Stay Getaways All Houston Free Things To Do in Houston for the Whole Family By Shea Serrano Shea Serrano Instagram Twitter Shea Serrano is the author of the "New York Times" bestseller "Basketball (and Other Things)." He has deep roots in Houston, Texas. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/26/19 Share Pin Email 01 of 10 Miller Outdoor Theatre Live Music Venues 4.9 Miller Outdoor Theatre is a Houston staple for outdoor entertainment. While sitting in your choice of stadium seats or atop the big hill overlooking the amphitheater, enjoy free plays, musicals, children's performances and dance productions. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome as well as food, drinks and even adult beverages — though glass containers are not allowed. Details 6000 Hermann Park Dr.Houston, Texas 77030281-373-3386 02 of 10 Discovery Green Park James/Flickr This large urban green space located in the heart of Downtown Houston is the city's most recent and largest park addition. With over 12-acres of land, Discovery Green offers myriad ways to keep the entire family entertained this summer. State-of-the-art playgrounds, a model boat basin, an interactive splash pad and a rocking summer concert series are all sure to please. And the best part, it's all FREE. Details 1500 McKinneyHouston, Texas 77010713-400-7336 03 of 10 The Houston Zoo Mike Fisher/Flickr The Houston Zoo has drawn quite the buzz as of late with the unveiling of the long-awaited Africa exhibit. In addition to this fascinating visual experience, the Houston Zoo is packed with over 4,500 animals housed in over 55 acres of land. Limited-time exhibits, often featuring animatronic creatures like giant bugs or dinosaurs, are crowd favorites. Tickets are free the first Tuesday of the month, September through May from noon until closing. Details 6200 Hermann Park DriveHouston, Texas 77030713-533-6500 04 of 10 Woodlands Town Center Woodlands Town Center The Woodlands Town Center is a thousand-acre metropolitan area located in the heart of the suburb of The Woodlands. Stroll along Market Street, an open-air shopping utopia complete with vendors like Sur La Table, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Luke's Locker and more. Or stop by the central park area, and enjoy a free live musical performance. Details 9595 Six Pines DriveThe Woodlands, Texas 77380281-419-4774 Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Buffalo Bayou Park TripSavvy / Vincent Mercer Urban Parks 4.7 Buffalo Bayou Park, a favorite source of outdoor recreation for many Houstonians, begins near Katy, Texas and winds through Terry Hershey Park, Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum and the neighborhood of River Oaks. The bayou offers 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, kayaking opportunities, and guided kayak tours — great fun for the entire family. Details 1113 Vine Street Suite 200Houston, Texas 77002713-223-3500 06 of 10 Houston Museum of Natural Science Robyn Correll Science Attractions & Museums 4.3 The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the nation's most well-developed museums. The four-floored building has thirteen permanent exhibits, which range from paleontology to space science to archaeology to a children’s discovery place. Special features of the museum include the Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, George Observatory, and IMAX Theater. HMNS’s permanent location was established in 1964. Admission is free for the permanent exhibits every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Details One Hermann Circle DriveHouston, Texas 77030713-639-4629 07 of 10 The Children's Museum sikeri/Flickr Family Attractions 4.5 In 2011, Parents magazine voted The Children's Museum of Houston the best children's museum in the country. The venue houses 14 galleries of exhibits that provide a hands-on learning experience for kids aged birth to 12 years. Even moms and dads are sure to find something to pique their interest. This museum is free every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Details 1500 Binz StreetHouston, Texas 77004713-535-7264 08 of 10 Houston Arboretum and Nature Center TripSavvy / Vincent Mercer Located on the grounds of Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center consists of 155 acres of natural environment. From their site: “Visitors can explore nature by walking on trails (totaling 5 miles) free of charge. Each summer children gain in-depth knowledge leading to a life-long appreciation of the natural world through week-long Discovery Classes.” Admission to the Houston Arboretum is free. Details 4501 Woodway DriveHouston, Texas 77024713-681-8433 Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Jamail Skatepark TripSavvy / Robyn Correll Jamail Skatepark is a fabulous new public skatepark near downtown Houston with 30,000 sq. ft of fun. Skaters of all levels are encouraged to work on their tricks – or learn how to just stay balanced. In the summer, kids ages 6-17 can take advantage of free skateboard classes as well. Helmets are required. Details 103 Sabine StreetHouston, Texas 77007713-222-5500 10 of 10 Art Car Museum TripSavvy / Robyn Correll What more can you say about Houston’s Art Car Museum? This collection of eclectic, unusual, and creative cars is all about fun. If you’ve missed Houston’s classic Art Car Parade in the spring, you’ll catch a glimpse of it here. It also features innovative art throughout the museum, so it’s not just about cars. The Art Car Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., and like several other museums in Houston, admission is always free. Details 140 Heights BoulevardHouston, Texas 77007713-926-6368 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit