Hermann Park
6001 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030
445 acres of the Museum District's front yard: a miniature train, pedal boats on McGovern Lake, the Japanese Garden, and Miller Outdoor Theatre's free shows. Bring a picnic.
Insider tip
Miller Outdoor Theatre's hillside is free, no ticket needed. Check the schedule for symphony and ballet nights.
Located in Museum District. 19 museums in a 1.5-mile radius, many free.
Also in Museum District
Houston Museum of Natural Science
$$One of the most-visited museums in America: a hall of 60+ dinosaur skeletons, a walk-through butterfly rainforest, a planetarium, and a gem vault that makes adults gasp. Bigger than you expect.
Museum District 路 Indoor 路 Kids
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
$70,000 works across three buildings, including the Kinder Building for modern and contemporary art and the underground light tunnels by James Turrell. A top-10 US art museum that never feels crowded.
Museum District 路 Indoor
Houston Zoo
$$Inside Hermann Park, 6,000 animals across 55 acres with a standout Gal谩pagos Islands exhibit and a sea lion show. Zoo Lights in winter is one of the city's best holiday traditions.
Museum District 路 Kids
Children's Museum Houston
$Consistently ranked the best children's museum in the US: a three-story climbing structure, a kid-sized city with its own economy, and a water play area. Ages 1 to 12.
Museum District 路 Indoor 路 Kids