By Christie Leman
Houston is a sprawling city with a seemingly endless amount of activities available for all interests throughout the year, including many great attractions for kids. Attractions for kids in Houston, Texas range from ice skating in one of the country's largest malls to getting hands-on experience and awe-inspiring demonstrations at NASA's Space Center Houston. Whatever the child's interests, there are plenty of attractions for kids in Houston, Texas that will both entertain and educate eager little ones.
The Houston Zoo
As one of the most-visited zoos in the country, the Houston Zoo is home to over 4,500 animals housed in unique environs to most closely resemble the animals' native ecosystem. As a top attraction for kids in Houston, Texas, the Houston Zoo offers educational programs and plenty of opportunities for up-close viewing of its many animals, including child favorites like lions, tigers, monkeys, snakes and elephants. The Houston Zoo is open every day except Christmas and is located in Hermann Park.
Children's Museum of Houston
Its name alone helps explain why the Children's Museum of Houston is one of the best attractions for kids in Houston, Texas. No child will be disappointed with a visit. The Children's Museum of Houston features 14 galleries of action-packed exhibits to help children learn about a variety of topics through hands-on experience and fun. Exhibits include Power Play, a 35-foot tall tower children can climb, Flow Works (where children learn about using water as a source of power), Kidtropolis (a city created by and run by kids), Building Zone, Tot Spot and Inventor's Workshop. The Children's Museum of Houston is open Tuesday through Sunday and admission is $7.
Polar Ice Galleria
Since the opportunity to skate on an iced-over pond or lake is highly unlikely to ever occur in Houston, a top attraction for kids in Houston, Texas is the indoor Polar Ice Galleria inside the city's large Galleria shopping mall. Polar Ice Galleria is open to the public and also offers skating instruction and broomball games. In a city that is guaranteed to be hot for much of the year, Polar Ice Galleria offers a refreshing change of pace and a unique, active experience that kids of all ages can enjoy.
Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston is the visitor center section of NASA's Johnson Space Center and is one of the top attractions for kids in Houston, Texas due to its emphasis on education through hands-on learning. Space Center Houston includes a Kids Space Place that allows children to experience what it would be like to live on a space station or command a space shuttle through interactive exhibits. Other attractions include the Space Center Theater, a tour of the Johnson Space Center, the Astronaut Gallery, the Living in Space modul, and Starship Gallery. Space Center Houston is open 7 days a week and tickets range between $15 and $20.
Downtown Aquarium
A relative newcomer to the Houston scene, the Downtown Aquarium has quickly become one of the top attractions for kids in Houston, Texas. The Downtown Aquarium includes over 500,000 gallons of visible aquarium space housing over 200 types of fish. Aquarium exhibits include the Louisiana Swamp, Shipwreck, Rainforest, Sunken Temple, Gulf of Mexico, Discovery Rig and Shark Voyage, all home to unique species native to the recreated environments. The Downtown Aquarium also features a white tiger exhibit, ferris wheel, aquatic carousel and restaurant. It is open daily.
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About the Author:
Christie Leman is a public educator who has been writing informative articles on a variety of topics for five years. Her articles have appeared on several websites, including eHow, Associated Content and Examiner.com. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and history from Texas A&M University and is a certified Texas teacher.
