The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (spacecenter.org) is located in southeast Houston and provides both a fun and educational destination for your boys. There are 100 facilities within the Johnson Space Center that stretch across 1,620 acres. Facilities include a zero-gravity simulator in the Feel of Space exhibit and a virtual rocket launch in the Blast Off Theater. Boys can also attend the Astronaut Gallery, the Starship Gallery, and young boys can spend time in the Kids Space Place, with interactive exhibits and a space-themed play area.
The Houston Zoo (houstonzoo.org) is the seventh most-visited zoo in the United States. It houses more than 4,500 animals and 900 species and combines education and fun. Visitors can spend the day visiting attractions of their choice, or they can schedule a guided tour. Guided tours at Houston Zoo offer experiences from feeding a lion cub to shadowing a staff veterinarian for a day. Your boys can also visit an exhibit of African wild dogs, the Fischer Bird Gardens, Kipp Aquarium, and the brand new Asian Elephant Habitat.
Houston is home to a sports team in each of the three major sports: the Houston Texans of the NFL, the Houston Astros of the MLB, and the Houston Rockets of the NBA. Depending on the time of year and the team's schedule, you and your boys can spend a few hours at Reliant Stadium, Minute Maid Park, or Houston Toyota Center, respectively. If none of the major teams are around, there's plenty more to choose from: the Houston Dynamo of the MLS, the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League, and athletic events for the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.
Kemah Boardwalk (kemahboardwalk.com) is famous for its bars and restaurants for adults. But visiting children can spend their day at the Kemah Boardwalk amusement park. Rides and amusements include a Ferris Wheel, Double-Decker Carousel, Drop Zone, Boardwalk Bouncer, and many more, including the Boardwalk Bullet, a wooden roller coaster that reaches speeds of 51 miles per hour on a 92-foot drop.
SplashTown (splashtownpark.com) is Houston's very own water park. Amusements at SpashTown include Tree House Island, Guadalupe River Adventure, Crocodile Isle, and Leaky Pipes, an activity just for kids, with slides and a tire swing. Raft rides include Space Rapids, Thunder Run, and Zoom Flumes, a 95-foot tandem tubing slide. SplashTown also offers more pools and slides for all ages.
