From countdowns at Mission Control to splashdowns at a large suburban water park, the Houston area has lots of activities for children. In the downtown area, your children can explore space at Houston's Space Center entertainment complex or visit the depths of the waters at the Aquarium or, just a short drive out of town, the whole family can relax at a major water amusement park.
If your children have marveled at a rocket or proclaimed they want to be an astronaut when they grow up, the Space Center Houston is a destination that you will not want to miss. Located in downtown Houston, the Space Center allows your children to explore the reaches of space and man's quest for exploration. Here, visitors can watch astronauts train for missions, have a chance to feel a real moon rock, take their turns at piloting a space shuttle, and witness a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center, including an opportunity to visit the historic Mission Control Center. Your children can tour the astronaut gallery for a chance to see equipment worn by John Young and Judy Resnik, see a one-of-a-kind collection of rockets and capsules, and get the thrill of launching a rocket into space in one of the center's interactive exhibits and theaters.
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Parkway
Houston TX 77058
281-244-2100
www.spacecenter.org
The Downtown Aquarium is a six-acre entertainment and dining complex located in the heart of downtown Houston. The aquarium features 500,000 gallons of water and over 200 species of marine life. The giant complex also contains enough entertainment options for the entire family, including a full-service restaurant and other dining options, educational exhibits, shopping, and a variety of amusements suited perfectly for children. Marine life exhibits include a Louisiana swamp with snapping turtles and gators, a sunken shipwreck with a living coral reef, giant octopus and moray eel, a rain forest setting with carnivorous piranhas, a sunken temple featuring a giant python, a Gulf of Mexico exhibit, and of course, a huge shark tank. Your children will also get a thrill of seeing white tigers from India. Kids will have a blast with the fun rides, including a diving bell Ferris wheel and a ride through the center of the shark tank on an underground train.
Downtown Aquarium
410 Bagby Street & Memorial
Houston, TX 77002
713-315-5139
www.aquariumrestaurants.com
Conveniently located less than a 30-minute drive from downtown Houston on I-45 in the suburb of Spring, Texas, SplashTown is Houston's water amusement park. You and your children can enjoy a variety of family attractions and pools including a three-story tree house island with net ladders, an interactive play area with a pirate ship and slides, a lazy river ride, and a wild water activity area just for children. For families who seek more of an adventure, there are a number of water slides, from 132-foot-long tunnels to 95-foot-long slides. The whole family can also enjoy a large wave pool with more than 500,000 gallons of water surging through it.
SplashTown
21300 I-45 North
Spring, TX 77373
281-355-3300
www.splashtownpark.com
