Houston Zoo features the African Forest, a carousel and a range of exhibits, depending on the season. Events include Safari School (turtles, otters, parrots, frogs, toads, bears, owls, and other animals), the Zoo Career Series for Homeschoolers, and the Call of the Wild Speaker Series. If you wish to spend a night at the zoo, you can attend Family Wild Wink Overnight. The program includes interactive activities, contact with animals, dinner and continental breakfast, tents to sleep in, and free admission to the zoo on the second day.
In addition to housing the zoo, Hermann Park is also home to the Miller Outdoor Theatre and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The park's McGovern Lake offers even more adventures: you can tour the lake in pedal boats or fish at Bob's Fishing Pier. Fishing is restricted to children ages 12 and over and seniors aged 65 plus. Many picnic spots are available, and the Hermann Park Train runs through the park. The park features a jogging trail and strolling in such spots as next to the Reflection Pool and in the Japanese Garden. The Playground for All Children includes play equipment, a water playground and picnic pavilions.
MSN.com has rated Children's Museum of Houston as the best children's museum in the country. It features 14 galleries and provides innovative programs for children ages 12 and above. Programs cover topics including history, chemistry, design, nature and cultural interconnections (for guests from other countries). Kid's Cafe, located within the museum, offers dishes appropriate for all ages at all times of day. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Every Thursday the museum offers free Family Nights, as of January 2011.
Downtown Aquarium is located in the Theater District. It is an aquarium, restaurant and amusement park combined, and features diverse exhibits. Guests can encounter gators, turtles and frogs in the Louisiana Swamp exhibition or visit the Shipwreck exhibition to explore the sunken hull of a Spanish galleon and ocean life around it. You can stop by the Rainforest exhibition to encounter fish, snakes and frogs. The Sunken Temple exhibition was inspired by the legend of El Dorado. The Gulf of Mexico exhibition offers the chance to see sharks in their natural environment. Downtown Aquarium also has carnival games and fun rides such as the shark voyage, the diving bell Ferris wheel, an aquatic carousel and a lighthouse dive.
