Good places in Texas nearish Houston

[Anonymous]

Left spring break rather late -there are cheap flights to Houston - and advice on good camping/parks, beaches, adventure things around there? Big Bend National Park is a little too far away at 8 hours. Is there anything worth venturing to? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Galveston for beaches? Maybe Padre Island National seashore if you're willing to drive? There are a lot of national wildlife refuges around there, but I'm not familiar with them. The space center also has a museum/visitor center and there is a small aquarium.

Any chance you can change your tickets to MAF or even ELP? That would get you closer to Big Bend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Galveston for beaches? Maybe Padre Island National seashore if you're willing to drive? There are a lot of national wildlife refuges around there, but I'm not familiar with them. The space center also has a museum/visitor center and there is a small aquarium.

Any chance you can change your tickets to MAF or even ELP? That would get you closer to Big Bend.

Trying to avoid the changing planes - I'd rather drive sometimes then deal with that - just checked those out - closer to $400 -Houston is at $200 which is nice. Thanks for the tip though - I'll ponder

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Galveston for beaches? Maybe Padre Island National seashore if you're willing to drive? There are a lot of national wildlife refuges around there, but I'm not familiar with them. The space center also has a museum/visitor center and there is a small aquarium.

Any chance you can change your tickets to MAF or even ELP? That would get you closer to Big Bend.

+1. Google Sam Houston Forest for hiking and camping. It's an hour north of the city.

[Anonymous]

We just took our kids to the Children's Museum in Houston last fall and they had a blast -- highly recommend as a good stop if you spend any time in Houston proper

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'd drive to Austin/the Hill Country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I'd drive to Austin/the Hill Country.

Shut your mouth. I'm from Houston and there's a little something for everyone. How old are your kids? Bravos Bend State park is really cool. There are TONS of alligators to see on their hiking trails. You can camp there. The sites are away from the alligators and the park rangers swear that no campers or their dogs have ever been eaten If you camp there, there's also a cool planetarium to see at night. In Houston proper, Hermann park is super nice and has a new "touch me" vegetable and herb garden, a lot like the one at the arboretum here. The science museum is outstanding and the children's museum is great for the 10 and under crowd. There's a pricey, but fun wind tunnel called iFly. You can go fake skydiving there. The food scene is really cool. You have to eat pho and kolaches there, they are Houston institutions. For traditional Tex-Mex, the original Ninfa's and Pappasito's is my favorite. You'll have a great time!

[Anonymous]

Sorry, it's not Bravos Bend, it's Brazos Bend State park. It's only an hour outside Houston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I'd drive to Austin/the Hill Country.

Shut your mouth. I'm from Houston and there's a little something for everyone. How old are your kids? Bravos Bend State park is really cool. There are TONS of alligators to see on their hiking trails. You can camp there. The sites are away from the alligators and the park rangers swear that no campers or their dogs have ever been eaten If you camp there, there's also a cool planetarium to see at night. In Houston proper, Hermann park is super nice and has a new "touch me" vegetable and herb garden, a lot like the one at the arboretum here. The science museum is outstanding and the children's museum is great for the 10 and under crowd. There's a pricey, but fun wind tunnel called iFly. You can go fake skydiving there. The food scene is really cool. You have to eat pho and kolaches there, they are Houston institutions. For traditional Tex-Mex, the original Ninfa's and Pappasito's is my favorite. You'll have a great time!

I'm from Austin and Dallas and I agree. Houston is just a big city that hot and humid and not quite safe. Also, Tex-Mex food sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I'd drive to Austin/the Hill Country.

Shut your mouth. I'm from Houston and there's a little something for everyone. How old are your kids? Bravos Bend State park is really cool. There are TONS of alligators to see on their hiking trails. You can camp there. The sites are away from the alligators and the park rangers swear that no campers or their dogs have ever been eaten If you camp there, there's also a cool planetarium to see at night. In Houston proper, Hermann park is super nice and has a new "touch me" vegetable and herb garden, a lot like the one at the arboretum here. The science museum is outstanding and the children's museum is great for the 10 and under crowd. There's a pricey, but fun wind tunnel called iFly. You can go fake skydiving there. The food scene is really cool. You have to eat pho and kolaches there, they are Houston institutions. For traditional Tex-Mex, the original Ninfa's and Pappasito's is my favorite. You'll have a great time!

I'm from Austin and Dallas and I agree. Houston is just a big city that hot and humid and not quite safe. Also, Tex-Mex food sucks.

That opinion of Houston is outdated by at least 20 years. And Houston is foodie heaven. It's not just Tex Mex. The ethnic food in Houston, especially the ethnic fusion (Latino-Asian) is amazing. WashPost just did a big spread on the Houston food scene not too long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I'd drive to Austin/the Hill Country.

Shut your mouth. I'm from Houston and there's a little something for everyone. How old are your kids? Bravos Bend State park is really cool. There are TONS of alligators to see on their hiking trails. You can camp there. The sites are away from the alligators and the park rangers swear that no campers or their dogs have ever been eaten If you camp there, there's also a cool planetarium to see at night. In Houston proper, Hermann park is super nice and has a new "touch me" vegetable and herb garden, a lot like the one at the arboretum here. The science museum is outstanding and the children's museum is great for the 10 and under crowd. There's a pricey, but fun wind tunnel called iFly. You can go fake skydiving there. The food scene is really cool. You have to eat pho and kolaches there, they are Houston institutions. For traditional Tex-Mex, the original Ninfa's and Pappasito's is my favorite. You'll have a great time!

I'm from Austin and Dallas and I agree. Houston is just a big city that hot and humid and not quite safe. Also, Tex-Mex food sucks.

That opinion of Houston is outdated by at least 20 years. And Houston is foodie heaven. It's not just Tex Mex. The ethnic food in Houston, especially the ethnic fusion (Latino-Asian) is amazing. WashPost just did a big spread on the Houston food scene not too long ago.

OP here - we have family in Houston so might spend a day or two there - my kids are slightly older- 11, 10 and 8. That park does sound cool- they would love to see alligators.

Any recs for up in Austin/Hill Country? that is definitely on our radar.

[Anonymous]

So flying into Houston then driving to Austin? I-10 to 70 and 290 are roughy equidistant. If you go 290 you can stop in Brenham and do a tour of the Blue Bell factory (I assume they still do these.) in Austin go to Zilker Park and bring suits for Barton Springs if the weather is warm. Real hill country is west of Austin, head out towards Fredricksburg area. if you're doing a big loop you can also hit San Antonio on the way home and take the kids to the Alamo and the Missions. If you go to the Alamo go to the bar at the Menger hotel - it's where Teddy Roosevelt formed his rough riders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I'd drive to Austin/the Hill Country.

Shut your mouth. I'm from Houston and there's a little something for everyone. How old are your kids? Bravos Bend State park is really cool. There are TONS of alligators to see on their hiking trails. You can camp there. The sites are away from the alligators and the park rangers swear that no campers or their dogs have ever been eaten If you camp there, there's also a cool planetarium to see at night. In Houston proper, Hermann park is super nice and has a new "touch me" vegetable and herb garden, a lot like the one at the arboretum here. The science museum is outstanding and the children's museum is great for the 10 and under crowd. There's a pricey, but fun wind tunnel called iFly. You can go fake skydiving there. The food scene is really cool. You have to eat pho and kolaches there, they are Houston institutions. For traditional Tex-Mex, the original Ninfa's and Pappasito's is my favorite. You'll have a great time!

I'm from Austin and Dallas and I agree. Houston is just a big city that hot and humid and not quite safe. Also, Tex-Mex food sucks.

That opinion of Houston is outdated by at least 20 years. And Houston is foodie heaven. It's not just Tex Mex. The ethnic food in Houston, especially the ethnic fusion (Latino-Asian) is amazing. WashPost just did a big spread on the Houston food scene not too long ago.

I was there 5 years ago and felt the same way. I'll take back my comments if you can tell me the name of a GREAT Mexican restaurant there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So flying into Houston then driving to Austin? I-10 to 70 and 290 are roughy equidistant. If you go 290 you can stop in Brenham and do a tour of the Blue Bell factory (I assume they still do these.) in Austin go to Zilker Park and bring suits for Barton Springs if the weather is warm. Real hill country is west of Austin, head out towards Fredricksburg area. if you're doing a big loop you can also hit San Antonio on the way home and take the kids to the Alamo and the Missions. If you go to the Alamo go to the bar at the Menger hotel - it's where Teddy Roosevelt formed his rough riders.

Fredericksburg - OP, do you like wine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So flying into Houston then driving to Austin? I-10 to 70 and 290 are roughy equidistant. If you go 290 you can stop in Brenham and do a tour of the Blue Bell factory (I assume they still do these.) in Austin go to Zilker Park and bring suits for Barton Springs if the weather is warm. Real hill country is west of Austin, head out towards Fredricksburg area. if you're doing a big loop you can also hit San Antonio on the way home and take the kids to the Alamo and the Missions. If you go to the Alamo go to the bar at the Menger hotel - it's where Teddy Roosevelt formed his rough riders.

OP here. Thanks - that's kind of what I was thinking. Looks like the weather should be relatively warm - maybe warm enough to swim - but at least warm enough to hike and explore.