Start your day by visiting Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The center displays space artifacts and offers tours of NASA's working facility. Kids can enjoy interactive displays and learn about the history of space exploration.
Next, head to visit the Houston Zoo where your family can see over 6,000 exotic animals from 900 species across the globe. It is divided into different ecosystems, including the African Forest, Kipp Aquarium, and McNair Asian Elephant Habitat. Kids can make friends with the animals and enjoy interactive exhibits.
Round off your day by visiting the Children's Museum of Houston. Here, your family can explore the many educational and interactive exhibits that promote learning through play. The museum features various exhibits, including a Kidtropolis, a Cyberchase Math exhibit, PowerPlay for health, and engineering challenges to foster the imaginative minds of your children.
Consider renting a car, which is the most convenient way to travel within Houston. The roads are well laid out and easy to navigate, and the city has ample parking lots. Uber and Lyft are also available. Car rentals are affordable, and the estimated cost for a day is approximately $50, including gas. Travel times will vary depending on the location, day, and time of travel.
If you have more time, consider visiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Downtown Aquarium, or Buffalo Bayou Park. For food, Houston has a diverse food scene, and you can try Tex-Mex or barbecue at some of the local diners. Alternatively, if time is limited, you may opt to skip the Children's Museum and visit only the Space Center Houston and Houston Zoo.
Houston is served by two airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). Bush Airport is the larger of the two and lies 21 miles north of downtown Houston whereas Hobby Airport is located about nine miles southeast of downtown Houston. Domestic and international flights are available at both. HOU is much closer to Downtown Houston and popularly served by low-cost carriers.