SO BORED! What to do? Weekly meetup?

[mrsrice22]

Are there any scenic places out here that you all can recommend, kid friendly? Being a SAHM the last year is kicking my ass and I need to get out somewhere that I can take the kids that all of us can enjoy. I LOVED jumping in the car and going for drives in the mountains... obviously, no mountains here. I love the country with rolling hills, old barns, and historical sites. I dislike crowded places and avoid them as much as possible.

I need some ideas of places to go. I don't mind driving, I have "the navigation" :)

Suggestions?

EDIT: I'm in the Clear Lake Area (S. Houston)

[ldelacruz]

Check out Brazos Bend State Park.

[Steelsun]

Obviously Space Center Houston since you are near there and it is kid friendly.

Also in your area is Armand Bayou Park

Galveston (and Seawolf park- with a submarine and stuff)

[princer7]

Ahh! Wish you were in Austin. I am in the same boat... except my kids are in school during most of the day. I am dying to get out of the house on an adventure.

[mrsrice22]

I want to vacay in Austin, I heard it's BEAUTIFUL! And not so humid and sticky icky like Houston, lol!

My 2 yr old is in mother's day out a few days a week and since our 5 month old isn't so crabby all the time and does better on car rides I really want to take advantage of "not working" and go sight see around here. Bring the camera and do some shooting other than in my back yard!

Lonnie the state park looks great, I'll read more of their website to get more info!

Brian, is there anywhere in paticular along Galveston beach (or in Galveston) that would be good for sight seeing and pictures? My husband took me out there a couple times after the last hurricane to see the aftermath and again a month or so ago, but we just drove by and didn't really venture out of the car. I've seen on local photogs websites where they do beach sessions and it looks really clean and beautiful.

I'll look up the Armand Bayou Park, i think that's the one a friend of the family wanted to take the kids too but we were both 9 months pregnant at the time and it was July, lol!

I am horrible in crowded places and don't do so well with places like the Space Center. My sister took our 2 year old there after I had our daughter and came back shell shocked, lol! It's definitely a place I'd have to go to when I have someone to hold me back from wringing someone's neck.

If I google "Places to visit in Houston" it gives me touristy places, which eventually I'll get around to, but for now I really want to see places that aren't tourist attractions nor have been trashed by them. In Colorado there were the tourist hot spots, then there were the local hot spots.

[ronocnikral]

since you asked, i will opine.

get a bicycle and a trailer to pull your kids in. get on bicycle and pedal until you can't go no more. wake up next day and repeat.

i've learned more about texas in the last 6 months of riding than I have all my years living here (about 3 years collectively).

[mrsrice22]

Conor that's actually a great idea! We purchased one of those trailer things and some bikes two summers ago (mine still has the tags on it!) and never got around to using them in Colorado. I think I'll start off with just around the neighborhood, I haven't been on a bike since I was a kid!

[Wendy]

Armand Bayou Nature Center is a fantastic place to take kids! Home : Armand Bayou Nature Center

I also spent lots and lots of time at Brazos Bend with my kids when they were young. Be sure to go on a Saturday night sometime and let them experience the observatory.

In Galveston, head down to Galveston Island State Park. It's very family friendly and they have the beach on one side of the road and the salt marshes and nature trails on the other.

The Houston Zoo is fantastic. It can be crowded on weekends, but if you go on a weekday during the school year it's not bad. They've done a ton of upgrades in recent years and it's very worth the drive into town.

In the spring, pack the kids up and head toward Brenham to see the bluebonnets.

Another fun thing to do is go to Froberg Farm in Alvin and pick fruit - strawberries, apples, etc. You'll have to look up when the different seasons are.

I'll add more as I think of them.

[mrsrice22]

ok, i'm going to sit down tonight after the kids go to bed and figure out a game plan and make a schedule.

Thanks for all the suggestions (and by all means, keep them coming!), I hate being in a rut!

Kristina

[Hanky]

I still remember back 50 years ago (was 6) when we went to San Marcos and the China garden in SanAntonio was pretty cool oh yea show'em the SanAntonio zoo.

[popawalker]

Independence, near Brenham on 390 at 50.
Independence, Texas
It's prettier in the spring with the bluebonnets but still some barns and things around there. Also Washington on the Brazos.
Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site

[picman]

Houston Children's Museum

[ronocnikral]

Independence is an excellent place to bike to. I frequent it often

[mrsrice22]

Originally Posted by picman

Houston Children's Museum

I went there when we first moved down here and, it's pretty amazing! We only went to the Toddler area, but even that was much more interactive than the one in Denver... Well, the last time I was at the one in Denver it was geared more towards older children, it may have changed since then.

Thanks everyone, looking into everything now! I think some of the state parks would be a great idea for the family on the weekends, it may be more crowded but atleast we can all get outdoors and enjoy the scenery!