My 6 year old nephew and 6 month old niece will be joining us for a few days beginning Saturday, and I'm wondering how to keep them entertained besides just hanging out at Gattiland all day. I mean, obviously the baby is going to be chill doing whatever since she is too young for anything.

Would a little kid like looking at exhibits at the George Bush Museum or Corps Museum, maybe at a rapid pace?

Is the children's museum any good?

Would little kids like going to Blue Bell and Washington on the Brazos?

What are the cool parks with fun playgrounds?

Thanks for helping me keep these kids entertained.

Both Bryan and C.S. have splash pads at their parks, that would be good for one afternoon, or maybe two and would get them good and tired.

Both Bryan and College Station libraries are having activities for kids this summer - I think on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Check the Bombers schedule for something to do in the evening, although it would be pretty late for a 6 mo. old.

The Blue Bell tour is good for all ages.

Adamson Lagoon for swimming - it's very kid friendly

If the 6 yr old has any interest in cars or airplanes, then they would enjoy the Bush Museum at a semi-rapid pace (that's what my kid liked about it)

1. Avoid Gattitown at all costs, it's disgusting. Unless you like filth and broken games.

2. Southwood Hallaran pool would be good for both ages. Adamson Lagoon is great, but the kiddie pool is gated off from the main pool, so you cant be with both kids at the same time.

3. Splashpads are ok, the one in CS is not in the best neighborhood.

The Woodlands Mall and area is a fun place to go to. Lots of things to look at, awesome eateries, and the carousel!

1. Avoid Gattitown at all costs, it's disgusting. Unless you like filth and broken games.

2. Southwood Hallaran pool would be good for both ages. Adamson Lagoon is great, but the kiddie pool is gated off from the main pool, so you cant be with both kids at the same time.

3. Splashpads are ok, the one in CS is not in the best neighborhood.

The Woodlands Mall and area is a fun place to go to. Lots of things to look at, awesome eateries, and the carousel!

Children's Museum is a lot of fun for kids! They even have an area that is supposed to be for kids younger than a year old. I know 6 month olds can't do a whole lot, but the baby might have fun in there.

Blue Bell is great also! But they don't do tours on the weekends, so make sure you plan that for Monday through Friday.

Adamson Lagoon is a great pool for kids! Has a great separate kiddie pool for the little ones!

Washington on the Brazos has 3 separate areas to tour. When we took our cub scout pack last summer they had the most fun at the Barrington Living History Farm. http://www.birthplaceoftexas.com/Barrington.htm

Grand Station -- bowling, video games, mini golf and Laser tag.

Ice Skating at Arctic Wolf.

Okay, that's all I've got! Have fun!!

I think the website is www.kidsbowlfree.com

They can bowl between the hours of 10am-4pm free, but with the cost of shoe rental ($3.25).

Oil Ranch in Hockley.

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I also recommend the Oil Ranch! I went on a field trip there when I was in kindergarten, and in my opinion, it is still the best field trip I've been on.

Video games, that's what got me through the younger times in CS.

Thanks for the suggestions. Oil Ranch looks pretty cool, but they won't get here until Saturday afternoon and leave Thursday morning, so it will be closed.

Also, I'm not really interested in having a kid play video games all day long. They need to get out and do something. My nephew is kind of a wuss as it is, so sitting around the house isn't the best option.

Horseshoe Junction in Brenham:

http://www.horseshoejunction.com/

Chuck E Cheese is good too.

The 6 yo might enjoy geocaching...there are over 300 geocaches just in the B/CS area.
Check out geocaching.com for info on how and where to find caches.

Call me old school but how about GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY...

No offense, Fleen....but's it's 105 degrees outside during the afternoon.

It was 105 when I grew up too...

That's what shade trees, water, and lemonade are for.

ETA: popsicles, snowcones, and the ice cream truck too.

[This message has been edited by keesha07 (edited 7/12/2011 10:54a).]

and the hose...

Never been here, but thought I'd post their website since they were mentioned twice:

http://www.oilranch.com/

I think they would have fun cleaning windows at duffelpud manor.

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Call me old school but how about GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY...

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There's not really any kids on our street to play with, and I don't really have any fun games or toys or anything.

Granmaq, I didn't mean anything by my remark, go get a sprinkler, sidewalk chalk, beach towels and a clothes pin make a good cape, hide & seek, water guns... I think all of those would be more fun than Gattitown... Make memories, not destinations...

The six year old may like the Corps Center museum, some cool stuff in there, also friendly folks. Bush Museum probably would not be a hit.

Go outside and play sounds fun. Croquet in the backyard or a little hoops on the driveway, some soccer. (You don't need another six year old, you and the parents can play!). How bout making some homemade ice cream one evening? Some hot dogs and brats, and you've got it covered. Kids seem facinated by 'making' ice cream. Follow up on Monday with a trip to the Little Creamery.

Take them to NG get em started early

In the not so distant past, our family has done a lot of the activities suggested above and our children had a good time.

Childrens' Museum was always fun: painting, play clay, the grocery store--all things that can be done at home but were extra special when there were others to play with...

BCS Libraries--books, games, DVDs, magazines and storytimes

The Bush Library was fun too, some of the exhibits were skipped through pretty fast when the kiddos were smaller, but when they had the train exhibit, my son was spellbound.

One summer we printed out a list of the parks and went to almost every one. The parks with the most shade were the biggest hits. In certain parks, the play equipment has been renovated and mine aren't really using play equipment so much anymore, but IIRC, Bee Creek park (adjacent to Adamson Lagoon has a good structure and also swings. We used to use Hensel park a long time ago and it had some good swings and play equipment as well. Visit the city websites for a list of the parks...

Arctic Wolf is nice and cool; although if you have the six month old in tow and the six year old is not used to skates, it will depend upon how adventurous he is! At any rate, I believe it is free to watch.

Sometimes places like Home Depot have children's workshops where participants can build birdhouses and the like...

Washington on the Brazos is fun too.

As far as backyard play; sprinklers, bubbles, chalk, jump rope are always in season; a good sized cardboard box would often be colored over with crayon and then dragged outside for adventures. A magnet tied to some string that is on a stick makes a fun 'fishing' pole if you are unable to do the real thing.

Best wishes for a happy time with your family!



[This message has been edited by Oogway (edited 7/12/2011 3:48p).]

There's a number of state parks around here that are rather obscure but might be worth the drive. Washington on the Brazos is the best, but you might consider these too:

Ft. Boggy near Crockett
Ft. Parker near Groesbeck
Fanthorp Inn in Anderson

A six year old would also likely enjoy putting a line in a pond, flying a kite, and playing with water balloons. I know my favorite memories from visiting family revolve around the time we spent together, not necessarily the things we did.

If you are headed Brenham way, you might also enjoy a stop at the Poor Clare's Miniature Horse Farm. You can walk around in the paddocks with the mares and foals, pet them, see the brand new foals in the barn, watch the studs in their corrals, talk to the sisters about the animals, etc.

I think the miniature horse farm closed down this summer.

My kids love a trip to JJ's Sno-cones in the afternoons to break up the day.

techno, you are correct. Both the monastery and the horse farm were sold and closed at the end of May. Such a shame!


http://www.monasteryminiaturehorses.com/

When I grew up we didn't have video games or handheld anything. There wasn't anything outside to play with so we had to make our own entertainment. Climbing trees, bike races, racing each other on foot, make your own play house, there was plenty to do. Today kids are just spoiled (like mine) and don't know what real entertainment is.

Both movie theaters do a kids movie for a dollar on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

Chick Fil A has an outdoor playground, lemonade and ice cream, if you need a break from all that running around!

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When I grew up we didn't have video games or handheld anything. There wasn't anything outside to play with so we had to make our own entertainment. Climbing trees, bike races, racing each other on foot, make your own play house, there was plenty to do. Today kids are just spoiled (like mine) and don't know what real entertainment is.

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And that uphill three mile walk to school in the driving snow was probably no fun, either!