My husband has to be in Houston next weekend for a couple things. I was considering tagging along with our 3 year old, but it's been over 10 years since I lived in Houston and I didn't have kids then. So, besides the zoo, what's fun these days for a 3 year old? Bonus if it's an outdoor activity.

Depends where are you staying?

What part of town are you going to be in? Children's museum comes to mind, but a 3 year old is usually satisfied with a half decent playground. Jaycee Park, Donovan Park and Levy Park are all good options depending on your location.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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I heard word of a place where the fun never stops. Maybe look there.

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I was waiting for this.

wessimo said:

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What part of town are you going to be in? Children's museum comes to mind, but a 3 year old is usually satisfied with a half decent playground. Jaycee Park, Donovan Park and Levy Park are all good options depending on your location.

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Downtown maybe. One of his events is at Hilton Americas. Yes, a half decent playground is perfect! I hate Children's museums so I was hoping to avoid it. Thanks!

Lonestarandi said:

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Levy park, Houston Arboretum or Nature Discovery Center.

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Thank you! Levy park looks nice and is close to one of the appointments my husband has.

My 3 year old loves the museum of natural science. He could spend an entire day in the dinosaur area.

Zoo if you get there when it opens (beat the heat and the cluster **** the parking lot turns into).

Children's museum

Aquarium, but go into it knowing it's not the worlds best aquarium. That said, it still has fish if your kid likes them (mine loves them). We'll typically walk through the aquarium, walk to Post (pretty cool food hall with a rooftop terrace) for lunch, then back and walk through the aquarium again. Not nearly as good as, say, Texas State aquarium in corpus but can be fun if you set expectations.

Lots of parks and kid friendly restaurants.

The Jurassic world exhibit (haven't been personally) is going on in Katy right now.

The Marq-E (I10 west and 610) has a rotating exhibit. Right now it's called sloomoo, looks like slime related, but haven't been to this one so not real sure

UglyScientist said:

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wessimo said:

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What part of town are you going to be in? Children's museum comes to mind, but a 3 year old is usually satisfied with a half decent playground. Jaycee Park, Donovan Park and Levy Park are all good options depending on your location.

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Downtown maybe. One of his events is at Hilton Americas. Yes, a half decent playground is perfect! I hate Children's museums so I was hoping to avoid it. Thanks!

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Discovery green is across the street and actually has a bathroom. Not bad but gets crowded on weekends.

Butterfly museum
Train in Herman Park
Carriage rides downtown
Buffalo Bayou Barbara Fish Daniel's Nature Play Area
Memorial Park Vale-Ashe Foundation Playground
Discovery Green downtown playground and roller rink
The Park Shops downtown

Agree with all of the above.

If weather is looking bad maybe Color Factory - really fun for a 3 year old.

Dadgum! So many options for 3 year olds now. My only option as a toddling Houstonian 50 years ago was climbing in the back of my Dad's Ranchero and drinking the dregs out of his Lone Star empties.

malenurse said:

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Ciboag96 said:

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Dadgum! So many options for 3 year olds now. My only option as a toddling Houstonian 50 years ago was climbing in the back of my Dad's Ranchero and drinking the dregs out of his Lone Star empties.

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What? You didn't make him take you to Peppermint Park?

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That **** cost money. Lol.

https://365thingsinhouston.com/

Check out this site. They have lots of events listed including free ones.

A park, history lesson, and elections have consequences all in one visit. Take him to Emancipation Park... Will be kind of like the zoo with humans depending on the time of day.

sts7049 said:

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just make sure you stay strapped if you head to the zoo and need to park

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so was the situation that played out over the weekend the deal where there are just cars roving across the lots hoping to get lucky- then when a spot opens a group of a certain persuasion on foot tries to stand in the spot to "save" it for their driver instead of allowing the person who has right-of-way to the spot to take it? I've witnessed that more than once exiting the zoo on nice days.

UglyScientist said:

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wessimo said:

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What part of town are you going to be in? Children's museum comes to mind, but a 3 year old is usually satisfied with a half decent playground. Jaycee Park, Donovan Park and Levy Park are all good options depending on your location.

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Downtown maybe. One of his events is at Hilton Americas. Yes, a half decent playground is perfect! I hate Children's museums so I was hoping to avoid it. Thanks!

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In that case just stick to Discovery Green. Don't waste your money on the downtown aquarium. It sucks.

A bit of a drive, but why not take the kid to the beach?

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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A bit of a drive, but why not take the kid to the beach?

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ThunderCougarFalconBird said:

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sts7049 said:

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just make sure you stay strapped if you head to the zoo and need to park

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so was the situation that played out over the weekend the deal where there are just cars roving across the lots hoping to get lucky- then when a spot opens a group of a certain persuasion on foot tries to stand in the spot to "save" it for their driver instead of allowing the person who has right-of-way to the spot to take it? I've witnessed that more than once exiting the zoo on nice days.

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This is why we go only on member mornings and get there an hour before the general population arrives.

Zoo is too inexpensive, they need to raise their prices.

Listing of kid events…

https://www.visithoustontexas.com/events/?bounds=false&view=list&sort=date

3rd or 5th ward and show them where Houston drank came from.

Gravel parking lot with a few week-old puddles. Most 3YO I know would be happier than a trip to Disney. I've got 6 kids. I know stuff.