Kids can enjoy 14 different exhibition areas, including a Tot*Spot zone for children up to three years old and a live action S.E.C.R.E.T. spy game. Activities range from physical activities such as the Ropes Challenge Course and Powerplay installation; to critical thinking at the Inventors’ Workshop and FlowWorks hydropower exhibition. Kids can also work, shop, and vote at the Kidtropolis ‘city’; carry out science experiments at the Matter Factory; get their hands dirty at the outdoor EcoStation; and learn about everyday life and culture in South Korea at the Heart and Seoul exhibition.
The Children’s Museum of Houston is located in the Museum District, right opposite the Health Museum and Hermann Park. The closest metro station is Museum District (Red line), less than a 5-minute walk away. For those arriving with their own transport, there is plenty of paid parking available outside.
The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and Sundays from noon to 6pm. Visit on a Thursday night between 5pm and 8pm to make the most of free entrance, and look out for seasonal events and activities throughout the year. To avoid the crowds, arrive at opening or come in the afternoon—the museum often hosts school groups between 11am and 1.30pm, and it can get busy.
Within walking distance of the Children’s Museum, Hermann Park offers plenty of fun for families, with a boating lake, playgrounds, and walking trails. While you’re there, pay a visit to the Health Museum or the Houston Museum of Natural Science, both of which have interactive exhibitions suitable for all ages; take a stroll around the Japanese Gardens; watch a show at the Miller Outdoor Theater; or spot tigers, giraffes, and other animals at Houston Zoo.