leahinsc

we are in the midst of planning a long weekend to Houston in Jan w/ our 9 yr old son. Has anyone been w/ kids that can tell us some of the best places to take them (besides the Space Center). We have seen they have a Zoo, Children's Museum, Ice cream factory, Health Museum....don't want to plan too much as we will also be at Crystal Beach for a day visiting family.

ms_go

I went with my daughter (just a bit older at the time) and nephews to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and that was a big hit with the kids. There's an IMAX there, and lots of interesting exhibits.

http://www.hmns.org/?r=1

somisseagle13

if you get the chance, moody gardens in galveston is a really neat place to go--they have an IMAX also, but they have the butterfly gardens, an interactive music museum, and a lot of other fun things to do
besides, you've also got galveston's beaches & the strand...

leahinsc

he's not so much a garden and flowers kid, more of a computer, science, IMAX, hands-on sort.

emd

The zoo is ok. I agree w/ms_go. There is the very nice Cockrell butterfly center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) in Hermann Park, and Burke Baker Planetarium is there too. You could spend a full day at those places, w/the IMAX, etc.


The Children's Center there is geared more towards younger kids, too young for a 9 yr old IMO.

Personally, I would not go to Galveston in Jan., esp. with just a weekend in the area. I'd stick to the HMNS.

Barblab

Diffenitly the HMNS. They have a special Benjamin Franklin exhibit until Jan. that you can get times tickets to on-line. The Medical Museum is fun as you walk through body parts. If he is at all interested in space then NASA is a must. All 3 have lots of hands-on stuff. Enjoy!

Binthair

I would highly recommend you visit Moody Gardens and Galveston if you are in Crystal Beach. Go to La King's confectionary on the Strand in Galveston for an ice cream. Moody Gardens is an easy full day visit. In Houston proper, HMNS and the Zoo in adjacent Hermann Park are good options.

moldyhotelsaregross

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34713815

This may come in handy for restaurant selection. I've not read over it in a while but I do remember that some of the suggestions aren't geared towards the age of your son.




Also, is a ghost tour something that would interest him? I've seen some younger kids on tours and know that it is certainly a person by person basis. I probably would have been sleeping with my parents for a week afterwards but the kids on the tours seem to be having a great time. www.highspiritstours.com/ The website isn't working right this second... but they are still in business. We have a tour planned for Halloween weekend. If you will be in Galveston, you can choose between the Houston tour or the Galveston tour. They give you emf detectors so you can go "Ghost Hunting." Perhaps you can watch Ghost Busters and see his reaction.