Texas - Staying in Houston March 23rd to 28th, 2011 - What/Where to do/eat?

To FTers,

Staying in Houston for 4 full days.. I have a family of 4 including 2 small children ages 1 and 5.

We're planning to visit NASA Space Control Center. We see that tickets are half price online about $10 each, regular $20.. Are these tickets good for 2 days. We've been to Cape Canaveral before, so their tickets are good for 2 days.

There is also the City Pass for $39 per adult.. includes Aquarium, zoo, and 2 museums.

Any other ideas what to do for 4 days in Houston.. or is this pretty much the selection? Good places to eat?

Thanks in advance.

We're planning to visit NASA Space Control Center. We see that tickets are half price online about $10 each, regular $20.. Are these tickets good for 2 days. We've been to Cape Canaveral before, so their tickets are good for 2 days.



Johnson Space Center and its visitor center "Space Center Houston" is much smaller than Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center in Florida. You might not need two days to see the Houston facility - although I can appreciate wanting to spread out the visit and take your time if you can. I don't know if the tickets are good for two days, but don't think they are.

While in the JSC area, assuming you have a car, head East on NASA Parkway to Hwy 146 and the Seabrook/Kemah area at Clear Lake/Galveston Bay. You can visit the Kemah Boardwalk and have some great seafood and the kids will have a good time playing the carnival games and riding some amusement park type rides. It's not a full blown amusement park, but it's quite fun when not terribly crowded. The weather should be just right in late March, too.

My favorite restaurants have been Ibiza & Catalan so far, and Reef is supposed to be great as well. Lucio's is a great BYOB as well if you can bring a bottle or two with you.

The Museum of Fine Art has an impressionist and post-impressionist exhibit right now that is pretty kick-.... They've got 4 Van Gogh's and a bunch of Monet, Manet, Cezanne, etc...

The city pass is a good deal if you think you can hit most all the sites in the 4 days. I presume you will rent a car?

I send plenty of tourists to Houston and contrary to many views it is very easy without a car for singles/adult groups. The child factor makes having a car a better option.

With the city pass you can hit NASA, one day, and make sure to take some of the good tram trips to over to Mission Control and the old mission control rocket park (there are signs for the different trips posted at Space Center Houston). The children's museum was just voted best in the country by Parents magazine (that is an option on the pass also). The 5 year old should really enjoy it. Do you already have lodging? is it in one place?
You coul split the trip up with hotels in town two nights, and down near NASA/KEmah/Galveston two nights. Just an option.

Not as much for the kids, but while down in the NASA/Kemah area you can drive up to the Battleship Texas and San Jacinto monument. There is a fee to get in the covers both (going on ship is extra). If you enjoy history these are nice.

I can suggest more if I know more about where you want to stay.

Ciao,
FH

The children's museum was just voted best in the country by Parents magazine (that is an option on the pass also). The 5 year old should really enjoy it.

Ciao,
FH

The Children's Museum was completely renovated about a year ago and it's great. There's a whole toddler (<2) area for those crawling/cruising/first walking.

A good local website for restaurants is www.b4-u-eat.com and they have a kid friendly option for searching.

There is also the City Pass for $39 per adult.. includes Aquarium, zoo, and 2 museums.

I'm not sure that the Aquarium is what you think that it is. Read up on it before you decide to actually go there.