Family-Friendly Fun in Houston

hermann parkNeed a destination for your next family-friendly Amtrak adventure? We say give Houston a try! Served by our Sunset Limited and and Amtrak Thruway connection to the Texas Eagle, Houston has lots to do and tons of delicious food to eat. Just ask Bre of Bre Writes, a Houstonian and mom-blogger who has big love for her city. Read on to get her top tips for a great  family-friendly visit to her hometown and find out why she says her diverse city has more to it than cowboy hats and horses.

Amtrak: Amtrak adventures aren’t just for adults. Tell us about some places in Houston to visit that are fun for mom, dad and the little ones.
Bre: One of our favorite places is Hermann Park/Museum District. We have memberships to the zoo and Children’s Museum so we will spend a few hours looking at giraffes and elephants or playing in the science center at the museum. Then we’ll go to the park and feed the ducks and watch people paddle boat. Another favorite is the choo-choo train through the park.

Locals know the best places to grab a bite to eat. What are some of your favorite family-friendly spots for meal?
Houstonians know how to eat. We live near one of the Chuy’s in the city and I am always up for Tex-Mex. They have this creamy jalapeno sauce that comes with the chips…man. I’ll probably be in there this weekend just from thinking about it. I’m a fajita girl myself, so me and the mister will split fajitas for two and for my daughter we usually get tacos. The staff is always friendly and never mind that we have a four year old who will probably only eat the tortillas.

IMG_0738While train rides let you stretch your legs, finding a place for the kids to run around is never a bad idea. Any recommendations for a place to let them get tuckered out?
Houston is such a spacious city, but we really love our green spaces. Discovery Green is the perfect place to let the kids run through a fountain, play in the grass, or climb a jungle gym while mom and dad sit under a bench or look at an art installation. There’s always an event or concert going on.  You can generally get away with visiting for free, but I always have cash on hand for the snow cone street truck.

If a babysitter is around, where do you and your husband like to go for a tasty grownups-only dinner, Houston style?
We live near City Centre on the west side of town.  My current favorite place to have a grown up meal is The Tasting Room.  It’s perfect for wine and charcuterie before or after dinner.  But for a good Texas steak, I’m going to Perry’s hands down — and I don’t share dessert.

Before heading home, every family vacay should end with a little photo fun. Where’s a great site in Houston that’s the perfect background for the family photo?
I know the trend is to have a nice open landscape for the background of your family photos. But I love showing my city off.  I love taking pictures at Eleanor Tinsley Park right outside of downtown.  You get a perfect view of the skyline. And if I’m really wanting to show our local culture, I’ll drive through the Heights.  It’s the oldest part of town and home to some of the most beautifully decorated buildings. The wall murals make you want to pull over and pose for Instagram fun.  

Bre gave us some great tips for a trip to Htown. But we want to hear from you. Share your recommendations for a fun family-friendly trip to Houston in the comment section below.