Parks

Just look at this new Fairy Trail! The Friendswood Fairy Trail is a free outdoor nature based educational activity.

The Fairy Trail starts with a beautiful wood carved entry with a child size (wheelchair accessible) door to enter. Next to it there is a tiny fairy entrance as well.

From there children have access to a mobile map (perfect for tiny fingers) with an approximate location of the houses and legend with the name and background of each character featured.

The Fairy and Troll Houses are hidden throughout the shady walking trail along the Friendswood Fairy Trail. It is a whimsical treasure hunt to find them.

The Friendswood Fairy Trail houses are hidden/built in trees or not so obvious places. Each of the houses has a door and when opened the children view the featured fairy or troll.

Each of the fairies/trolls are diverse in looks and have jobs in the park such as: recycling, volunteerism, community, healthy eating, waste prevention, native plants and wildlife, litter prevention (the litter troll even reports offenders to DMWT) and care for our environment. The trail is one mile so it is perfect for little feet.

A recent survey conducted revealed that when educational lessons are taken outdoors, children are more engaged in learning (88%), are better able to concentrate (68%), and are better behaved (65%). Kids innate desire for adventure and exploration will be fulfilled in this educational and enjoyable trail!

Learn more about the Friendswood Fairy Trail HERE! (And watch the video HERE!)

Also, find more Houston area parks, HERE!

Friendswood Fairy Trail:

Address: Stevenson Park, 1100 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546

Find more things to do around Houston:

 

Address: 2811 Travis St, Houston, TX 77006

Right in the middle of bustling midtown was a big empty lot. For years we saw it as we drove downtown… and then after Houston’s Super Bowl, it blossomed into Midtown Park!

The park has three acres, including the great lawn, pavilion, wetland stream, interactive water feature, dog park and playground. It is home to a lot of festivals but open for play and picnics every day.

The playground area is small, fenced in and partially shaded. There is a climbing sphere, sound tubes, swings, rock play area and swings (with the swings are just outside the fence).

There is also recirculating water that mimics the bayous in Houston… including the birds and butterflies.

Outside the fenced in play area is the splashpad. Jets and a thin sheet of water cools you off and water droplets pop up and fall like a rain storm. BUT, in all the times we’ve been to the park, we’ve never seen the water. If you’ve been in it, let us know!

This park is right along the METRORail tracks on Main Street, just south of McGowen. You can take the train or drive. A paid parking garage is located below the park and street parking is available along the side streets. (Both metered and free parking is available, so check the signs.)

Midtown Park is also very close to Simply Pho (and within a short walk of Pho Saigon and the Houston Fire Museum). Stop for lunch after you play!

 

Find more things to do nearby:

 

Address: 1400 Elder St, Houston, TX 77007

Statesmanship Park… aka Mount Rush Hour!

Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were created by Houston artist David Adickes. You can see Statesmanship Park from I45, but we got an up close look last week.

We took Houston Street to Edwards Street (by Stanton’s) and Edwards took us all the way there. The street is pretty quiet (except for the highway next door) and we were able to just park on the side. (If you Google map Statesmanship Park, it will get you there.)

This neighborhood has lots of new townhomes, some nice old bungalows and some houses in need of a lot of repair. There is a lot of highway traffic, but not a ton of street traffic… so as I always recommend at parks, do your own safety check when you go!

There is not much to do at the park… but it is a great spot for photos. After you visit, you could eat at Stanton’s, Henderson and Kane General Store or check out the view from Buffalo Bayou Brewery! Or go play at Dow Elementary Park or Barbara Fish Daniels Nature Play Area!

Find more things to do in Houston with kids:

Right along Buffalo Bayou is the Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area at Buffalo Bayou Park. We haven’t posted pictures of the park in years… and since it’s one of Houston’s coolest places, here is what it looks like today!

This play area has a slide, climbing structures, and water features built in to the landscape. It also has an amazing view of the downtown skyline, access to the Buffalo Bayou trails, restrooms and a historic cistern.

Accessible from Sabine Street is the Fish Family Play Area. Park in the free lot at the building or along the street. If everything is full, there is metered parking along Allen Parkway.

If you walk to the top of the Water Works, you will be on top of the cistern and by the stage, grass and picnic spot. Walk around the skate park and you will find the gated entrance to the playground.

Right near Buffalo Bayou, but behind a short fence, is the coolest 2 story park. There is a giant 33 foot slide that rushes you down the bank of the bayou. It takes you to a climbing net (and back up a 2 story treehouse), to a sandpit, and tunnel.

Climb up the net, up the wooden stumps next to the slide, or go through the tunnel. If you choose the tunnel, you will find a water table you turn on with a button and a tall log climbing structure.

Just beyond the water is a climbing structure that is made from telephone poles.

Making a loop back up to the start you will find another water feature, where you can turn the knob to start the faucet. Back at the start you will find drums and a music station.

The Buffalo Bayou nature playground is multi-level so it is a little difficult to watch little kids. You should plan to tag along as they climb and slide.

The playground is full sun but has the pavilion for shade. The Water Works building also has shade, tables and chairs. It also has the mysterious cistern under it!

Kids need to be 9 years old to tour the cistern (and you need to reserve a spot), but everyone can see it through the periscope.

Buffalo Bayou Fish Family Play Area:

Address: 105 Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007

 

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Address: 3012 Nottingham St, West University Place, TX 77005

Wier Park is a small park with two great play areas. The bigger play structure has a lot of cool features for the big kids… but I really like all the things to do at the little play area.

Instead of just a boring little slide and ladder, the little kids get swings, pretend restaurant, small monkey bars and a play structure with an angled rock wall and fun climbing features.

That said, the big kids have it pretty good too. Their area has more swings, spinners and a big play structure with a spiral staircase ladder and an unusual chain ladder. And this play area is well shaded.

The park also has picnic tables, tennis courts (reservation required), a basketball court and free street parking. Everything is mud free because of the turf ground covering.

Look at the pictures below. (Or look at our old Wier Park pictures and see just how much has changed in our family, HERE!) This small park has a lot to do!

 

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Address: 1919 Kane, Houston, Texas 77007

Isn’t this an awesome thing to stumble upon?! Look at Dow Elementary Park!

Don’t be fooled by the name… it’s the old elementary school play area… but it’s open as a city park now.

We found the park recently as we took a scenic drive from the Heights back to Montrose. I had missed a turn and was meandering back to the bayou… when out of the dark was this bright and inviting park. Lit up at night, the park was busy with school kids and parents.

I saw the old school building and was hoping to find a Spark Park sign (because Spark Parks are open to all after school hours)… but was stymied.

Good thing for the internet, because I was able to figure out that Dow Elementary Park is at the old school playground area… renovated to be a great public playground and the old school building is home to MECA!

So, now that we know, we’ve gone back daily.

The fully fenced play area has a big, brightly colored, hill with slide… and little circles for balancing across. Behind this is a traditional play structure with slides and ladders.

The park also has a basketball hoop, hammock area, cool porch swing, game tables (with chessboards and game boards built in) and a great little picnic area. The tables are covered and are next to an outdoor fireplace and grill.

This little slice of the Old Sixth Ward is funky and cool. It’s a little neighborhood between Buffalo Bayou and Washington Avenue with old houses and a view of downtown. The new HEB Buffalo Heights is down the street and there are a lot of restaurants and shops nearby. I’d personally like one of the fixer uppers!

There is plenty of free parking along the street. This park does not have a restroom and the play area has limited shade… so come prepared!

Find more Houston area parks!

Address:  20215 Chasewood Park Dr, Houston, TX 77070

What a day for burning off 1/100000 of our holiday sweets!

I had not been to Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve since Harvey, but we found half of Houston, and their dogs and babies, on the trail!

Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve is 80-acres and includes Marshall Lake, 1.7 miles of paved trails, three fishing piers, a canoe launch, picnic tables and restrooms. Trails are open to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Educational programming and special events are offered regularly and there is a campground for youth groups.

Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve is easy to access and has free parking. It is very close to 249, so part of the park is a little noisy from the traffic.

The park gates close in the evenings and on a few holidays. (And it’s not many holidays, but I think we’ve driven up the closed gate on each of them!)

This is a good place to get a little nature in a busy city… and the coolest part might be that a future trail will connect this park with the 100 Acre Wood Preserve on the west side of 249, becoming part of the Cypress Creek Greenway trail system, connecting hundreds of acres of parks along Cypress Creek.

 

 

Find more Houston area parks and things to do:

 

 

Address: Cutten Drive and Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX 77379

Right along Cypress Creek, between the the railroad tracks and a golf course, is a big piece of empty land.

Since I’ve been watching it, it’s been a flower nursery, and abandoned flower nursery and then not much of all. The empty land is needed for flood control… so never expected much to pop up… but am pleased to see it is now Champion Forest Park!

The park has a playground, restroom, parking lot, picnic tables and grills and small walking trail. (News reports said it would have soccer fields, and I’d still love these to be added.)

The playground is new, bright and fun for the kids. (It is in full sun, consider this in the summer!) Also there is a paved loop around the playground that is great for a new bike rider.

There is a lot of space around the playground for playing sports (but the ground is bumpy… so a sports field would be great to add!).

The water is at the edge of the park, a good distance away from the playground. The little kids should be supervised and the big kids might just want to explore. My boys went straight to the opening to the water and I saw some other families with big kids do the same.

The park is small but has something for everyone… picnicers, ball players, playground players, explorers… and there is a well maintained restroom and abundant parking. The park gate closes at dusk and stays closed on a few holidays.

If you are lucky (according to my kids), the freight train will go by and you will have a front row seat.

Just down the street from Champion Forest Park is the Cy Champ Park with a nicely shaded trail and playground.

 

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Let the kids get messy at Houston area nature playgrounds!

These local parks have sand and sticks and rocks and sand and water… and kids are encouraged to get dirty, experiment and create. (And if you know of more, let us know!)

Fish Family Play Area at Buffalo Bayou

Right along Buffalo Bayou, next to the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is the Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area at Buffalo Bayou Park!

Not only does it have a slide, climbing structures, water features and drums built in to the landscape, but this park has an amazing view of the downtown skyline, access to the Buffalo Bayou trails, has free parking, restrooms at the Water Works building… and a newly uncovered historic cistern. It is as cool as it sounds.

This park is free to visit.

Wild! Nature Play Area At The Houston Zoo

Wild! Nature Play Area at the Houston Zoo is free with zoo admission or zoo membership and it’s full of messy fun. Instead of playground equipment, kids play with sticks, sand, mud and water… and climb on logs and walk through gardens.

Zoo admission is required to access this play area.

Nature Discovery Center Nature Play Area

Nature Discovery Center is covered in trees and has winding trails connecting the Nature Center, Critter Classroom, Pecan Grove, Deciduous Woodland, Cypress Pond, Nature Play Area, Pocket Prairie and Prairie Wetland.

Play in the sandbox (full of trucks), explore the trails look for signs telling you what to find.

This park is free to visit.

Evelyn’s Park

Evelyn’s Park has a small but fun nature play area with a hillside slide and sandbox, a lot of room to run and the family friendly restaurant. There are two free parking lots, accessible from Newcastle Street and Mulberry Lane and has a restroom.

This park is very close to the Nature Discovery Center and is free to visit.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

The Houston Arboretum has been renovating, and the play area has moved and changed (and I bet it is still changing!)… but it’s a nature play area!

There has been a rope bridge, sandbox, tree stumps, rocks and blocks. There is also the indoor nature room and lots of family friendly trails.

This park is free to visit.

Smooth Stream Park in Tomball

Smooth Stream Park has an obstacle course, swings, balance beam, merry-go-round, zip line, picnic area and pond!

This park is free to visit.

Jagged Ridge Park in The Woodlands

Jagged Ridge is a small park but the equipment is great. There is a tree house playground, climbing rock, bucket swings and “fallen logs” for balancing. There is also a pavilion and BBQ pit. (No restrooms are available.)

There is not a ton of equipment, and it’s not 100% nature-scape, but it’s hard to pick which spot to play first. The tree house, the logs, the rock?!

This park is free to visit.

The Houston area also has several ag-venture farms that are open seasonally, for a fee.

• 7 Acrewood –  4401 N. Frazier St., Conroe, TX 77303
• Berryland – 2877 FM 1941 Rd., Winnie, TX. 77665
• Blessington Farm – 510 Chisolm Trail, Simonton, Texas 77476 
• Dewberry Farm – FM 362 & Morrison Rd, Brookshire, TX 77423
• Oil Ranch – 23501 Macedonia Road : Hockley, TX 77447
• Old MacDonalds Farm – 3203 FM 1960 East, Humble, TX 77338
• TGR Exotics – 22115 Sherrod Land, Spring, TX 77389 

Find the Nature Playgrounds:

Find more to do around Houston, with kids: