• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
JillBJarvis.com
  • Events Calendar
    • Houston Events for Today
  • What to do in Houston
    • Free Things to Do
    • Houston Mural Map
    • Houston Field Trips
    • Farms and Safaris
    • Houston Parks
  • Restaurants
  • Travel
    • Family Travel from Houston
  • Resources
    • Summer Camps
    • Party Venues
    • Applying to HoustonISD Magnet Schools
    • Find a Preschool
    • Find a Doctor
    • Moving to Houston
  • Connect with Us
    • About Jill
    • Sign Up for the Newsletter
    • Contact Jill at JillBJarvis.com
    • Work with Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Calendar
  • Any Day
  • Restaurants
  • Travel
  • About
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Work with JillBJarvis.com
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Calendar
    • Any Day
    • Restaurants
    • Travel
    • About
    • Resources
    • Contact
    • Work with JillBJarvis.com
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Things to do » Top X Things to Do

    Top 9 Picnic Spots - Things to do, in Houston, with kids!

    Modified: Oct 29, 2015 by Jill Jarvis · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · #sponsoredpost · 2 Comments

    Picnic at Menil Park
    The BigKidSmallCity top 9 picnic spots are:

    1. Discovery Green - Jump on METRORail and head downtown. Get off at the Main Street Square Station and walk the 5 blocks east(ish). Swing by Phoenicia and grab some snacks and walk across the street to Discovery Green. Coordinate with one of the free events on the calendar or just go and enjoy the urban green space. Enjoy your picnic on the new raised deck next to the Brown Promenade under the century-old live oak trees.

    2. Market Square Park - Instead of walking east from the METRORail tracks, walk west(ish) towards City Hall. Stop by Market Square Park and grab lunch from Niko Nikos. The small restaurant is located in the park and has outdoor tables were you can enjoy lunch under the skyscrapers. Extend your trip by heading to the JP Morgan Chase Tower to enjoy the city from 60 stories up and then find the Big Bubble in the Bayou before heading back to METRORail.

    3. Hermann Park - Hermann Park is an urban oasis in the middle of the city. There is free parking and is also easy to access from the METRORail Hermann Park Station. Grab lunch from Pinewood Cafe in the park, McDonalds in the Houston Museum of Natural Science or bring your own. Find a picnic table, bench or spot on the grass. Bring some crust for the ducks and enjoy an afternoon at Hermann Park. Consider also playing on the playgrounds, riding the train, riding the pedal boats or wondering around the Japanese Garden.

    4. Houston Zoo - Located inside Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo allows food and coolers into the Zoo. Either pack a lunch, grab it from Pinewood Cafe or buy it inside the zoo. Find a spot along the trails and enjoy your wild picnic.

    5. Menil Park - Right next to the Menil Collection, there is a small shady park with one lone red swing. Bring your lunch from the nearby HEB or La Fendee and then stop by the Menil Gift Store and see if you can find an old glass bottle of Coke. Enjoy your quiet picnic and then climb trees, swing or lay in the grass.

    6. Mandell Park - At the corner of Richmond and Mandell, this Mandell Park is the symbol of what a neighborhood can do with some determination and hard work. Grab some lunch at El Pueblito next door and head to the park to wonder around the organic gardens. Consider that this lot used to be a waste land, was transformed into gardens and a beautiful retreat.

    7. Fleming Park - Grab lunch at Picnic and take it to Fleming Park. This shady neighborhood park host birthday parties and playdates every single day. Eat your lunch before playing on the old style wooden playground equipment. Extend your day by heading over to the museum district just blocks away. Looking for a Houston City Park closer to your house? Find a list of all the parks HERE.

    8.  Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park - Located next to the Galleria Mall is a 64 foot tall Water Wall. Pack your lunch and eat it in the mist or on a nearby park bench. Let the kids run around the open grass. If you want to extend the trip, hit the mall for some ice skating or to visit the play area.

    9. Buffalo Bayou Park Fish Family Play Area - Next to Buffalo Bayou, with a fabulous view of the downtown skyline, eat at the Water Works building or the pavilion at the Fish Family Play Area. This nature play area is amazing... and there are plenty of shaded tables for your picnic!

    More Things to do

    • Splashway Waterpark monkey bars across the lazy river
      Splashway Waterpark & Campgrounds Promo Code
    • Thumbs Up in the Pool
      Cheap, Reduced or Free Summer Camps for Houston Kids
    • Baby angel at ice cream shop
      Top 5 Places to Eat in Houston, with Kids!
    • Noahs Ark Pool Whale
      Houston Summer Fun Guide

    About Jill Jarvis

    Jill Jarvis is the owner of JillBJarvis.com, a BigKidSmallCity.com and Things to Do in Houston, with Kids, blog!

    She is the mom of five and started the website years ago... when she was tired of constantly cleaning up the same mess in the family room.

    Another mom showed her that you could just go do fun things in Houston, without hours of planning.

    This inspired the blog and changed everything about how she enjoyed life in Houston, with kids!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tiffany says

      February 12, 2013 at 7:34 pm

      You would have stumped me with picture of #5-7. Not for long though, now we have some new destinations to try out.

      Reply
      • Jill says

        February 12, 2013 at 9:23 pm

        Oh, finally! It's about time I stumped Tiffany. 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    On JillBJarvis.com, you will find things to do in Houston, with kids! Find all the Houston events, things to do any day, restaurants and resources for local parents.

    Popular Posts

    • Museum of Fine Arts Houston Golden Tree
      What to Do in Houston Today, June 19-August 10, 2025
    • Smile Yall are in Houston Mural
      What to Do in Houston with Kids Any Day
    • Midtown Park Boulder
      Houston Parks: Citywide Map, Pictures & Parent Reviews
    • Boys at the Beach
      Things to Do in Houston with Teens

    Featured On

    Go HERE for more media appearances!

    As Seen On Media Channels

    Browse Website by...

    • Parks
    • Farms and Zoos
    • Beach
    • Things to do

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Jill
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 JillBJarvis.com