A peaceful, lovely set of trails along a creek, reminding us of the Houston before urbanization…read more The Houston Audubon Society maintains it and the number of bird species there is quite stunning. One key: feel free to park at the church around the corner. There is a "back entrance" trail leading from the church parking lot to the nature sanctuary.

God bless Edith Moore for donating this beautiful sanctuary to the Audubon Society. The Moore's…read moreincredible log cabin still stands and is open to visitors to read up on the history and the many species of wildlife. The volunteer staff there does an amazing job. The sanctuary is deceptively large with a great trail system. You will get both a good work out and pictures of nature. This truly is a hidden gem in Houston. Species we saw: Hermit Thrush, Carolina Wrens, Robins, Cardinals, Downy Woodpecker, Spotted Gars, Broad Banded Water Snakes, Broad Headed Skink, Five Line Skink, Red Eared Pond Slider, Eastern Mud Turtle, Green Darner, Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Morning Doves, White Winged Doves, Blue Catfish, Eastern Grey Squirrels, and the biggest Swamp Rabbit I've ever seen.

Checked out Sheldon Lake State Park after seeing it nearby. It's not a fully developed park, rather…read moreit's a collection of former fish hatcheries that have been returned to nature + walking trails + wetlands. There is no entrance fee and you're able to fish from the shoreline without a fishing license. The park is open from 8am-5pm. There's only about 2 miles worth of easy, paved trails. The main attraction is their observation tower that has an elevator that took us to the top. Up there, we saw the Houston skyline, oil refineries, and the other areas of the park we can't get to by foot. There are occasionally some ranger programs that the park rangers host. Because this park is classified as a not for profit park, they don't sell any gifts or souvenirs. They do have a park stamp though if you're interested in adding to your Texas State Parks Passport stamp collection. Even though this place doesn't offer many of the bells and whistles of other parks, the free admission makes it accessible to anyone seeking to get away from the "busyness" of life.

This is one of the Texas State parks that is free without the TX State Park pass and doesn't allow…read moreindividual camping. They only have group camping onsite and the campsites are not private, but very close together. Located in an unincorporated community just right off of Beltway 8 and US-90 Highway is Sheldon, TX which isn't too far from East Houston. Sheldon Lake isn't as kept up as Brazos Bend State Park in Needville or Stephen F. Austin in San Felipe, TX (which are closer state parks near Houston worth checking out); I did notice that since the park is considered free, hooligans feel the need to vandalize educational outdated posters on the tower and carve their names into trees which serve no purpose. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the park rangers, Tori who mentioned that the park was special to her. She was going around the park to assessing things that needed to be completed and worked on. This is one of the underrated parks that is home to ecological habitats of wetlands, bottomland woods, and coastal prairies. Driving to the park on Garrett Road, to your right, you'll see Sheldon Reservior. Seeing the trees on the reservior reminded me of the bald cypress at Caddo Lakes State park in Karnack, TX. Big and sunken into the swampy waters. Climbing several stairs to get to the top of the 82-floor tower was exciting because the view was stunning. There are placemarkers on the floor that indicate at which area that you stand you can see the Houston Ship Channel, the San Jacinto Monument, Houston Skyline, bayous, and views of the park. The elevator looked to be out of commission for a while as it was boarded up. There were giant solar panels generating the Mitsubusi Generators behind the towers. The trails are flat and gravel based; they are easy to manever for able-bodied and handicapped accessible individuals. There aren't any traditional trail markers located through the park which can be a bit confusing if you have trouble with reading a maps or don't have a sense of direction due to a lack of spatial awareness, then you may get lost. Not to worry because the park is very small and each trail isn't too long. The main trails always lead back to the parking lot. Each trail at this park doesn't extend past 0.8 miles. Unlike many others TX State parks, the Civilian Conservation Corps didn't build anything on-site at Sheldon Lake. This is definitely not one of my favorite state parks within our state that I've visisted, but it isn't bad to come here for a quick hike and to relax. It wasn't very crowded like it would be at Enchanted Rock located in Fredricksburg, TX or even Inks Lake in Burnet, TX. The park is very simple and needs some extra work to make it shine like the other TPWD parks.

The garden is simply delightful, adorned with magnificent flowers and winding trails. You can bring…read moreyour furry friends along as long as they are on a leash. However, the operating hours might not be the most accommodating, especially if you prefer to visit early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the intense sun.

Lovely park with a fun spiraling grassy area that takes you to the top of waterfall. Statues of…read morefamous people and their quotes are inspiring. As it's super hot there are homeless people milling around the restroom area, which takes away from the experience.

Hermann Park:…read more Hermann Park is a true treasure in the heart of Houston. I was really impressed with my visit. The first thing that caught my attention was its size. It feels vast and open, providing plenty of space to roam, relax, and explore. In many ways, it reminded me of New York's Central Park, with its mix of open green spaces, shaded paths, and lively vibe. One of my favorite parts was the wildlife. Ducks glide gracefully across the ponds, and squirrels zip around the trees. The animals here are friendly and seem at ease with visitors. This adds a charming, almost magical touch to the walk, making the experience feel more connected to nature. The park is ideal for anyone wanting a break from the city and some fresh air. Whether you're walking, jogging, having a picnic, or just sitting and watching people, there's a perfect spot for you. It's well-kept and feels safe, making it a great place for families, couples, or solo visitors. In summary, Hermann Park is a must-see for both locals and tourists. It offers a refreshing escape from city life while still being easy to reach. If you're in Houston and seeking a peaceful yet lively outdoor experience, this is the place to go.

Come here often to walk and get a workout in! Definitely one of my favorite parks to come to in the…read morecity

A nice elevated spot that faces the downtown Houston with a few seats and table an a lawn in front…read moreof a stage and there is a restroom and water fountain at the bottom. Sometime it will be close to the public due to private party, event. When the weather is good this is a good spot for a date or just being out door as there is a parking lot and it is connected to Buffalo Bayou Park trial.

I've been running the Bayou for more than 15 years, and this has always been my start and finish…read moreline. I like this spot because it has one of the best views of the downtown skyline from the historic Sabine Street bridge. And, second, because there is always plenty of free parking in Lot H that leads directly to this pathway. When I lived at Sabine Street Lofts for a short part of 2017/2018, I was so thankful to be able to walk out my door and enjoy this promenade with my fur babes. This is def one of my happy places in Houston.

There are 23 pillars of increasing height, with stripes of lawn connecting them to the sidewalks…read more This is obviously meant to be the 23 pairs of human chromosomes lined up on the metaphase plate of mitosis or meiosis. Cool. Perfect for the world's largest contiguous medical center.

Another one of Houston's beauty that probably no one even knows about. Well I am here to inform…read moreyou about it since I've been working in the area for almost 2 years and never noticed it myself. However, recently I was looking for a place to eat and noticed this across the street. So I decided to look for parking and check this place out. There was no designated parking for this place that I could find so I just parked on the street in the back and walked on over. This place is beautiful. There are plenty of benches and shaded covering so you can sit and relax out here. While I was out exploring I noticed there was a professional photographer taking portraits for another woman. Definitely a hidden gem.

This is a small park on the many side trails off of the White Oak Bayou Trail. You can walk or bike…read morealong the paved path. There are benches for you to sit on around the mound and even a private area overlooking the bayou to enjoy a book. It would be a great place to have a picnic on the mound or sitting on the bench. *Insert RomCom movie with bench scenes like 500 Days of Summer or Notting Hill.* There's also a small parking lot nearby under I-10. I love all the metal signs with nature quotes.

I stumbled upon Bayou Greenways Park while looking for the closest trail/park to do a 20 minute…read morewalk. Bayou Greenways Park is a beautiful find. It's a nice space to slow down from the frenzied pace of city life and enjoy the beauty of Texas' bayous. You can park via Studemont St, look for a small turnout that leads into a parking lot. Then take a quick walk away from I-10 and over the pedestrian bridge. You will see a trail leading up a hill on the right side. There is a sign to Bayou Greenways Park, saying that as early as 1930 a famous landscape developer saw the potential of the bayous being a huge player In the health, recreation, and community of our city. However, the vision wasn't completed until much later through the 2020 Bayou Greenways Park plan that parks, bayous, and neighborhoods were all interconnected for the first time. Just to the right of the sign, you'll see some unique signs commenting on the scenic beauty of the Texas bayous. Then you will reach the top of a "hill" which you can go up and see the tips of Houston's skyline poking out over the trees. Check out the ground tile topographical map with etchings of the major bayous and waterways that empty out into the Gulf of Mexico. You'll see silver circles with the names of all the interconnected parks. And don't miss the steps down to a bench area overlooking the bayou. It was pretty noisy due to the construction, but I can picture this as a great place to stop, rest, and take a breather from city life.

I love the look of this piece so much and I'm so happy to see it again in person and it's so cute…read moreto see the finished pieces in the background

Enjoyed a lovely late afternoon to evening at Hermann Park Garden Center…read more Numerous 2020 graduates put and about taking photos. Many families enjoying the day also. We walked a total of three hours around this and other park vistas. Beautiful day/evening! Japanese Garden near by was nice. Also near by was a veggie garden. All finds of herbs, too! One is where we get Vick's vapor rub from. Smelled just like it! Loved the water fountains and even though I didn't get to go, there is a lake not to far from here. So much to do and so little time! I'll be back and plan better!