It's summertime in houston and we want to be outside. I decided to meet some of my folks at…read moreDiscovery Green for park after dark. They were having line dancing on Thursday nights in June. I regret not going sooner. The weather was great, a little cooler. Ok no it was still hot but felt ok. There were many vendors and for a free concert and dancing outside, discovery green crosses off a lot of boxes. Check them out if you have never been. There was plenty of seating whether you want to be near the stage or at the tables, they have benches and plenty of green space. Great for kids and ok to bring pets. I parked on the street for no charge since I waited until after 6pm. Check out their schedule of events. Can't go wrong.

Excellent park and hangout location for the entire family. I especially enjoy the concert series in…read moreMarch, Sunday evenings. The area isn't very large but centrally situated near entertainment and restaurants. As with most downtown venues, parking can be a challenge and expensive.

Jan 3, 2023 Came in…read morefor a free goodie bag because I saw 13 of the 20 "washed ashore" traveling art exhibits that are here on the island until March. Each sculpture is made from the plastic that is washed ashore American beaches so to educate society on the issue There's one inside here!

The staff is wonderful at this little center in the back of a historic building in downtown…read moreGalveston. A friendly young lady with a wonderful Southern politeness offered us brochures, coupons and maps to get us started shelling and dining. She recommends excursions that we would not have thought of doing. We felt very welcomed. The center also has examples of carved oak figures and a sailboat replica. There were about 8 racks of brochures and pamphlets. Parking is free next to the building. There is a tiny area in the center for kids to play while parents explore information. The center also sells tee shirts and hats but no postcards). This is the best place to start you visit to Galveston!

I love our community (Prairieland Village) it's still rather new so everything has not been built…read moreout yet. The homes are beautiful the lakes are gorgeous and all of the amenities. On the other side of 99 as of right now HEB is being built in Bridgeland so we won't have to go out of the neighborhood so I love that, As well as other commercial buildings it so much to see and do here. There's schools, churches, a gas station will definitely update in the future.

So I found out about this treehouse from a friend that lives here and thought it was cool. I…read morebrought my toddlers here and they thought it was so cool now I can't get them away from it. We even went on a walk throughout the trail. It's so peaceful here I think I will come and have a picnic or read a book next time. There's also parking places that I really am thankful for.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is a go-to place if urban life makes us feel overwhelmed at…read moresome points...... Just have a walk in Nature! Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is such a sanctuary for us to reconnect with Nature, reconnect with ourselves. You can find some other beautiful, less wild trails. Or you can explore this Ravine Trail, known for its wilderness, with most elevation change than the others. Deep shade. Tree community. Here and there you will see lovely bunnies and squirrels. Despite these facts, you still meet with other people here and there, peacefully and quietly making steps. And you might feel more safe because actually, you will hear the sound of cars moving fast in freeway. ( which I wish there is more silent and stillness ) All good. A sanctuary right in the heart of busy Houston. This is great! A BIG PLUS to me was NO MOSQUITOES! ( or maybe I was lucky yesterday.) I felt thankful for all of the effort and hard works contributed to Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. So we can have this beautiful place for our busy urban life. May we all have some time for ourselves, reconnecting to the space within, reconnecting to Nature. Best, Chloe P/S: very nice clean restroom located right at Nature Center - Wildflower Trail. Nature Center opens everyday 9am - 4pm. Plan ahead so you and your family can explore more.

A beauuuutiful nature center surrounded by many trails you can take! I had a nice time looking at…read morethe exhibits inside & was a little disappointed to find there was a lack of Houston Arboretum specific merchandise to commemorate our visit. But, overall the trails were nice, everything felt lush and alive! Bring water and don't forget to pay for parking. This spot is a great escape from the city.

Make sure to arrive early !! The morning line was out the door. It flows quickly but is long and…read moreyou will be waiting outside Parking Since it's downtown there are paid parking lots nearby ( averaging about $25). There's also street parking nearby available after rush hour ends for about $2/hr. Security: You will have to go through security to enter the building and that's what causes the line to back up out the door. There is a metal detector to walk through and you put your bag through one - airport style They do make you take all electronics out of your bags. Belts, watches, etc come off but not shoes (thank goodness) . Make sure to leave nail files, lighters, etc in your car Getting to the passport office: The passport office is in the 4th floor. There are 2 sets of elevators so make sure you're waiting for the right one. The lower levels one is on the further end from security. When you get upstairs the guard will check your reservation confirmation and tell you what line to get in. From there it's just showing what they ask at the window then going to the next place they tell you . Other info: Apparently there is somewhere to take passport photos on site for a fee Everyone was very polite and friendly which I wasn't necessarily expecting ! I arrived to the building at 7:40am and was at the 4th floor by about 8:05am. I was done by 8:30am which was actually my appointment time. I recommend arriving early! When I came to pickup my passport at about it 2pm there were no lines anywhere

Very helpful with same day passport given my own doing of not renewing before my flight. Extremely…read morefriendly and kind staff. The systems were down the day prior and no stress out on the those being helped, only kindness and direction. Needed for this type of process. I'm really thankful for the help and the amazing service from walking through the building security to the appointment check-in to getting my passport. Thank you so much! Krystle

The Bolivar Peninsula and beach area reminds me so much of trips in my youth to the beach where we…read moredrove on to the beach to pick our spot. Not too many beaches left where they let you do that anymore but Bolivar is one of them. The peninsula is narrow and long with the main road going from the ferry terminal at the mouth of Galveston Bay to High Island. Used to go all the way to Port Arthur but with many big storms it washed away and they decided it wasn't worth rebuilding. I go down there mainly to take pictures of birds, there is a good variety; mostly shore birds like gulls, plovers, avocets and skimmers. The far west end is now a bird sanctuary owned by the Audubon society. You do need a beach pass on your windshield or your risk getting a ticket. Stop at any convenience store along 87 and get one, they are $5 during January and February and the price increases to $10 after that.

Great birder's paradise. Love the view of the gulf and they…read morebird sanctuary we visited. Looking forward to going back!

Sorry but I will always refer to this by it's correct and rightful name, Anahuac National Wildlife…read moreRefuge. This is a great place to go to see life in the salt marsh east of Galveston Bay. The bird are numerous and of so many species. And besides birds there are tons of alligators, both large and small. The main attraction towards the center of the refuge is Shoveler Pond. The pond is surrounded by a 6 mile one way road and you shouldn't be in any rush to get around. The road is narrow and one way but there are pull-offs where you can stop to let someone go by or just to sit and watch the wildlife. As you stare off into the cat tails and grasses, if you wait long enough you will realize there are a myriad of creatures both big and small there. Tiny wrens red winged black birds and warblers, ducks of all kinds, rails, stilts, avocets, moorhens and then the bigger birds like egrets and herons and ibis. And then there are the alligators, sunning themselves after a mud bath. It's nice when there is a slight wind blowing as the mosquitoes can be kind of bad as the weather warms up, you might want to apply some OFF. And it can be hot and humid in the winter. I like to go in the cooler months. There is also a large boardwalk and deck area for viewing farther out in the marsh but the benches are usually covered in bird poop so be aware before sitting down. There is a shop at the entrance and it is worth a visit as well as restrooms and a butterfly garden. There is a pavilion with picnic tables but last time we were there a lot of wasps and hornets had made nests so we found another spot to have our lunch. The refuge is about half way between Winnie and High Island and a good stop if you are going to or coming from Smith Oaks Bird Refuge at High Island.

What a lovely way to spend a beautiful, clear skies winter day!…read more We loaded up the bikes, backpacks with snacks, binoculars, bug spray, clothing layers, SPF, water, hand wipes, etc, and drove out to explore this 34K acre wildlife refuge an hour or so outside of Downtown Houston. There are hiking trails, biking trails, and people exploring the wetlands from their cars. I DON'T recommend that. I mean, if you have people who are elderly or people who find it challenging to bike around, by all means - you can drive around and treat it like a drive-thru wetland experience. But my biggest rec is to take your bike and explore that way. Aside from the wetlands, we went over to the bayside to watch the sunset. There were LOADS of mosquitos, so prepare for that. And a few families were harvesting oysters. We missed some of the hiking areas and oyster bayou, but looking forward to returning earlier in the day to explore.

Open Christmas Eve, short well marked walking trails that wind along Spring creek fishing pond,…read moreplayground. Advice to stay on trails and away from snakes and poison ivy is probably wise.

This park is beautiful. Small but great for walking the dog and having a picnic. Kids loved playing…read moreon the climbing frame and exploring. Well kept.