With a little more than one month of summer remaining, there is still plenty of time to explore Cypress, Houston, and the surrounding area. If you’re looking for something to do with the kids or with family that’s in town visiting, we’ve put together a list of not-so-ordinary experiences that will keep everyone busy and maybe even learning a thing or two while school is out. Many opportunities exist for experiential learning that make it easy to be a tourist in your own city. Everything listed is within a two-hour’s drive. You’ll be amazed to see what’s so close to home.
Our tour begins right here in Bridgeland! Our community now encompasses four villages and expands across the Grand Parkway. With the addition of Prairieland Village and Creekland Village many more trails to hike and bike and parks to explore can now be found in Bridgeland. Currently residents have nearly 80 parks throughout all four villages, and can explore approximately 100 miles of trails, that will total 250 miles once Bridgeland is complete. Check out our parks and trails map and see how many parks you can explore in a day, this week, or maybe, strive to get to them all before school starts! Read about five of our newest parks that are under construction in Bridgeland. Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats are also available for resident use to get out on the water in one of our many lakes. Stop by the boat house on Josey Lake to check one out for a few hours or launch your own from Oak Meadow Park or Lakeland Village Park.
Bridgeland, the Place to Explore:
Bridgeland’s HOA curates activities for all age groups throughout the year. Be sure to check out the weekly newsletter Be More Connected to find information on camps, swim lessons, family fun day, mixology class, blood drive, triathlon, summer flick ‘n’ float and monthly story time. If you are a resident and you’re not receiving the newsletter, please email [email protected] and request to be added to the contact list.
Our region of Texas is composed of intersecting bayous and creeks. We live in the western most section of Precinct 3, which spans all the way from Cypress through Spring and Humble to Crosby, Texas, near Highway 90. A master plan to connect all of them through a series of parks and trails is in progress. While it will take several years for everything to be connected, many parks are located close by and will offer an opportunity for curious minds to explore while they learn about native ecosystems of our region. See the full list of parks here. Many parks offer a range of activities ranging from Archery to Owl Pellet Dissection and a Pond Study. Here is the schedule of activities for Precinct 3 parks. Or simply go for a bike ride or hike, take your camera, and snap some photos or bring your drawing pad and pencils to sketch what you see in nature.
Houston – Attractions Galore:
Living just 35 miles from a major city offers numerous ways to captivate every interest. Bridgeland’s location near Highway 290 and Grand Parkway make traveling to Houston easy. If you plan to visit Houston’s major attractions, you can save almost 50% off the cost of admission by purchasing a Houston CityPASS. The pass includes admission to Space Center Houston and your choice of four of the following attractions: Houston Zoo, Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Kemah Boardwalk, Children’s Museum of Houston, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Creative souls will enjoy a day at Sawyer Yards. Located just west of the intersection of I-10 and I-45, you’ll find a campus filled with art studios, breweries, dining, and entertainment. There is so much to do within a few blocks that even if you’re not an art lover, you’ll still find plenty of other things to enjoy. One event currently available is ‘The Infinite,’ a 3-D virtual reality experience for ages 8 and up. You’ll take the trip of a lifetime as you journey to the International Space Station, seeing what life is like for astronauts in space.
Have you ever visited the Cistern, Houston’s first reservoir? No longer used for that purpose, it now features art installations. Currently on view is HaHa Real, by Rachel Rossin. Created specifically for this space, it was inspired by the classic children’s story The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams.
Book Worms:
If you don’t know the story, perhaps visit the library or local bookstore to pick up the book. There’s nothing like curling up with a good book on rainy day, especially if you had something planned but mother nature didn’t cooperate. Local bookstores include: Half-Priced Books, Blue Willow Bookstore, Houston Book, Warehouse, The Comic Vault, Copperfield Books, and of course, Lone Star College Library. Some of the locations listed also host book clubs and have children’s programming.
Bridgeland is also home to three ‘little libraries’ where you can share your book with others in exchange for one for you to read. ‘Little libraries’ can be found in Town Square Park in Lakeland Heights and at the Shores Park Pavilion, both in Lakeland Village and Celebration Park in Parkland Village.
Interactions with Airplanes and Animals:
If someone in your household has a penchant for flight, why not visit the Lone Star Flight Museum? With a space gallery, a flight simulator and more, there is much to see to be inspired to fly. During the month of July, general admission is just $10.
One of the smallest winged animals that takes flight is the hummingbird. It migrates through Texas twice a year – in spring and fall. You can learn all about these amazing creatures during the HummerBird Celebration. Mark your calendars as the event takes place after school begins in Rockport, Texas, September 19-22.
For the animal lovers in your family, here is a list of attractions offering a range of interactive experiences:
• TGR Exotics Wildlife Adventure in Spring, Texas – See, touch, and learn about exotic and endangered animals.
• East Texas Elephant Experience located just east of Conroe, Texas. – An up-close experience with rescued elephants, camels, zebras, and goats.
• Pawsitive Animal Encounters in Lufkin, Texas – Offers private zoo tours with animals from all over the world.
There’s a whole world to explore, and you don’t even have to leave Greater Houston! We hope the rest of your summer is filled with activities that inspire wonder, imagination, and fun.