The Houston Museum District is perfect for families, homeschool trips, and weekend adventurers. Packed with world-class Houston museums and walkable green spaces within Hermann Park, this favorite Houston area is perfect for families, homeschoolers, and curious travelers.
Home to favorites like the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Children’s Museum Houston, Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH), and the Houston Zoo, this area is packed with days of places to explore. It’s easy to turn a single afternoon or weekend into a full indoor and outdoor downtown Houston adventure.
Skip to Top Houston Museum District Questions
A little travel planning goes a long way. In this comprehensive Houston museum guide, I’m sharing top tips for visiting the Museum District Houston, including where to park, free days, how to pack, where to get out wiggles, and why each of these Houston museums are worth your time — especially when juggling kids, strollers, and the Texas heat. Don’t miss amazing outdoor areas between these Houston places; keep reading.
Our homeschool family explored Houston for more than a decade; take my Mom tips and use them to make the most of your time. Read on to plan your Houston museum adventure with less stress and explore the District like a pro.
Affiliate disclosure: When you click and purchase a link in my post, I may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I promise to only recommend products or places that I have personally want, used, or researched. Thanks in advance for the gallon of gas. 😉
Houston Museum District Free Days
If you’re looking to save money and still be able to visit some of Houston’s best museums, aim for Houston Museum District free Thursdays. Many are open Thursday afternoon and evening, but check individual calendars as you may have to reserve tickets. Word of warning though, Houstonians know, and places may will be crowded – especially if these days are falling on school breaks. Additionally, this means that Houston museum parking will be difficult as well.
~~~> Don’t miss this top money-saving tip to save money during travel! Read all about how museum memberships save us $100s yearly at “How to Save Money with Museum Memberships”. All about saving the money for travel!
Additionally, Bank of America members have extra benefits with their “Museums on Us” program which offers a free ticket to card holders on the first full weekend of the month.
Looking to save money? Check out the Houston CityPASS which might help if you’re planing on spending a couple of days exploring the Houston Museum District.
Get a Membership! Although there isn’t one museum membership that will cover all of these museums, there are some that will cover several including North American Reciprocal Museum (Children’s, Holocaust) or the Association of Science Technology Centers (Children’s, Health, NASA Houston). Read all about how museum memberships work on this detailed money-saving post!
Houston Museum District Parking
My top recommendation for exploring Hermann Park and some of its amazing museums and gardens is to park in one central location (paying one time) and hiking around. Go visit one museum in the morning, return to the car for a picnic, leave the stuff (or refill snacks), and visit another museum in the afternoon. Of note, lots of commuters and downtown workers park in this area for the whole day during the week. Arrive early.
- Hermann Park Zoo Lot- If you know you’re going to the Houston Zoo, park here. It’s free and it’s a huge parking lot. For wandering over to Miller Outdoor Theater or the Japanese Garden or further, park at the edge of the zoo lot to be closer. There are additional lots scattered within Hermann Park, but it’s a huge park so plan accordingly. Note: there are homeless populations that hang out on the other side of the park!
- Centennial Gardens – This free parking lot is our go to usually for visiting HMNS because it’s free and reminds us to explore the garden. It can fill up though!
- Covered Museum Parking – If you want a covered spot, your best option is parking at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. This is $30 for the day, but it’s only $10 a day if you’re a member – even if you don’t go enter the museum. It’s only a short walk to many other museums like the Museum of Fine Arts which also has a parking garage (but I can’t vouch for it as I’ve never used it).
- Uncovered Museum Parking – Each museum is going to have its own parking lot with some more expensive than others. My recommendation is the Houston Museum of Fine Arts Houston parking lot right across from the entrance; this is also close to the Holocaust Museum.
- Street Parking – There is metered parking along many of the side roads, but these may be hard to find. Additionally, some may have 2 hour time limits; hard to use for museum visits.
~~~> If you’ve loved the Houston Museum District, plan to take on Dallas, Texas! Check out this “Dallas Museums: Best Things to Do” post. They have free places!
Tips for Visiting Houston Museums with Kids
- Check Free Days: Many museums offer free or discounted admission on specific days. If you want to avoid crowds (and not lose your children or your mind), AVOID these days. There are other ways to save money. They’re so crowded.
- Plan Ahead: Review each museum website for up-to-date exhibits, hours, and workshops.
- Parking & Transportation: On-site parking is often available which makes quick car trips for changes or snacks so much easier. If the group is up for walking, pick a central parking location and walk from place to place.
- Bring a Picnic: The Houston Museum District does not have quick fast food or even kid-friendly nearby lunch restaurants. Bring a picnic to eat, or plan your museum trips for lunchtime to include HMNS’ small food grill, grab a sandwich at CMH Fresh Cafe, or head to the Houston Zoo for unlimited options. Some places like HMNS don’t allow food, so
be sneakycheck the rules. - Bring a stroller. This is a lot of walking. All of these museums and outdoor spaces are wide and open for strollers.
- Allow for kid play time! Go feed a duck, climb a hill, walk along the reflecting pond, sniff a flower… They’re going to be bored if you don’t plan accordingly.
- Kid Favorites: For hands-on learning, the Houston Children’s Museum and Health Museum are your best options. HMNS is best for bigger kids and still has some touching areas for the littler ones.
- Adult-Only Fun: Sometimes you want to avoid the kid crowds. I get it. If so, head to the Holocaust Museum or MFAH. These are mostly adult places.
Houston Museum District List
- Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS)
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)
- Holocaust Museum Houston
- Houston Zoo
- McGovern Centennial Gardens
- Japanese Garden
- Miller Outdoor Theatre
- Children’s Museum Houston
- The Health Museum
- Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH)
🦖 Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS)
Houston families love HMNS for its huge rooms filled with full-sized exhibits. This Houston science museum is my family’s favorite even after years of homeschool travel to lots of museums. This was our favorite Houston field trip, and we multiple times a year while we lived in the Houston area.
Adult and kids alike will see a huge rooms of dinosaur skeletons, halls of Egyptian mummies and artifacts, and learn about natural history in a fun, engaging way that makes science exciting and memorable. This is not a hands-on kid museum, but HMNS exhibits are so diverse that there will be something to interest all visitors.
~~~> For full details about all the exhibits and why HMNS is our family favorite Houston museum, head to “How to Plan an Epic HMNS Trip”.
HMNS Highlights & Exhibits:
The focus of HMNS is natural history which starts in Texas and covers the world. Travel through time to visit mummies in Ancient Egypt, Mayan cultures in Central America, and modern history in the Texas oil exhibit. Family favorites include the Morian Hall of Paleontology, which boasts the largest exhibit of dinosaur fossils that I’ve ever seen. Visitors can explore the Hall of Ancient Egypt, visit butterflies in the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and enjoy immersive astronomy shows at the Burke Baker Planetarium.
2025 HMNS Ticket Cost
- Adults: $25 | Children (3–11): $16 | Seniors (62+): $16 | Members: Free
- Admission includes permanent exhibits (hmns.org)
- Look for discount tickets on Groupon to save money!
- Free Tuesdays 5:00-8:00 PM
- If you are planning more than one trip to the museum for the family in a year, consider getting a membership. Two family trips will pay for the HMNS membership – and you’ll save money on museum district parking. Unfortunately, this isn’t a museum with membership reciprocity, but it’s worth it!
Kid-Friendly Tips for HMNS:
- Bring your stroller (even a double) as this science museum is very stroller-friendly with large spaces between exhibits.
- Hungry? There is a snack bar located on the bottom floor if the kids need a snack break or lunch. You can have your hand stamped on exit and easily get back in after lunch.
- Hands-on kids may want to head to the Cabinet of Curiosities with hidden drawers to explore and things to touch. The second best option for hands-on is in the Weiss Energy Hall that even has a quick ride diving under the earth.
- No snacks or drinks are allowed inside museum, so keep your food packed up. If you need refills on your water, there are restrooms scattered throughout (but be sneaky!).
🎨 Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH)
With two huge buildings of art galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden, Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts houses a world-class art collection that is equal or surpasses any other of its class. MFAH is my favorite of the Houston art museums and is perfect for families who want to experience art from around the world. The rotating exhibitions and peaceful environment allow kids and adults to explore and appreciate US and world masterpieces across millennia.
MFAH Highlights & Exhibits
These galleries include European paintings, Asian art, modern works, and special exhibitions. You will travel to Ancient Greece and impressionist France. You will see famous names and find some new favorite artists. If the modern art at MFAH isn’t enough for you, make sure you also check out Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston.
MFAH Ticket Cost
- Adults: $24 | Seniors: $20 | Teens: $20 | Children under 12: Free
- Free on Thursdays, courtesy of Shell USA (mfah.org)
- Check out the visiting exhibits for an extra fee
Kid-Friendly Tips for MFAH
- Kids will love the connecting tunnel and the colorful lights between the two buildings. A secret tunnel!
- Although there is no eating in the gallery, head out to the Cullen Sculpture Garden for a picnic surrounded by art – and a much-needed outside wiggle break.
- If your littlest is still small enough for a stroller or front-facing baby carrier, do it! This is the kind of museum with breakable pieces that will make you nervous.
🕍 Holocaust Museum Houston
Houston’s Holocaust Museum is a moving, educational experience, helping families understand history and the importance of tolerance and remembrance. Best for older kids, this museum carefully teaches all ages about important world history.
~~~> Don’t hesitate to take your kids to this important Holocaust museum. Heading Atlanta? Plan to visit the Breman Museum (all the info here). Florida? Add the Florida Holocaust Museum to your St. Petersburg road trip. Europe? Visit the WW2 concentration camp Terezin in the Czech Republic.
Houston Holocaust Museum Exhibits
Dedicated to educating about the Holocaust, the museum features survivor testimonies through video, World War 2 artifacts, and rotating exhibitions like art by survivors. This important WW2 museum has unique artifacts like an original wooden boat used to rescue victims of the Holocaust and a train used for concentration camp transportation. Dedicated to discussing mistreatment of all people, there are also exhibits about other mistreated people groups around the world.
Houston Holocaust Museum Ticket Cost
- Adults: $22 | Seniors: $16 | Children 0–18: Free
- Free for members (hmh.org)
- Check out your museum reciprocity option for ASTC and NARM. It’s free with these, but that also means that getting a membership here provides your family free museum access around the US for the rest of the year.
🐾 Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo was a favorite of ours for years, and with our membership, we went frequently. It’s a hands-on wildlife experience that’s both educational and entertaining. Families can learn about animal conservation, habitats, and behavior while exploring the expansive zoo grounds.
Highlights & Exhibits:
The Houston Zoo is home to over 6,000 animals from around the world, including elephants, gorillas, and exotic birds. Kids love the Kipp Aquarium, McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, and interactive animal feeding opportunities. Seasonal events like Boo at the Zoo and Zoo Lights make it a year-round destination.
Houston Zoo Ticket Cost
- Adults (12+): $25; Children (2–11): $20; Seniors (65+): $20; Children under 2: Free
(houstonzoo.org) - If you have an AZA membership, you’ll save 50% off on this zoo trip!
- Extras are available like riding the carousel or feeding the giraffe. And watch out for those zoo stores; lots of cute stuff there.
Kid-Friendly Houston Zoo Tips
- Bring a stroller if your kids are still small enough! Even if they don’t ride in it the whole time, use it to pack water and snacks, carry hats and jackets, and allow a rest area.
- Make sure you wear comfortableshoes for walking, bring hats for the sun, and allow for fun in the play areas.
- This huge zoo is ready for your full-day adventure, so bring the picnic and find a special spot to eat while watching new friends. Food is allowed so bring it on.
- The zoo also has shaded areas and restrooms throughout the park.
🌿 McGovern Centennial Gardens
Located right next to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and only blocks from the Houston Health Museum, McGovern Centennial Gardens is a FREE, peaceful, educational destination in Houston’s museum district. Adults can enjoy the landscaping, sculptures, and serene walking paths, making it a perfect stop for families combining nature, art, and culture.
Kids can learn about plants, wildlife, and garden design while exploring safely outdoors. This is a great place to hang between museum visits to let the kids (or grumpy adults) get out some energy and soak up som sun.
NOTE: This is a garden with fountains for viewing. There isn’t a playground or kid-specific area for playing games, but there is lots of open space for exploring or finding quiet corners to relax. While dogs are allowed, they must stay on their leash.
Centennial Garden Highlights & Exhibits:
McGovern Centennial Gardens offers beautiful, themed gardens including the Rose Garden, Woodland Garden, and the Great Lawn. The family will expecially be drawn to the Garden Mount as the highest point in the garden. This paved trail curves around the hill to give a great view of the surrounding area. Check out this map of McGovern Gardens to see all that’s offered.
Seasonal blooms, particularly cherry blossoms in spring, make it perfect for photos and outdoor learning. You can even volunteer to work in the vegetable garden and learn some new skills. Tables near the pavilion are great for having a snack or getting in a few hours of work or homeschooling!
For some extra learning outside of plant life, make sure you check out the Hawkins Sculpture walk for a trip through history with busts of many important historical people. We especially appreciate Gandhi and Dr. King as those are the ones most familiar to this Classical Conversations homeschooling family. Keep up the outdoor sculpture learning with a 10-minute walk over to the outdoor (and also free!) sculpture garden at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Tips for Visiting with this Garden with Kids
- Bring a lightweight backpack with water and snacks.
- Restrooms at the pavilion near the picnic table.
- Remind the kids that this isn’t a free-for-all playground to keep their expectations in check. Sorry, kids. There are water features, but you can’t get in them.
- There are plenty of paths and smaller hidden gardens, so make sure you have a meet up place if they wander off.
- With rotating plants, this is a great place to return to for all seasons and watch the changing in the plants. Sketch away!
🌸 Houston Japanese Garden
Hermann Park Japanese Garden Highlights
The Houston Japanese Garden feels special from the moment you enter through the walled gate. With quiet beauty everywhere, this peaceful area features tranquil paths, koi ponds, waterfalls, and traditional Japanese landscaping. Kids will enjoy spotting turtles, koi fish, and stone lanterns. Seasonal blooms and cherry trees create beautiful photo opportunities throughout the year.
This small Japanese garden within Hermann Park offers a peaceful escape within the city while giving families a chance to connect with nature, explore cultural design, and enjoy outdoor learning. Perfect for teaching kids about plants, water features, and Japanese garden traditions. Plan to sit with a sketch pad and watch the egrets enjoying the water features.
Cost of Visiting Houston’s Japanese Gardens?
It doesn’t cost anything to visit this Hermann Park Japanese garden! No tickets to buy. Nothing!
🎭 Miller Outdoor Theatre
Miller Outdoor Theatre offers free, family-friendly live performances, including plays, musicals, concerts, and cultural events. Visitors can enjoy picnics on the lawn while watching performances under the stars in the beautiful Hermann Park setting.
It’s a fun and cultural experience for all ages. Families can enjoy music, theatre, and dance, creating memorable moments together without spending a dime.
Miller Outdoor Theater Cost
- Admission is always free
- Tickets may be required for special events (milleroutdoortheatre.com)
Kid-Friendly Tips
- Bring blankets or low chairs for seating if it’s a big performance, and sunscreen for daytime performances. Arrive early to secure the best spots as the lawn is first-come first-served.
- Bring snacks for a picnic on the lawn.
- If there’s not a performance, there’s a hill. Your kids are going to want to play on it!
- There are restrooms under the theater building. Check to see if they are open.
🧒 Children’s Museum Houston
Houston’s Children Museum ideal for curious kids who want to touch and explore and truly live their best kid life. The indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits make learning fun and memorable, teaching STEM, art, and culture through play.
The Houston kid museum offers interactive exhibits like Kidtropolis where they will pretend to drive ambulances or buy groceries and FlowWorks outside where water play abounds. Kids can role-play, experiment with science, and learn through hands-on play. This full day of fun can be crazy as this top kid museum can get busy! Plan to stay for the day and let the kids fully explore and play.
Houston Children’s Museum Ticket Cost
- Adults & Children (1+): \$21.95 | Seniors & Military: \$19.95 | Children under 1: Free
- SECRET Spy Game: Additional \$14.95 (cmhouston.org)
- Membership with ASTC get you in free!
🏥 The Health Museum Houston
Why Visit Houston’s Health Museum?
The Health Museum Houston is an engaging educational experience that makes complex health and science concepts accessible for all ages. With a focus on kids, this science-focused Houston children’s museum is full of hands-on exhibits to touch, climb through, and watch.
Much smaller and less crowded than Houston’s Children Museum next door, the Houston Health Museum allows you to give your kids space to explore a bit on their own while you keep a closer eyes on them. With it’s own Health Museum parking lot, it also means less walking for Mom and easier car access if needed. Small doesn’t mean not worth a visit! It means tons of health learning, and less stress for parents!
Museum Highlights & Exhibits
Sometimes referred to at the Houston body museum because of its focus on the human body, the Houston Health Museum is all about health and medical science. Interactive exhibits make understanding anatomy and biology hands-on and fun. There’s even a bike to ride to watch the corresponding skeleton move!
Make sure you check for visiting exhibits as in the past they’ve hosted a Houston Body Worlds Exhibit with the full body, plasticized exhibits – it’s on Winter 2025. This is the perfect Houston anatomy museum for your classroom and homeschool science field trip. For extra lab science, plan to add on the DeBakey Cell Lab for some microscope fun or check out some live organ dissections!
Warning: One of the back rooms (nicely out of the way) even has a full section about baby development and childbirth. Walk over there with your big kids!
Health Museum Cost:
- Adults: \$12 | Children (3–12): \$10 | Seniors: \$10 | Children under 3: Free
- DeBakey Cell Lab: +\$3 (thehealthmuseum.org)
- Free Thursdays! Make your reservation here.
- Check out adding a NARM or ASTC membership to get in free here and to other reciprocal museums around the country!
🖼️ Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH)
Why Visit CAMH?
Houston’s Contemporary Arts Museum is free! And quick visit.
Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston (CAMH) is a different art experience than any of these others, and it’s free. Its rotating exhibits make it accessible and ever-changing, perfect for families who love modern art and creativity. Expect multimedia installations, sculptures, and interactive displays in this large, one-room contemporary art museum.
Gotta admit; I don’t love modern art, but I do love free museums. I keep trying to appreciate modern art for its creativity and uniqueness. As my artist friend has to remind me, “Yes, but could you do that?!” I sure couldn’t, so if nothing else, appreciate these artists practiced skills! Hop into this museum and see the current modern art exhibitions of upcoming and established artists.
Little ones will especially love that modern art often has “moving elements”, bright colors, and digital additions. Perfect for your own little artist. The Museum of Contemporary Arts Houston even has a printable art guide for sketching and interacting with art to make this CAHM visit even more fun for kids.
Contemporary Art Museum Cost: Always free (camh.org)!
Final Thoughts on Houston’s Museums
Too often, we family travelers (guilty!) think we have to go to huge, exotic cities to visit amazing museums and outdoor spaces. Houston really does have some amazing museums that cover all topics from art to history, science to sculptures, garden spaces to outdoor play areas. There’s something for all ages and interests in downtown Houston. If you want to explore outside this small area of Houston, check out these other Houston-area museums. Gotta admit, this list has grown since we moved away from Houston!
- Bayou Bend – MFAH extension location in a historic house and garden
- Menil Collection – Free public art museum. Why have I never been?!
- Lawndale Art Center – This one is free too and in the museum district.
- Buffalo Soldiers Museum – All about Black soldiers and their role in all the US wars.
- Asia Society Texas – Asian art, performance, and film.
- Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston – New! All about Gandhi and his legacy of nonviolence.
So many amazing Houston museums to choose from!
Which one are you heading to first?
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. As transplants from Texas, my family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way.
Want to adventure like me? Reach out! I’d love to chat. Stop by my Instagram or Pinterest page to discover more of our adventures.
Want to work with me? I’d love to work with your destination and tourism board to help other family travelers see all you have to offer.
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