Sun-Soaked, Pup-Approved: Our Family’s Favorite Summer Activities in Houston (2025 Edition)

Every June my now 13-year-old, my husband, and our Portuguese Water Dog (he thinks every puddle is the Atlantic) create a bucket list that mixes cool water, brain-food museums, and low-cost day trips. Below are the traditions and new spots we’re tackling this summer—feel free to borrow a few for your own crew.

1. Splash & Dash 🌊

Typhoon Texas, Katy
We hit this park right after breakfast, race down the Tidal Wave slides, then refuel on Dole Whip before the crowds swell. Look for weekday tickets under $35 and the new “Tidal Ranger” slide debuting Memorial Day weekend. 

Pirates Bay, Baytown
Worth the drive for its just-revamped wave pool and lazy river—plus free entry for littles under two. 

Neighborhood splash-pad circuit
On scorchers we steer clear of big parks and bounce between:

• Discovery Green’s dancing jets downtown,

• Levy Park’s orange rain towers in Upper Kirby, and

• The Commons at Hermann Park, home to Houston’s newest “Splash Cove” with cyclone towers of mist. 

Pack crocs, towels, and a change of clothes.

2. Beach & Boat Days 🚤🐾

Galveston Island State Park lets our water-obsessed pup zoom the shoreline while my kiddo hunts shells. We arrive before 10 a.m. for shaded parking and calmer waves.

Sam Houston Boat Tour (totally free!) cruises the Ship Channel for 90 minutes—kids geek out over the giant cranes, and our dog loves the deck breeze. Reservations open 30 days out and fill crazy fast. 

Buffalo Bayou Kayaks
If we only have half a day, we rent a tandem kayak at Allen’s Landing and paddle past skyline views; the dog balances up front like a furry figurehead. 

3. Cool-Your-Brain Adventures 🧑‍🚀

HMNS Xplorations Camps
Rockets, robots, even “mummy mysteries.” My son is signed up for the robotics week—snag spots early; July sessions sell out fast. 

Space Center Houston: “Moonwalkers” Exhibit
IMAX moon footage + VR boots that mimic one-sixth gravity = serious bragging rights at sleepovers. 

4. Quick-Hit Freebies & Parent Hacks 🎉

• Free carousel rides every Tuesday at Hermann Park—perfect cool-down after Splash Cove. 

• Early mornings = shaded parking, shorter sunscreen lines, and a less cranky dog.

• Create a “Summer Passport” on your phone; every new splash pad or museum earns a sticker (or snow cone) so kids stay motivated.

Ready to Dive In?

Whether you’re planning beach days, museum quests, or a lazy river float with the family pup, Houston has your summer covered. Screenshot this list, share your own hidden gems, and tag me—I’d love to see where your crew (two-legged and four-legged) ends up!