The state of Texas is very large, and generally it appears not possible to discover it with out driving below eight hours. However you don’t really must enterprise that far out of Houston for a much-needed break, even only for a day. Sure, there are stunning parks, mountain climbing trails, historical past excursions, ice cream factories, and even a goat farm proper in our yard. Listed here are some locations inside a two-and-a-half hour drive of Houston that can partially scratch your journey itch and help you escape town for a enjoyable day journey.
The San Jacinto museum and battlefield is ideal for historical past fanatics.
San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield
La Porte | 25 miles, 30min drive
Dive into Texas historical past with a visit to the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield, the place the Lone Star State gained its independence from Mexico in 1836. The museum is positioned within the base of the San Jacinto Monument and affords a glance into greater than 500 years of historical past. The everlasting exhibit showcases firearms that have been utilized in key battles, objects utilized by the pioneers of Texas independence, pre-Columbian pottery, previous maps, non secular artworks, and different paperwork, prints, and pictures. The museum can be dwelling to an remark deck that provides guests a full view of the place the ultimate battle was fought. You’ll want to stroll the battlefield throughout your go to to get the complete expertise and relive a slice of Texas historical past.
At Armand Bayou Nature Middle, you’ll end up immersed in wetland forest, prairie, and marshland.
Armand Bayou Nature Middle
Pasadena | 26 miles, 40min drive
One of many Houston space’s many hidden gems, this protect offers a glimpse into what the Bayou Metropolis would appear to be had people by no means settled right here. The middle helps shield 2,500 acres of pure wetland forest, prairie, and marsh habitats. It’s the right place for households or anybody trying to get pleasure from some out of doors enjoyable, with mountain climbing trails, kayak excursions, and pontoon cruises. The middle additionally hosts subject journeys, Scout packages, and birding occasions.
Froberg’s Farm
Alvin | 29 miles, 35min drive
For a healthful day, head to Froberg’s Farm to get down and soiled choosing fruit and greens. The farm is thought for its standard strawberry choosing season, so that you would possibly wish to save your go to for January by late Could. However as quickly as fall hits, Froberg’s hosts a fall pageant with a corn maze and a pumpkin patch in October. And do not sleep on the farm’s nation retailer and bakery for some candy treats and a snack for the highway.
Lagoonfest
Texas Metropolis | 32 miles, 40min drive
Houston warmth could be insufferable, so we’re fortunate to have this enjoyable water exercise proper in our yard. As an alternative of driving to Galveston for a brown-water seashore day, head to Texas Metropolis and revel in a man-made seashore that feels such as you’ve traveled someplace with crystal-clear water. Among the enjoyable features a 50-foot slide and a floating impediment course. Two complimentary electrical ferries will take you across the lagoon. You’ll be able to hire bumper boats, sailboats, single and double kayaks, and aqua tricycles. The park additionally affords cabanas with full-service meals, beverage, and bottle service. Observe that Lagoonfest closes for the season on the finish of November and opens again up in March.
Check your bravery with the rides at Kemah Boardwalk.
Kemah Boardwalk
Kemah | 36 miles, 40min drive
Adrenaline junkies, that is the place for you. From the picket curler coaster to a 140-foot free-fall drop, Kemah Boardwalk’s amusement rides will take a look at your bravery. Seize particular person tickets or all-day journey passes, and extra tickets if you wish to get pleasure from a zipline, speedboat, or the stingray reef and rainforest exhibit. After a day of rides and strolling round, you’ll be sure to work up an urge for food. The boardwalk is filled with choices just like the Flying Dutchman, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Landry’s Seafood Home, the Pizza Oven, and Bayside Grille.
Brazos Bend State Park and George Observatory
Needville | 48 miles, 55min drive
For an unbelievable stargazing expertise, take a mini highway journey to this state park. The George Observatory, a part of the Houston Museum of Pure Science, affords stargazing on Saturday nights and personal group visits on Fridays. You’ll be able to view the evening sky utilizing telescopes on the observatory’s higher deck and discover the Milky Manner exhibit. Because it’s positioned inside Brazos Bend, admission to the park is required. By day, it affords 37 miles of trails that may be hiked, biked, or explored on horseback. Because the park is dwelling to wetlands, you’ll wish to examine alligator security first.
Moody Gardens is the right spot to go to to keep away from Galveston’s murky water.
Moody Gardens
Galveston | 50 miles, 1hr drive
For those who do wish to trek all the way down to Galveston however nonetheless don’t wish to swim in its water, plan a go to to Moody Gardens. This resort, spa, and conference heart additionally has family-friendly points of interest tucked inside its iconic pyramids. Within the aquarium pyramid, full of 1.5 million gallons of water, stand up shut and private with penguins, seals, stingrays, sharks, and tropical fish. The rainforest pyramid contains a tree-top cover entrance that feels such as you’ve entered the rainforests of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with over 1,700 unique crops and endangered animals. Different points of interest at Moody Gardens embrace 3D and 4D theaters, a discovery museum, a paddlewheel boat referred to as Colonel, a ropes course and zipline, and the “palm seashore” water park through the summer time.
Blue Heron Farm
Fields Retailer | 52 miles, 50min drive
This 10.5-acre one-of-a-kind spot in Waller County has somewhat little bit of every part. Blue Heron Farm began as a goat dairy in 2006, and just lately added a beer backyard that doubles as a petting farm. Come get pleasure from some gentle bites which can be made utilizing a few of the farm’s merchandise, in addition to quite a lot of beers, wines, exhausting seltzers, and a few nonalcoholic drinks. Goat petting is free if you buy one thing; in any other case, it’s $5. For those who’re fortunate, you’ll spot Jeremy the escape-artist tortoise.
If you wish to transcend a day journey, camp in Huntsville State Park, which sits inside the Sam Houston Nationwide Forest.
Sam Houston Nationwide Forest
New Waverly | 56 miles, 1hr drive
Escape to the Pineywoods with a fast journey as much as Sam Houston Nationwide Forest. The forest spans over 163,000 acres throughout Huntsville, Conroe, Cleveland, and Richards. For those who’re up for a problem, tackle a part of the Lone Star Mountaineering path, which boasts Nationwide Recreation Path standing. Because it’s 128 miles, you won’t be capable of totally full the trek, nevertheless it has three sections, so you may select which half is finest on your go to. Different actions throughout the forest embrace swimming, fishing, biking, and horseback using.
Anahuac Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
Anahuac | 60 miles, 1hr drive
Discover all this refuge has to supply from dawn to sundown, together with searching, birding, mountain climbing (together with a butterfly path), fishing, seashore combing, biking, boating, and wildlife watching. And whereas it makes for a beautiful spot to go to, the refuge additionally works to guard coastal wetlands so future generations—individuals and wildlife—can proceed to get pleasure from it.
Newman’s Fort
Bellville | 72 miles, 1hr 15min drive
Have your self a medieval expertise with a go to to Newman’s Fort, which boasts a moat, a working drawbridge, a chapel, a courtyard, and spectacular interiors. You’ll want to ebook a reservation upfront. On the tour, you’ll be given an introduction to the fortress’s historical past, then will likely be allowed to stroll round and discover the grounds by yourself. Earlier than taking off, head to the on-site bakery for some additional goodies.
Blue Bell Creameries has its first refrigerated truck on show.
Blue Bell Creameries Tour
Brenham | 72 miles, 1hr 20min drive
Nearly an hour out of Houston is the headquarters of each Texan’s go-to ice cream. Though a tour of the manufacturing facility down the place the conveyor belts are positioned is not allowed, there’s nonetheless loads of nice issues to discover at Blue Bell. Go to without spending a dime through the weekdays to get a glimpse of the ice cream’s historical past within the customer heart, an summary of manufacturing by an remark deck, and a $1 scoop of ice cream to spherical out the journey (how may anybody say no, on this economic system?).
Sea Rim State Park
Sabine Move | 109 miles, 1hr 45min drive
This distinctive park comprises two miles of Gulf shoreline and 4,000 acres of marshlands, providing alternatives for birding, beachcombing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and strolling. With a simple and a complicated path, Sea Rim is ideal for each learners and skilled paddlers. Nevertheless, this park is dwelling to alligators, so brush up in your reptile security earlier than visiting.
Spoetzl Brewery
Shiner | 127 miles, 2hr drive
For over 100 years, the enduring Shiner beer has been brewed in Shiner, Texas. Join the $30 tour to be taught in regards to the ins and outs of the brewery and the way the beers are made, plus get some complimentary pours. For those who’re within the distillery facet, ebook the $25 tour to be taught extra in regards to the manufacturing of Shiner spirits, which features a tasting flight and a complimentary Okay. Spoetzl Distillery shot glass to take dwelling. Each excursions run 45 minutes.
Texas State Railroad
Palestine | 154 miles, 2hrs 30min drive
This railroad tour is a little bit of a drive, nevertheless it’s price the additional miles. Throughout your journey, deboard the practice on the Rusk Depot and get simply over an hour to discover the grounds, eat lunch, and go to the historic depot and reward store. For an additional particular expertise, go to the Texas State Railroad through the vacation season to journey the Polar Categorical.
