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We Kep the Fun Indoors with 12 Amazing Things To Do in Houston with Kids Indoors

things-to-do-in-houston-with-kids-indoors
| Last Updated: February 2025

When the heat is high or the rain is falling, keeping kids busy indoors can be tough for parents!

I remember one hot day last summer when my kids were full of energy and needed something fun to do (and I needed to take a break as well). We decided to check out some indoor places in Houston for the air conditioning, and we had a blast! 

From hands-on museums to fun play centers, there are so many great spots to explore. Whether your little ones want to dive into a good book, make their own slime, or learn about space, this guide will help you find the best things to do in Houston with kids indoors. 

Enjoy Story Time at Blue Willow Bookshop

Media Credit: bluewillowbooks 

Website: https://bluewillowbookshop.com/ 

Address: 14532 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: (281) 497-8675

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Saturday – 10 AM TO 5 PM
  • Sunday – Closed 

Story time is such an important activity to do with kids, especially the little ones, to help with their language development, listening skills, and literacy. But let’s face it, parents–some days we just can’t be bothered, so why not get help?

Luckily, Blue Willow Bookshop hosts free in-person Storytime sessions every Thursday! Bring your toddlers and preschoolers for a fun hour filled with reading, singing, and engaging art activities. 

The themes change weekly, so kids will learn a lot in the jam packed hour! 

Pro Tip: 
Blue Willow Bookshop has an excellent collection of children’s fiction and nonfiction books, so make sure to check out their catalog for your kid’s next favorite book! 

 Get Slimed at Sloomoo Institute – Houston 

Media Credit: sloomooinstitute

Website: https://sloomooinstitute.com/ 

Address: Inside Marq-E Entertainment Center, 7620 Katy Fwy Suite 360, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: [email protected] 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday – 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Friday – 12 PM  to 6 PM
  • Saturday – 9 AM to 7 PM
  • Sunday – 10 AM to 6 PM

Admission Costs: Prices start at $33.00 per person

Kids, regardless of age, just love slime! It’s icky, it’s sticky, and it’s fun! What’s not fun is cleaning up after a day of making homemade slime using glue, borax, water, and food coloring–it’s a recipe for a huge mess at home. 

Luckily, the Sloomoo Institute has a branch in Houston where kids can play with slime for as much as they want. 

A general admission ticket includes access to the DIY Bar (create your own slime), the Slimey Mirrors (a cool glow-in-the-dark room with lots of mirrors), and the Lake Sloomoo (walk over 350 gallons of slime), and more!  

Pro Tip: 
Ticket prices can vary based on your schedule, so it’s a smart idea to buy your tickets online ahead of time to get the best deal!

Do Some Putt-Putt at Puttshack 

Media credit: puttshack

Website: https://www.puttshack.com/locations/houston 

Location: The Highlight at Houston Center, 1200 McKinney St Suite 100 & 300, Houston, TX

Contact: (346) 509-7888

Business hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
  • Friday & Saturday: 11:00  AM to 12:00  AM
  • Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00  PM

Admission Costs: Prices start at $9 for kids and $14 for adults (1 round of 9-hole mini golf) 

Puttshack Houston isn’t just a fun place for grown ups–it’s great for kids too! Enjoy putt-putt to your kids in a fully-air conditioned indoor mini golf course by bringing them to this mini golf gem in the city. 

Puttshack is the world’s first tech-infused mini golf experience. They have a proprietary Trackaball technology that tracks every stroke and hazard, so players don’t have to keep score. This is great for parents who can just focus on playing with their kids!

All ages are welcome at Puttshack with parental supervision, but the courses may be challenging for younger players. For a competitive round of putt-putt, kids must be at least 7 years of age. 

Keep in mind that there’s an age policy for kids under 18, so if you’re bringing young children, be sure to arrive before 8:00 PM! 

Pro Tip: 
After mini golf, head over to Puttshack’s restaurant where they serve kid-friendly dishes! 

Go on a Space Adventure at Space Center 

Media Credit: spacecenterhou

Website: https://spacecenter.org/ 

Address: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: (281) 244-2100

Business Hours: 

  • Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Saturday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Admission Costs: General admission tickets start at $24.95 for kids aged 4-11 and $29.95 for adults. Children aged 0-3 get to enter for free! 

A lot of kids want to become astronauts when they grow up, so why not bring them to the NASA Johnson Space Center to give them a chance to explore space and astronaut life? 

Spend a day at the Space Center for an out-of-this-world day for the kids, indoors. The Starship Gallery has all kinds of spacecraft and artifacts on display. There’s also a Spacesuit Collection where kids can see actual suits used by real astronauts! 

But the most notable exhibit is the Independence Plaza, where kids can go inside  a shuttle replica of the Independence and the original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft. Kids will have a blast imagining how it’s like to be inside a spacecraft!  

Pro Tip: 
Try to be early on the day of your visit because it takes about 4 hours to explore the exhibits, not including film and live presentations happening during the day, so plan ahead accordingly! 

Have a Fun Afternoon at the Children’s Museum Houston 

Media Credit: childrensmuseumhouston 

Website: https://www.cmhouston.org/ 

Address: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX  

Contact Details: (713) 522-1138

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday – Closed
  • Tuesday to Wednesday – 9 AM to 5 PM
  • Thursday – 9 AM to 8 PM
  • Friday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5 PM

Admission Costs: Prices start at $19.95 but it’s free on Thursdays, 

The Children’s Museum Houston is one of the best places to take kids for a fun day indoors. With over 14 interactive exhibits inside the museum, kids won’t run out of things to do and learn! 

There are numerous activities to do that will encourage kids to think, solve, learn, create and play. 

The FlowWorks exhibit teaches kids about water flow and pressure. Meanwhile, the How Does It Work? allows kids to learn about force, motion, energy, earth, and space science all in one room. 

But the crowd favorite has to be the Kidtropolis, USA exhibit, where kids can manage their own little city and role play as truck drivers, community leaders, bankers, shoppers, workers, and more!
 

Pro Tip: 
Thinking your child is too young for the Children’s Museum? There’s a special space for children aged 0-2 inside called Tot*Spot, where even the littlest ones can learn, play, and engage in fun activities hosted by the museum! 

Learn at Houston Museum of Natural Science 

Media Credit: hmns

Website: https://www.hmns.org/ 

Address: 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: (713) 639-4629

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5:30 PM

Admission Costs: Prices start at $16 for kids and $25 for adults 

Drop by the Houston Museum of Natural Science for a full day indoors of fun and learning! 

Kids who are fond of animals will have a field day at the various animal-centric exhibits in the museum like the Frensley/Graham Hall of African Wildlife, The World Around Us, and Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Hall. 

For a small fee, kids fascinated by outer space can catch a show at the Burke Baker Planetarium where they can go on an intergalactic space adventure to learn and explore the galaxies beyond our planet. 

Of course, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science won’t be complete without a visit to the Morian Hall of Paleontology! Dinosaurs will always be a crowd-pleaser and a favorite among kids. 

Pro Tip:
The HMNS offers free admission everyday Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM! 

 Play at Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter Cypress 

Website: https://cypress.kangasplaycenter.com/ 

Address: 11037 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: (832) 688-9916

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 6 PM

Admission Costs: Prices start at $10.99 for toddlers aged 12 to 35 months old and $12.99 for kids aged 3 years and older. Babies (0-11 months) and adults supervising kids can go inside for free!

Kids love indoor playgrounds and Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter is one of our favorites because there’s something for kids and parents! 

Kids aged 1-11 will have a blast exploring this incredible play space. It has a toddler’s area, a bounce house, as well as several climbing frames and slides. It even has a huge swinging pirate ship ride—all included with admission!   

While the kids are having a blast in the play area, parents can relax at the playcenter’s café that offers yummy snacks (the egg rolls are a must-try) and coffee! In this playcenter, parents can unwind while keeping an eye on all the fun the kids are having. 

Pro Tip: 
Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter offers a flat rate for kids of all ages every now and then, so keep an eye out for those discounts! 

Play and Reminisce with Parents at the Houston Toy Museum 

Media Credit: houstontoymuseum

Website: https://houstontoymuseum.com/ 

Address: 321 W 19th St Suite C, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: (281) 305-8828

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday – Closed
  • Tuesday to Thursday – 11 AM to 4 PM
  • Friday to Saturday – 10 AM to 6 PM 

Admission Costs: Kids pay their age, while tickets for adults start at $14. 

Kids and adults will love the Houston Toy Museum, a fun place in the Houston Heights. Here, toys, pop culture, and nostalgia come together!

The museum features toys from the 1800s all the way to the new millennium, so guests of all ages are sure to see something from their own childhood. 

This gem is technically not a children’s museum since a lot of the displays are vintage toys behind glass, but the owners have created an interactive play space for kids to enjoy. 

The play area includes a soft play zone for toddlers, larger-than-life games, and fun activities for older children, so kids of all ages can play! There are fun photo spots too, like The Simpsons couch and giant Barbie boxes, for the perfect family photo souvenirs. 

Don’t forget to check out the gift shop, where you can find more cool toys and souvenirs. With low entry fees—especially for kids who pay their age—the Houston Toy Museum is an affordable place to visit and a great place for kids to play indoors.

Pro Tip: 
Make your visit more memorable by chatting up the owners, who are more than happy to share their stories about the museum! 

Check Out the Planes at Lone Star Flight Museum 

Media Credit: lonestarflightmuseum 

Website: https://lonestarflight.org/ 

Address: 11551 Aerospace Ave, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: (346) 708-2517 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday – Closed
  • Tuesday to Saturday – 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Sunday 12–5 PM

Admission Costs: Prices start at $12 for kids and $18 for adults. 

For those looking for a unique family outing that’s indoors, the Lone Star Flight Museum is a hidden gem! This museum may not be the largest, but it’s packed with fascinating planes and activities for kids and parents alike.

Children aged 5 and up will love the interactive flight academy, featuring a flight simulator and a scavenger hunt. The spacious hangars showcase vintage WWII aircraft and space artifacts, perfect for young aviation enthusiasts! 

While the kids enjoy hands-on activities, parents can enjoy the exhibits and displays!  The museum also has a well-crafted educational area meant to inspire future aviators!  

Pro Tip: 
Present your SNAP EBT card and valid ID during business hours for $3 admission per person for up to four family members as part of Museums for All!

Play with Colora at The Color Factory 

Media Credit: colorfactoryco 

Website: https://www.colorfactory.co/locations/houston 

Address: 3303 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX

Contact Details: 

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday – 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Tuesday to Wednesday – Closed
  • Thursday – 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Friday – 10 AM to 7 PM
  • Saturday – 9 AM to 7 PM
  • Sunday – 10 AM to 6 PM 

Admission Costs: Starts at $29 

For a colorful indoor adventure perfect for kids and parents, visit The Color Factory! This unique attraction features interactive art installations that’s fun for visitors of all ages.

Toddlers will love the Confetti Room, where they can have fun playing with piles of confetti. For older kids, the space-inspired giant ball pit, which was designed with NASA, creates a fun illusion of being in outer space!  

Each ticket includes tasty snacks and digital photos from the photo booths so that families can fully immerse themselves in the experience–with less time taking pictures on the phone, parents can focus fully on having fun with the kids!  

Pro Tip:

Order your tickets online ahead of time! They often sell out if you wait until the day of your visit.

Read and Play at the Houston Public Library 

Media Credit: houstonpubliclibrary 

Website: https://www.houstonlibrary.org/home 

Address: 500 McKinney St, Houston, TX

Contact Details: (832) 393-1313

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday – 12 PM to 6 PM
  • Tuesday to Friday – 9 AM to 6 PM
  • Saturday – 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Sunday – Closed 

Admission Costs: Free 

For families looking for a fun indoor activity that’s cheap and not at home, the Houston Public Library is a great place to visit! The main library has a special area just for kids, making it a perfect spot for families who want to encourage reading and learning in their little ones.

There’s an entire floor dedicated to children where there’s a wide range of board books and age-appropriate media like music and movies. There are also fun crafts and games to keep them busy while they learn! 

If you have really small kids, the baby storytime sessions are always a hit! These sessions include story readings, singing songs, playing with a parachute, and lots of toys for the little ones.

Pro Tip: 
Planning to borrow books from the HPL? You can reserve books online and put them on hold for quick pickup, making visits with kids much easier! 

Go Bowling at Bowlero

Media Credit: BowleroBowl

Website: https://www.bowlero.com/location/bowlero-houston 

Address: 925 Bunker Hill Rd, Houston, TX 

Contact Details: (713) 461-1207

Operating Hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday – 4 PM to 12 AM
  • Friday to Saturday – 12 PM to 1 AM
  • Sunday – 12 PM to 1 AM 

Admission Costs: Kids packages start at $24.99 per person 

Kids and families looking for a fun day out that’s indoors will love Bowlero Houston! With 39 bowling lanes, this family-friendly venue is great for birthday parties, gatherings, or just some fun family time.

Take advantage of their dining and bowling packages for kids. Bowlero offers 4 tiers of packages designed for kids–the A-list Package, the Celebrity Package, Superstar Package, and the Legend Package. 

The A-List Package, the most affordable one, includes 1.5 hours of bowling, food, unlimited soft drinks, and 20 credits on the arcade card.

The Legend Package, the priciest one, includes everything in the A-list package plus an additional 1 hour of bowling, 1 additional entree, 2 additional sides, plus a cookie cake! 

Pro Tip: 
Bowlero Houston has an unlimited bowling night called “Night Strike” every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday night for $22.99 at 6 PM onwards! 
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