Skip to main content

Enjoying Summer in Houston: A Guide to the Best Activities

Published Jun 21, 2024 by Hailea Schultz

Buffalo Bayou Park

While summer in Houston brings high temperatures and humidity, don't let the heat keep you from enjoying the vibrant array of activities the city has to offer. From splashing around in water parks to exploring lush green spaces and indulging in cultural experiences, Houston provides countless ways to stay entertained and cool during the hot summer months. Here’s a guide to the best summer activities in Houston.  

Explore Parks & Green Spaces 

Houston boasts over 300 parks and 200 green spaces, providing an abundance of fun summer activities. In the heart of downtown, Discovery Green stands out with its free fitness classes, movie screenings and splash pad. Market Square Park, located in Houston’s historic district, is another go-to hotspot for summer fun, featuring blanket bingo, live music and movies under the stars. Additionally, Buffalo Bayou Park, one of the city’s largest green spaces, offers boat tours along the bayou, an immersive tour of a historic underground cistern and is an ideal gathering place for picnics, dog walks and family outings. 

Visit the Museum District 

When the summer heat becomes too intense, you can find the perfect escape inside Houston’s Museum District. Home to world-class museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH), the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Children’s Museum of Houston, the district offers interactive exhibits and educational experiences for all ages. Additionally, within the district lies the Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens, MFAH’s house museum for American decorative arts and paintings. For more interactive experiences, Houston also boasts attractions like the Museum of Illusions, Meow Wolf and the Color Factory.  

Discover Houston Favorites 

A visit to the Houston Zoo, nestled in Hermann Park, provides a chance to explore over 6,000 animals and many interactive exhibits, including the Galápagos Islands. Sports enthusiasts can catch an Astros game at Daikin Park, where the lively atmosphere and thrilling baseball action make for an unforgettable experience. For those fascinated by space, Space Center Houston offers an immersive journey into the world of NASA, with exhibits featuring real spacecraft, astronaut encounters and tram tours of the Johnson Space Center. 

Cool Off at Waterparks 

Looking to beat the heat this summer? The greater Houston region boasts a vast portfolio of thrilling waterparks. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown, Houston’s largest waterpark, features nearly 20 rides and attractions, including high-speed waterslides, an interactive kid zone and more. Other expansive waterparks include Typhoon Texas in Katy and Schlitterbahn on Galveston Island. Additionally, New Caney is home to Big Rivers Waterpark & Adventures, which offers waterslides, roller coasters, an inflatable water obstacle course and ziplining.  

Relax on Galveston Island  

Just a short drive from Houston, Galveston Island offers beautiful beaches, historic sites and a variety of outdoor activities. Spend a day lounging on the sandy shores, take a stroll along the Seawall or visit local shops on The Strand. For amusement rides and games, head to the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. The island is also home to Moody Gardens, where you can explore a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium, a rainforest exhibit featuring exotic plants and animals and relax on Palm Beach, a waterfront resort with a lazy river, wave pool, waterslides, splash pads and beachside cabanas. 

Discover more about living in Houston

Related News

Living In Houston

Rising in Houston: Projects to Look Forward to in 2025 and Beyond

1/10/25
Houston is a city that thrives on transformation, and 2025 promises to be no exception. From groundbreaking developments redefining sustainability to multi-use destinations enhancing urban walkability, Houston’s skyline and neighborhoods are set for exciting changes. Here’s a closer look at some of the most anticipated developments shaping the city in the years to come.   Tony Marron Park  The revitalization of Tony Marron Park is at the heart of the $310 million Buffalo Bayou East project that will extend the park into Houston’s East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods. The plans for Tony Marron Park include nearly doubling the park’s size, growing it from 19 acres to 40. As a central hub for Buffalo Bayou East, the redesigned park will feature sprawling lawns, civic spaces with soccer fields, vibrant public art, a multi-age play area, an interactive water playscape, a barbecue pavilion with a picnic grove and more. Construction is set to begin as the park closes this month.  Click to expand One Bridgeland Green  One Bridgeland Green is a key feature of Bridgeland’s Village Green at Bridgeland Central, a mixed-use development located within the 925-acre master-planned community in Cypress. This innovative project will be the region’s first mass timber office building, designed to significantly reduce environmental impact by cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent and lowering annual water consumption by 80 percent. The development is on track for completion this summer.     Click to expand GreenStreet  GreenStreet, the four-block mixed-use district in downtown managed by Texas-based real estate firm Rebees, is slated for a multimillion-dollar makeover. Planned updates include converting the former Forever 21 building into a pedestrian-friendly alleyway filled with dining, retail and nightlife attractions. Additional enhancements feature the installation of rooftop solar panels, improved landscaping with lush gardens and upgraded office spaces with multi-level amenities. Phase one of construction is expected to commence in Q1 2025 and be completed by Q3.  Click to expand Swift Building  The former Swift and Co. building, located in Houston’s Heights neighborhood, is set to be transformed into a 4.47-acre mixed-use development. The new Swift Building will encompass over 60,000 square feet dedicated to retail, office and restaurant space, all overlooking the popular Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail nearby. The project is set to be completed this year.   Park Eight Place  The former Halliburton campus in the Westchase District is set to be transformed into Park Eight Place, a walkable, 70-acre mixed-use destination. The $1 billion project will feature a mix of residential, retail, hotel and office space with access to nature and recreational amenities in the adjacent 200-acre Arthur Storey Park. Construction on roads and utilities is scheduled to begin this year.  Click to expand More Space: Main Street 2.0  The More Space: Main Street 2.0 project aims to increase Houston’s walkability by transforming seven blocks in downtown into a pedestrian-friendly destination. The project will extend Main Street from Commerce to Rusk and add four additional blocks from Rusk to Allen’s Landing, bringing the area to span a total of 11 blocks. This expansion will permanently block off traffic to the area, creating a promenade where people can safely eat, shop and gather. Construction is scheduled to start this year and expected to finish ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches.  Click to expand San Jacinto Marketplace  The former San Jacinto Mall in Baytown is getting a makeover. The 105-acre project, dubbed San Jacinto Marketplace, will include 500,000 square feet of retail and dining space, and a public green space. Pedestrian walkways will also be constructed to connect key areas throughout the marketplace, enhancing accessibility and walkability. Phase one of the project is expected to be completed next year.   Ritz-Carlton Residences  The Ritz-Carlton Residences, the first stand-alone of its kind in Texas, began construction in The Woodlands last year. Nestled along Lake Woodlands, the luxury condominium offers 39 floor plans and an array of upscale amenities, including a wine cellar, library, fitness center, pickleball and bocce courts, sauna, multi-sport simulator, dog park and more. Completion of the project is anticipated in 2027.  Learn more about why businesses are choosing Houston and what it means to live, work and play in the Bayou City. 
Read More

Related Events

Executive Partners