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.   Click to expand 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.  Click to expand 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.   Click to expand 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 Minute Maid 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.  Click to expand 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.   Click to expand 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. 

Fulshear, a bustling community in Fort Bend County, has seen significant growth, emerging as the second fastest-growing city in the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fulshear’s population increased by 25.6 percent in 2023. The Greater Houston Partnership’s monthly report also shows that Fulshear’s population has grown by over 70 percent since 2021, with over 42,000 residents.   To accommodate the ongoing growth, numerous new projects are in development, offering residents places to live, work and play. Among these is Fulshear Junction, a recently announced 126.9-acre mixed-use development. Situated north of FM 1093 and west of Wallis Street, this project will bring 251 single-family homes and feature a variety of shops, restaurants, offices, parks, recreational areas and a daycare facility, according to Community Impact.   Click to expand Additionally, Fulshear Gateway, a 20,000 square foot retail center, recently broke ground at the intersection of Wallis Road and FM 359, near the city’s downtown district. The development will have three buildings, featuring a mix of restaurants, retail, medical and beauty services. According to Community Impact, construction is expected to be completed in 2025.   Click to expand Meanwhile, developers are also addressing the influx of new residents by launching master-planned communities to meet the demand. Cross Creek West, a 1,258-acre development, will add more than 3,000 homes upon completion. Additionally, Cross Creek Ranch, a 3,200-acre community, will bring over 5,000 homes to the area.  To continue to draw people, businesses and developers to the area, the city recently proposed a nearly $70 million Capital Improvement Plan for projects in fiscal year 2024-25. The plan encompasses various projects, including drainage, facilities, parks and technology, streets and traffic, water and wastewater initiatives. Notably, the plan allocates the largest portion of funding, $40.82 million, to wastewater projects. The proposed funding for drainage includes the Downtown Eastside drainage project, which aims to eliminate the need for on-site detention for businesses. Additionally, the city is also working to add concrete paving, a pedestrian plaza and street parking to Harris Street from FM 1093 to Fifth Street, making the area more walkable. Construction on Harris Street is set to begin this summer and is expected to be completed in 2025. “[We are] hoping to see that mixed-use lifestyle type of place, where we will have retail and restaurants and things to do for our young families, our teenagers—really everyone of all ages,” said Annel Guadalupe, Economic Development Director of the Fulshear Development Corporation in a statement. “We’re starting with Harris Street, but the hope is to really do all of downtown, one street at a time, so we can really see that come to life.”  Discover more about the ongoing growth in Fulshear.