Hermann Park

Hermann Park in Houston (6201 Hermann Park Dr) is a 445 acre with something for everyone to do.  Seriously.  Bayou Parkland (80 acres of natural setting to hike, picnic, or just enjoy), Buddy Caruth Playground (barrier free play are & splash park), Hermann Park Golf Course (18 hole municipal course), Hermann Park jogging trail (~2 mile trail around the park), Hermann Park Railroad (buy a ticket & ride the train!), Garden Center, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, Japanese Garden, Judson Robinson Jr Community Center (full gym + room rental), Molly Ann Smith Plaza (interactive water fountains for the kids), Lake Plaza (pedal boat lagoon), Mary Gibbs & Jesse H Jones Reflection Pool, McGovern Lake (8 acre lake that allows catch & release fishing for children under 12 & senior citizens), Miller Outdoor Theater, & the Pioneer Memorial Loghouse Museum.  Of course we focused on the playgrounds, but the whole park is great fun, you could spend the whole day & still be ready to come back & see even more!  There are public restrooms, Pinewood Cafe, & lots of other things to ensure your day is comfortable & fun.

Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden

We started on the pretty side.  My mommy likes pretty things.

 Mommy said something about there being lots of photo ops around here.  Whatever that means.

 A maze made out of plants!!

 This is the side I came for!  PLAY TIME!!

 This playground is HUGE!

Look at all the tubes & stuff! 

There's a zip line over there too! 

 Swings & a rock wall!

 I love to climb, this things looks fun.

 There are lots of benches to sit on, and so many picnic tables to have lunch!

 This is the playground for little kids.  I'm too big & cool for it now.  ;)

...but it did have some cool bouncy things & more swings!

Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens in Humble (22306 Aldine Westfield Rd.) is a fun place for the whole family - and it's FREE!  It's open 8am-5pm 361 days a year.  The park is split in half by Aldine Westfield Rd.  The east side is where you'll find the botanic gardens, with plenty of beautiful plants & flowers, benches, and even a fan/misting station.  There's also a visitor center & gift shop.  There are restrooms on this side of the park.  You can either walk the trail under Aldine Westfield (it is a rather long walk to the back, where the playground is though), or hop in your car & drive across to the west side, where you'll find the playground, picnic spots, a canoe launch, and trails to check out.  There are also restrooms on this side of the park.  Please check out the rules of the park here (you can also find a map of the park there).