DAY TRIPS FROM HOUSTON
- Galveston: Visit Bolivar Peninsula, the Galveston Island State Park (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/galveston-island), old mansions like Bishop's Palace (1866 Victorian castle) or Moody Mansion, walk the decks of the 1877 tall ship Elissa (second-oldest operational sailing vessel in the world), have lunch and shop on the Strand (a 36-block National Historic Landmark District that was once Texas's second busiest port), catch a sandcastle competition, walk around downtown, have fun at Pleasure Pier's amusement park rides, visit the Moody Gardens for aquariums and exhibits, visit the Lone Star Flight Museum (http://www.lsfm.org/), get wet at the Schlitterbahn water park, visit the Ocean Star - Offshore Drilling Rig Museum (www.oceanstaroec.com), watch a show at the Grand 1894 Opera House, etc. http://www.galveston.com/default.asp
- Looking for the best beach around? http://www.visithoustontexas.com/things-to-do/parks-and-outdoors/beach-season-in-houston/
- Ferry to Crystal Beach from Galveston: http://www.crystalbeach.com/greer.htm and, while there, visit Fort Travis Seashore Park: https://www.bolivarpeninsulatexas.com/Activities/Attractions/Fort-Travis-Seashore-Park
- Conroe: http://365thingsinhouston.com/2016/05/24/5-must-do-things-around-lake-conroe/
- Quintana Beach County Park: Popular place to spend a weekend of fishing, camping, and lounging. Locted on a picturesque barrier island near Freeport, the park's multilevel fishing pier is a favorite among anglers and the day-use facilities include shaded pavilions, restrooms, showers and the historical Conveney House which houses a museum and natural history display. The camping sites include full hookups, showers and laundry facilities. http://www.brazoria-county.com/parks/quintana/
- George Ranch Historical Park: Working cattle ranch on an 1890s pioneer farmstead. http://www.georgeranch.org/
- King Ranch: Experience Texas's cattle culture where it was born. www.king-ranch.com
- Brenham and the Bluebell Ice-cream Factory. To tour the factory, visit http://www.bluebell.com/the_little_creamery/visiting_blue_bell/VisitBB_Brenham.html. Depending on the season, you may also get to take a picture sitting in a sea of blue and white flowers: the bluebonnets and the state flower.
- College Station, the George Bush Presidential Library, and Texas A&M
- Huntsville: Sam Houston State University, Huntsville State Park for hiking, fishing, boating and horseback riding (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/huntsville), Sam Houston National Forest (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/texas/about-forest/districts/?cid=fswdev3_008443), Sam Houston statute, the Blue Lagoon (pictured above, for scuba diving, camping, etc: http://www.bluelagoonscuba.net/) and the Texas Prison Museum (http://www.txprisonmuseum.org/).
- Ideal site to prepare your Piney Woods adventure. http://texasforesttrail.com/. Angelina National Forest (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/texas/about-forest/districts/?cid=fswdev3_008439) and Texas State Railroad (https://www.texasstaterr.com/)
- Want to go camping? Here is campground information close to Houston. http://www.wildtexas.com/parks/results.php?nearby_cities=Houston and http://www.texascampgrounds.com/tti
- Biking instead? Try Huntsville State Park, Double Lake Recreation Area, Stephen F. Austin Park, Bluff Creek Ranch, or Rocky Hill Ranch.