June & July - Blueberry Picking - There are 2 or 3 blueberry farms in the area to the north of us. They are generally open from the first of June through the middle of July (or the end of July in some years). You go into the fields and pick your own blueberries. They are fresh, delicious and cheap. Wear comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes. Wearing a wide brim hat is a good idea because it can get hot out there.

My personal favorite is the Moorehead Blueberry Farm which is east of Conroe. Take I-45 North to Highway 242 (just north of the Woodlands). Go east for 6 miles to FM-1314 and turn south. Travel on 1314 until you come to Calhoun Road where you can only turn right. Follow Calhoun to East Road and turn Left. There is a Volunteer Fire Department on Calhoun that is a landmark to let you know you are approaching East Road. Follow East Road until you reach Moorehead Road. Once on Moorehead, just follow it until you get to the berry farm. It is a bit of a twist and turn but you'll get there. Once you get on Calhoun Road, there are signs that direct you to the Blueberry Farm. They have a website, www.sayblueberry.com that is updated throughout the season. The directions on the site were a bit outdated so I included them here.

Year Round - Butterfly Centers - There are at least two Butterfly Centers in the Houston area. These are large indoor tropical gardens that have populations of many varieties of Butterflies. The closest one is the Cockrell Butterfly Center which is part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science which is just south of Downtown Houston near the zoo. This center has 50 to 60 varieties of Butterflies in a natural setting that you stroll through. You can get the details on the Cockrell Butterfly Center at this web site. Houston Museum of Natural Science

The other Butterfly Center in the Houston Area is at the Moody Gardens complex in Galveston. It is similar to the Cockrell Butterfly Center but is much further away.

Year Round - NASA - Houston is Space City. Every area resident must see the NASA complex at least once (and of course again each time an out of state relative visits for the first time). It really is a neat place and worth the trip. Between the very interactive Visitor's Center and the tour of many key buildings, you are bound to come away very impressed. The complex is great for visitors of all ages. Young visitors who have grown up with space flight as part of their lives will love trying to 'land the shuttle'; and older visitors who remember the first space flights will be able to see the center with different eyes.

The Manned Space Flight Center is located in Clear Lake (about 1/2 way between Houston and Galveston). You can get all the details at this web site. Space Center Houston

Other Great Day Trips and Activities in the Houston area include:

Take an Outing to see the Texas Wildflowers in the spring

See the Boardwalk in Kemah (lots of Landry's restaurants)

Galveston Beaches (and the free Bolivar Auto Ferry)

Houston Zoo

Houston Children's Museum

Merry Christmas Tree Farm

There are many, many more fun activities and over time, more details will be added to this page. If you have suggestions, please send them along.