Houston is a large city located in the southeast region of Texas. With a population of more than 2.2 million, Houston is the fourth largest city in America. The city of Houston attracts more than seven million visitors each year and features several attractions and national landmarks. Among these attractions are nature parks and outdoor recreational sites that offer fitness activities for you and your family.
Bay Area Park
Bay Area Park is located southeast of downtown Houston. This urban park provides you and your family a great outdoor getaway 365 days a year. The park sits along the shores of the Armand Bayou, where you and your family can bring a canoe and paddle for a few hours. If you are not the aquatic type, Bay Area Park also has a botanical garden, hiking trails, tennis courts, a baseball field, playgrounds and a few picnic tables. You can also bring your dog as the park features the area's first dog park. Bay Area Park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Fish Lake Houston
Houston is home to several lakes and rivers that provide fishing opportunities for you and your family. Lake Houston is one of the largest lakes in the Houston area. It covers over 11,000 acres of surface area with a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including largemouth bass, white bass, white crappie, blue catfish and bluegill. Bring a boat or fish off the shores. Be aware that the lake is monitored and regulated by the reservoir Controlling Authority. Statewide regulations on fishing and boating apply.
Houston Zoo
Houston Zoo is located inside Hermann Park in Houston. At 55 acres, the Houston Zoo is a great place to spend the day outdoors while learning about the animal kingdom. The zoo features more than a dozen exhibits and facilities to entertain and teach your child. Most of the animal facilities are re-creations of their natural environments, which lets you experience the animals as they are in the wild. The Reptile and Amphibian Building is one of the only public reptile exhibits in the world that houses a leucistic American alligator. You can also view a few endangered species, such as the Spectacled Bear, Red Panda, Clouded Leopard and a few Asian Elephants. Houston Zoo is open every day except Christmas from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fun Plex
Though it looks like a kid-themed funhouse, Fun Plex offers entertainment for people of all ages. Fun Plex is the largest indoor entertainment and family fun center in Texas. Your family can enjoy an indoor go-kart track, paintless paintball, a movie theater, a 40-lane bowling alley, a 12,000-square foot skating rink, a kid's playhouse, a large video game arcade, carnival rides and miniature golf.
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Armand Bayou Nature Center is an urban wildlife preserve located in Pasadena, about 20 minutes outside of Houston. At 2,500 acres, the Nature Center is the largest urban wilderness preserve in the United States. This nature center is the ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Houston's city life. The center includes a boardwalk that winds around the preserve's forest and marshes. While you are walking, watch for live animal displays and flower gardens. The center is home to more then 350 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Your family can even enjoy a moonlight cruise to experience the center's night life. The Armand Bayou Nature Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
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