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Houston’s best indoor attractions for kids to escape the summer heat.<\/p>\n
Houston Chronicle <\/p>\n
When Houston’s summer heat<\/a> becomes too much, these indoor attractions offer a cool escape for kids. From museums and immersive art to hands-on exhibits and arcade games, there’s plenty to explore.<\/p>\n WEATHER: What are the dog days of summer? 5 things every Texan should know<\/a><\/p>\n Children’s Museum Houston<\/p>\n Elijah Mansfield plays with an interactive piece at the Children’s Museum of Houston.<\/p>\n Marie D. De Jes\u00fas\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n The Children’s Museum Houston features hands-on exhibits where kids can explore science, engineering, culture and creative play. Admission starts at $17.95, with free admission offered from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 1500\u00a0Binz St.;\u00a0cmhouston.org<\/a><\/p>\n Houston Museum of Natural Science<\/p>\n Visitors to the Houston Museum of Natural Science check out Victoria the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.<\/p>\n Brett Coomer\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n The museum features permanent exhibit halls focused on topics such as dinosaurs, space science, wildlife and Texas history. General admission is $16\u2013$25 and is free from 5\u20138 p.m. Tuesdays on a first-come, first-served basis; ticketed attractions, including the Cockrell Butterfly Center, planetarium and giant screen theatre, require separate admission.\u00a0<\/p>\n 5555 Hermann Park Dr.;\u00a0hmns.org<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The Health Museum<\/p>\n Kids play in The Colossal Colon in the Amazing Body Gallery at The Health Museum.<\/p>\n Brett Coomer\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n The Health Museum offers interactive exhibits exploring medical science, the human body and wellness. Highlights include the Amazing Body Pavilion, where visitors can take an up-close look at how the body works, test their reflexes and experience a 4D theater. Admission is $12 to $15, with free admission from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursdays.<\/p>\n 1515 Hermann Dr.;\u00a0thehealthmuseum.org<\/a><\/p>\n HOUSTON EATS: The best ice cream shops in Houston<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Museum of Fine Arts, Houston<\/p>\n ‘Ernesto Neto: SunForceOceanLife’\u00a0is on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, through Sept. 7, 2026.<\/p>\n Albert Sanchez<\/p>\n In addition to a collection of nearly 70,000 works spanning antiquity to the present, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is home to the immersive Ernesto Neto exhibition, where visitors can walk through colorful crocheted installations inspired by nature. MFAH All Access admission is $20 to $24 and is free Thursdays, when the museum stays open until 9 p.m.<\/p>\n 1001\u00a0Bissonnet St.;\u00a0mfah.org<\/a><\/p>\n Space Center Houston<\/p>\n Apollo space suits at Space Center Houston.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brett Coomer\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n Space Center Houston offers families a chance to learn about space exploration through indoor exhibits, interactive displays and historical artifacts. The center also features simulations that give visitors a closer look at life in space. General admission starts at $24.95.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 1601\u00a0E. NASA Pkwy.; spacecenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n Lone Star Flight Museum<\/p>\n From the second floor overlooking the various kinds of planes in one of\u00a0 the hangars, it provides an impressive display of what can be viewed at the Lone Star Flight Museum.<\/p>\n Robert Avery<\/p>\n Historic aircraft, flight simulators and interactive exhibits make the Lone Star Flight Museum a fun stop for aviation enthusiasts. The museum also houses the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and offers educational experiences for all ages. Admission starts at $12.\u00a0<\/p>\n 11551 Aerospace Ave.;\u00a0lonestarflight.org<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n WATER FUN: A guide to lazy rivers around Houston, from resorts to water parks<\/a><\/p>\n Meow Wolf Houston<\/p>\n Children play at Meow Wolf Houston.<\/p>\n Cathlin McCullough\/Meow Wolf<\/p>\n Meow Wolf Houston’s Radio Tave takes visitors through dozens of interconnected rooms filled with interactive art, hidden passageways and puzzles, encouraging them to explore at their own pace. Admission starts at $19.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2103 Lyons Ave.; meowwolf.com\/houston<\/a><\/p>\n ARTECHOUSE Houston<\/p>\n Artechouse’s ‘Blooming Wonders’ exhibit.\u00a0<\/p>\n Artechouse<\/p>\n Digital art takes center stage at ARTECHOUSE, where immersive projections, interactive installations and larger-than-life visuals transform galleries. Its current exhibit, \u201cBlooming Wonders: A Celebration of Spring,\u201d runs through August. Admission starts at $23.<\/p>\n 600\u00a0W. Sixth St.; artechouse.com<\/a><\/p>\n Color Factory Houston<\/p>\n Color Factory’s “Thought Bubbles” installation.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Color Factory <\/p>\n Part interactive art exhibit and part photo destination, Color Factory features colorful rooms, playful installations and immersive exhibits inspired by Houston. It’s designed to be just as fun for adults as it is for kids. Admission starts at $29.<\/p>\n 3303 Kirby Dr.; colorfactory.co<\/a><\/p>\n Post Houston<\/p>\n Art Club, a visual arts experience, has opened in Post Houston.<\/p>\n Melissa Aguilar\/Staff<\/p>\n Post Houston brings together a food hall, public art and rotating exhibits inside the city’s former downtown post office. Families can also check out Art Club<\/a>, an interactive space featuring rotating installations and creative experiences, before heading to the rooftop\u00a0Skylawn for views of downtown.<\/p>\n 401 Franklin St.; posthtx.com<\/a><\/p>\n MORE FROM ANA KHAN: Houston rooftop hotel pools you can access with a day pass this summer<\/a><\/p>\n Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern<\/p>\n \u201cUndercurrents\u201d by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, on view at the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.<\/p>\n Ana Khan\/ Houston Chronicle <\/p>\n The historic Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern offers one of Houston\u2019s most unusual indoor attractions. Inside, \u201cUndercurrents\u201d<\/a>\u00a0by artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer uses light, sound and visitors’ voices to transform the underground reservoir into an interactive installation that changes with every visitor. Admission is $12 to $15, and the exhibit is recommended for ages 9 and older.<\/p>\n 105-B Sabine St.;\u00a0buffalobayou.org<\/a><\/p>\n Sloomoo Institute<\/p>\n The Sloomoo Institute invites adults to find\u00a0the kid in themselves.<\/p>\n Sloomoo Institute<\/p>\n Kids can mix, stretch and customize slime while exploring colorful sensory exhibits throughout Sloomoo Institute<\/a>. The attraction also features DIY slime stations and interactive installations. Admission starts at $29.99.<\/p>\n 7620 Katy\u00a0Fwy., Ste 360; sloomoo.com<\/a><\/p>\n Cidercade Houston<\/p>\n Gunner Skaggs\u00a0and Natalia Medrano\u00a0play at the arcade Cidercade in EaDo.\u00a0<\/p>\n Marie D. De Jes\u00fas\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n Cidercade offers unlimited access to hundreds of arcade games for $12. The arcade is open to all ages during daytime hours, making it a fun stop for older kids and teens.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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