Downtown Houston

Houston, TX - Finding things to do with the kids that won't break the bank is a little tricky. We have been to the swimming pool a lot, and it is too hot for the local park. What to do? We live in the suburbs so a trip downtown sounds like the thing to do. Since you will have to pay for parking and most likely lunch, here are a few things to consider that are free.....

JP Morgan Chase Tower - This building has a view deck on the 60th floor. Just take the express elevator up and enjoy a view that reaches from downtown past the Galleria. Only the windows directly outside the elevators are available to the general public, but it is an outstanding view. The glass goes from floor to ceiling so even the little ones can enjoy this spectacle.

Discovery Green Park - In an earlier post I discussed this park. Good things: sidewalk dancing fountains the kids can get totally soaked in and bathrooms. It has nice walkways and beautiful gardens as well as space for shuffle board, bocce and a small putting green.

Parks - Now remember this is downtown so playgrounds and bathrooms are not available at most parks. These parks are intended to offer some peace among the hustle and bustle of downtown. They usually have some kind of interesting sculpture, shaded seating and nice landscaping. The best reviews I have found are at a website called Downtown Houston at http://www.houstondowntown.com/Home/Lifestyle/WhatToDo/Parks/

Recommendation - Be prepared to walk a lot.

1. We parked at the public parking garage at Walker and Main Street.
2. We walked one block to the Main Street Square. My 5 year old enjoy watching the trains drive by. The fountains were fun to look at too, but these fountains are just for viewing and not for playing in. The down side is there are a number of beggars and street musicians trying to get a dollar or borrow your cell phone. We walked around the square and then headed over to the JP Morgan Chase Tower. Walk Main Street up to Capitol Street and turn left and go one block.
3. There is a Burger King across the street from the tower so we had a quick lunch and then went up the JP Morgan Chase Tower for a view from the 60th Floor. We didn't continue our walk simply because I didn't realize how close we were, but if I had thought it through we would have continued our walk to Tranquility Park. Continue walking down Capital to Smith Street and take a left about one block.
4. Tranquility Park has water pillars and interesting walk ways. Can't play in this water either but nice to look at. Continue walking down Smith Street and you will come to Herman Square.
5. Herman Square is right in front of City Hall and is just a nice reflection pool with shaded benches. You are now at Walker Street and just four blocks from the Parking Garage.
6. Downtown Tunnels - if the heat is getting to you, explore the tunnels. You can go one block from Herman Square and get to the tunnels from the Wells Fargo Plaza. The tunnels will wiggle over to the parking garage at Walker and Main. There is a good map of downtown and the tunnels at Houston Downtown.com, http://www.houstondowntown.com/Home/GeneralInfo/GettingAround/Maps/

By now the kids should be wiped out from walking. Definitely leave the downtown area by 3:30 pm to make sure you are ahead of traffic. Bonus for us suburbanites though, kids count when driving on the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicles). The HOV opens outbound at 2:00 pm for vehicles carrying 2+ passengers. Go to METRO to get schedules and maps at http://www.ridemetro.org/SchedulesMaps/HOV.aspx .

Trip Stats

• Who: Mama and one 5 year old boy
• What: Downtown Houston, http://houstondowntown.com/home/default.asp
• When: Wednesday, lunch time
• Where: Downtown Houston
• Why: Outdoor play
• Cost: Free walking tour, lunch was about $11 at Burger King and then parking.....
• Parking is not free: We paid $6 for a little over one hour. The price goes up the longer you are there. I didn't catch the maximum, but it is not unusual to pay $10 to park in downtown Houston ($20 for special events). There is parking on the street, but look for the meter boxes. It is hard to find and not free either.