To get the best deal, we recommend purchasing your tickets online. Tickets for adults and children over the age of 1 are $19.95, so if you’re a family of four, you’ll likely spend around $80. The exhibits range in their targeted age, so there’s a little something for everyone. The museum offers an EcoStation with a native plant garden; a Genius Station for science lovers; a Game Quest exhibit with puzzles and challenges; an exhibit dubbed Kidtropolis—a city for kids run by kids—and the PowerPlay area that puts kids’ physical endurance to the test. This museum is great for keeping your little ones entertained all day. And if $80 is out of your price range, be sure to take advantage of the free family night, which is held Thursdays from 5 to 8pm. There is a parking garage available with prices starting at $10 daily and only $5 for family night. Metered street parking is also available.

This is on the pricier side for a family of four. If you book a specific time slot, general admission is $36 for adults (with occasional discounted times at $29), and kids from the age of 3 to 12 are $28. For two adults and two kids, you’ll probably spend around $130. However, if you visit on a weekday, the price for a children’s ticket is $19, so if you can get away from your daily grind, this might be a better option. Don’t want to be tied to a specific time? The “show up anytime” tickets are $44 each. The Instagram-worthy Color Factory allows you to wander through colorful galleries, immerse yourself in a light show, or hop in a ball pit. Make sure you park in the Arrive Upper Kirby parking garage. Thanks to a partnership, Color Factory customers get a 25 percent discount.

For the best bang for your buck, we recommend purchasing the all-day adventure pass, which is priced at $25.99 for adults and $24.99 for children under 42 inches. At just over $100, the adventure pass comes with access to the aquarium adventure exhibit, all the rides, and the stingray reef. If you’d like to pass on the rides and stingrays to save some money, you can purchase a ticket that will allow access to only the aquarium adventure exhibit instead. Adults are $16.99, children under 42 inches are $14.99, and kiddos 2 and under are free. Parking is in a lot behind the building. It is $15 for self-parking or $18 for valet. 

The zoo is a bit trickier in the summer because of the heat, but it’s still a great way to spend the day. Tickets fluctuate depending on the day and time you visit, but for two adults and two children, expect to spend anywhere from $93 to $105. With the zoo’s various exhibits, you can immerse yourself in the African Forest, Galápagos Islands, and South America’s Pantanal. Take a look at some birds and elephants, or feed the giraffes. If you’re not one to squirm easily, visit both the Bug House and Reptile and Amphibian House to get a glimpse at even more creatures.

Escape the summer heat for a few hours with a visit to HMNS. General admission to all permanent exhibits for people 12 to 62 are $25, while kids 3–11 and seniors 62+ are $16. For a family of four with two adults and two kids, expect to spend just over $80 on admission, or closer to $100 if your kids are older. Separate tickets ranging from $12 to $15 are also available if you want to tack on the museum’s butterfly exhibit, planetarium, or giant-screen theater. Otherwise, permanent exhibits include a look into marine wildlife, quantum chemistry and astrophysics, gems and minerals, a lesson on ancient Egypt, and an opportunity to explore some cool (dead) dinosaurs in the paleontology hall. If you're a member, expect to pay $10 for parking. Nonmember parking is $30. 

Calling all space exploration lovers. Once again, it’s best to purchase your tickets online for this day trip as prices are a little cheaper that way. Children under the age of 3 are free. General admission for kids 4 through 11 ranges from about $25 to $35 and adult ticket prices can be anywhere between $30 and $40. At Space Center Houston, you can go inside a replica shuttle, explore the starship gallery, take a look at a spacesuit collection, and learn more about how NASA plans to send astronauts to the moon again. Seeing Mission Control is about $15 extra on top of general admission, and on-site parking is available for $10. 

Depending on your children’s ages, this could go one of two ways: You can let your kids roam free while you sit on a patio with a good book, or you can buy a ticket and accompany them on rides. For access to all the rides and an endless amount of fun, we suggest purchasing all-day passes. The price for children shorter than four feet is $22.99 and for everyone else, it’s $28.99. Assuming you’re joining your younger children, you’ll probably spend about $105 for a family of four, but if you let two kids roam free, plan to budget about $60 for the passes. Parking costs vary for gated and un-gated lots. Head on over to test your bravery with the boardwalk’s wooden roller coaster or conquer your fear of heights with the Ferris wheel and the Aviator. 

Drive on down to the pyramids of Galveston—also known as Moody Gardens. Get the most out of your visit with the one-day value pass. Regular admission (ages 13 to 64) is $80 at the door, or $60 if purchased online; the pass for seniors and children is $70 or $55 online. If you choose the budget-friendly route and purchase ahead of time, you’re looking at about $230 for two adults and two kids. With the pass, you can explore the rainforest, aquarium, and pyramids; watch a film with the MG3D, 4D special FX, and audience recognition theaters; enjoy the ropes course; or test out the zip line—weather permitting. Moody Gardens also offers a general admission ticket, which allows access to the aquarium and rainforest. Depending on age, prices range from $40 to $50 when purchased online.

This is for the thrill-seekers. Similarly to Kemah, your cost will vary depending on whether you want or need to join your kids on rides. If you’re choosing to participate, expect to budget about $105. If you’re not, you’ll pay a total of $24 to cover two walk-on passes, and about $60 for all-day passes. You’ll also need to factor parking into the cost. The lot is located directly across the street from the pier, and during peak season, expect to pay $15. The pier has rides galore, Midway arcade games, and a great view of the island’s murky water.