Get outside, Houston!
A surprising list of green spaces, springtime events and volunteer opportunities can be found at getoutherehouston.org. Click the map and find the green spaces near you. Activities include birding and seed gathering at Katy Prairie; beachcombing on Galveston Island; kayaking on Armand Bayou; wildflower walks at Deer Park Prairie; and foraging classes and evening owl prowls at the Arboretum.
Brazos Bend State Park
Hiking, biking, picnicking, camping facilities and nature center available daily with ranger-led hikes, nature talks and wildlife demonstrations most weekends. The George Observatory is open Saturdays. Scheduled volunteer opportunities available. Adults $7 daily; children under 12 free. tpwd.texas.gov/stateparks/brazos-bend
Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
Hiking, biking, picnicking, catch-and-release family fishing, nature center and the 80-foot John Jacobs Observation Tower open daily. Ranger-led hikes, nature talks and wildlife demonstrations most weekends. Scheduled volunteer opportunities available. Free admission. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/sheldonlake
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Trails for walking and hiking. Extensive learning, volunteering, children’s and membership opportunities; adjacent 1,464 acre Memorial Park for jogging, biking, picnicking and other outdoor activities. Free access daily; day and evening programs at extra cost. houstonarboretum.org
Need a few more ideas?
Watch 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats depart from under Waugh Drive Bridge at dusk to hunt for mosquitoes. Enjoy an after-work picnic and walk in Hermann Park and stay for an evening performance at Miller Outdoor Theater. Take a stroll around Mercer Arboretum and see an endangered species garden and a cypress swamp, or take a t’ai chi class at Jesse Jones State Park.
