A guide to 12 free things to do with kids in Houston

Sam Houston Boat Tour

The 90-minute boat tour of the Houston Ship Channel is one of the best free things to do in Houston with kids. Visitors can learn more about the port and maritime industry aboard the M/V Sam Houston, which has been the port's public tour vessel since 1958. The 95-foot boat holds 100 passengers with air-conditioned lounge seating and standing room on the outdoor deck. Advance reservations are required.

Find it : 7300 Clinton Drive, Houston, Texas 77020; 713-670-2631

Free Tuesdays at the Houston Zoo

On the first Tuesday of every month, the Houston Zoo offers free admission all day. Other attractions such as giraffe feeding and Zoo Lights are at regular price. Visitors are also allowed to bring in outside food and drink. Online reservations are required in advance, and slots open the Wednesday before at 7 a.m.

Find it : 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030; 713-533-6500

Free family night at the Children's Museum Houston

The Children's Museum Houston is one of the world's leading museums for children focused on innovated child-centered learning with 13 bilingual exhibits. Every Thursday from 5-8 p.m., the museum offers free admission to everyone with one requirement—you must bring a child with you. Advance reservations are required and open every Monday.

Find it : 1500 Binz St., Houston, TX 77004; 713-522-1138

Bat watching at Buffalo Bayou Park

Waugh Drive Bridge in Buffalo Bayou Park is home to roughly 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats. At sunset on warm evenings, the bats emerge in large groups, which is a stunning spectacle to witness. The best viewing locations are the viewing platform on the southeast corner of the bayou bank beside the bridge on Allen Parkway, the bayou's northeast bank near Memorial Drive and the east rail sidewalk on the bridge itself.

Be sure to check the weather before visiting—the best emergences happen at sunset on days with no rain and a temperature above 50 degrees because the bats don't like cold weather.

Find it : Buffalo Bayou Park, Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street, between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive

Art Car Museum

The silver-spiked, spaceship-like exterior of the Art Car Museum at the far edge of the Montrose district is impossible to miss. The privately-owned contemporary art museum features rotating exhibits, which always include a few outrageously decorated cars with clever names like Swamp Mutha and Batwing. The space opened in February 1998 and is often called the "Garage Mahal."

Find it : 140 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77007; 713-861-5526

The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

Admission to this 155-acre nature sanctuary on the western edge of Memorial Park is always free. There are eight ponds and five miles of nature trails through savanna, native prairie, wetland, woodland and riparian habitats. The Nature Center building includes the Discovery Room that features interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. Plan your visit on Thursdays when parking is free. (It is $5 on other days.)

Find it : 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77024; 713-681-8433

Splash in the spraygrounds

Across the city, there are 232 playgrounds and 27 spraygrounds maintained by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Unlike pools, these spraygrounds are open year-round, so that they can be enjoyed beyond the summer months. A few highlights include the frog-themed playground at Herman Brown Park and the water cannons at Burnett Bayland Park. For a complete list of parks and spraygrounds, visit the department's website .

Twilight Epiphany Skyspace

One of the best sunset spots in town is the sunset light show at the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace on the Rice University campus (adjacent to the Shepherd School of Music). The pyramidal structure has an LED light sequence that projects onto the ceiling of the 72-foot square roof daily at sunrise and sunset. The space is an art installation by American artist James Turrell and is also acoustically engineered to host musical performances. The light sequences begin 40 minutes before sunrise and 10 minutes before sunset daily every night except Tuesdays. The structure accommodates only 120 people, so arrive early to get a seat.

Find it : Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005; 713-348-0000

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

Every Thursday from 1-5 p.m., the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is free to the public. The museum focuses on African American military history with exhibits ranging from Buffalo Solider uniforms to the story of Cathay Williams, a woman who pretended to be a man, enlisted under the name William Cathy and served for two years before being discovered.

Find it : 3816 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004; 713-942-8920

Rothko Chapel

A visit to Rothko Chapel is one of the most peaceful things to do in Houston. The non-denominational spiritual space includes 14 murals by famed American artist Mark Rothko. Outside, a sculpture titled Broken Obelisk sits over a reflecting pool. Rothko Chapel was built in 1971 and was founded by John and Dominique de Menil, who also established the Menil Collection, a nearby free museum that houses their art collection.

On the first Wednesday of each month, the chapel hosts a program series titled Twelve Moments featuring different spiritual and faith traditions. Another bonus is that the programs can be streamed on Vimeo. During the summer months, these events are often family-focused. Check their event calendar for details.

Find it : 3900 Yupon at Sul Ross, Houston, TX 77006; 713-524-9839

Menil Collection

The Menil Collection is an excellent place for kids to practice their inside voices. The art museum began with 10,000 artworks from the private collection of John and Dominique de Menil and grew to over 17,000 pieces. The permanent collection includes the Arts of Africa, Arts of the Ancient World and Arts of the Americans and Pacific Northwest galleries. Check the website for a calendar of rotating exhibits. And don't miss the Cy Twombly Gallery, which is located across the street in a separate building but still part of the museum. Timed entry reservations are required.

Find it :1533 Sul Ross St., Houston, TX 77006; 713-525-9400

Hermann Park Conservancy

The 445-acre green space is one of the city's main cultural and recreational hubs with a prime location near the Museum District, Rice University and Texas Medical Center. Feed the ducks at the eight-acre McGovern Lake, where kids under 12 are permitted to do catch-and-release fishing. The park, founded in 1914, also includes a series of free attractions, including the tranquil Japanese Gardens and McGovern Centennial Gardens, which features a 30-foot garden mount and sculpture promenade. Schedule your visit around one of the free performances at the Miller Outdoor Theater .

Find it : 1700 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004; 713-524-587