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Typhoon Texas gets winter makeover

November 25, 2016

It’s a place we normally go to during the summer, but Typhoon Texas-555 Katy Fort Bend Road-recently made a transformation from waterpark to Winterfest, complete with light displays, Santa photos, train and pony rides, a petting zoo, an ice-skating rink, live bands, a 4-D Christmas light show and fire pits for roasting s’mores. The wintry venue also serves up holiday fare such as hot chocolate and chocolate-covered apples.

Hours are from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $24.95 for adults and $19.95 for children ages 3 to 12. Children ages 2 and younger are free. For information, call 832-426-7071, e-mail info@typhoontexas.com or visit www.typhoontexas.com.

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A large, lighted Christmas tree shines from the center of the park.

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A petting zoo (tons of cute baby goats!) and pony rides are included with admission.

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Two trains regularly circle the park. Its the perfect amount of time to see all the lights with a little one.

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Santa and his elves greet and pose for photos.

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Texas touches can be seen throughout the park.

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Ice skate rentals are $5. The rink is in the back of the park, so be sure to bring cash or purchase a ticket with a credit card at the front ticket booth.

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Visitors are encouraged to take photos in the nativity display. The park also includes characters such as The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman, The Abominable Snowman and a treetop Angel, who will all pose for photos.

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I’ll admit, at first I was a little skeptical about a 4-D light show. This production, however, erased all my doubt. In it, a little boy flies on a magical rocking horse around the world (an allusion to Santa Claus as a child). The imagery of the various countries he visits is just fantastic. What I thought were particularly cool were the 4-D fish that swim in what is the waterpark’s wave pool during summer months. My son could not be convinced the fish were not real – they were so believable. The show starts at the “30” (ie. 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and so on), so be sure to schedule it in!

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Local bands play every weekend.

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S’more kits are $5.99 for two s’mores. However, given how many marshmallows and fixings were included, we probably could have just bought one pack for our family of four.


Filed Under: Activity Guides {Houston}, Adventures, Houston HappeningsTagged: holiday, Katy, Texas, Typhoon Texas

Hyatt Lost Pines {Review}

July 10, 2016

With only a few weeks left in summer, who else is looking to take a last-minute road trip? My family absolutely loves Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop, Texas – so much so that the kids often refer to it as our vacation home {if only!}. In their defense, Lost Pines does feel more like a home than a regular hotel stay {a very plush home, at that}. Located only about two hours from Houston, some friends have argued the price tag for a night’s stay {starting about $300 in the summer} is too steep. True, it’s not the same price at an overnight at a Hyatt House, but it is not just a hotel; it is a resort. You literally don’t have to leave the property and have plenty to do for a weekend stay. In addition to nicely appointed rooms, the cost includes entrance to the Crooked River Waterpark, daily kid crafts and sports, bicycle and tricycles to ride around the property and trails, horseshoe pits, a playground, nightly s’mores and outdoor movies {Friday thru Sunday}, photo ops on a longhorn as well as strolls through a butterfly garden and a hummingbird garden.

The Crooked River Waterpark features a zero-entry beach pool complete with a volleyball net, basketball goal, hot tub and sandy beach. Just past the basketball goal is the lazy river {our favorite part!}, a speed slide and an adults-only pool. Food and drinks can be delivered right to your lounge chair from Old Buck’s Place.

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Although we usually spend most of the day at the waterpark, we do try to squeeze in a few breaks and partake in the other activities the resort has to offer.

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Craft station
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Photo ops on the property’s longhorns
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A nice-sized mulched playground directly across from the waterpark
Grooming the horses
Grooming the horses
Stopping to see the animals
Check out a bike or trike to take a tour around the property.
Bikes or trikes to tour around the property.
Have a seat and enjoy the sights of the Butterfly and Hummingbird gardens.
Have a seat and enjoy the sights of the Butterfly and Hummingbird gardens.

Dining Options: For breakfast we ALWAYS go to Firewheel Cafe ever since I learned kids ages 5 and younger can dine for free at the buffet. Breakfast for the four of us {2 adults and 2 kids} costs less than $30, and it’s pretty hardy. The Firewheel Cafe also serves lunch and dinner, but we usually do our later dining at Old Buck’s Place {on the grounds of the waterpark} or at Shellers Barrelhouse. Both serve burgers and other Texas-style dishes as well as traditional kid’s meal varieties. Sometimes, we just grab a pre-made sandwich, some Starbucks and a scoop of ice cream at McDade’s Emporium and Ice Cream Saloon. There is also a fancier restaurant, Stories, where my husband has been for conferences. We are saving that one as a family for when the kiddos are a little bigger.

Dinner on the patio at Shellers Barrelhouse
Dinner on the patio at Shellers Barrelhouse

Evening activities: S’mores and Outdoor Movies! Hands down, my kids favorite activities are at night when the resort puts out a s’more station and an outdoor movie {Lost Pines led us to eventually purchase our own outdoor movie projector for the sad nights when we can’t forever live at the resort *wink*}.

S'mores around the fire pit
S’mores around the fire pit
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Another annual s’mores shot
Basking in chocolatey goodness on the main lawn
Basking in chocolatey goodness on the main lawn

The property also includes a fitness center, which after chasing these two kids for a weekend, I’ve never made it to. For extra an extra cost, guests can go golfing, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, zip lining, and more. And starting at $55, little ones ages 3 to 12 can participate in Camp Hyatt while mom and dad relax and squeeze in a spa treatment at Spa Django.

We love Hyatt Lost Pines so much that just writing this post makes me want to book another weekend at the magical place set in the Texas Hill Country.

On our way home from our favorite resort, we are always sure to stop by the cute little downtown area of Bastrop for chicken friend steak and a slice of cream pie at Maxine’s Cafe. This easy trip from Houston is truly what childhood memories are made of.

What do you look for in a family vacation?


Filed Under: Activity Guides {Houston}, AdventuresTagged: day trip from houston, hyatt lost pines, texas getaway

Trains, Planes & Automobiles {Houston Adventure Series}

June 21, 2016

trainsChug, fly or drive, these Houston adventures are for those on the move! Include dad on some of the special Father’s Day events!

Trains

Rosenberg Railroad Museum children can tour a 1879 train used by the Quebec government, a 1972 Caboose and a train tower as well as visit the museum, model train room and the education station, which includes train-themed crafts and toy trains at 1921 Ave. F {Rosenberg}

Railroad Park/Tourist Center  Katy’s historical train depot has been restored to include a museum, which includes a train station replica as well as a car dedicated to hobo graffiti and luggage at 5615 Fifth St. {Katy}

Railroad Depot  open the second Saturday of the month, the Tomball depot includes train memorabilia and a model railroad at 201 S. Elm St {Tomball}

Katy Playstation Park features an enormous, wheel-chair accessible train station playscape at 5597 Gardenia Lane {Katy}

Bellaire Town Square Park includes a small wooden train for kids to ride and “drive” at 7001 Fifth {Bellaire}

Hermann Train Park Train ride the train around Hermann Park or let your child become an engineer for the day, where he or she can greet riders, perform safety checks, blow the whistle and ring the bell {ages 7 and older} at 6102 Hermann Park Dr. {Houston}

Planes 

Watch the planes fly in while dining at these runway restaurants:

Aviator’s Grill at Hooks Airport 20803 Stuebner Airline Rd Set 10 {Spring}

Black Walnut at the Lone Star Executive Airport, 2971 Hawthorne Drive {Conroe}

Runway Cafe at Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, 7915 Airport Rd {Angleton}

Southern Flyer Diner at Brenham Municipal Airport, 3001 Aviation Way {Brenham, TX}

Automobiles

Father’s Day Weekend Car, Truck and Bike Show  June 18 at downtown Conroe Square {Conroe}

2016 Dadfest Car Show Cruise June 19 at Grace Community Church, 14505 Gulf Freeway {Houston}

Check out our previous adventures! 

Pirates, Mermaids & Water Fun

Heroes: Super & Real

Time Travel: Dinos, Castles & Cowboys

Fairies, Flowers & Forest Friends 


Filed Under: Activity Guides {Houston}, Adventures

Fairies, Flowers & Forest Friends {Houston Adventure Series}

June 7, 2016

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FAIRIES

Enchanted Gardens this unique, local garden shop features a selection of fairy garden pieces at 10611 FM 2759 {Richmond}

Children’s Discovery Center this newly opened extension of The Houston Children’s Museum includes a Dragon and Fairies exhibit to teach the cultures and traditions of Vietnam at 198 Kempner St. {Sugar Land}

FLOWERS

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens  stroll the manicured gardens and mansion once owned by Houston socialite, Ima Hogg. The museum often features family discount days on Sundays at 6003 Memorial Dr. {Houston}

McGovern Centennial Garden  opened in 2014 to celebrate Hermann Park’s 100th birthday, it features a rose garden and family garden as well as breath-taking views from a 30-foot mount with cascading waterfalls at 1500 Hermann Dr. {Houston}

Japanese Garden this garden transports the senses to another place and time with cherry trees, Japanese wisteria, lotus flowers and bamboo mixed with waterfalls and bridges at 6000 Fannin St. {Houston}

Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Garden native Texas plants abound at this 250 acre garden complete with bridges, waterfalls, lily pad gardens and more. See why this garden is a photographer favorite! 22306 Aldine Westfield Road {Humble}

FOREST FRIENDS

Edith Moore Sanctuary tucked in a neighborhood along Rummel Creek, the sanctuary includes the log cabin of the Moore family as well as ponds and piers for exploring wildlife. September through May, be sure to check out the weekly Titmouse Club for kids ages 2.5 through 5 at 440 Wilchester {Houston}

Houston Museum of Natural Science Cockerell Butterfly Center immerse yourself in this indoor rainforest where butterflies fly freely among plants and a two-story waterfall at 5555 Hermann Park {Houston}

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center  kid and family weekday and weekend activities abound at this nature center, next to Memorial Park. During the school year, it hosts a weekly Tyke Hike along its extensive trails for children ages 18 months to 3 years at 4501 Woodway {Houston}

Check out our previous adventures! 

Pirates, Mermaids & Water Fun

Heroes: Super & Real

Time Travel: Dinos, Castles & Cowboys


Filed Under: Activity Guides {Houston}, Adventures

Time Travel: Dinos, Castles & Cowboys {Houston Adventure Series}

May 31, 2016

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DINOSAURS

Dinosaurs! at the Houston Zoo open now through Sept. 5 at the Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park. Follow the path and transport back in time with animatronic dinosaurs.

Discover the Dinosaurs June 3 through 5 at NRG Park, One NRG Park. Learn about dinosaurs and ride on them! {Houston}

Jurassic World outdoor movie screenings at 8:30 p.m., June 4 at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney {Houston}, and at 8:30 p.m. July 1 at Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Dr. {Houston}.

Dinosaur Bones Dig Pit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land, 13016 University Blvd. Kids can dig for hidden dinosaur bones in this mock excavation or check out the dinosaur exhibit on the second floor of the museum. {Sugar Land}

Dinosaur exhibit at Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park. {Houston}

Travis Spark Park little dinosaurs can climb on and around the dinosaur bone structures at this pre-historic playground in the Heights at 3311 Beauchamp {Houston}

Dinosaur Valley State Park plan an overnight camping trip and explore the real dinosaur tracks left along the riverbed at 1629 Park Rd. 59 {Glen Rose, TX}

PRINCESSES

Donovan Park  this wooded playground fortress features a series of mini castles for little princesses and knights at 700 Heights Blvd {Houston}

River Oaks Pumpkin Park Cinderella fans will love roaming the newly removated pumpkin carriage at 3600 Locke Lane {Houston}

COWBOYS

Clay’s Restaurant stop by for burgers, chicken tenders or steak while the kids roam this outdoor space, complete with Old West buildings, chickens, horses and pony rides at 17717 Clay Road {Houston}

George Ranch Historical Park this working ranch has been around for four generations. Visitors can tour historical houses {complete with time-period characters} and watch live cowboy demonstrations. For an extra treat, stop by on Saturday morning for a chuckwagon breakfast at 10215 FM 762 Rd {Richmond}

Check out our previous adventures! 

Pirates, Mermaids & Water 

Heroes: Super & Real 


Filed Under: Activity Guides {Houston}, AdventuresTagged: dinosaurs, houstonkidactivities

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Meet Marianne

Marianne is a second-generation Houstonian, former newspaper editor and English teacher, freelance writer, photographer, Jesus follower and xillennial mom of two blogging adventures around the city, the state, the world and beyond. Read More…

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