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February 2025 Save-the-Dates

  • Writer: Erica
    Erica
  • Feb 9, 2025
  • 10 min read

Updated: Mar 3, 2025

Last updated 02.11.2025


We Love You, Houston!


Whelp, illness hit our house and things have been very hectic at my job, so this post is quite delayed. I added a few early February events to January's post, so I hope that was helpful for these first few days of February. I hope some of you made it out to the always amazing Lunar New Year celebration at Asia Society Texas and/or the monthly Hands-On Houston crafting event among other things. We will pick up beginning with February 10th in this post. If you missed the earlier Lunar New Year celebrations, there is another big one coming up later this month at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, sponsored by Texas' favorite grocery store, H-E-B.


One random thing we did on a whim, at the last minute, this past month was attend the Fashion Fusion Runway Show presented by the Museum of Fine Arts and Houston Community College. We only went because some friends we hadn't seen in awhile were going, but it far exceeded my expectations. We worried that the kids (we had three 6-year olds and one 3-year old in our group) wouldn't be interested enough to stay for very long. However, they were spellbound throughout the show. It was a really cool experience for adults, too. We saw a dress made of dryer sheets, one made with metal and other reclaimed/repurposed items, and many other creative fashions. At the end, everyone got to vote for their favorite look. I will be on the lookout for this event next year, and I will remember to share the info. Here are a few pics of the show the fashions on view several days later along with pics from that awesome Houston snow day we had!



Mid-to-Late February Family Highlights

If you are visiting Houston (or a local visiting the district) this month, here is a quick highlight of events in or very close to the walkable Museum District zones. (In my mind, this means they are a close walk or 5-minute drive away.) As always, double check the links before you head over. There is always a possibility for last-minute changes or errors on my part. I will update this list throughout the month as my schedule allows.


Looking Ahead


General Museum Free Days

These are a few hotspots for free museum visits that are ongoing throughout the year:

***There are many others that are also great for the whole family, but these are the big ones with kids.***


Adult-Break Ideas


Urban Forest at Hermann Park: Over the bayou and through the tunnel, to the Urban Forest we go!"


Still on a high from our First Day Hike (detailed below), I was eager to revisit Hermann Park's Urban Forest, our little forest in the city. We partnered up with some neighbors and enjoyed a nice hike. Word to the wise: If you ever visit on a remotely warm day, be sure to wear mosquito repellent. I learned this the hard way a few years ago. This time, we bundled up and visited during the "Polar Vortex," so the bugs were no problem at all. Also, it can be a little secluded, so be aware of your surroundings (but we have never had any issue to date).


Its short trails make the Urban Forest a fun outing for little hikers. We brought scooters, so we started at the parking lot near McGovern Centennial Gardens and hit some of the other Bayou Parkland trails before heading over to the Urban Forest for a total of 3.2 miles. To be honest, we didn't find the scooters to be helpful. The kids didn't like riding them on the bumpier parts of the trails and sometimes they were just an extra thing for us to carry. Since our kids are used to walking, we would just have the older ones "hike" next time perhaps with cameras or binoculars in hand. The youngest one was in a stroller, and that did great even on the bumpier trails. We also carried small backpacks with snacks and drinks.


On the various trails within Hermann Park, and especially on the Marvin Taylor Trail, we saw lots of ducks, birds, nutria, and a few wildflowers. The kids loved going under the tunnel near the bayou and over the Bill Coats Bridge to reach the Urban Forest near Almeada Rd. (If you want, you can also park on the south side of Hermann Park and you will be very close without the additional walking.) Once there, you are immediately surrounded by tall trees in this miniature forest. Within it, we spotted what looked like an owl or bat box, more birds, and some hollowed out trees. The kids slept well after all of those trails!



Worth the Drive


Brazos Bend State Park


We visited Brazos Bend State Park for our family's annual First Day Hike, and it was such a blast with gorgeous weather to top it off! Last year, we were in North Carolina's William B. Umstead State Park, and the couple of years before that we went to Sheldon Lake State Park. Each year, we have a great time, but Brazos Bend really blew us away with the amount of staff members and volunteers they had on hand to create several interactive stations for the kids along the self-guided (a.k.a. at your own children's pace) hike. They were all so friendly and everyone in our group (aged 5 months to adulthood) had a wonderful time interacting with the animals, taking in the views from the observation tower, and learning more about our local wildlife.


After the hike, we also went to check out the Nature Center on site. While we have often done the trails, we had never visited the Nature Center. It was an added bonus on top of an already great morning hike. Again, friendly staff members and volunteers were abundant, and our daughter got to earn a Junior Naturalist patch. She was thrilled. Also, I was thrilled to find an ornament for our tree to remember this little adventure.


Restrooms, playgrounds, and snacks for purchase make Brazos a no-brainer for families. Also, if you are a member of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, you are also automatically a member of the George Observatory located within the park. It hosts stargazing and other events throughout the year. Word to the wise: This park can get crowded on weekends and holidays, so I recommend arriving early and also reserving your space ahead of time. Kids 12 and under are free, and adults are $7 at the time of this posting. If you have a Texas State Park Pass, the entire vehicle can enter on one pass.


Here are some pics, and check out this Instagram reel if you want to see more.



Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center


Because I was still on a high from the 1st Day Hike at Brazos, I was eager to visit one of our old favorites later in the week and soak up the last bit of the holiday break. One of my good friends (and now neighbors) and I used to take our daughters to Sheldon Lake State Park frequently when they were toddlers. The short yet engaging trails are perfect for little hikers and there are several trails with boardwalks that strollers can easily navigate. Actually, even the regular trails are easy to navigate with strollers.


This park is pretty chill, so you typically don't need to plan ahead (and can move with the whims of little children). The only time I have ever seen it crowded is on the first day of fish stocking in the pond when anglers flock to catch their limit. Otherwise, it is easy with restrooms and picnic tables accessible. It is important to note that there is no gift shop, vending machine, etc. available. Bring your snacks, water, etc. with you. However, there are trail maps and interpretive stations throughout the park.


We hopped around a few different trails on this latest trek, and our 6-year old was eager to snap photos of wildlife with her camera. (We have often brought one along since she was about 2, and she figures out how to navigate the controls--giving her something to do on the car ride). We also made sure to hit the observation tower. It is nice and sturdy, but obviously watch young children closely and keep babies secure as you climb to the top.


We were psyched to see a few alligators at this park as well! This park is free for all to enter, and is only a 25/30-minute drive (during weekend and non-rush-hour traffic).



Lookout for This Next Year


I know it is hard to plan far ahead, but I have attended this event twice now with three children of varying ages and personalities, and they were all captivated so I wanted to share. Each winter, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston hosts Kid Flicks, a curated film series featuring some of the best short films from the New York International Children's Film Festival. The Little Kid Flicks series is designed for kids ages 5 - 10 years old. (I took my 4 1/2 year old niece a few years ago and she enjoyed it a lot. This year, I had two 6 year olds with me who were glued to the screen and discussing the films after we left.) The Big Kid Flicks is designed for kids 8 years old and up. (Younger ones can also enjoy the Big Kid Flicks, but they might not be able to read the subtitles.) While they are designed for an audience of children, the films are so well done that my husband and I also enjoyed them.


The seating has historically been first-come, first-serve, so I recomemend arriving at least 30 minutes early to park at either the Kinder Garage or the Beck Garage, check in at the admission desk or kiosk, walk through the tunnels to the Law Building, and visit the restrooms before securing your seats. If you arrive even earlier, you can visit Cafe Leonelli for a quick snack before heading over to the theater.


The Kid Flicks event typically coincides with the Winter Break art-making activity hosted by MFAH during the holiday break, so plan to tack this on along with checking out some art for a full day of fun. Everything is included with standard admission or membership, and kids are usually free anyway at MFAH for most events.



That's all for now, but I will update this list if other events cross my feed! Also, follow on Instagram for random updates related to the area.

 
 
 

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