Family-Friendly Itinerary

A Guide to Family Fun

Kids of all ages will find plenty of fun and excitement in League City and the surrounding area. From exploring nature and collecting seashells along the beach, to waterfront boardwalk amusements and thrilling waterpark rides, your family memories start here.

Family Friendly Vacation ideas

Creekside Nature

Immerse yourself in the great outdoors

Start at the Dr. Ned and Fay Dudney Clear Creek Nature Center for a family walk and explore the unique plant and animal life in this wetland habitat nestled along Clear Creek. Find several bird blinds throughout the trails where little ones and parents alike can search for some of the many bird species that call this area home. Head over to Heritage Park and spot dozens of friendly turtles in the turtle pond. Keep a lookout for the local gator who enjoys lazy naps in this pond that flows out to Clear Creek. There is also a kayak launch for families who bring their paddle boats along. Countryside Park is another beautiful park along Clear Creek featuring a kayak launch, playground, and hike and bike trails that will make you feel miles away from the city in a subtropical oasis all your own.

Visit A one-room school house

West Bay Common School Children’s Museum, a League City Historical Society Project

This One Room Schoolhouse sits on the site of League City’s original school built in 1894 on land donated by J.C. League. The school provides a hands-on-history program where over 100,000 school-aged children have experienced what a day was like in a one-room school in the late 1800s.

Fishing Fun

Cast your line

League City has plenty of fishing holes where you can cast a line with your kids. Rustic Oaks Park, on League City’s west side, features a lake stocked with fish by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and beautiful scenery where you’ll likely spot some unique birds. Nearby, Lake Friendswood Park has several docks where families can fish for a variety of species and enjoy walking the mile-long trail that circles the lake. There are abundant fishing opportunities along the shores of Clear Creek and Clear Lake, or you can venture out to Galveston Bay for some saltwater fishing. For a more guided experience, book a fishing trip on Clear Lake or a deep-sea fishing trip in Galveston.

Kemah Boardwalk

Enjoy boardwalk games and exciting rides

This colorful amusement park overlooks Galveston Bay, just minutes from League City. Older kids will love the thrill of the Boardwalk Bullet—a 51-mph wooden rollercoaster—and the Boardwalk Beast, a speedboat ride that whizzes around the bay. There is plenty for younger children to enjoy too, including a double-decker carousel, a train ride around the boardwalk, and a small Ferris wheel. Don’t forget to visit the aquarium where kids can touch and feed live stingrays. Finish your day with some ice cream at a local favorite, Cool Cow Creamery, just a few blocks from the Boardwalk.

Schlitterbahn Galveston

Slip and slide at this island oasis

Nothing says summer better than a waterslide, and League City is a short drive away from one of Texas’s most beloved waterparks. Schlitterbahn, on Galveston Island, features dozens of watery attractions for every age of thrill-seeker, including several indoor pools and slides. This location is home to the Guinness World Record holder for tallest watercoaster—MASSIV Monster Blaster. Standing at just over 81 feet-tall, you will slide through more than 900 feet of twists and turns before a final triple drop into the pool below.

Space Center Houston

Explore the Milky Way Galaxy

Kids will love exploring our galaxy and learning from the incredible rotating hands-on exhibits at Space Center Houston, just 15 minutes from League City. Don’t miss the daily Living in Space presentation, where you’ll get a glimpse of what life is like for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Audience participants are selected to climb aboard the ISS replica and help with the demonstration. During your visit you can walk inside a space shuttle replica, visit Historic Mission Control, see where astronauts train, and come face to face with the behemoth Saturn V Rocket. Be sure to check out the gift shop for one-of-kind NASA souvenirs to remember your Space Center experience.

Wildlife Adventures

Animal encounters and new places to discover

Take a walk on the wild side with two very unique animal experiences. At Bayou Wildlife Zoo in Alvin, visitors can interact with many of the animals at this open range zoo. A tram ride brings guests around the park to view more than 400 animals from 19 different countries. Kids can also participate in pony rides and a petting zoo filled with a variety of friendly goats, pigs, and baby animals.

Spend some time at the Armand Bayou Nature Center, families can take a bayou cruise, hike, and experience life as it was on a 19th-century farm in Southeast Texas through live demonstrations on a restored 1890s Martyn Family Farm.

Island Beaches

Swim in the Gulf Coast

When you stay in League City, you’re just 30 minutes away from Galveston Island and its many family-friendly beaches. Head to Stewart Beach, named one of the “10 Best Beaches for Families” for plenty of amenities including volleyball courts, chair rentals, pavilions, restrooms, showers, a playground and more. Park nearly anywhere along the seawall and you’ll find yourself a beach to enjoy. Beaches near Pleasure Pier and Murdoch’s gift shop are popular due to their proximity to shopping, food, restrooms, and amusements. With 32 miles of shoreline you’re bound to find a beach that’s just right for your family.

Moody Gardens

Visit ocean animals and walk through a rainforest

Watch seals gliding through the water, see penguins up close, explore a rainforest, board a paddlewheel boat, or climb through a ropes course. The Moody Gardens in Galveston has dozens of family-friendly activities and attractions that your kids will love. You can even book private animal encounter experiences with penguins and river otters. The property has an aquarium pyramid, rainforest pyramid, discovery pyramid, a small waterpark called Palm Beach (open seasonally), and IMAX and 4D movie experiences. Spend your afternoon there, then drive back to League City for dinner and dessert!

Family-Friendly Itinerary

A Guide to Family Fun

Family Friendly Vacation ideas

Family-friendly Events