Your Friday Faves: Top 10 Day Trips from Houston
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- With the long weekend ahead, we asked ABC-13 viewers for the best place to take a road trip!
Viewers say you do not have to spend a lot of money to have a good time in Galveston. You can camp out on the beach for the day or do some fishing. One viewer says her family uses a state park pass and parks for free. With that, you can enjoy the beach access, as well as the showers and restrooms! Bring a stocked cooler and BBQ if the weather is nice! If not, Moody Gardens and the Lone Star Flight Museum are great ways to keep kids entertained too.
The Hill Country is four hours west of Houston, and there is something for everyone once you get there. It is most known for its wineries and wine tastings for the wine lovers. There are also a few museums for the history buffs. And you can make it an affordable trip by staying at campgrounds.
Rockport and Port Aransas are two vacation spots each within a 20 minute drive of one another, but it's about a four hour trip if you're traveling from Houston. Once you get there, relax on the miles of beaches along the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico! You can also check out Mustang Island State Park for more fun things to do outdoors. It's $5 for adults, and children 12 and under are free.
ABC-13's Patricia Lopez loves going to Round Top for the "antique-ing." The spring Antique Fair just took place, but mark your calendars for Sept. 28, which is when the fall show takes place. If you're headed there this time of year, Patricia recommends checking out Royers Cafe for the pies! Right nearby is the town of Fayetteville. When you arrive on the town square, you will feel you have stepped back in time. It's definitely a sight worth seeing.
If you take a trip to New Braunfels, there are a couple things you must do. One is float the river. There are several shops around town where you can rent equipment. When you get hungry, viewers say to pay a visit to the Grist Mill River Restaurant, and you won't be disappointed. If your kids love animals, head to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch where they can see wild animals from all over the world. And for the shoppers, if your trip happens to fall on the first Saturday of the month, take the short trip to neighboring town Wimberley for their Market Days.
Washington County is the Birthplace of Texas, and it is loaded with Texas History. Take a picnic to Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site. Visit the Texas Cotton Gin Museum for a daily tour. There are also nuns that breed miniature horses, as well as operate a paint-your-own-ceramic shop. Visitors are welcome there everyday but Sunday. There's truly something for everyone in Brenham, and it will be an even better trip when Blue Bell is up and running again.
Louisiana Casinos
Head east and cross over the state line, and you have your choice at a handful of casinos.
Golden Nugget is the newest, Coushatta is the largest, Josh Turner is playing this weekend at Lauberge, and Delta Downs offers something unique in horse racing at the track. Good luck!
Viewers who love the outdoors, love taking the trip to Needville to visit Brazos Bend State Park. It's $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Take your bikes for some bike riding, go horseback riding, and pack a picnic lunch. Bring an ice chest with lots of cold drinks because the summers are hot! Make sure to check out the George Observatory and enjoy a front row seat to the stars with their telescopes!
The fun never stops at the Kemah Boardwalk! There's live music every Thursday night for Rock the Dock, and the free fireworks every Friday night in June and July starting June 12. The little ones will love the rides and make sure to stop by Stingray Reef to get an up-close encounter with some.
Greater Houston Area Wineries
If you're a wine lover, but can't make the trip to Hill Country, there are a couple wineries closer to home. Bernhardt Winery is located in Plantersville, and Cork This Winery is in Montgomery. A tasting at Bernhardt is a very affordable outing at just $7! At Cork This, you can bottle your own signature wine, complete with custom labels. A company called Texas Winos will take you on an all-day Saturday tour of all the local Houston wineries and there's a Livingsocial special right now for the tour!
