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All 190 Houston Attractions »

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77024
713-681-8433
As featured in Houston on a budget
Ranked #25 of 138 attractions in Houston
4.5 of 5 stars 26 Reviews
Type: Nature/ Wildlife Areas
Fee: No
Owner description: A 155-acre nature sanctuary 4 miles west of downtown. Five miles of walking trails through forest, meadow and pond habitats offer opportunities to see...... more » Owner description: A 155-acre nature sanctuary 4 miles west of downtown. Five miles of walking trails through forest, meadow and pond habitats offer opportunities to see frogs, turtles and other wildlife. Building houses gift shop, library, restrooms, and Discovery Room which includes aquariums, microscopes, interactive exhibits including the 15 ft. model "Learning Tree". Grounds: Daily 7 a.m. to dusk; Building: daily 9 - 5, except major holidays. Discovery Room: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm. Admission free; donations appreciated. « less
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26 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
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    8
    3
    0
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Date Rating
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 12, 2012

The Houston Arboretum has pretty walking trails. Inside are interesting hands on activities with informative personnel. More

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See 2 more reviews by Karentoni for Houston
Katy (Houston), TX
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 28, 2012

Haven't been there since the drought but I really enjoyed walking the trails with my nephew when he was little. It's amazing how quiet and serene it is considering it's so much inside the city. Where good walking shoes. More

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See 11 more reviews by mgkamish for Houston
Calgary, Canada
Top Contributor
100 reviews 100 reviews
Reviews in 26 cities Reviews in 26 cities
38 helpful votes 38 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 22, 2012

I spent a morning here and could have easily extended it to a whole day. As an avid birder, I enjoyed adding new species to my list and wandering through the trails. Aside from birds, I also spotted turtles, snakes, and squirrels. Trails are well maintained and labelled with clear signage. No admission fee, but donate a few dollars if... More

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See 6 more reviews by TheVeggieNomad for Houston
Houston, Texas
Top Contributor
65 reviews 65 reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
85 helpful votes 85 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 22, 2012

We usually visit the arboretum at least two or three times per year. It's just so unbelievably peaceful in there. It's also a great place to take the kids or just get out with the dog. It always feels like a new place each time we go...from taking different paths, going in different seasons, to seeing the impact of extreme... More

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See 6 more reviews by HouCuseChickie for Houston
Houston, Texas
Senior Contributor
42 reviews 42 reviews
Reviews in 26 cities Reviews in 26 cities
29 helpful votes 29 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed March 17, 2012

With the horrific drought, it did fell many of the trees but where else can you escape the traffic and noise and still be in the loop. A great place to see wildlife and just wander around. More

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See 4 more reviews by Flashby for Houston
Houston, Texas
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
4 of 5 stars Reviewed March 12, 2012

It is very nice for walks, Has also accomodations for all kinds of parties. I went to a baby shower there and it was really nice with a view of the out doors. More

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See 6 more reviews by Lucy H for Houston
Houston, Texas
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 7, 2012

This is a great outdoor experience in the heart of Houston's delightful Memorial Park. The staff is very knowledgeable and the exhibits are interesting. Great place to go for a relaxing walk within walking distance of Houston's Uptown District that includes the Galleria Mall. More

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See 16 more reviews by Burton B for Houston
Texas
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 1, 2012

The Arboretum is a nice refuge for walking in the woods, close to the Galleria. There are no joggers or bicyclists. Often find interesting birds; various woodpeckers, wrens, warblers, hummingbirds, Brown Thrashers, and nesting Screech Owls. Check out the new multi-sensory Palmetto Trail across the parking lot from the main building. More

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Houston, Texas
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
3 of 5 stars Reviewed February 29, 2012

Arboretum implies something so much grander than this is - essentially you're looking at a smallish woodland/ bayou area. The docents are keen and well-informed on what there is in the surroundings, but there aren't usually many creatures to be seen, and the variety of flora is fairly limited. It's a good field trip for Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts,... More

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Houston, Texas
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 4, 2012

The Arboretum is a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Houston and wander in an urban forest. The trails take you through trees and clearings and to observation paltforms to see Buffalo Bayou and life in and on the water. A great getaway for families with young children. Bring mosquito repellent if it been raining. More

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See 16 more reviews by dcrrwall for Houston

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