Day Trips from Houston: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler

Need a day away to relax, refresh, renew? Just get in your car and go! Day Trips from Houston is your guide to hundreds of exciting things to do, see, and discover in your own backyard. With full trip-planning information and tips on where to eat, shop, and stop along the way, you can make the most of your time off and rediscover the simple pleasures of a day trip. Explore places you never knew existed, many free of charge, and most within a two-hour drive of Houston.

Do something historical: Experience Lone Star First Saturday in Montgomery, walk in General Sam Houston's footsteps in Huntsville, or admire the Victorian architecture and the museums of Galveston.

Do something natural: Discover the botanical gardens of Orange, splash around in the Gulf of Mexico, or gaze at the myriad bird species in Freeport.

Do something kid-approved: See exotic creatures at the Bayou Wildlife Park in Alvin, visit Space Center Houston, or climb a hay mountain at Dewberry Farms in Brookshire.

Laura Nathan-Garner was born and raised in Houston, where she currently lives with her family. A big-city girl at heart, she's discovered that some of Texas's true gems and most charming characters can be found outside the city limits. She is the author of Insiders' Guide to Houston (Globe Pequot Press).