Things To Do
Space Center Houston
Self-explanatory. Check the website to register for one of three tram tours: + APOLLO MISSION CONTROL. The tram takes you onto NASA's campus and into the building that houses the beautifully restored control center from the 1960s Apollo missions. This is our favorite tour, but it costs extra. Totally worth it. + ASTRONAUT TRAINING FACILITY. Also takes you around NASA campus and allows you to look down into one of the areas where some of the astronaut training occurs, and engineers and scientists are developing exploration vehicles. This is a cool tour if you're into engineering. Price is included in admission, reserve tickets in advance. + ROCKET PARK/SATURN ROCKET. This is the most common tour. This takes you technically onto NASA campus, but you don't drive through campus. See one of the Saturn rockets up close. Prices included in admission. You can't reserve tickets in advance, but these tours leave maybe every 10 minutes so you should be able to hop on.
Kemah Boardwalk
Typical boardwalk, but tons of restaurants down there, a satellite Houston Aquarium, and fun things for the kids to do. This is JUST over the Kemah bridge. They are building a new highway next to this road, so the bridge has been a bit of a traffic nightmare the last couple years, but they are very close to finishing it and maybe it'll be done by the time y'all are here. UPDATE: IT'S OPEN! NO MORE SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION!
Galveston Island
Galveston is probably 30 minutes away (depending on traffic), and there's only one bridge on and off so keep that in mind for time planning. BUT, it's a fun place to check out. There are two parts of the island to see: The Strand is the old part, with buildings like New Orleans. It can be a bit touristy, but it's fun. Seawall Blvd is where the beach is. Beach season will be over by November, but there's a Pleasure Pier there, and the Hotel Galvez which is a 100+ year old hotel with an amazing bar.