Collins Park: Outdoor Fun for Everyone

Collins Park is a 55-acre green space in northwest Houston that is especially popular with locals. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate a variety of facilities. Lighted softball and baseball fields offer plenty of space to play and are often used by local leagues, while a roofed basketball court makes it possible to shoot some hoops even if the weather's not ideal. A sand volleyball court is great for impromptu games, and a grassy, well-maintained soccer field provides the space to practice kicking some goals. Collins Park also hosts a skate park, with plenty of ramps and rails for young skateboarders to hone their skills.

Additionally, the park offers biking and hiking trails, a canoe launch, and access to Cypress Creek where you can fish for white bass, crappie, and catfish. Kids will enjoy the playground equipment, which is divided into two separate areas for younger and older kids, and everyone will appreciate the shaded picnic pavilions and barbecue areas.

Collins Park
6727 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(281) 353-4196
www.hcp4.net/Parks/collins/index.htm
www.yelp.com/biz/collins-park-spring

Track 21 Indoor Karting & More: Start Your Engines, 2411 Washington!

If you consider yourself fun-loving and perhaps a bit competitive, you’ll love Track 21 Indoor Karting & More. This indoor go-kart facility hosts well-maintained tracks for both kids and adults, complete with sharp turns and thrilling straightaways where the race gets really intense. Visitors of all ages can rent their own go-karts, or if you’re a more experienced driver, you can even see what it feels like to be a professional racecar driver on the F-1 track.

Once your group is all tapped out from car racing, hop on over to the full laser tag course for even more fun. With 8,000 square feet and two stories of futuristic fun, this laser tag course might be one of the most impressive in the area.

To book a private party at Track 21 Indoor Karting & More, visit the facility’s convenient website.

Track 21 Indoor Karting & More
4815 Highway 6 N
Houston, TX 77084
(281) 200-2600
www.track21houston.com

Cherry Blossom Yoga: Watch Your Yoga Practice Blossom

With a variety of different class packages from which to choose, Cherry Blossom Yoga is ideal for any type of yogi in the Houston area, according to regulars. This family-owned and -operated studio offers more than 25 different yoga classes each week, which makes it convenient for just about anyone’s busy schedule.

Cherry Blossom’s knowledgeable teachers have completed a minimum of 200 hours of training in order to teach students at any skill level, from the most novice to the most experienced. The studio also frequently hosts workshops taught by some of the most renowned yoga instructors from around the world.

The studio itself is clean and spacious, with hardwood floors lining the practice space and soothing, beautiful decor to inspire your practice and meditation. Visit Cherry Blossom’s website for a full class schedule.

Cherry Blossom Yoga
15816 Champion Forest Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(281) 257-4245
www.cherryblossomyoga.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cherry-blossom-yoga-spring

Take a Dip at SplashTown in Spring, Texas

About 30 minutes from the heart of Houston, SplashTown is the coolest way to love the heat. Big kids and little ones alike can find a way to splash around, starting with tamer attractions like the Leaky Pipes, Crocodile Isle, and the Lazy River tube. But big attractions at SplashTown are for those kids over 48 inches tall. Here, you’re in for some dramatic whitewater action. The newest thrill is the Stingray Racer, where daredevils simultaneously charge headfirst on foam mats down parallel five-story-high, high-speed slides. Tornado, RipQirl, and Big Spin are all designed to thrill visitors, while Texas Freefall might be imagined as a training prerequisite to skydiving.

Regulars recommend season’s passes or group coordination to save money, and packed lunches in the parking lot. Or maybe you’d prefer renting a cabana. Whatever your style, be sure to familiarize yourself with the Park’s rules and the map with the park layout before you rush over. Look for special events and coupons too.

SplashTown
21300 I-45 North
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 355-3300
www.splashtownpark.com

Exotic Creatures Make Their Home at Cockrell Butterfly Center

Immerse yourself in the natural habitat of butterflies at the Cockrell Butterfly Center housed within The Houston Museum of Natural Science. The distinctive sanctuary is made up of three fascinating levels for your enjoyment and education.

The Rainforest Conservatory encases a 50-foot waterfall within a manmade tropical paradise filled with thousands of imported exotic butterflies, plants, and unique arthropods from around the world. In Chrysalis Corner, watch the transformation of butterflies as they develop and grow. On the lower level, explore an entomologist's lab and investigate a number of insects up close. Before you go, grab a treat from the Insect Vending Machine featuring snacks made from insects that are popular in many cultures around the world. The museum also has a fun, interactive playground for the younger set with an insect area, a giant beehive and puzzles.

Cockrell Butterfly Center
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
5555 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 639-4629
www.hmns.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=8
www.yelp.com/biz/cockrell-butterfly-center-houston

Texas Rock Gym: Reach the Summit

If you've ever wanted to try rock climbing, then Texas Rock Gym is one place you won't want to miss. This gym in northwestern Houston caters to the very different needs of both families looking for an afternoon of fun and experienced climbers seeking to stay sharp and improve their skills.

For those who are new to climbing, the gym offers a brief introductory course that will get you started, as well as several beginner walls to practice upon. If you're an experienced climber, you'll find more difficult walls and an area for straight bouldering. Gym regulars say that the climb paths are changed regularly, so you continue to be challenged with every visit. The award-winning facility also offers 42 top-rope stations for all levels, five Tru-Blue Auto-Belay stations, and a lead arch and extended lead areas.

You can also schedule your team-building event or birthday party at Texas Rock Gym.

Texas Rock Gym
1526 Campbell Road
Houston, TX 77055
(713) 973-7625
www.texasrockgym.com
www.yelp.com/biz/texas-rock-gym-houston-2

Enjoy Books and More at Fairbanks Branch Library

Curling up with a great book can be one of the most pleasant ways to spend an afternoon, and avid readers know that despite its small size, the Fairbanks Branch Library has one of the best book selections in northwest Houston.

This branch library has been serving the neighborhood since 1970 and currently houses a collection of more than 55,000 circulating materials. Check out the latest spine-tingling mystery novel, or choose a work of nonfiction that will enhance your appreciation of local history. Check out a DVD copy of your favorite Hollywood blockbuster, or pick up an audio book to listen to on your daily commute. In addition to books and movies, you'll find nearly 50 computer stations for public use (including both desktop and laptop computers), and you can brush up on your software skills by signing up for one of the library's many computer classes.

Fairbanks Branch Library
7122 North Gessner
Houston, TX 77040
(713) 466-4438
www.hcpl.net/location/fairbanks-branch-library

Break a Sweat at Memorial Athletic Club & Aquatic Center

Memorial Athletic Club & Aquatic Center is a unique facility that's pretty popular among Houston locals. First of all, there's no contract required to join this gym. Second, the gym features a "MAC for Women" area exclusively set aside for women who prefer to work out in an all-female environment. With your membership you'll also get two free appointments with a fitness instructor, whose goal will be to help you develop a fitness program that is custom-designed to fit your life and personal fitness goals.

Want to develop strength and sculpt your muscles? Head to the weight room, which features both free weights and machines. Interested in an upbeat Aumba or dance class to help get your heart rate up? This gym's got plenty of those, too. And if swimming is something you enjoy, don’t forget the gym’s aquatic center, which offers both indoor and outdoor pools.

Memorial Athletic Club & Aquatic Center
14690 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 497-7570
www.fitmac.com
www.yelp.com/biz/memorial-athletic-club-and-aquatic-center-houston

What’s Your Favorite Class at YogaOne Studios?

Along with yoga's rising popularity in recent years has come a proliferation of classes featuring different styles of yoga, and it can sometimes be hard to find a studio that offers your preferred yoga style. That's where YogaOne comes in: this yoga studio's Bellaire location offers just about everything, from bikram-style hot yoga and vinyasa flow to forrest yoga, so no matter what you're looking for, you can probably find it here.

What's more, since the folks at YogaOne understand how important it is to find an instructor you connect with and a class that fits your needs, newcomers to the studio can get a heavily discounted 30-day trial membership that allows you to try over 350 classes taught by several dozen instructors at any of YogaOne's five locations. Yelp reviewers say the Bellaire staff is especially friendly and motivational, so whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned yogi, you'll likely find yourself welcome here.

YogaOne Studio
5427 Bellaire Boulevard
Bellaire, TX 77401
(281) 888-7724
www.yogaonehouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/yogaone-studios-bellaire

Doshi House Cafe: More Than Your Typical Coffee House

Doshi House Cafe serves an array of coffee, teas, and vegetarian bites. Regulars at this Houston coffee shop know that it uses only locally roasted Greenway beans and makes its own flavoring syrups in house. Stop by for a quick cup of joe to go, or sit down to savor a foamy cappuccino or cup of hot green tea.

Regulars praise the strong, globally inspired food menu, too, and recommend you pick up some lunch at Doshi House Cafe next time you've got a few minutes to spare. Try the curried vegetable panini, served with muenster on thick-sliced bread, or enjoy a fragrant bowl of coconut Thai soup that comes swimming with rice and greens. The Creole red beans and rice is a house favorite, with its hearty base and spicy broth spooned over the top. Everything at Doshi House is 100 percent vegetarian, too, so you can feel good about getting your RDA of veggies.

Doshi House Cafe
3419 Dowling Street
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 528-0060
www.doshihouse.com
www.yelp.com/biz/doshi-house-caf%C3%A9-houston-2

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