For nature lovers in Houston, there are few places more fun and fascinating than the Hermann Park Conservancy. This large park is packed full of outdoor attractions that everyone in your family will love to explore, or if you prefer to simply relax in the grass, you’ll find lots of places to do that as well.

Start your visit by purchasing an all-day ticket for the Hermann Park Railroad, a train that winds its way around all of the park’s major attractions. Tickets are just over $6 to ride all day long, or you can purchase single ride passes if you know where you’re going. Next, rent a paddle boat on the crystal clear lake or rent a bike to pedal your way around the park’s numerous trails. There is a small zoo on the park’s grounds, a Japanese garden, and even the Miller Outdoor Theatre, which shows Shakespeare performances all summer long.

Hermann Park Conservancy
1700 Hermann Drive
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 524-5876
www.hermannpark.org

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Carodean Road Designs

Whether you’re recovering from an injury or simply looking to begin a workout routine from scratch, low-impact workouts are often just as beneficial as more explosive styles. Here are a few low-impact workouts that will take it a bit easier on your body while still showing major results.

1. Kettlebell swings. Any exercise that burns up to 600 calories in just 30 minutes should be on your list, and that’s just what you’ll get with kettlebell swings.
2. Swimming. If your gym has an indoor or outdoor pool, try swimming some simple laps to get in a great cardiovascular exercise that burns fat without putting much impact on your body.
3. Barre classes. This trendy, ballet-inspired workout actually lives up to the hype. Barre’s sequences of pliés, squats, and repetitive arm movements are proven to burn major calories, and they also go easy on your joints.
4. Cycling. If you love running but simply can’t handle the strain that it puts on your knees and ankles, try cycling instead. The average hour-long class burns between 600 and 750 calories.
5. Power yoga. While all types of yoga are beneficial to your health, more traditional styles don’t particularly burn a lot of calories. If you’re looking to lose weight, try a power yoga class instead.
6. Fast-paced walking. Speed up your usual walk to torch calories without going too hard on your joints.

Low-Impact Exercises That Burn Major Calories [SparkPeople]
8 Low-Impact Workouts That Still Burn Major Calories [Shape]
8 Low-Impact Workouts That Torch Calories [Prevention]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Ben Sutherland

One happy Yelp reviewer says that Simply Divine Nail Spa is her "absolute favorite place to get a mani/pedi!" and a quick glance through the rest of this place's Yelp reviews shows that she's not alone. This Sugar Land nail salon is especially well known for its commitment to cleanliness and hygiene, as well as its beautifully decorated modern interior, complete with a luxe chandelier, so you can be sure that the time you spend here will feel like something special.

Beyond that, however, the manicurists at Simply Divine Nail Spa are good at what they do: regulars say they're skilled, quick, and efficient. Whether you're looking for a quick lunchtime polish touch-up, or you want to go for the full experience with a pedicure in one of the massaging chairs and a festive custom design manicure, Simply Divine Nail Spa is a popular local choice.

Simply Divine Nail Spa
16562 Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 491-0777
www.simplydivinenailspa.com
www.yelp.com/biz/simply-divine-nail-spa-sugar-land

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/ajbatac