Located on the western edge of Memorial Park (4 miles from downtown Houston), the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a 155-acre nature sanctuary with 5 miles of hiking trails.

Huntsville State Park lies in the piney woods of the Sam Houston National Forest, dominated by loblolly and shortleaf pines typical of the East Texas Pine Belt. The park provides attractive camping and picnic areas and encloses the 210-acre Lake Raven.

Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center covers 275-acres, preserving the Native American and pioneer lifestyles commonly found along the banks of Cypress and Spring creeks during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Jones Park is a window into a fast floodplain forest habitat. Explore diverse ecosystems, go on guided tours, and observe live snakes and a beehive.

A broad sweep of land that stretches from just beyond the Houston city limits, the Katy Prairie ranges from flat coastal plains to gently rolling pastures; the terrain is typical of what is found along much of the upper Texas Gulf Coast. In autumn, one of the most incredible natural spectacles in North America occurs here, as thousands, then millions, of migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, arrive.

Lake Houston Park is a beautiful, lushly forested expanse that's perfect for photography, nature study, hiking, biking, canoeing, and bird watching. Nearby civilization is soon forgotten when surrounded by pines, cypresses, and a peaceful setting.

Lake Livingston State Park contains 635.5 acres along Lake Livingston, a 84,800-acre reservoir. The park features camping, swimming, fishing, boating, and horseback riding.

The Lake Plaza project was built upon the Hermann Park tradition of bringing Houstonians together and generating opportunities for recreation and rejuvenation in the heart of the city.

If you dream of riding bowls, grinding rails, or cutting and sweeping through the largest cradle in the world, you can fulfill your desire right here in Houston at the new Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark.

Dubbed “the largest urban park in Texas,” Houston's Memorial Park, just inside Loop 610 at Woodway, includes Texas’ top-rated municipal 18-hole golf course, as well as facilities for tennis, softball, swimming, track, croquet, volleyball, in-line skating, cycling and a popular three-mile running course.

The Montgomery County Preserve provides a wonderful area for birdwatching, native plant observation, and hiking. Local Master Naturalists as well as Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas (B.E.S.T.) host official national butterfly counts, monitor water quality, and provide educational programs for area citizens.