7 Ways to Have Fun With the Family Outdoors in Pasadena

If you’re fortunate enough to live in the Houston, Texas, area or have spent some time here, you know what a great city it is for families. The city is so vast and vibrant that there are literally dozens of incredible indoor experiences that you can do as a family. Sometimes, however, being indoors gets old, and you and your family long for the great outdoors. That’s when it becomes apparent that the growth of big cities often leaves less room for outdoor activities, and it can take a long time to get to many of them.

But did you know that there are several opportunities for outdoor activities right here in Pasadena that your family can enjoy without having to drive for hours through crowded city traffic? For those times when you want to spend the day enjoying fun activities outdoors with your family, but don’t have the time to travel a long distance, we’ve put together a list of seven excellent ways to have fun with your family outdoors in Pasadena, Texas.

Armand Bayou Nature Center

Getting close to and learning about our natural world is always a thrill, and Pasadena has its own extraordinary place to do that in the Armand Bayou Nature Center. The number of activities for your family at the Nature Center is astounding. They include night hikes to spot bats and fireflies, guided kayak tours of Armand Bayou, safari tours in comfortable electric vehicles, morning and sunset pontoon boat cruises, and dip-netting, where you and your family can go looking for pond creatures. There’s a cost to each activity, and it is a bayou, so don’t forget your bug spray.

Location: 8500 Bay Area Blvd., Pasadena, Texas.

El Jardin Beach

When you go to the very east edge of Pasadena, you’ll find a wonderful beach on the waters of Trinity Bay called El Jardin Beach. There’s good fishing, picnic tables in case you want to bring food, and plenty of sand to make sandcastles. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leashes. One of the best things about El Jardin Beach is that the Pasadena Parks & Recreation Department has made it free for the residents of Pasadena, whereas non-locals have to pay $10 for adults and $5 for children. So, don’t forget to bring an I.D. with your Pasadena address.

Location: 500 El Jardin Drive, Pasadena, Texas.

Burke/Crenshaw Park

Another great park maintained by the Pasadena Parks & Recreation Department is Burke/Crenshaw Park. A great feature of this park that your family will want to take advantage of is its nine-hole disc golf course. If you’ve never tried it, disc golf is easy to learn and affordable.

If that’s not your thing, there are plenty of other activities in this 100-acre park that you could try, including fishing in a lake stocked with rainbow trout in the spring and fall and catfish in the summer, exercise stations, hiking trails, and covered tables, where you can just relax in the shade with a picnic lunch.

Location: 4950 Burke Road, Pasadena, Texas.

The Battle Ground Golf Course

Golf isn’t the easiest sport in the world, but you and your family will want to give it a try at The Battle Ground Golf Course. Technically, only one edge of the course is actually in Pasadena, but we figure that’s close enough. Each of The Battle Ground’s 18 holes is named after a leader in the battle against Santa Anna for Texas’ independence. But if 18 holes are too much, The Battle Ground also has a small three-hole practice course that’s free for golfers aged 18 and under, as well as a lit driving range where the family can practice.

Location: 1600 Georgia Ave., Deer Park, Texas.

Sunset Park and the Peter C. Fogo Recreation Center

When it’s hot — and you know it gets hot in Texas — there’s nothing quite like a pool or splash pad for the family to have fun while keeping cool. Sunset Park in Pasadena is the home of both a splash pad and the Sunset Pool, maintained beautifully by the Pasadena Parks & Recreation Department. And swimming or splashing is just the beginning. The park also features a playground, swings, and picnic tables. On weekdays, the Peter C. Fogo Recreation Center is open, which offers its own relief from the sun with a game room and computer lab.

Location: 914 W. Hart Ave., Pasadena, Texas.

Clear Lake Park

At the very south edge of Pasadena, you’ll find Clear Lake Park, which sits along the north side of Clear Lake. The large lake gives the park some unique features for you family to enjoy, including a pier and a boat launch for families with watercraft. You’ll also find a tennis court, a splash pad that’s open from April to October, a jogging trail, a playground, picnic areas, and an open-air pavilion on the park’s 59 acres. Clear Lake Park also has the rare privilege of hosting a historical site: the ancient burial grounds of the Akokisa Indians.

Location: 5001 NASA Parkway, Seabrook, Texas.

South Street Soccer Park

There’s a reason soccer’s the most popular sport on earth: it’s really fun, and all you need is a soccer ball to play. But the South Street Soccer Park makes it even better, providing your family with grass fields and netted goal posts so you can enjoy a good game. Your family and friends can bring a ball and find room on its 10 acres of fields that are nicely maintained by the Pasadena Parks & Recreation Department. Alternatively, you could look into joining soccer leagues that play at the park, which have discounts for Pasadena residents.

Location: 801 South St., Pasadena, Texas.At Monument Chevrolet, we sincerely hope that you and your family are able to take advantage of these seven great opportunities for outdoor fun right here in Pasadena, Texas. We truly do live in a special part of the greater Houston area. We also hope that if your family has automotive needs — whether selling a vehicle, buying a new or pre-owned vehicle, or maintaining the vehicle you love — that you’ll let the professionals at Monument Chevrolet provide you with first-class service. Contact us and let us know how we can help.

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