Spring break can be tough on a budget; the kids need to be entertained but money is tight. No Airbnb’s in Austin, no vacation home on the island, not even enough money for a day at the movies or a ball game? No need to worry, there is plenty to do — and a lot of it is free — right here in the Houston Southeast District.

Photo: Hermann Park Conservancy

Take public parks for instance. Probably Houston’s most popular park, Hermann Park, is right here in the district between the Texas Medical Center and Museum Plaza. A verdant 445-acre respite from the city, it’s not only a lovely place to take a stroll and have a picnic it’s also a place of great entertainment. Admission to the park is free but if you pop for $6 dollar train pass ($7 on weekends) you can hop on the miniature train for a tour of the park. The Hermann Park Railroad chugs around with multiple stops. Hop off at The Commons and you can take the kids for a spin on The Lott Family Carousel for $3 — $6 for an all-day pass — or better yet, go on a Tuesday when it’s free all day thanks to ExxonMobil. (ExxonMobil also offers free Tuesday admission to the Houston Zoo.) You can also rent a pedal boat — $16 — and cruise the lake. Do be aware that the park is very busy during HISD spring break and be mindful of the construction going on around Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Over in the Third Ward, you’ll find the city’s oldest public park, Emancipation Park. The storied history of this facility that celebrates Juneteenth is well preserved but recent renovations have added to the usability here. The pool at the Aquatics Center won’t open until Memorial Day, but there are two spraygrounds outside of the center in the park that offer in-ground bubbler and directional sprays to play in. A fitness center, tennis courts, and a playground are also available.

Almost as old, MacGregor Park has a statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Homer Ford Tennis Center where Olympic and professional athletes such as Zina Garrison have trained, and a beloved basketball court, home of pickup games for University of Houston’s Phi Slama Jama team from the 80s’. Years of community use now show but the park is about to undergo a major renovation.

From March 7 to 24 it’s Spring Break Blast at the Children’s Museum Houston with all-day events and activities to keep the whole family entertained. Each day has a different theme like Pi day, March 14, that  marks the celebration of π and Albert Einstein’s birthday. Or join the human hamster ball races. General admission to the museum applies.

Kids will also love the dinosaurs, mummies, and educational programs at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which is free on Tuesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Photo: Houston Public Library

But don’t forget about your neighborhood library either. Like Smith Neighborhood Library on Scott Street in the Third Ward. City libraries like Smith offer a lot of free events for all ages from board games to story times to craft events. Happy spring break.

by Marene Gustin