Hermann Park352

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best playground/park in Houston, Hermann Park is a vast urban green space, home to the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the first desegregated public golf course in the United States.

The park's eight-acre McGovern Lake can be toured in four-seat pedal boats, which are available to rent at the boathouse for $9 per half hour. Limited fishing is available at Bob's Fishing Pier; fishing is restricted to kids ages 12 and under, and seniors ages 65 and over. "Catch and release" is required.

Plenty of great, shaded picnic spots can be found throughout Hermann Park, and kids are particularly drawn to rolling down the grassy hill near Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Peaceful strolling options include the Reflection Pool and the Hermann Park Japanese Garden, which features shaded paths, bridges, and scenic ponds. And those on the run with baby joggers can enjoy a two-mile jogging trail, shaded by mature live oak trees.

The Hermann Park Train runs daily. Riders can board at Kinder Station (near the Zoo's main entrance), or at any of three other stops along the train's route through the park. Tickets cost $3. For more information, call 713.526.2183

Birthday party packages are also available, complete with indoor and outdoor rental spaces near the train station. Call 713.526.2183 for details.

The Playground for All Children features play equipment for children of all abilities, most of it handicap-accessible. Children can cool off in the interactive water playground, and picnic pavilions may be rented for family gatherings or birthday parties. For rental information, call 713.845.1003.

Hermann Park is owned by the City of Houston; for further details, click here to visit the City's website.