Beautiful park in the heart of Houston! BF and I came here for a visit after hitting up the zoo, and loved how green and spacious the area was. We took advantage of the paddleboats, a rarity that we can't seem to find in our own city, and had a blast! There is a gift shop and café in the park area as well, but between the paddle boats and our walk around the water, it seemed a pleasant and fun place for a date or a family outing. Wish we had more green spaces like this in San Antonio! read more

Absolutely spectacular and a must see in the Houston area. They have now installed a bike sharing program where you can go to a kiosk and rent a bike ($5 for 24 hours, but you have to check into a kiosk every hour to avoid additional fees). There is one by the train by the zoo and tons around the city. My friends and I rented the bikes and spent a couple hours biking all over the park and sightseeing. I love the fact that there are tons of families that come here. It is a joyous place and I saw more young families than I have in any other place. There are a couple of parks peppered around the area for children to play. I also saw tons of kids playing on the grassy hill by the outdoor stage. They looked like they were having a blast rolling down the hill. If you are here to relax, I could envision myself picking up a book and sitting by the giant fountain. There are benches everywhere! This would also be a great place for a picnic. I'm always surprised that there is free parking here. It was an absolute bear when we came the Saturday after Christmas, but my friend who comes more often said that on a normal weekday parking isn't horrific. Every time I come here I see people taking engagement/wedding/special occasion pictures and it is obvious why. This is one of the most beautiful places in the Houston area. read more

Very beautiful and we'll kept. There are sitting areas where you can sit and have a nice relaxing time or have a meal. Overall a very cool to enjoy nature and some monuments and relax listening to a waterfall. read more

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Our son loves to the train! We probably go once a month. On busy days recommend avoiding parking by zoo lots. Limited passenger pickup at the 3 designated stops. If you do hop on you will need to ride to the main station to pay. Can buy same day and advance tickets. read more

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Home to some of Houston's most peaceful and scenic atmospheres. There's an abundance of activities for all age groups: strolling along the serene Japanese Tea Gardens, kayaking (which I have yet to do - but it's on my Houston bucket list and I recommend checking it out), picnics on the lush green grass, catching a show at Miller Outdoor Theater (be sure to pack a picnic and blanket!). There's so much to do here and I love it any time of year. It's a local favorite spot and should definitely be on every visitor's itinerary! read more

This park has everything that you want in a park. Except for the parking space. They have nowhere near enough parking space to accommodate everything that the park has to offer. The Museum of Natural Science, The Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theater, Japanese Garden, Reflection pool, the runners, the bikers, the picnicers, the golfers, etc. Good luck finding parking here on a Friday night if there's a good showing at the Miller Outdoor Theater. Good luck finding parking when there's a big event at the HMNS. Better plan to come early. The Houston zoo is a bit out of the way, so parking is plenty over there. You could find parking on the streets near the park, but watch for signs because you could get a ticket or even towed. The hill by the Outdoor Theater is a nice spot to lay out and to picnic. They are currently undergoing construction to add more attractions at the park. Hopefully they will be expanding the parking lot as well because parking spot really is a rarity here. If you live in Houston and you've never been to Hermann Park, I would highly recommend visiting this place. Bring your family for a nice picnic out. Grab your running shoes and go for a run. Take your dogs here and meet other dogwalkers. Visit the zoo. Visit the museum. Catch a show at the outdoor theater. You won't regret it. Also check the calendar on the park's website to see what's going on at the park. read more

This past weekend we had a fantastic time at the kite festival. Parking can be a bit of a drag so arrive early, go with friend, or catch a bus. There is plenty of shaded areas. When there is not an event going on, plan on bringing your food to snack on. March can get hot, good idea to bring sunscreen, shades and if you are planning to walk around comfortable shoes. There a few public bathroom facilities. We brought a blanket, snacks, water. This worked well till noon. After that we walked around to keep cool. read more

Hermann Park Conservancy - 2nd annual kite festival - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Awesome park. Love the water, love the spots to study. The train ride is cute. The pedal boats are a cute date, too. You can see my uploaded picture. A photography class asked to take my picture (after they already took a bunch, lol) while i was reading by the water. It's a good spot. People come here to throw frisbees with their dogs. Its nice. read more

Hermann Park Conservancy - photography class asked to take my picture while i was reading - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

The most beautiful park I've ever seen. I've enjoyed every moment here. Took a lot of pictures and tried almost everything. The activities are offered in this park are many and really nice and good especially in a good weather. I love this park. I tried the boat $3.75 bucks I think for a 30 minutes & the bikes are $3 only for 30 minutes also. read more

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Excellent place to chill with your family, easy access, easy parking and family friendly. Recommended ! read more

Very huge and beautiful park. The Japanese garden is amazing! Beautiful place to take pictures. It's clean and busy on weekends read more

Really nice park! Nice to go with family and/or friends! Good place to go walking and strolling! Really big park and a long way to walk! We didn't get to walk around the whole park. Will come back again! (Note: Be careful, we saw a rat in the leaves next to a tree, near the place we parked.) read more

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What a beautiful park! Lots of things to do, and their main visitor station even has a cafe with reasonably priced beer! Paddle boats are clean, and $11 for half an hour. Initially, this seems steep but it really isn't because - let's face it, paddleboating in a humid summer is exhausting! They also charge per boat, vs per person, which is nice. There is also a cute little train that goes around the park that seems so fun. Only bummer is that you have to buy tickets at the main station. Not a bad place to spend an afternoon... read more

Hermann Park has it all. it's a multi-faceted gem, Barion cut if you want to get specific, in the middle of our lovely city. On the quest for sun-dappled? Head here. On the quest for wide-open spaces to get your heavy dose of vitamin-D. Head here. Beyond open skies and ample shade, what will you find "here?" The zoological garden, Miller Outdoor Theatre (MOT), Reflection Pond with it's shaded seating areas along each side, The Japanese Garden, Trail through the Marshes (as I call it, I think they call it McGovern Lake), Giant Pond with all of the pedal boats. [Gretchen takes a deep breath, battles on.] The train. 24 Gazillion picnic benches, some in the shade, some in the sun. Open spaces to play bocce ball, Frisbee, fly kites. The hill at MOT to roll down and stain your school uniform or jeans. Rose Garden, another flower garden, golf course, jogging trail. [Gretchen gasps for breath again.] Museum of Natural Science, a gazebo, festivals, fishing ponds, fountains, log cabin, a community center, a garden center, sculpture, playgrounds, and parking lots as far as the eye can see. There's a metro stop along main. It's right next door to Houston's grand Med Center, Rice University, and the Museum of Fine Arts Complex. I'm certain that I've forgotten something within Hermann Park, but that only leaves it to be discovered again. Why do I like it five stars much beyond the aforementioned? This sprawling park offers a nice lush refuge from the hustle and bustle. It's the area of town to get your arts and culture on, while connecting with the rest of the gigantic community that is Houston, Texas and surrounding cities. It's packed on the gorgeous weekends, but you never feel like anyones in your space. No, none of that is true. I gave it five-stars because of the train. read more

Hermann Park Conservancy - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hermann park is on my permanent list of things to do when visiting Houston. I love the fountain, memorials, adjacent gardens, duck pond, and all the activity here. There's so much visually going on here there's no shortage to entertain you while going for a stroll or exercising. Ever since I discovered it I have gone every time I'm in H town and in fact when planning my visits I'll try to find a hotel not too far away so I can avoid trying to find parking. Parking is a bit of a chore especially in the afternoons. If you can come early on the weekends that's your best bet to enjoy it sans the parking dilemma. Highly recommend. read more

What a nice place to run! I'll admit, you Texans know how to 1) make good restaurants 2) make great golf courses, and 3) make good running trails. After moving here from California, the first thing I did was look for places to run. I like Memorial Park, but, man, it's like a workout just to avoid colliding into people. I then discovered Hermann Park/Rice University. Thank god I did. Hermann Park is so pretty and I love running around here. The little mini Washington Monument with the lake is so awesome! I like the little bridges around the area, the golf course is pretty to look at, and the dirt trail is perfect for running on without hurting your knees. It also has tons of drinking fountains, which you need in Houston at this time of the year because it is soooooooo hot and humid--- how do you guys do it???? It's definitely not as a busy on the trails as Memorial Park and that makes it peaceful. It's very shaded with lots of trees and the trail, I would say, is generally flat. There is no hill work so don't come here for that. I see families here a lot with their kids. The museums and zoo are around the perimeter of the park so go visit one! If you are running around it I would say it's about 3 miles according to my Garmin watch. To make it longer, add the Rice University trail to your distance, which is also 3 miles. Tip: Rice trail has more people on it than Hermann and it's much narrower. Have fun! read more

Here is how my evening went last night...About 4:00 I was at Randalls picking up a standing rib roast for dinner. I got home, put a little salt and pepper on it and threw it in the oven for 10 minutes at 475 degrees. Then I turned down the over to 250 and ran out the door for a little Hermann Park fun (I LOVE living in the loop). A 7 minute drive later, we were parking the car and off to feed the nutria, er ducks, er nutria. The 2 year old is obsessed with the R-O-U-S (I love The Princess Bride). We fed 2 gigantic rats, 4 ducks or duck like bird animals, about 12 pigeons, at least 5 turtles, and countless fish a truly delicious meal of stale cereal, crackers, tortillas, and bread. The 6 year old likes to play a game we call, try to peg the rat with a shredded wheat. The new train station is up and running, but we didn't get a chance to ride it because by the time we thought about it the train had closed (closing time is 5:30. There is now a little gift shop and what I am most excited about was that I saw a TABC notification sign that Little Bigs is applying for a liquor license right there by the new train station and pedal boats dock. I for one can't wait to be able to dine al fresco, kick back with a cold one, and then go for a lovely nature walk to feed the ROUS. We were home by 6:15. I pulled the roast out of the oven, let it set while I boiled up some corn on the cob. By 6:30 we were eating dinner. Delicious by the way. And no, you can't come over for left overs. I ate them already on my way good French dip sandwiches I made for lunch today. read more

I love running here. I think the scenery is much better than at Memorial Park. However, I am giving them 4-stars because the last time I ran here, I got solicited for sex by some lady who only spoke spanish. I thought she needed help or assistance with something, until I realized she was trying to lure me into a hidden area. I immediately ran away and looked around to see if there weren't any strangers after me and my money. I know the story sounds a little funny, but the lesson to be learned in all this is that I don't think Hermann is very runner friendly when it gets near sundown. At least not as much as Memorial Park. Yes, Memorial does have it's own security issues at night, but at least a lot more people run there at night and it's lit better than at Hermann. That's all though, I still love the place. Probably just won't go near sundown. read more

Awesome free spot to take a take a stroll. Did the inner loop and the outer loop. You just need to pay for parking. I just wished their were more restrooms available. read more

The biggest reasons I relocated to where I did (right across the street from this beautiful green space). So many things going on all the time: people hanging out, playing frisbee, and even getting hitched (daily it seems - or atleast taking pictures) in crazy colorful extravagant gowns/outfits across the street from Zaza. Whether you want to just take a leisurely stroll, go golfing, catch a free play or concert at the amphitheater (Miller Outdoor), relax at a bench and people/animal watch, paddle boat, go to the zoo, or get 'murried' (list can keep going and going) this place is a wonderful location. Additionally it has a large (for the park size) artificial lake, flower and Zen gardens, reflective pool with obelisk on one end and an "Arc-de-Sam Houston" on the other, mini park-wide train, and a kiddie play area. It's nice to have this place as a back yard and be able to use it most of the year due to Houston's generally mild to hot weather. Also helps in keeping resolutions since you can't help but use it for exercise / outdoor activities almost daily. For a Houston park... as good as it gets! read more

Beautiful park in the middle of the city. My nephew and little friend loves the shooting water fountain and ducks that waddle by. The scenery is gorgeous so it's common to see have picnics, nap, ride the little train, go on dates, enjoying the day or exercising. It's easy to pass this park but when I'm not in a rush, I like to stop here. I still have yet to try the paddle boats. :D read more

I absolutely love Hermann Park. It's been my go-to for the past year for going running, walking the dog, or a cheap date in nature because the park is so gorgeous and offers so much. There is always a ton of activities and things to do at Hermann Park, but my favorites are the jogging trail, the Japanese Garden, and the Miller Outdoor Theatre. The jogging trail is great because it's hard to get bored on the trail. The Japanese Garden is also incredibly beautiful and a great place to just walk around. But the best part is Miller Outdoor Theatre. They are constantly putting on free events during the summer and fall and it's a great way to spend an evening. Honestly the only con to Hermann Park is the parking situation. There's minimal parking located around the center of the Park, but there is a lot of parking next to the Houston Zoo, which is just a short walk. read more

My dog's all-time favorite park; how could I not give it a 5* review? Seriously, beyond the earnest whining my dog emits every time we pull up here, these are the other great things about Hermann Park: * A fantastic daytime running trail * A visit to two other nearby Houston attractions, the Houston Zoo and Houston Museum of Natural Science * The very unique Japanese Gardens * Reflecting in the reflection pool * The kiddie wonder and excitement of riding the choo-choo train * Taking a date paddle boating and going under the water fountain in an effort to get wet while staying dry * Free concerts and plays at Miller Outdoor Theatre (including BYOB food and alcohol!) * People-watching the birthday party picnickers, the engagement or quinceanera photogs, the workout warriors, or the one random totally embarassed dude whose dog jumped in the water and chased a duck for 45 minutes * Just seeing a bunch of green in one place The only downside to Hermann Park is its horrendous parking situation, which can get downright impossible on nice weekday afternoons. The rail doesn't run nearly close enough to the park, and it's not like normal people actually ride it anyway. Yeah, there's plenty of parking spots and lots, they're just packed to the gills when people want to park. And yes, that was a double entendre. read more

My experience at Hermann Park is limited to a wedding I went to in the Chinese Gazebo. It was gorgeous. The gazebo itself was too small for the amount of guests, but we all had a good time crammed in there. It was such a perfect day for an outdoor wedding too--not too humid, a slight breeze, and nice and sunny. The park is kept well manicured so there isn't much to complain about. There were a lot of people roaming around without it being too crowded. The parking is awful though, but since it is in the middle of the city, you can't really complain. Going to this park makes me wish I had a dog. It is the perfect place to just talk a walk while feeling completely safe (unheard of in such a large city). read more

Hermann park is the most user-friendly urban park in Houston. It's 99% safe (I don't recommend hanging out here alone at night), 95% litter-free, and packed with free things to do. During my time in Houston I've gone running here, fed ducks, sat and people-watched, and completed several college photo assignments. I've taken many a picnic to the hill above the amphitheater (and spent 4 4th of Julys here - not bad, not great, very Houston). It is, overall, a very Houston place - some poverty, some beauty, some relics of a city that no longer exists here. Things to do at Hermann Park: - Visit the Japanese Gardens and experience a few patches of nature in a somewhat Japanese garden-ish setting. Lots of folks like to take portraits in here. - Watch the ducks in the big duck pond. - Rent a paddleboat and pedal around said pond. - Go to the zoo ($) - Ride the tiny train through the park ($) - Go to the science museum ($) - Sit on a bench and read, draw, stare, or ruminate - Visit the rose garden. Inhale. - Take a jog around the jogging loop. - Golf - Take in a free show at the amphitheater - Fly a kite - Roll down a hill - Play on the expansive playground (includes water park) - Grill something at a picnic pavilion - Eat a snowcone ($ unless you bring your own snowcone) read more

Hermann Park is easily may favorite "park" in Houston with only the arboretum raking higher spot for being outside. It doesn't have the crowds of joggers and athletes like Memorial Park and is larger than some of the smaller pocket parks or Discovery Green. It's a big, sprawling area with tons of nature and place to people watch or just relax. The train is wonderful, especially since its re-vamp a couple years ago. It's close to the light rail and, obviously, the zoo. It's just a great place to relax, take pictures, go for a walk, play with your dog or your kids. I particularly love the Japanese Garden and you can even catch a free concert at Miller Outdoor Theater or walk to the Museum of Natural Science or the MFA. It's one of my favorite places to go in Houston. read more

I absolutely LOVE this park. I truly believe this park is a part of what makes Houston great. The landscape is very well thought out and has something to do for everyone. I've come here for picnics, to read a book, go on a run, enjoy the outdoor art displays, and stumbled upon shows at miller outdoor theatre. read more

Ah...after my memorial park experience, I was a little apprehensive about visiting another Houston park. Luckily, this place is non exercise friendly lol. I saw a free concert in the pavilion, I fed ducks, ate ice cream, went to a museum and the zoo, all in the same day, in the same park. Now that is how a park should be. There are PLENTY of shady spots to relax, and an interesting garden of sorts next to some pretty cool fountains. Heck, there's even paddle boats. Yup, swan shaped paddle boats. This may be the best park in Houston when it comes to things to do. I highly recommend killing a nice afternoon here. You'll be glad you did. read more

It is high time that I wrote a review for my favorite Houston park, and one of my favorite things in general about HTX. I've been coming to this park and nearby attractions since I was a child. More recently, about 6 years ago, I moved to the Museum District area and it essentially became my backyard. During prime Houston weather months (October-April) you will find me in Hermann Park. Whether I'm doing the group workout thing with Mean Green Bootcamp on the hill near Miller Theatre, jogging the oak tree-lined 2 mile Taylor Exercise trail, having a picnic with my boo in the Japanese Garden, pedal boat racing friends in McGovern Lake (spoiler alert: they don't go fast at ALL), riding the fancy new train around the park, or just reading and people watching on a bench near the reflection pool, this is my park. This park is my jam. read more

If you can't fall in love with someone (or be reminded of why you fell for them) while walking through this park with your SO on a sunny day, you just don't have it. Houston may be an ugly city, but this is a place where you can slow down and forget that you're in Houston for awhile. (As to the lack of elevation that someone mentioned... this is Houston. We have sea level and a few feet below sea level. Get used to it.) read more

When I think of Hermann Park, I really just think park next to zoo...nothing special, but I have changed my tune now that I have given it a chance. In addition to the typical kids playground, there is a water feature reminiscent of a smaller version of the reflecting pool in national mall of museums in DC. There is a Japanese tea garden. A beautiful pond with bridges across it and paddle boats that you can rent. There is a kids train that rides through the park. There are bikes for rent. There are sculptures. It is the all round real deal! When you are tired of hanging out you can walk over to the museums. The only negative I will say is that on a pretty day Parking is from Hell! Otherwise, 5 BIG STARS read more

Our family loves Hermann park! One star for the variety of people there: Families of all shades. Young couples on dates. Old couples smiling secretly at the young couples on dates. Kids hanging out. One star for the train. $7 for our family of three to ride around and wave at all the cool people is a good deal. One star for the water: The lake, the fountains to run through, the reflecting pool on the mini-Mall, the swamp. One star for the Zoo,the outdoor theater, and the Japanese Garden. Another star for the variety of people there, because it is so great to have fun with hundreds of people you don't know, but who are having fun too. read more

Herman Park is the perfect place to bring family, a date, friends, break up, get engaged, exercise; anything. it's your most touristy spot other than some areas in downtown. It's great in all aspects and anytime of the day. the butterfly museum is right next to it and they've installed a new section to the park for people to enjoy. usually there's food trucks there so you dont have to worry about not eating. ****I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST THIS PARK TO ANYONE VISITING HOUSTON FOR THE FIRST TIME*** read more

The weather was overcast and misty, so I did not get to experience Hermann Park in it's entirety, but I would most certainly like to. This was just such a nice escape from driving around in the city. The Pioneer Memorial and reflection pond were neat to see and I loved all the pergola shaded benches. We happened upon a fantastic artistic structure, a little hut made of saplings, that you could walk through and explore. It was supplemented with a little info about the artist. I also enjoyed the Japanese Garden with its flowers and streams and paths... however the ominous medical plaza building that towers above the trees kind of interrupts the zen mood, creating kind of a "Cyberdyne is watching you" feel. There are so many other features that we didn't get to see because the weather just didn't want to cooperate, but great park as far as I could tell! read more

An adorable, natural, fun park centrally located in the heart of Houston. Some favorite features: 1. Jogging: there are tons of running trails both encircling the park and in middle throughout the park. The scenery is beautiful. The trees, ponds, wildlife, all in all, are very conducive to a calming running environment. 2. paddle boating on the lake: perfect for a romantic, or a family friendly weekend activity. 3. playgrounds galore: a great attraction for young children It's location is ideal, right next to the zoo, Rice U, Rice Village shopping centers, and near the Metro Rail. While parking is difficult to find, the Metro Rail makes the park easily accessible. I definitely recommend! read more

One of my beautiful bridesmaids brought me and my daughter here for a mini photoshoot. It is absolutely beautiful and the perfect backdrop for photos. We were here in August so it was very hot but beautiful. read more

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Hermann Park has so much to offer! This huge park has something for everyone! A beautiful reflection pool, Japanese Tea Gardens, picnic benches and grills, grassy hill to roll down, golf course, train rides, outdoor theater, lake to paddle boat across?!?! What more could you ask for? And its within walking distance of the museums and restaurants. I love to come to Hermann park on a sunny day with my dog for a long walk and finally a picnic and some time to read a book or play frisbee. I would put Hermann Park at the top of my list for places to visit in Houston. read more

Hermann Park Conservancy - Hermann Park Map - Parks Near Me - Houston, Texas

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What a neat spot for a stroll. So many beautiful plants. Excellent place to take pictures too. The waterfall is the best. I'm definitely coming back at nite to see the difference read more

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How can you not love Hermann Park!? // Plenty of open fields for picnics // Extremely scenic in the heart of the museum district - makes for a great (cheap) date! // You can catch some amazing (usually free) shows at Miller Outdoor Theatre. My favorite is the Motown Review every year over Memorial Day weekend. // One of the few parks in Houston that actually permits alcohol! SCORE! - Just remember, no glass. read more

For a park you can't do much better than Hermann. There is a variety of activities, it's easy to get to by car or rail (though parking can be an issue). It's pretty and centrally located. There are quiet places to relax, places to picnic, places to run around, water activities, public art, walking paths. There is even a little cafe, though I didn't get a chance to check it out. Not to mention the fountain and the miniature train! My parents didn't take me here often enough as a kid... that's for sure. read more