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    good-natured camps

    Houston Arboretum takes kids on virtual hike with summer camps

    Steven Devadanam
    Aug 3, 2020 | 1:50 pm
    Houston Arboretum boardwalk
    Kids can romp through the arboretum and get closer to nature thanks to these virtual camps.
    Photo by Anthony Rathbun

    With summer in full swing and most public entertainment options closed, local parents are in the hunt for enriching virtual options for bored and cooped-up kids. To the rescue comes a beloved Houston nature center, which is chipping in with some added virtual camps.

    The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has announced that it will offer four additional weeks of its highly popular Virtual Summer Camp, starting August 10 and running through September 4. Interested parents can register for each week of camp by the Friday before at noon. The camps cost $125 and up, with member rates available.

    Here at the newest additions to the virtual camp schedule, per the arboretum.

    Spiders & Arachnids: August 10 – 14
    What do the Green Lynx, Brown Recluse, Golden Orb ,and Black Widow have in common? They are all spiders. Spiders can climb the tallest buildings and creep through the tiniest of cracks. Their silk is stronger than the strongest steel or any other man-made fiber. No wonder they are heroes of lore and literature from mythology to the movies. Join us for a week of exploring spiders through stories, hands-on crafts, games, and field investigations.

    Survivor: August 17-21
    Come and experience the skills that animals, plants, and people need to survive. Learn how to build a basic shelter, use echolocation to find food, and find out how to navigate with a compass. Enthusiastic instructors will ensure that everyone succeeds in our Arboretum tribes.

    WOW! The Wonders of Water: August 24 – 28
    Explore the wonderful world of water. Water is practically everywhere on Earth, from inside the planet’s rocky crust to inside the cells of the human body. Water cycles, a wetland safari, water creatures, and water labs will make this week a splash.

    Creative by Nature: August 31 – September 4
    Explore the connections between art and nature as campers use the world around them for creative inspiration. Go for hikes to study Arboretum organisms, and then see how nature will inspire your works of art. Explore the use of natural materials to create projects like hiking sticks, mud paintings, and flower presses.

    “We have been overwhelmed by the interest and demand for additional Summer Camp virtual programming,” says Debbie Markey, Houston Arboretum executive director, in a statement. “This alternative to our in-person camps has proven to be a huge draw for children and parents who are looking for compelling and engaging activities outside of video games and devices. Crafts, home laboratories and field investigations have all been big hits.”

    Need more options? The Houston Zoo is also offering up at virtual Zoofari for kids this month.

    kids
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    festive cities

    Houston dazzles among top 10 most festive cities in America for 2025

    Amber Heckler
    Nov 26, 2025 | 12:30 pm
    Pedestrian bridge to River Oaks
    River Oaks Christmas Lights in Houston TX/Facebook
    The River Oaks Christmas Lights are a fun place to take families.

    Houston has once again landed a coveted spot on Thumbtack's annual ranking of the most festive American cities in 2025.

    Home services platform Thumbtack analyzed holiday light installation requests from customers from October 2024 to 2025 to determine the most festive U.S. cities. Rankings were based on the "relative frequency" of requests after being adjusted for the population of each state and metro area.

    Houston ranked as the 6th most festive U.S. city this year, dropping two spots from its former No. 4 rank in 2024.

    Locals searching for inspiration for their homes can find it at the many twinkly displays illuminating Houston for the holidays, from the iconic City Lights to the rustic Dewberry Farm light show. And the holiday season is beginning earlier with every passing year, according to Thumbtack.

    "Homeowners are layering their look from October through December, swapping out pumpkins for pine boughs and adding sparkle as the season unfolds," the report said.

    Other festive holiday events happening around Houston include cheery pop-up bars, holiday markets, and much more. CultureMap readers can also keep up with all of Houston's holiday happenings in our special editorial series.

    Other big Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio also all landed top-10 spots in the report, proving the Lone Star State is much more festive than the rest of the country.

    "From Texas to Florida, the South is setting the standard for holiday spirit, and in true Texas fashion, bigger is definitely brighter," the report said. "Mild winters and a strong sense of community keep the Lone Star State shining at the top."

    Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

    • No. 1 – Austin, Texas
    • No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
    • No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
    • No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
    • No. 5 – Sacramento, California
    • No. 6 – Houston, Texas
    • No. 7 – San Francisco, California
    • No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
    • No. 9 – San Antonio, Texas
    • No. 10 – Atlanta, Georgia
    festive citiesholidayschristmasrankingshouston
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