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There is no better time to spend outdoor time with family and friends than the summer season. In Houston, the average summer temperature is 84.6 °F (29.2 °C), which makes it a wonderful opportunity for residents to unwind from the daily hustle and connect with nature. Checking out Houston's best picnic spots can provide the best luxury picnic Houston experience.
When going out for long hours, you should carry Jackery Portable Power Stations to charge your electronics that you might use during your leisure time. Jackery Portable Power Stations are lightweight and compact, making them ideal for quickly charging mini-coolers, laptops, portable speakers, etc.
Why Do People Love Picnic in Houston?
Picnics play an important role in uplifting overall mood and health. Beyond the traditional outing to a park, picnics offer relaxation and rejuvenation and allow people to spend quality time with their family and friends.
People have been picnicking in Houston for numerous reasons as this Texas city boasts a wide range of picturesque parks and green spaces that are perfect for picnics. Additionally, there are several other reasons why people love picnicking in Houston, like:
Scenic Parks and Green Sparks: Houston has several scenic parks and green spaces, which provide an idyllic setting for someone who is interested in an outdoor picnic. With lush landscapes, vibrant urban greenery, and tranquil lakes, Houston provides a perfect space for everyone.
Variety of Picnic Spots: Houston is one of those large cities in the United States that has a whopping 665 parks in total. The city offers a diverse range of picnic spots that cater to the preferences and occasions of everyone.
Family Bonding: Picnics provide a good opportunity for families and friends to reconnect with their community and create lasting memories while spending quality time together in outdoor settings.
Best 10 Picnic Spots in Houston?
Houston is one such place in Texas that boasts several notable picnic spots. These parks host cultural and recreational events that provide picnickers a great opportunity to enjoy live music, outdoor movies, and other entertainment while dining in the open air with the hush surrounding.
Here are the 10 best picnic spots in Houston:
Eleanor Tinsley Park
Location: 18-3600 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019
Contact Number: 832-394-8805
Website: City of Houston
Facilities: Parking, walkways, sand volleyball court, amphitheater lawn, family pavilion, promenade, restroom, and more.
Eleanor Tinsley Park is a part of Buffalo Bayou Park and was designed in 1998. The park offers stunning views of the downtown skyline and is known for hosting famous events, including the annual Houston Reggae Festival and the Freedom Over Texas Fourth of July celebration. The park is ideal for locals and visitors who are seeking outdoor relaxation time.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Location: Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street between Allen Parkway and Memorial Dr, Houston, TX
Contact Number: 713-752-0314 ext. 301
Website: Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Facilities: Play area, go-to dog park, restroom, public restrooms, restaurant, wheelchair-friendly trail, and more.
With over 160 acres of land, Buffalo Bayou Park is one of the most famous picnic Houston spots. The park features scenic walking and biking trails, public art installations, and open green spaces for picnics and other outdoor events. Visitors can also explore the Dunlavy event venue, the Johnny Steele Dog Park, and the Lost Lak and Water Work areas.
Clay Family Eastern Glades
Location: Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
Contact Number: N/A
Website: Memorial Park Conservancy
Facilities: Parking, restroom, food trucks, wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance, large playground, and more.
Clay Family Eastern Glades is also part of Buffalo Bayou Park and offers a serene and scenic environment. The Eastern Glades features meadows, wetland areas, and woodlands, ideal for picnickers looking to explore native wildlife and biodiversity. The notable park also features several amenities, like walking and biking trails, picnic areas, and stunning views of the downtown skyline.
River Oaks Park
Location: 3600 Locke Ln, Houston, TX 77027
Contact Number: 713-622-5998
Website: NA
Facilities: Restroom, grill, picnic tables, garbage receptacles, and more.
River Oaks Park is a crescent-shaped park that offers a peaceful retreat to all the picnickers who prefer lush greenery, shaded walking paths, and open green spaces. The charming neighborhood park also features amenities like a tennis court, sports field, and large playgrounds for children.
Hermann Park
Location: 6001 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030
Contact Number: 713-526-0077
Website: Hermann Park Conservancy
Facilities: Parking, wheelchair accessible, picnic tables, and more.
Hermann Park spans over 445 acres and is one of Texas's most famous picnic spots. The park offers diverse recreational and cultural attractions, like Miller Outdoor Theater, McGovern Centennial Gardens, and the Japanese Garden. Along with spending leisure time in Hermann Park, visitors can also golf at the famous Hermann Park Golf Course or ride the miniature train at the Hermann Park Railroad.
Menil Park & Garden
Location: 1423 Branard St, Houston, TX 77006
Contact Number: 713-525-9400
Website: Menil Collection
Facilities: Wheelchair accessible, parking, restrooms, and more.
The Menil Park & Garden is a 1.5-acre park that is part of the Menil Collection art museum and offers a peaceful retreat amidst lush vegetation and shaded pathways. The park features native planting, sculptures, and outdoor seating areas. Picnickers can admire the outdoor sculptures by renowned artists such as Ellsworth Kelly, Michael Heizer, and Jim Love.
Stude Park
Location: 1031 Stude St. Houston, TX 77007
Contact Number: 713-837-0311
Website: N/A
Facilities: Parking, drinking water accessible, public restroom, wheelchair friendly trails, and more.
If you stay near the White Oak Bayou River, then Stude Park is one of the closest parks that you can visit with your friends and family. The popular urban park offers a variety of recreational amenities, like laws, walking and biking trails, and sports facilities. The park is famous for fishing, kayaking, and playing various sports like tennis, volleyball, and basketball.
Levy Park
Location: 3801 Eastside St, Houston, TX 77098
Contact Number: 713-522-7275
Website: N/A
Facilities: Wheelchair accessible, portable restrooms, free parking, coffee shops, and more.
Levy Park is yet another urban park that features beautifully landscaped gardens and open lawns. The park is famous for its modern playground, dog park, and interactive water features. The park also hosts a variety of events and programs, like food festivals, movie nights, concerts, and fitness classes, which makes it ideal for all those who aim to have more community engagement.
Miller Outdoor Theater
Location: 6000 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
Contact Number: 832-487-7102
Website: Miller Outdoor Theatre
Facilities: Parking, restroom, wheelchair accessible, drinking water available,
If you are visiting Hermann Park, you can also check out the Miller Outdoor Theater. This iconic amphitheater has been providing free cultural and entertainment performances to the public for over 100 years. The theater has a seating capacity of 1,705 people and a sloping lawn where more than 4,500 people can easily be accommodated.
Houston Zoo
Location: 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
Contact Number: 713-533-6500
Website: Houston Zoo
Facilities: Multiple restrooms, rental motorized wheelchair, free parking at Hermann Park, and more.
Houston Zoo is located within the premises of Hermann Park, spans over 55 acres, and currently is home to over 6000 animals from 900+ species. Visitors to the Houston Zoo can explore different habitats, like the African Forest, Kipp Aquarium, and Asian Elephant Habitat. This picnic spot in Houston is dedicated to wildlife conservation, where it offers interactive experiences and several educational programs.
Picnic In Houston Tips
Planning a Houston picnic requires careful consideration of location, preparation, and packing essentials. Some of the essential tips are:
Right Location: Select a picnic park based on the availability, preference, and needs of everyone. Brainstorm the ideas beforehand to ensure that the selected park location is accessible to all and provides all the basic amenities, like restrooms.
Prepare a Packing List: Before heading out for the picnic, create a checklist of essential items, like sunscreen, insect repellent, food, and a Jackery Portable Power Station to charge your electronic appliances.
Arrive Early: During the long weekends, it is recommended to arrive early to ensure that you and your group get the ideal location. Take the area that has a lot of trees and which is closer to restrooms or parking.
Pack Easy-to-Eat Foods: Do not carry large food items that require additional space during transportation. Carry picnic-related foods, like sandwiches, salad, cheese, and finger foods.
Jackery Portable Power Stations for Picnic in Houston
Jackery is a well-known manufacturer and seller of solar panels, portable power stations, and solar generators. The Jackery Portable Power Stations feature the latest charging technology that can safely charge your picnic appliances when you are spending quality time with your family.
The Jackery Portable Power Stations are compact, lightweight, and emit very little noise while charging, making them ideal for charging appliances. At the same time, they can be recharged with the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels, which have monocrystalline silicon solar cells that convert the direct sun's rays into electricity. The extremely compact size and design of these solar panels help on road trips or picnics.
Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station is apt to charge low- to high-power appliances during picnics. With a high battery capacity and an ergonomic design, it can be carried on long road trips and used as an emergency home backup solution.
When one is out enjoying the picnic with their family members, they can use Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station to charge appliances like camera batteries, multiple smartphones, drone camera batteries, etc. Considering the working hours one might get with this portable power station, one needs to understand the number of appliances they are going to charge simultaneously.
For instance, if you need to power picnic-related appliances, like a mini-refrigerator (100 W) and a smartphone (20 W) simultaneously with a Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh * 0.85 / Wattage Consumption of All the Appliances
Working Hours = 518 Wh * 0.85 / 120 W = 3.6 H
Note: The reason to consider 0.85 while calculating the working hours is to consider the fact that some amount of power is going to get lost while charging the appliances. This method gives a near-correct answer.
Customer Review:
"Works great for my event business and for a lot of outdoor events that have difficult access to plugs. The capacity is pretty great. We were able to set up photo booths and espresso machines in the middle of nowhere." -- Bernie M.
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station is yet another portable power station from Jackery that weighs only 8.27 lbs. The unit comes with a Jackery SolarSaga 40 W Solar Panel, which is a book size and can easily be slipped into your backpack. This way, while you are enjoying the time during the picnic, you can quickly charge this portable power station for later usage.
The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station has dual PD ports, which support fast charging for multiple devices. With this portable power station, you can seamlessly charge multiple devices on the go and will still have some spare power for emergencies.
In order to calculate the working hours that you will get with the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station, let's consider that you are charging an air cooler (65 W) and a CPAP machine (70 W) simultaneously with it, then:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh * 0.85 / Wattage Consumption of All the Appliances
Working Hours = 288 Wh * 0.85 / 165 W = 1.8 H
Customer Review:
"The unit's well built, lightweight, and very reliable. I have many plans in mind for this unit, from camping to road trips and equipment backup." -- Stanley Daniel.
Picnic in Houston FAQs
What size of power station do I need for a picnic in Houston?
The size of the power station that you might need during picnicking in Houston depends on several factors, like the number of appliances, their respective wattage, and whether you intend to charge all of the appliances together.
Let's assume you are planning to charge a portable cooler (150 W) and a movie night projector (100 W) simultaneously with the help of the Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station. Then the working hours can be calculated as follows:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh * 0.85 / Wattage Consumption of Appliances = 518 Wh * 0.85 / 250 W = 1.7 H.
Can you have a picnic at Hermann Park?
Yes, Hermann Park is one of the most popular parks in Houston, which offers a great setting that includes expansive laws, serene lakes, and enough shade areas.
Can you bring a picnic to the Houston Zoo?
Yes! Houston Zoo is a perfect picnic spot. The famous Zoological park is spread across 55 acres and is home to wildlife, like Gorillas, elephants, tortoises, and storks, making it a wonderful place to have an outdoor picnic with friends and family.
Is it free to go to Griffith Park?
Yes, Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, is free. However, there is a paid parking which is closest to the famous Observatory.
Where can I take pictures in Hermann Park?
There are several notable places inside Hermann Park that are picture-perfect for most occasions. Several beautiful gardens and iconic landmarks, like McGovern Centennial Gardens and the Japanese Garden, provide great greenery and backdrops for photographs.
Final Thoughts
Houston offers several parks for every occasion, which makes it one of the most famous cities in Texas. From visiting the iconic Hermann Park, which is famous for its tranquil lakeside views, to Terry Hershey Park, which is famous for offering serene waterfront settings, Houston is an ideal place for anyone who is looking to have a great outdoor picnic.
To have a wonderful time outdoors, you must carry all the essentials that would make your picnic in Houston a memorable experience. One such essential is the Jackery Portable Power Station, which is compact, lightweight, and has an ergonomic design, making it an ideal and reliable traveling companion.
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