Looking for an escape from the city? The Houston Arboretum is the perfect place to unwind. Located on the western edge of Memorial Park, the Arboretum has many different trails, boardwalks, and educational field stations. Here you can see what Houston was like before urban development. Keep an eye out for nine-banded armadillos and the elusive Southern flying squirrel. In addition to the prairie and savanna landscapes, there is a nature center with several exhibits and activities.

Named after the slow-moving river that winds through Houston, Buffalo Bayou Park offers something for everyone. When you set off for this hike along the river, consider downloading the Buffalo Bayou Revealed audio tour from Houston Public Media to learn about local wildlife, flora, and fauna, as well as local history. This is a gem in the heart of Houston!

The perfect day outing is waiting north of Houston along the Spring Creek Greenway Trail. The trail connects Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, Pundt Park, and Dennis Johnston Park. There are sandy beaches, picnic areas, a variety of wildlife and river access. This is the largest urban forested corridor in the country with over 7,000 acres of protected forest nearby. Despite being in one of the most populated areas in the country, both gray foxes and bald eagles call this area home.

Grab your binoculars and a field guide to Texas Birds. No, this isn’t an Alfred Hitchcock movie; this shaded hike in southern Houston is just located in a bird sanctuary. Local wildlife and migratory birds all come for refuge in El Franco Lee Park’s wetlands. A 1,100-foot boardwalk and a gazebo provide the perfect space to stop, watch, and listen to the many different sights and sounds in the wetlands.

Memorial Park in western Houston is an essential stop for outdoor enthusiasts. The Green Ridge Trail is one of many trails that wind through the meticulously cared for park. With the goal of returning the area to its perfect natural balance, the Memorial Park Conservancy is adding woody species and herbaceous plants, removing invasive species, and carefully maintaining the trails. See Houston as it was when it was dominated by wetland, forest, savanna, and prairie.

Feeling explorative? Then head to the Cypress Creek Hike & Bike Trail in northern Houston. This trail takes you through upland forest by remnant mature post oaks, and along a forested wetland. Numerous offshoots allow you to piece together your own path. The varied natural landscape offers a playful opportunity to celebrate the Houstonian outdoors.

Peace and quiet are no strangers to Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary. Home to 200 different bird species, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, it is the perfect sanctuary for all. The easygoing trail that winds through the sanctuary is full of life and surrounded by many different tree species. In addition to the living sanctuary, the area is also a historically important location for the Houston Audubon Chapter, which helped Edith L. Moore turn her log cabin home into a nature sanctuary.

The nationally recognized Mercer Botanic Gardens is a feast of beautiful colors and smells. The site is a designated Center for Plant Conservation. It has the most native and cultivated plants in the Houston area. The grounds are carefully maintained by an entire team of botanists and gardeners who are available to share their knowledge with you. Take the time to enjoy the floral displays, native Texas plants, camellias, camphor daisies, and countless other gorgeous flora and fauna.