Head downtown for the 2025 City of Houston Thanksgiving Parade this weekend. Photo by Jim McIngvale.
Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in Houston: Thanksgiving Parade, The Nutcracker, and Holiday Celebrations
Let the kids get some energy out before sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner. Photo courtesy of the Houston Arboretum
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Let someone else cook Thanksgiving dinner this year. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
Family-Friendly Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Houston
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There are so many ways to see The Nutcracker in Houston this season. Photo courtesy of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet
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It's time to get your annual picture with Santa, and we know just where to go. Photo courtesy of the Houston Galleria
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College Station is perhaps the closest Christmas town to Houston. Photo courtesy of Santa's Wonderland at College Station, Facebook
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Annual City of Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade! 2023 photo © Richard Carson
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See alligators in Beaumont, about 90 minutes from Houston. Photo courtesy of Gator Country Wildlife Adventure Park
Fall Day Trips From Houston for Families
Christmas trains near Houston 2025. Photo courtesy of The Polar Express Train Ride at the Texas State Railroad
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near Houston in 2025
With activities for all, Texas Ren Fest is the largest Renaissance-themed attraction in the county.
Texas Renaissance Festival: A Magical Fall Tradition for Houston Families
Buffalo Bayou Park has trails, climbing structures, and skate park, slides, and more. Photo by Jessica Stautberg.
Things To Do in Houston That Everyone Will Love - From Toddlers to Teens (and Parents Too!)
There are plenty of choices for pumpkin patches near Houston. Photo courtesy of P6 Farms
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Free alligator education at Brazos Bend State Park. Photo by Sarah Banks.
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From pumpkins to corn mazes, there's loads of seasonal fun at local farms. Photo courtesy of P6 Farms
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Houston Fall festivals that are fun for the whole family. Photo by Jessica Stautberg
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Visit the Hall of Paleontology at the Museum of Natural Science. Photo courtesy of Visit Sugar Land.
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Help your Scout rack up the badges at these programs in Houston. Photo courtesy of Canva.
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Our favorite gymnastics gyms in Houston. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Palace Social has bowling and a restaurant in addition to arcade games. Photo courtesy of Palace Social
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The Mini classes at Goldfish Swim School are a great bonding experience for parent and child. Photo courtesy of the school
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Ready Go Amusement Arcade photo by author Elizabeth R.
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A crafting party at one of these venues or at home is the perfect celebration for a creative kid. Photo courtesy of Color Me Mine
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See aquatic life without a fee at Sea Center Texas. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Our top picks for your Houston bar/bat mitzvah. Photo by Juliano ASTC, courtesy of Pexels.
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These Houston ice cream shops have the best treats for kids. Photo by Kelly Patino, courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
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Pick your own flowers at one of these Houston farms. Photo courtesy Summer Skye Gardens
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Go for a nature walk in on of Houston's huge parks. Photo by Anthony Rathbun, courtesy of the Houston Arboretum.
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Discovery Green hosts free events like Arte en el Parque, where kids learn Spanish while making art. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green
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Levy Park in Houston has one of our favorite playgrounds. Photo courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture
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NASA's Space Center is one of Houston's best science museums for kids. Photo by Pierce Ingram, courtesy of Travel Texas
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Firetruck Park in West University. Photo by Jessica Stautberg
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See animals up close at some of these farms near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Children's Museum Houston is free every Thursday evening. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum Houston
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Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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City Park Skate Park near Houston. Photo courtesy of the Sugarland Texas Govt.
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Pleasure Pier in Galveston is a top attraction near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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John P. McGovern's state-of-the art playground is perfect for both younger and older children. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green.
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Stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo for some cool photos on your roadtrip to the Texas Panhandle.
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Baywatch Dolphin Tours are a fun, kid-friendly tour near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Make dining out with kids more fun at one of Houston's themed restaurants. Photo courtesy of Rock N Roll Sushi
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Houston's Walking Stick Brewing Company has plenty of outdoor space. Photo courtesy of the Walking Stick Brewing Company
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Urban Air has quite a few trampoline parks near Houston. Photo courtesy of Urban Air Adventure Park
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Batting cage photo courtesy of the Bellaire Bats
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Photo courtesy of Big Air in North Houston
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Houston has many kid-friendly museums, and not all are children's museums. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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In winter, visit Luminations at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Photo by Ann Alva Weiding Photography, at bigredmuse.com.
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New to fishing? Try a Galveston fishing boat tour.
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The outdoor pool at the Moody Gardens Hotel, photo courtesy of Visit Galveston.
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One of our favorite petting zoos near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Make it an unforgettable family getaway from Houston by hiking Enchanted Rock. Photo courtesy Passport to Texas.
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Your little learner will love the variety of toddler classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
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Treat your kid to one of these Houston spas with services for children. Photo courtesy of Float Baby
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Climb with your kids at one of these indoor rock climbing gyms in Houston. Photo courtesy of Texas Rock Gym
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Bowling is a fun indoor activity to add to your list this summer. Photo courtesy of Palace Social
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Fishing at Sea Center in Freeport, TX. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Photo courtesy of Osprey Cruises
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Round up the girls and head out for a kid-free night in Houston. Photo courtesy of Thirsty Bee Meadery
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It's the opening weekend of Zoo Lights! Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo
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Sleepaway Camps in New England with Short Sessions for First-Timers

Kids can find new heights of fun and adventure at these short-session sleepaway camps in New England! Photo courtesy of Camp Walt Whitman
Kids can find new heights of fun and adventure at these short-session sleepaway camps in New England! Photo courtesy of Camp Walt Whitman
3/2/25 - By Kelley Heyworth

For many Boston-area kids, sleepaway camp is a summer milestone—but spending weeks away from home can feel like a lot, especially for first-time campers or those a little nervous about their first overnight stay. Luckily, plenty of sleepaway camps across New England offer short, beginner-friendly sessions, some as brief as three nights, to help ease kids (and parents!) into the experience.

Set on scenic lakes and wooded retreats across six states, these camps offer all the adventure, friendship, and campfire fun without the long commitment. The only challenge? Figuring out what to do while your camper is off having the time of their life!

Look to our complete camp directory for more ideas on summer enrichment for kids in Boston and Connecticut.

Please click the links to the individual camps below for the latest information.

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Take aim at a summer camp experience that balances sleepaway fun with shorter sessions.
Take aim at a summer camp experience that balances sleepaway fun with shorter sessions.

Sleepaway Camps in Massachusetts with Short Sessions

Camp Half Moon

Monterey
5 nights and up
A beautiful, traditional co-ed camp located in the Berkshires, known for its mix of outdoor adventure, sports, and arts. This camp for 6-16-year-olds offers a friendly, community-driven atmosphere. READ MORE

Overland Summer Camps

Williamstown
6 nights and up
Overland's coed journeys take teens all over the globe, but starting in fourth grade, campers can attend one to two-week introductory hiking trips in New England, Denver, Yellowstone, or the Sierras.  READ MORE

Camp Emerson

Hinsdale
6 nights and up
Situated in Hinsdale, MA, Camp Emerson provides flexible session lengths, including one-week and two-week options. The camp caters to children aged 7-15 and offers a diverse range of activities such as athletics, performing arts, science, visual arts, watersports, and wilderness adventures. READ MORE

Camp Howe

Goshen
One and two week sessions
This fun and supportive co-ed camp for kiddos 6-16 has a focus on nature, environmental education, and outdoor activities. It offers both day and overnight camp programs with an emphasis on teamwork and leadership. READ MORE

4-H Camp Middlesex

Ashby
One and two week sessions
Central Massachusetts' 4-H Camp Middlesex offers one- and two-week sessions for boys and girls. Juniors (ages 8-12) and teens (13-15) can learn wilderness survival skills along with swimming, archery, and more. One week sessions are themed; additional cost horseback riding lessons.  READ MORE
Campers as young as 8 can attend a one-week co-ed session at Asto Wamah. Photo courtesy of the camp
Campers as young as 8 can attend a one-week co-ed session at Asto Wamah. Photo courtesy of the camp

Sleepaway Camps in Connecticut with Short Sessions

Camp Washington

Lakeside, CT
2 nights and up
Children of all faith traditions are welcome at Camp Washington, the official camp and retreat center of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Campers explore the 300-acre campus, relax, learn, have fun, and foster friendships that last a lifetime.  READ MORE

Camp Asto Wamah

Columbia, CT
6 nights and up
Designed for campers ages 8 to 12 years, the one-week first session of this lakefront camp is the only co-ed offering; other weeks are girls- or boys-only. READ MORE

Joseph Conrad Overnight Sailing Camp at Mystic Seaport

Mystic, CT
3 nights
Young mariners ages 8 to 15 years old sleep overnight on a historic vessel by night and learn to sail and take care of the fully-rigged ship by day. READ MORE

Camp Hazen YMCA

Chester, CT
6 nights and up
This long-running camp—90+ years—ensures that its counselors focus on teaching life-long skills in a fun, enriching environment. For kids entering second through eighth grades there is a one-week "sampler" camp during the third week of August, featuring all the activities of traditional two-week programs. READ MORE
Campfires and S'mores will warm kids to the sleepaway camp experience! Photo courtesy of Camp Kaleidiscope
Campfires and S'mores will warm kids to the sleepaway camp experience! Photo courtesy of Camp Kaleidiscope

Sleepaway Camps in Vermont with Short Sessions

Hosmer Point Camp

Craftsbury, VT
3 nights and up
Hosmer Point Camp in Craftsbury Common, VT, offers a supportive, community-focused experience with stays as short as three nights and one-week "Intro Camp" sessions designed specifically for first-time campers. Set on a scenic lakeside property, the camp provides a mix of outdoor adventures, creative arts, and waterfront activities. READ MORE

Camp Kaleidoscope

Starksboro, VT
3 nights
Camp Kaleidoscope is a summer retreat for families with children and family members on the autism spectrum, where special activities and support services invite the whole family to let loose. This inclusive camp allows kids who may not be able to go to sleepaway camp alone still experience the joys of a summer overnight camp with their families in tow. READ MORE
Crafts are part of the curriculum at these great New England sleepaway camps, like Camp Runoia.
Crafts are part of the curriculum at these great New England sleepaway camps, like Camp Runoia.

Sleepaway Camps in Maine with Short Sessions

Camp Runoia

Belgrade Lakes, ME
6 nights and up
Highlights at this girls-only camp include a 40-foot climbing tower, on-site horseback riding, and a private lake and shoreline. The Equestrian Camp is ideal for girls who want to be immersed in horses and riding lessons. Harmony Heights is another option for girls wanting to test the waters without committing to a three or six-week stay. READ MORE

YMCA Camp of Maine

Winthrop, ME
6 nights and up
YMCA Camp of Maine offers a classic overnight camp experience with a three-night stay perfect for first-time campers and one- and two-week sessions for seasoned campers. Located on Lake Cobbossee, the camp features swimming, boating, sports, arts, and outdoor adventures in a supportive, community-focused setting. READ MORE
Outdoor fun and group activities are part of the fun at these sleepaway camps across New England. Photo courtesy of Camp Coniston
Outdoor fun and group activities are part of the fun at these sleepaway camps across New England. Photo courtesy of Camp Coniston

Sleepaway Camps in New Hampshire with Short Sessions

Wildwood Camp

Rindge, NH
One and two week sessions
From ropes courses to archery, this Mass Audubon camp packs creative activities and nature exploration. The camp offers one- and two-week sessions with intersession options for kids who want to bridge multiple sessions. READ MORE

Camp Lawrence (YMCA)

Meredith, NH
One and two week sessions
This popular boys' camp on Lake Winnipesaukee offers two one-week sessions along with their regular two-week programs. (Lake Nokomis, its sister camp also has two-week sessions). READ MORE

Camp Walt Whitman

Piermont, NH
6 nights and up
Walt Whitman is typically an immersion-style, seven-week commitment, but first-timers can try Pioneer Camp, which offers all the camp's typical swimming, sports, and arts activities in a one-week trial period. READ MORE

Camp Coniston (YMCA)

Grantham, NH
One and two week sessions
For one week in August, second through sixth graders can get a taste of Coniston. This co-ed camp features separate girls and boys cabins across the lakefront property, where campers learn a variety of water sports along with a variety of athletics and arts options. READ MORE

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About the Author

Kelley Heyworth
Kelley Heyworth is the regional editor for Mommy Poppins, covering Boston, Connecticut, and the rest of New England. She has covered parenting and health topics for nearly two decades, as an editor for Child Magazine and Fitness Magazines and a contributor to Parents Magazine, Mommy Nearest, and other national publications and websites. Previously, she was a writer and editor at Sports Illustrated and Philadelphia Magazines. A mom of three boys outside of Boston, Kelley also writes a blog, Happy Healthy Kids, and loves hiking, running, cooking, gardening, and spending time at beaches in Nantucket, Connecticut, and New Jersey with family and friends.
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