Winter Activities for Seniors Near Houston

Houston Museum of Natural Science: Free Tuesday Evenings

Visit Details: Every Tuesday evening, the Houston Museum of Natural Science offers free admission to its permanent exhibit halls from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (last entry at 7:30 PM). The museum is located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030. Additionally, seniors age 62 and older receive approximately 35% off regular admission prices when visiting on other days.

What to Expect: The Houston Museum of Natural Science houses extensive permanent collections including paleontology exhibits with massive dinosaur skeletons, the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals featuring dazzling stones from around the world, Egyptian artifacts including genuine mummies, Native Texas wildlife exhibits, and energy and chemistry displays. Four floors of exhibits mean you could visit multiple times and see something different each visit.

Tuesday evenings can be busy since admission is free, but this actually creates a lively, energetic atmosphere. You'll see families with children, young couples, and groups of friends all exploring together. This diverse crowd reminds you that you're part of a vibrant community rather than being separated by age.

The museum experience engages multiple senses and ways of thinking. You're reading informational displays, observing detailed specimens and artifacts, walking through different environments, and processing new information. This kind of varied mental engagement is exactly what keeps minds active and healthy. The museum also regularly rotates special exhibitions, so there's always a reason to return and experience something new.

For seniors who visit regularly or become members, the museum can become a comfortable, familiar destination where staff recognize you and where you might run into the same fellow enthusiasts visit after visit. These regular outings create structure and social touchpoints that become increasingly important as we age.

Space Center Houston: Galaxy Lights Low Sensory Night

Event Details: Space Center Houston is hosting a special Low Sensory Night on Monday, January 5, 2026, as part of their Galaxy Lights holiday display. The event begins at 6:30 PM. Space Center Houston is located at 1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058. Tickets range from $19.95 to $27.95 depending on age and date, with parking available on-site for approximately $10-11 (free for members). For tickets and information, visit spacecenter.org/galaxy-lights or call 281-283-4755.

What to Expect: Galaxy Lights transforms Space Center Houston into a dazzling winter wonderland with space-themed holiday displays, but the Low Sensory Night offers something particularly thoughtful: a calmer, less stimulating version of the experience designed for guests who prefer quieter environments with reduced sensory input.

This makes the event accessible for seniors who might find typical holiday light shows overwhelming due to loud music, flashing lights, or large crowds. On Low Sensory Night, sound levels are reduced, lighting effects are gentler, and the overall pace is more relaxed. You can still enjoy the beautiful displays including a 200-foot LED light tunnel, a 30-foot Space Launch System rocket display, Apollo-themed lanterns, and illuminated exhibits throughout the Space Center campus, but in an environment that feels more comfortable and less chaotic.

The event includes several features that enhance the experience: complimentary fire pits where you can gather with others to make s'mores and enjoy hot cocoa, the short film "Holidays in Space" showing how astronauts celebrate holidays aboard the International Space Station, interactive displays explaining the science behind LED lights, and access to Space Center Houston's permanent exhibitions.

What makes this particularly valuable for seniors is the combination of visual beauty, gentle physical activity (walking through the displays), opportunities for conversation around the fire pits, and the mental engagement of learning about space exploration and light technology. The Low Sensory format ensures that those with hearing difficulties, sensitivity to bright lights, or simply a preference for quieter environments can fully enjoy the experience without stress or discomfort.

The event also creates natural conversation starters. When you're surrounded by spectacular light displays and space artifacts, it's easy to strike up conversations with fellow visitors about memories of the moon landing, favorite space missions, or simply the beauty of what you're seeing together.

Getting Around Houston: How METROLift Helps Seniors Stay Connected

Transportation means independence. When getting around becomes difficult due to mobility issues, everyday activities like doctor appointments, grocery shopping, and visiting friends can feel out of reach. But lack of transportation doesn't have to mean isolation. Houston's METROLift provides accessible, affordable door-to-door service for people with disabilities who cannot use regular public transit.

What Is METROLift?

METROLift is Houston METRO's ADA-accessible paratransit service offering shared rides throughout most of Harris County, including portions of Kingwood, Humble, Clear Lake, and Fort Bend County. The service operates during the same hours as METRO's regular bus and rail service.

Who Qualifies?

You may be eligible if:

• Your disability prevents you from reaching a bus stop independently

• You need assistance to board, navigate, or disembark from accessible buses or trains

• Physical obstacles prevent you from using METRO's accessible services

  
  

How to Apply

Call METROLift customer service at 713-225-0119 (weekdays, 10 AM - 5 PM) to request eligibility materials, or download them from ridemetro.org. The application requires medical certification from your healthcare provider documenting how your disability affects your ability to use regular public transportation.

Scheduling Rides

Once approved, book trips one day in advance by calling 713-739-4690 (Monday-Sunday, 5 AM - 5 PM). On Fridays, you can schedule trips for the weekend and Monday. Be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. Since this is shared-ride service, build in extra time for multiple stops.

Cost

• Base fare: $1.25 per one-way trip

• Extended area trips: $2.50

• Monthly unlimited pass: $47.25

• All METROLift customers receive a METRO Freedom Q Card for free rides on all METRO buses, rail, and curb2curb services (includes one attendant)

Purchase tickets at METRO RideStores, by mail, or at participating retail locations.

Recent Improvements

Through the METRONow plan, METRO is replacing 100 METROLift vehicles and has made over 5,600 bus stops fully accessible, with 700 more planned by the end of fiscal year 2025.

METROLift provides excellent transportation, but some seniors benefit from additional assistance beyond getting from place to place. If you or your loved one needs help coordinating appointments, medication management, companionship during outings, or daily support at home, our caregivers here at Christian Companions Houston work seamlessly to fill the gaps.

We’ll help coordinate transportation, accompany clients to appointments, assist with errands, and provide the personalized support that makes independent living possible. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help your loved one stay active, engaged, and independent.

METROLift Information:

• Customer Service: 713-225-0119 (Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM)

• Scheduling: 713-739-4690 (Monday-Sunday, 5 AM - 5 PM)

• Website: www.ridemetro.org/riding-metro/transit-services/metrolift-paratransit