Kemah Boardwalk, Houston, Texas

Located just 20 miles from downtown Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk has become the perfect family getaway. There are festivals and concerts; you can watch the shrimp boats, sailboats and pleasure craft as they cruise through the channel. It is home to many different restaurants as well as amusements for children and adults. Boardwalk Bullet is the coolest coaster on the coast - 96' tall wooden roller coaster; 92-foot vertical drop; travels at speeds of more than 50 mph (it was not running when we were there, but I doubt if we would have rode it anyway). Ellie really enjoyed riding the Merry-go-round and train. It is only a few miles away from our son's house in Clear Lake, so it was a perfect spot to spend the afternoon.