Beat the heat: Free or cheap activities available

By Emilia Benton, Senior Living Correspondent Published 12:00 am CDT, Friday, August 17, 2018

Houston-area museums are a great place to escape the summer heat.

Houston-area museums are a great place to escape the summer heat.

As summer heats up, Houston-area residents are inclined to stay indoors and out of the sun as much as possible. While they have the right idea in mind, Houstonians don’t have to be stuck at home all summer in an effort to save money on activities. There are a variety of local free and inexpensive ways to stay cool and entertained all summer long.

The following museums offer free admission during the days and times listed:

• Buffalo Soldiers National Museum — Thursday 1-5 p.m.

• Children’s Museum of Houston — Thursday 5-8 p.m.

• Czech Center Museum Houston — last Monday of the month noon-4 p.m.

• The Health Museum — Thursday 2-7 p.m.

• Holocaust Museum Houston — Sunday all day

• Houston Museum of African-American Culture — Thursday 6-8 p.m.

• Houston Museum of Natural Science — Thursday 6-9 p.m.

• The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The following museums are always free:

• Asia Society Texas Center

• Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

• DiverseWorks

• Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

• Houston Center for Photography

• The Jung Center

• Lawndale Art Center

• The Menil Collection

• Moody Center for the Arts

• Rothko Chapel

Visit www.houmuse.org for more information about each of these museums.

Another favorite summer pastime for many people is going to the movies, but many are inclined to avoid it nowadays due to higher ticket costs. However, various theaters offer unbeatable deals on certain days and times throughout the year. AMC Theaters offers the opportunity to buy $5 tickets on Tuesdays when you sign up for its free Stubs membership, which allows you to earn points toward refreshments and other ticket discounts. Studio Movie Grill’s Copperfield, CityCentre and Pearland locations also offer $5 tickets every Tuesday, as does Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s Katy location.

Those who enjoy passing summer days in the water but don’t have a free recreational pool at home or through a gym are in luck: the Houston Parks and Recreation Department operates 37 outdoor pools that are open free of charge during summer operation Tuesday through Sunday from 1-8 p.m. Although the full summer schedule ended Aug. 12, the pools are still open on Saturday and Sunday from 1-8 p.m. through Sept. 3. Visit www.houstontx.gov/parks/pools.html for more information and a full list of pools.

Visiting a Houston Public Library is another way to spend a quiet afternoon out of the hot sun. In addition to offering a summer refuge to relax quietly with a book, the library system hosts various events throughout the summer, from family movies to lecture sessions. Visit www.houstonlibary.org to learn more.