5 Must Do Things in Spring

In our Must Do Things Around Greater Houston series, we take a look at Houston’s vast array of communities, neighborhoods and destinations to bring you five fun, tasty, surprising and enticing reasons you should give each one a visit.

A little over 20 miles north of Downtown, the area now known as Spring was originally home to the Orcoquiza Native Americans. In the 1830s and ‘40s, a trading post was placed in the area, drawing German immigrants and settlers from Louisiana and other parts of the South. When the International and Great Northern Railroad was built through spring in 1871, the town began to expand, and even more so by the 1970s and ‘80s, when Houston’s suburbs made their way north.

Today, the name Spring is applied to both the tiny Old Town district and areas of northern Harris County and southern Montgomery County. The neighborhood mixes old town charm with a suburban feel, boasting charming streets, a CityPlace community center, and the pristine Spring Creek Greenway.

See what other fun awaits with our picks for things to do in Spring:

Note: For the purposes of this list, Spring is defined as the area covered in this map, plus those surrounding neighborhoods that share the Spring address.

5 Must Do Things in Spring

Explore Old Town Spring

The old part of town boasts a plethora of quaint shops, eateries, and art galleries, making it the perfect place for an afternoon stroll. Pop into spots like Camille’s Antiques, German Gift House, Masterpiece Hand-Crafted Furniture, and Little Dutch Girl. When you’re ready to rest your feet, stop in for old-fashioned burgers and chicken fried steaks alongside live music at Puffabelly’s, a fun restaurant set in an old train depot; then pick up some sweets to bring home at Emmy’s Sweet Shoppe. Or unwind with some beer and wine from the Envy Wine Room. And be sure to keep an eye out for special events and festivals on Facebook, including the Autumn Art & Texas Wine Festival in the fall, SpringFest in March, Texas Crawfish & Music Festival in April, and Home for the Holidays in November and December.

Go caveman on smoked meat at Corkscrew BBQ

This fan-favorite barbecue joint is also located in Old Town, but being that its hands down one of the best spots in the city, it deserves a solo shout-out. After starting out as a small catering business, the tiny pink-trailer-turned-brick-and-mortar has blossomed into an absolute destination for any barbecue enthusiast, near or far. Get glistening pork ribs, beautifully crusted oak-smoked brisket, and a killer over-loaded baked potato.

Hours are 11am to 4pm, Wednesday to Saturday.

Get spooked on a haunted ghost tour

Step inside a storybook with Houston Ghost Tours, which offers spooktacular tours of Old Town Spring yearround, rain-or-shine. The once bustling Wild West town is the tour’s most popular attraction thanks to its creepy amount of haunted spots and paranormal activity (according to their website, it’s the 6th most haunted Old West town in the United States). Reservations are required.

Pick your own goodies & visit the farms

Both Old Time Christmas Tree Farm and Atkinson Farms call Spring home. Despite what one may think, it’s not all about the Christmas trees at Old Time Christmas Tree Farm; you can also visit the Pumpkin Patch on Fridays through Sundays in October, too. Atkinson Farms invites you to pick-your-own fresh-tasting strawberries during the season and peruse other grown produce straight from the 100-acre farm from March through the end of October.

Get wet at Hurricane Harbor SplashTown

Thrill rides, kids experiences, and family-friendly chutes and slides are all a part of the fun at this Six Flags Hurricane Harbor outpost. Go down the seven-story, 333-foot, 360-degree, floor-dropping Bonzai Pipelines; find the perfect wave on the FlowRider; take the little ones to Coconut Bay; and pack in a raft to blast down the Big Kahuna. The park is open for the summer season through Labor Day and tickets start at $29.99.