5 Must Do Things in Humble

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.

First settled in the early 1800s and located about 20 miles northeast of Downtown, Humble is a small suburb covering 10 square miles of the Houston metro area.

The area—named after Pleasant Smith Humble, an early settler just before the Civil War who went on to serve as Justice of the Peace and open a post office—eventually became a center for commercial activity due the vast timber in the region. By the time the big oil gush came around, Humble was a bonafide boomtown.

Today, the quieter area remains a commercial business center during the day, also offering natural escapes like the 275-acre Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Reserve. Check out these five other awesome things to do:

5 Must Do Things in Humble

Bring the family to Old MacDonald’s Farm

Open since 1991, the family-friendly Old MacDonald’s Farm offers plenty of activities for the kids throughout its 15 acres. Here, 12 petting zoo barns host goats, sheep, pigs, and cows, plus “exotic” animals like deer, llamas, emus, and a tortoise. Gazebos can be reserved for groups, parties, and picnics, while kids can enjoy train and pony rides, a swimming pool, a hay barn, playgrounds, and forts.

Admission is $16.80 (plus tax) per person, with all activities included, and babies under 18 months are free.

Go French at Chez Nous 

You may be surprised to find an upscale (yet cozy) French concept in the Houston suburbs, but when you get a taste of Executive Chef Stacy Crowe-Simonson’s fare at Chez Nous, things will start to make sense. Start with luxurious Seared Foie Gras over caramelized apple or a rustic Charcuterie Platter featuring Normandy duck mousse, pork rillette and country terrine, then move on to Dijon-rosemary crusted Roasted Rack of Young New Zealand Lamb or Chateaubriand Bearnaise for two. Just be sure to save room for the fromage selections and dessert cart.

Open Wednesday and Thursday 5pm to 8pm; Friday and Saturday 5pm to 9pm.

Experience natural beauty at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens

Named after Thelma and Charles Mercer, this 300-acre oasis is a horticultural haven. The landscape boasts manicured hiking trails, a butterfly house, picturesque picnic areas, barbecue pavilions, a cypress swamp and a wealth of animal life, not to mention the region’s largest collection of native and cultivated plants. The best part? It’s free to visit.

Check out ongoing and seasonal programs, including children’s storytime in the garden and the annual March Mart plant sale.

Mercer is open daily except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day (seasonal hours apply).

Sip some of Houston’s finest craft suds at Ingenious Brewing Co.

Sitting north of Beltway 8 off Old Humble Road, Ingenious Brewing Co. has been impressing local beer nerds since 2018, offering a rainbow-colored roster of unconventional ales, sours, stouts, and more. Hit the 24-tap taproom for brews like the Grapefruit Squeeze Double IPA and Pago Pago, an Imperial Sour Ale aged in banana rum barrels for five months; or cool off with the Brain Freeze, a daiquiri-style frozen beer drink made from its weekly rotating flavors.

Go horseback riding at Cypress Trails Equestrian Center

Cypress Trails Ranch owner Darolyn Butler started riding before she could walk, and she eventually went on to become an International Endurance Champion. Now she shares her expertise right in Humble. Featuring endurance and pleasure riding opportunities and a boarding stable, the ranch is open to the public 7 days a week.

Scenic adventure trail rides start at $65 an hour, with $35 half-hour pony rides and private lessons also available.