Surrounded by woods, this park boasts a 2.9-mile loop for runners, hikers, mountain bikers, or anyone looking for some fresh air, with even a couple downhill spots. You’ll also find a skate park and two separate playgrounds for different age groups, making Lakewood Crossing Park a draw for the whole family. Stay on the lookout for snakes, and, if your furry friends join, be sure to keep them on a leash.

You can find this nearly 18-acre forest reserve if you travel just outside the beltway to Rummel Creek. The sanctuary has 1.5 miles of trails, and, to our great surprise considering Houston’s terrain, not all of it is flat. Depending on the trail you choose, you’ll find steeper inclines and steps. It’s also the ultimate place for bird enthusiasts. The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is home to about 200 species of birds, and if you’re lucky you can find some seasonal migrants along the way. It’s free to the public, but if you have a group of more than seven people, request a guided tour of the sanctuary ($15 for adults and $10 for children).

The nature reserve also has a native nursery on-site and offers educational programs and other activities throughout the year, such as a Friday-night hike from October to March to see the creepy critters that emerge when the sun goes down (this requires a purchased ticket, which costs the same as the guided tour).

Travel north to Humble to spend a day at this hidden gem. The Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is named after Thelma and Charles Mercer, who in 1949 bought about 14.5 acres of land along Cypress Creek. Thanks to them, the land is now a beautiful garden for Houstonians to visit. It’s managed by Harris County Precincts 1 and 3, and has grown to a 250-acre escape that includes hiking trails, a butterfly house, and an arboretum with walking trails, a boardwalk, and a maple collection, among other things.

This family-owned retail garden center is about an hour’s drive from the inner loop. Surrounded by native Texas trees, the Enchanted Forest has tons of photo-worthy areas, and you may be able to spot and say hi to one of its seven resident animals—six cats and a dog. If you’re visiting to add to your own yard, Enchanted Forest’s team will help you find various plants that aren’t commonly sold in stores. The owners have a second nursery in Richmond, Enchanted Gardens, where you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time with its rustic, vintage structures and décor.