It's just you and your little one (or big one!) for the day, heading out of the house for a special mother-daughter or mother-son excursion. What's the occasion? Take your pick! You can plan a mother-child escape with any age child, for any number of occasions. Here are just a few:

• birthdays
• graduation (pre-K all the way through college)
• coming-of-age
• dad's out of town for work and you need something cool to do in the meantime
• school holiday
• no reason at all

You really don't need a special reason to spend quality time with your child exploring a new place or activity. Here are some fun things to do to have the most memorable excursion.

1. Pinkies up @ The Tea Kettle Cafe

Tea parties are a fun way to spend a quiet Saturday afternoon, and The Tea Kettle Café in Old Town Spring is just the place! They're a a full-service tea room offering chef-crafted lunches and a variety of hot and iced specialty teas. The elegant, welcoming space might be a welcome change from a chaotic home (if yours is anything like mine).  Get fancy with a fun hat and costume pearls, and boys and young men can wear a collared shirt with jacket and slacks if they want to feel spiffy!

Location: The Tea Kettle Cafe is located at 123 Midway St, Spring, TX 77373.

2. Giddy-up @ Cypress Trails Ranch or North Houston Horse Park 

Children as young as 6 can go horseback riding at Cypress Trails Ranch in Humble. Beginners are welcome. You'll get suited up in an appropriately sized helmet, and you'll receive a quick lesson before being guided an a one-hour hike through the forest. Horseback riding is thrilling and memorable for all ages. If your child is younger than 6, you can lead then through the stables on a pony ride.

North Houston Horse Park in Conroe is another local facility we recommend if you're really interested in learning how to properly ride horses in the English-riding tradition. While they don't offer trail rides, North Houston Horse Park offers weekly lessons for adults as well us children 6 and up, and they offer an introductory trial lesson without a commitment. 

Location: Cypress Trails Ranch is located at 21415 Cypresswood Dr, Humble, TX 77338. North Houston Horse Park is located at 17082 Lexington Dr, Conroe, TX 77385.

3. Mani-Pedi Paradise @ your favorite local spa

The best mother-daughter excursions include pampering. A visit to Sweet & Sassy in The Woodlands might be an obvious option for little hands and feet, Sorry mom - these services are just for the kids, but you might be surprised to learn that many "adult" nail spas have kid-friendly stations and reduced pricing as well. Get the works! My teens and I like visiting Bellagio Nails in Spring (near Benders Landing), and I’ve also heard good things about the child-friendly services and pint-sized chairs for younger kids at Executive Nails & Spa (several locations to choose). If they're offering to massage your feet and wrap them in hot towels while you sip a mimosa (lemonade for the little one!), that's the package you want!

4. Go-Karts and Arcade Games - Go-Kart Raceway

Just a short drive south of The Woodlands, you'll take the first (or is it the second?) exit beyond Beltway 8 and head towards my family's favorite place to ride go-carts. Now, my girls have enjoyed this activity over the years, but I imagine if I had sons, they'd enjoy the experience even more, because on average, boys tend to be more enthuisiastic about speed, racing, and video games. 

Bring your kiddo to Go-Kart Raceway for a fun-filled day of riding, playing laser tag and arcade games, and eating snacks. He or she can ride as a passenger in your cart (must be at least 36" tall), and heights of 52" and up can drive their own. Teens ages 16 and up can even drive the Super Carts. 

The game room at Go-Kart Raceway is huge with lots of fun prizes to win, and it appears as though they've added laser tag since I've last visited, which is a welcome treat.

5. Give interactive museums a try! (Color Factory, Candytopia, Seismique)

Explore colorful themed exhibit rooms at Candytopia, Color Factory, or Seismique, three of the best interactive museums around! All there places are havens for mother-child selfies. Since you're already all the way down in Houston's CityCentre, treat your partner-in-crime to decadent gelato or a bakery treat at Fellini Gelato & Caffe.

Location: Candytopia is located at 822 Town and Country Blvd, Ste 102, Houston, TX 77024. The Color Factory is located at 3303 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098. Seismique is located at 2306 S Texas 6, Houston, TX 77077.

6. Rock & Roll @ The Cynthia-Woods Mitchell Pavilion!

Let's roll! Outdoor Concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - The pavilion offers a schedule f family-friendly concerts like the upcoming hocus pocus pops and holly jolly jingle, but you actually don't have to go see a family-friendly show for your little one to enjoy it. Choose the adult performer you want to see, and plan to sit on the lawn (the seats are cheaper) and indulge in concession stand favorites, and if your child is like mine, she'll enjoy the fresh breeze, loud music, and fun entertainment, even if she's not the "target" audience. CLICK HERE to see what's coming up at the Pavilion.

The Cynthia-Woods Mitchell Pavilion is located at 2005 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77380.

7. Cooking Lessons at Sur La Table

The Woodlands' Sur La Table location doesn't offer in-store cooking classes, but just a short drive away at houston's city center or river oaks location, you and your teen chef ages 14 and up can build delicious memories by participating in an in-store group class making anything from fresh croissants to thai food.

Sur la Table offers cooking classes at 1996 West Gray, Houston River Oaks, TX 77019 as well as at 816 Town and Country Boulevard, Houston City Centre, TX 77024.

8. Year-Round Ice Skating @ Aerodrome

If you're not great on the ice, a trip to Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex Complex will be exciting and memorable for both you and your child. During the winter holiday season, you can enjoy the convenience of The Woodlands Ice Skating Rink, but year around you can head down to the Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex for a cool visit! The Aerodrome offers public sessions with approximately 1,000 pairs of skates available for rental. During the day, public sessions are bright and lively. During the seasonal evening sessions, the lights are dimmed, the music ranges from country to rock to jazz, coupled with a special effects lighting system that brings a party atmosphere to the Aerodrome.  During weekend public skate hours, you can purchase cold and hot drinks plus pizza and other snacks from the restaurant.

Location: Aerodrome is located at 8220 Willow Place Dr N, Houston, TX 77070