A Halfway Point: Best Things To Do In Dickinson, Texas

things to do in dickinson texas
Sydney
Sydney 
Updated
| 4 min read

Dickinson is a city in Texas that is practically the halfway point between Houston and Galveston. It is positioned so that it is included within the Houston-Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolis. The length of the city runs along the Dickinson Bayou, a river that leads into Galveston Bay. Continue reading to learn about fun activities available in the surrounding area of Dickinson, Texas.

1. Bay Area Raceway

Go kart raceway
Source: Pixabay

Towards the center of Dickinson is the Bay Area Raceway, a fun local establishment that features a one-quarter mile (0.4 km) go-kart racetrack, indoor arcade, and indoor laser tag. There are three types of go-karts, regular, super, and two-seat super. The arcade has a mix of classics like shooters and pinball, as well as new games based off of popular video games like Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies. The facility is also available for private parties. Bay Area Raceway is open Monday through Friday 12 pm to 10 pm, Saturday 11 am to 12 am, and Sunday 11 am to 10 pm.

Bay Area Raceway

Address: 3825 Gulf Fwy, Dickinson, TX 77539

Website: Bay Area Raceway

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2. Magic Carpet Golf

tiki head from magic carpet mini golf
Source: Photo by Flickr user Dan DeLuca used under CC BY 2.0

Right along the coast of Galveston on Seawall Boulevard is Magic Carpet Golf. This community mini golf facility has a full 36-hole golf course, meticulously designed with multiple themes. Magic Carpet is open Monday through Sunday 9 am to 10 pm. It is also located next to Bungee Fun, in front of The Batting Cages, and across Sea Wall Blvd from the Galveston Fishing Pier. So, if you’re looking to have a fun afternoon in the proximity of these locations to one another really make it easy. Enjoy the coastal breeze with some relaxing activities.

Magic Carpet Golf

Address: 9110 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77551

Website: Magic Carpet Golf

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3. Johnson Space Center

Building 1 at the Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user NASA/Bill Stafford used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

About a 20 minute drive north of Dickinson is the NASA Johnson Space Center. The facility is over 100 acres (40.5 hectares) in size and composed of multiple buildings. It sits near Clear Lake, and is right next to the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake. The center has famous attractions such as the Starship Gallery, Independence Plaza, Astronaut Gallery, and the International Space Station Gallery. The center is a great place to visit for both adults as well as children. Johnson Space Center is open Mondays 9 am to 7 pm, Tuesdays to Fridays 10 am to 5 pm, Saturdays 10 am to 6 pm, and Sundays 9 am to 6 pm.

Johnson Space Center

Address: 2101 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058

Website: Johnson Space Center

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4. Historic Railroad Center

The Dickinson Station of the Galveston, Houston, & Henderson Railroad Co. (Dickinson, Texas)
Source: Photo by Flickr user Surely Shirly used under CC0

This small museum located in Dickinson is a great way to experience the history of the local area. Because of Dickinson’s location between Houston and Galveston (and the ocean ports along the coast), Dickinson became a part of the important rail lines as technology advanced. The museum is open Monday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 2 pm, and closed on Sundays.

Historic Railroad Center

Address: 218 FM 517 Road West, Dickinson, TX 77539

Website: Historic Railroad Center

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5. Butler Longhorn Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

About a 15 minute drive north of Dickinson is League City, and there you will find the Butler Longhorn Museum. This museum is home to a series of historical artifacts and art that document the history of longhorns in Texas and the struggle to prevent their extinction by the resident Milby Butler. The museum also features history of League City and its connection to cattle and the area. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, and is closed on Mondays and Sundays.

Butler Longhorn Museum

Address: 1220 Coryell St, League City, TX 77573

Website: Butler Longhorn Museum

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6. West Bay Common School Children’s Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Also located in League City, about a 10-minute walk from the Butler Longhorn Museum, is the West Bay Common School Children’s Museum. This museum focuses on the history of what education was like for older generations. Visitors can participate in actual lessons of math, spelling, history, and pen & ink. In addition, visitors can learn about old cattle ranching techniques and its impact on the local economy and history. The museum is open based on the season. The summer hours are from July to September and are Tuesday through Thursday 9 am to 4 pm. In the winter, October through June, the museum is open Monday through Thursday 9 am to 4 pm and Friday 9 am to 1 pm.

West Bay Common School Children’s Museum

Address: 210 N Kansas Ave, League City, TX 77573

Website: West Bay Common School Children’s Museum

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7. Murder by Chocolate

Editor’s Note: Establishment is permanently closed.

Be a part of a hypothetical murder mystery at this combination coffee shop and mystery theatre. There are four different ways to experience Murder by Chocolate: Mystery Dinner Theatre (interactive comedy dinner theatre), Comedy Magic Show, Whodunnit Dessert (interactive clue game environment), and Outta Time (escape room). Each of these activities cost a different amount, so checking their website is recommended. Guests have said they had a fun evening of laughs that made them want to come again.

Murder by Chocolate

Address: 18201 Egret Bay Blvd, Ste B Houston, Texas, TX 77058

Website: Murder by Chocolate

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8. Dickinson Festival of Lights

Dickinson Festival of Lights
Source: Photo by Flickr user Norma used under CC BY 2.0

This seasonal festival of lights opens each fall around late November. It’s a local tradition to celebrate the holiday season that is so important to the local culture here. There is much more to do than just see the lights. Guests can get some snacks at the concession stand, purchase items at the gift shop, decorate cookies, or get a picture with Santa. The festival is open nightly through the season from 6 pm to 8:30 pm.

Dickinson Festival of Lights

Address: 1100 FM 517 Rd E, Dickinson, TX 77539

Website: Dickinson Festival of Lights

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9. Bayou Wildlife Zoo

Petting zoo
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Stolbovsky used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Located about a 20 minute drive west of Dickinson is the Bayou Wildlife Zoo. This zoo is open range, meaning instead of walking around and viewing exhibits that animals are limited to, guests enjoy a safari-like experience. Guides are available, and trams specially designed to experience the best of the park are available. The zoo is open Monday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Adult tickets are 20 USD, and children ages 2 through 11 are 10 USD. When you’ve finished exploring, guests are welcome to rest at the picnic shelter, the petting zoo, or gift shop.

Bayou Wildlife Zoo

Address: 5050 Farm to Market Road 517, Alvin, TX 77511

Website: Bayou Wildlife Zoo

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10. Kemah Boardwalk

moon-over-kemah-boardwalk
Source: Photo by user Texasbubba used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Take a walk into summers past with the Kemah Boardwalk. Located on Trinity Bay, this is considered to be one of the best boardwalks in the whole United States. It features over 10 restaurants (including Bubba Gump Shrimp, Saltgrass SteakHouse, Flying Dutchman, and Landry’s Seafood), roller coasters, midways games, marina, shopping, and the Boardwalk Hotel. There is no charge to gain access to the boardwalk, so even if you don’t want to participate, you’re still free to walk around. Tickets to the attractions can be purchased as individuals or as a ride pass that is good for the whole day. This is truly a staple attraction of the area, and something that should not be missed.

Kemah Boardwalk

Address: 215 Kipp Ave, Kemah, TX 77565

Website: Kemah Boardwalk

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Meet you in the middle

Being in between two famous locations, Dickinson is in a great position to take advantage of both their attractions. Travellers can use Dickinson as a place to stay as a point of convenience while enjoying the surrounding area, or as a stopping point before moving on to their next location. However you choose, Dickinson is sure to help make your vacation full of fun that you can’t get anywhere else.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Sydney is a dedicated student currently working toward a master's degree in international human rights law. Her boundless curiosity about the world has been a defining trait from early childhood....Read more

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