Kemah Boardwalk, is about 40 minutes from Houston and less than a few miles from the NASA space center. It is a recreational area owned and run by Landry's restaurants. Since the six-flags near Houston closed, this has become the primary place to go from some roller-coasting fun. The boardwalk runs along the marina, and includes many restaurants like Joe's Crab Shack, Saltgrass steakhouse and Babin's Seafood House. Yes, it's all seafood and nothing much for vegeterians. There is also an Aquarium restaurant with a huge 30 foot high tank in the middle with sharks.
The main attraction is the Boardwalk Bullet, a 96 foot tall wooden roller-coaster that speeds by as you watch in fascination. In true US tradition it has to be the world's best in something and it is. The Most Compact Wooden Coaster in the World. 3200+ feet of wooden rails within a footprint of 1 acre. There is also a carousel, an Inverter, the Pharoah's Fury, Chaos which spins you in 3 different axis, and even a Crazy Submarine.
A fun trip for kids, a romantic getaway for adults, an idle pastime for everyone, it is definitely a good day out.