Houston is the perfect location for a weekend getaway because you are guaranteed fun, adventure, delicacies, and excellent sight viewing. This is irrespective of the type of people you are traveling with, Space City has something for everyone.
Ten quick facts about Houston
- There are more than 140 spoken languages in Houston
- Limburger cheese sales ban on Sundays
- Houston is home to the first traditional Hindu temple in the US
- People in Houston eat out more than any other American city
- It has an underground pedestrian tunnel system, about 7 miles
- Home to the world’s largest medical center, Texas Medical Center
- Home to the world’s first domed stadium, Astrodome
- Houston is the largest US city without formal zoning laws
- Houston Zoo has more than 6,000 animals of 900 species
- Except for New York, Houston has more Fortune 500 headquarters within its city limits than any city in the US.
That is just the tip of the iceberg, as the vacation experience in Houston exceeds the ten places above. If you are on a road trip, do not worry, there are amazing RV park near Houston, Texas. Below are some of the must-see places in Houston whenever you visit…
#1 Bayou Place
Those looking for relaxation, entertainment, and a memorable dining experience should check out Bayou Place. It is an entertainment complex that may be quiet if you visit during the day. Some popular event venues in this area include the Hard Rock Cafe, Angelika Film Center, and Revention Music Center.
Children’s Museum
For families visiting Houston, do not miss the Children’s Museum, and it will surely make your children’s visit a wonderful one. It has exhibits for most age groups. They can never exhaust the learning opportunities here. From science to technology, the Museum has presentations for different subjects. Kidtropolis is an exhibit you would like them to visit. It is designed as a city managed by kids. It features things like how to use the ATM, apply for jobs, and get paid. They can also go grocery shopping or even win a city council seat.
Hermann Park
If you want to experience how it feels to be a local in Houston, head to Hermann Park. It is a complete adventure on its own as you will be chanced to visit the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theatre (free ticket), Hermann Park Railroad, McGovern Centennial Gardens, and Japanese Garden, among others.
Space Center
For starters, the former governor of Texas, Rick Perry, in his January 2011 speech, claimed the first word spoken from the moon by Armstrong is “Houston”. Although some fact-check reports have queried this, so far, there is no definite conclusion on the first words from the moon. Therefore, in the spirit of Texas and love for Houston, we will side with Perry. The city is not called Space City for no reason. Also, you would have probably heard about the famous phrase “Houston, we’ve had a problem”, a quotation from the radio communications between the Apollo 13 and NASA Mission Control Center. Do not sabotage your experience by missing the sight of the Space Center Houston. Plan at least 5 hours to fully explore this place.
The Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is located in the Museum District of Houston. This area has about eleven museums including the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Collections in the Museum of Fine Arts are more than 70,000 and majorly cover world cultures. You should be done touring this place within three hours. Any exciting thing about the Museum of Arts is that its buildings, about three, are all connected by underground tunnels.
Downtown Aquarium
This is for those who like marine life. The Downtown Aquarium, although small, features informative and entertaining aquatic exhibits. Some of the adventures here include a train ride through a shark tank. At the end of your tour, be ready for a welcome by white tigers. Even though this is supposed to be an aquarium and not a zoo, the view is not bad, and the staff there are pretty informative about the tigers.
Cockrell Butterfly Center
The Cockrell Butterfly Center is a significant spotlight of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It is home to hundreds of species of butterflies and insects, including hissing cockroaches. You should be able to thoroughly explore this place within two hours.
Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest in the world, and it is typically held towards the end of February and early March, about 19 days. It offers numerous games and night concerts. Most importantly, you will get to watch riders saddle up. The livestock show in between the rodeo is fun to watch, and you will get to see cute baby animals.
The Menil Collection
The Menil Collection collectively refers to a compilation of art assembled by John and Dominique de Menil. It spans about 30-acre. The light-filled building housing this collection is a beauty on its own. The famous architect, Renzo Piano, designed it. Access is free, and you should be able to satisfy your sight within two hours.
Hines Waterwall Park
This park was built in 1983 and pours 11,000 gallons of recirculated water per minute through its 64 feet height. It is a spectacular place for pictures with 46,500 square feet wide water as the background.