Houston is a massive metropolis – the fourth largest in the United States – which has drawn people from all over the world for its rich music, food, and business offerings. But don’t let Houston’s size fool you, it isn't all hustle and bustle.The city maintains a diverse, down-to-earth and inclusive vibe with all sorts ofcultural, scientificand outdoor offerings throughout H-town. These are 12 of the best things to do in Houston.
1. The Houston Space Center
When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969,hesaid, “Houston, the Eagle has landed.”He was referring to theon-site staff of the NASA Johnson Space Center here in H-town.Today, you can gowhere history was made andlearn all about the moon landing and humanity’s explorationofspace with a visit toSpace Center Houston. The official visitor center of the NASA Johnson Space Centerwelcomes1.25 million visitors each yearwho come to marvel at thelargest collection of spacesuits and Moon rocks in the world there are over 400 space artifacts here in Houston.
2. Diverse neighborhood cuisines
Houston is the one of the most ethnically diverse citiesin the United States and its food scenereflects that distinction. Taste your way through 70 different countries and US regions at some 10,000 restaurants in the Houston metro. Foodies will love eating their way through Houston's diverse neighborhoods. For instance, you’ll find great Korean food in Spring Branch, fabulous Chinese in Chinatown, Vietnamese in Midtown, andthe bestVenezuelan food in Katy. Starting in the autumn of 2021, you’ll be able to experiencePOST Houston, ahuge foodhall with live music and event spaces which will showcaseHouston’sculinary scene.
3. The MuseumDistrict
Culture buffs should make theirway totheHouston Museum Districtwhich is home to19 different institutions. To make things easier for travelers, the Museum Districthas beenseparated into four different walkable zones. In the first zone, you can dive into a collection of 17,000 paintings, sculptures and rare books at theMenil Collectionbefore walking to the Houston Center for Photography.
The second zone hosts the most museums, including the likes oftheHolocaust Museum HoustonandHouston Museum of African American Culture. TheContemporary Arts Museum and theMuseum of Fine Artsare grouped in the third zone, while theChildren's Museum of Houston,Houston ZooandThe Health Museumarejust a glimpse of what you can discover in the fourth zone of the Museum District.
4. The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Texas has its cowboy reputation,and you can experience a taste of that culture for yourself at theHouston Livestock Show & Rodeo. This rodeo, whichhas been around since 1932, is held over a couple of weeks in February and March and is known for havingthe world’s largest livestock show.
Watch cowboys wrangle steers and cowgirls whip around barrels on their horses during therodeo, before playinggames at the carnival,shoppingamong local wares,tastingdelicious food at barbecue competitionsand watchinglive concerts from some of the biggest names in music.Keep an eye out for special days of celebration and performances, likeTejano Day and Black Heritage Day.
5. Buffalo Bayou
Houstonhas 580 parks that comprise 66,000 acres of land, making this urban destination a great place for outdoor lovers. Not only can you play outside, you can get a different perspective on H-town. See the Houston skyline from the water, for example, on a kayak adventure withBayou City Adventures. They’ll take you on the 53-mile Buffalo Bayou which runs through the popular Buffalo Bayou Park, which has 15 miles of biking and walking trails and public art.
6. See a ball game
The city of Houston has a lot of pride for their hometown sportsteamsand welcomes visitors to join in on the fun. Head downtown to watch theHouston Astroshit home runafter home runorto cheer on theHouston Rocketsas they dominate the courtat the Toyota Center. Soccer fans have the option of watching theHouston Dynamoor theHouston Dash, men and women’s respective professional soccer teams, while football fans won’t want to miss a chance to see theHouston Texanstake on opponentsofthe AFC South division.Rugbyis just now growing in popularityin the United States,butHouston iswell ahead of other big cities with their ownprofessional rugby team called theHoustonSaberCats.
7. The Waugh Bridge Bats
Austin doesn't have a monopoly on bat colonies that spice up summer sunsets. Make your way to Waugh Bridge to see some250,000 Mexican free-tailedbats fly out at dusk. Unlike Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony, Houston's bats live here full-time, s0 you aren't limited to seeing them during any particular season. You can view them from the Waugh Bridge itself, or across the way as they fly into Buffalo Bayou looking for dinner.
8. Spend the day at thebeach
Although Houston doesn’t technically have a beach,it only takesup to an hour’s drive toenjoy the Gulf of Mexico.At26.2 miles from downtown Houston,Sylvan Beach Parkis the closest beach. It’s known as one of the better places to swim because of its lack of seaweed.
If you want to skip the crowds of Sylvan Beach Park, make your way to the charming and quietEl Jardin Beach.You won’t mind driving the hour toSurfside Beach, as it’s known forits beauty and laid-back atmosphere.That said, you won’t find a lot of amenities here so pack an ice chest and bring snacksbefore you hit the road.
9. Try extreme sports
For Texas-sized thrills, ride the bowls of the 30,000-square-footLee and Joe Jamail Skateparkor catch some air wakeboarding at the full-scale cable wakeboarding park,Wake Nation. You can also try indoor or outdoor skydiving atiFly HoustonandSkydive Spaceland, respectively, hit theTexas Rock Gym, or give the prairie single track a turn atJack Brooks Park'smountain biking trails.You can even try gliding over the Houston landscape with theGreater Houston Soaring Association, who practice a motorless style of flight.
10. The Houston Farmers Market
TheHouston Farmers Marketis a great introduction to the city's diverse food scene. The Market technically dates back to the 1940s, but is housed in a brand-new building that developers hope will be H-towns version ofSeattle's Pike Place Market or the San Francisco Ferry Building.Here you will be ableto find fresh produce and eateries serving everything from breakfast to Tex-Mex to cajun dishes – and all the restaurants showcase some element of Houston culture.
11.Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, which has an impressive sculpture fountain that’s best described as a ‘waterwall.’ It's 45 feet high, shaped like a horseshoe, and recycles sheets of water to the tune of11,000 gallons per minute. It's been a favorite in Houston since 1983 – so popular, in fact, you need to get a special permit if you are hoping to get engaged, married or even professionally photographed here. No one is stopping you from snapping a photo for personal use, however – and indeed, the Watewall seems like it was made with Instagram in mind.
12.National Museum of Funeral History
Many major cities have an art museum or a natural history museum, but Houston is one of the few to boast a museum about the funeral industry. It might sound morbid, but the National Museum of Funeral History is aninteresting institution blends history, science, artand culture with exhibits on everything from embalming to wild and whimsical coffins to the unique jazz funerals of New Orleans. You can see a Victorian hearse, learn about presidential funerals, and find out more about Hispanic culture at theDiade los Muertos exhibit.
