The Top 10 Things to Do in Houston, TX
#10 -
Downtown Aquarium
This is a 500,000 gallon Aquarium complex that is home to over 300 species of aquatic life and some other life, such as a white tiger too! The aquarium boasts a bar and restaurant with an underwater feel that we really enjoyed. The outdoor area also has a ferris wheel, carousel, and other amusement rides and snacks. Some of the exhibits include a Louisiana Swamp with alligators and bullfrogs, the Rainforest with piranhas and stingrays, and The Sunken Temple, home to tarantulas and lionfish. It is also included on the City Pass, so make your way through the Gulf of Mexico or the stingray encounter at a discounted rate. Fun for the entire family!
#9 -
Minute Maid Park
Home to the Houston Astros, and built as a replacement to the famous Astrodome, this stadium has been hosting games since 2000. The retractable roof and classic architecture offer a nice retreat from the humid Houston weather and a chance to catch a ball hit over the shallow right field wall. It can seat over 40,000 fans with the Honda Club Level and luxury suites as well, but it also has many standing room options too. The ballpark design includes its team store that is housed in the once Union Station building and a train that chugs along the tracks in the outfield every time the home team whacks a homer! The park also has a Homerun Alley, commemorating great moments in the team’s history and a kids’ play area, making it fun for the whole family to enjoy! Catch a stadium tour while visiting to learn more about Astros history-including how they got their name and how their jerseys changed over time.
#8 -
Kemah Boardwalk
This is a fun and “beachy” experience outside of the downtown area near Clear Lake off of Galveston Bay. We took a ride share here after visiting the Nasa Johnson Space Center to make the best of the trip down there. Make sure you come hungry to have lunch or dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants, such as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Landry’s Seafood House, or Saltgrass Steakhouse. The Boardwalk also has cute little shops, fair food, an arcade, and many fair rides! Admission for the rides are part of the City Pass, so make sure to grab one of those for discounted rates on your trip. And don’t forget dessert at Sweet Scoops or Candy Box. This a nice stop, especially for the kiddos. You might even spot some dolphins or catch a live show!
#7 -
Downtown Houston
As the fourth largest city in the United States, Houston has a bustling downtown area. We opted to book a hotel on Main Street because of its close proximity to many activities and to take advantage of the Metrorail. There’s a ton of restaurants and bars to enjoy on Main Street, such as Moonshiners and High & Dry. You can enjoy the greenery at parks like Discovery Park Green and Sam Houston Park. Sports fan? You can catch a baseball game at Minute Maid Park or watch the Rockets play at the Toyota Center. The downtown area is home to a theatre district that hosts countless shows a year and has an aquarium nearby. All in all, there’s a ton to do in this area and it will probably be where you spend the most amount of time during your trip!
#6 -
Houston Zoo
Located within Hermann Park, this 55-acre zoo opens its gates to over two million visitors a year. Also included on the City Pass, this is a nice place to explore a vast variety of animals and their habitats. There are over 6,000 animals from around the world that are taken care of at the zoo, including elephants, giraffes, lions, monkeys, birds, snakes, and more! We got to see a baby elephant that was only one week old! Make sure to stop at the Bug House and SeaLion exhibits, or take the kids to the Children’s Zoo area and Water Play Park. Both fun and educational, the zoo serves to connect people with animals and strives to save wildlife. With over 900 species to behold, we highly recommend a visit here to complete your trip. Bring that umbrella if visiting in the spring or you might find yourself under a tree in the primate area like we did!
#5 -
Museum District
A spectacular tree lined neighborhood that boasts over 19 museums, galleries, cultural centers and more! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to peruse the museums you would like to explore, since there are so many to choose from! Many of the museums are even free and they attract over 8.7 million visitors a year! Choose from a list that includes the Science Museum, Museum of Fine Arts (Huge expanse of amazing art!), Houston Zoo, Children’s Museum, Holocaust Museum, and so much more! You can walk, ride a bike, drive, or take the metro to this beautiful section of Houston near and including Hermann Park. There are also restaurants nearby to make a complete day of it. So visit the Jung Center, take in the African American Museum, or the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, all within walking distance of one another. And yes! Look into a City Pass or check which days and times the museums are free!
#4 - Natural Science Museum
Take a journey through prehistoric times and galaxies far away at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Located in the aforementioned Hermann Park, within the Museum District, this is an outstanding attraction with four floors of fun and exploration. Grab a City Pass to get a discounted ticket price, but also discounts on special exhibits. These include the Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and many revolving exhibits too. Also visit Victoria, the T-Rex, as you go back in time through the evolution of life on Earth or dazzle yourself at the glistening gem exhibit. Learn about Texas wildlife and watch the pendulum swing at this place of wonderment and excitement! Can’t beat the beautiful park setting nearby and a place to escape the Houston weather. Enjoy!
#3 -
Hermann Park
A short drive or metro ride from Main Street in Downtown Houston, this park is a must visit! You can easily spend an entire day, or two, visiting all of the attractions this park has to offer. The park encompasses 445-acres of beautiful landscape that includes a relaxing Japanese Garden and Bayou Parkland that serve as an oasis for native plants and wildlife. In the heart of the park lies McGovern Lake where you might fish, pedal boat, or jog along the bordering trails. You can also take a ride on the Hermann Park Railroad or stroll through the Celebration Garden. The park is also home to the Houston Zoo and Natural Science Museum-two places we definitely recommend and are included on the Houston City Pass. Be sure to also visit the many museums located in or right next to the park in the neighboring Museum District. Visit the General Sam Houston statue and climb atop the spiraling hill at the Centennial Gardens for a fantastic view! Whether you are coming to see a show at the park’s outdoor theater (Miller Outdoor Theatre), or just visiting for some rejuvenation, Hermann Park is the place to be. Just make sure to check the weather!
#2 -
Discovery Green Park
A beautiful retreat among the downtown city, Discovery Green covers 12 acres of land, with playgrounds, concert space, art displays, and a man-made lake. It also has two restaurants, dog runs, and is a relaxing space for locals and visitors alike. Come for the free WiFi or join in one of the yoga classes, movie nights, reading rooms, or other special events hosted at the park throughout the year. Known as “downtown’s new backyard” the park is conveniently located near many hotels, the Convention Center, Toyota Center, and Minute Maid Park. Plenty of restaurants, such as Biggios (named after MLB Hall of Famer and Astro Legend Craig Biggio), are nearby too.
#1 -
Nasa Johnson Space Center
A must do while visiting Houston, this Space Center is home to NASA mission control, ISS mission control, the Orion program, and astronaut training. It is a bit of a drive outside of the downtown area, but well worth it! The 250,000 sq. ft. center boasts over 400 things to see and do, including touching moon rocks or seeing a full size shuttle! They have fascinating displays of spacesuits, a moon replica, and several interactive exhibits that give you a look into the past and future of space exploration. It includes a theater and games/rides for children too! Make sure to reserve your time to take the tram tour (included with ticket price) that will wheel you around the complex and show you the work being done behind the scenes. It is no wonder that over 1 million people visit the center each year to partake in this compelling experience and to learn more about the exciting space exploration that is taking place in our world today. Grab a City Pass to get discounted ticket prices.
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