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Our 10 Best Things To Do In Houston, looks at Houston a beautiful city and a large metropolis found in the great state of Texas. This beautiful city is home to one of the great destinations globally. During your visit, you can try to find out and understand the infamous phrase uttered by Apollo 13 crew, “Houston, we’ve had a problem’ by visiting Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. Additionally, if you are an outdoor enthusiast and you are visiting the region with kids, you can stop by one of the beautiful parks located in the city. You can also visit the parks to relax while listening to multiple bird species that nest there sing.
Moreover, suppose you are a nature-oriented person. In that case, you should never fail to visit the arboretum & nature center and the botanic garden, where you will find unique flora and fauna. Do you want to get up close and personal with animals? Well, a visit to the Houston Zoo will give the opportunity to feed some animals, such as the giraffe. Further, you should never fail to visit the various farmers’ markets located in multiple parts of the city if you want to meet the locals, buy local souvenirs, and even understand the culture of the city better. Are you into arts, and would you love to see fine pieces of art and works by different artists? Well, this beautiful city is home to impressive art centers, galleries, and museums that you can visit. Furthermore, there are great destinations in this beautiful city that you can visit with kids for them to have fun. You can also take on multiple water-related activities such as canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding while in the city.
Houston, Texas, covers an estimated 1,733 square kilometers with an elevation of 32 meters. The number of people residing in this beautiful city is estimated to be 2.31 million as of 2019 data. The area codes are 281, 346, 713, and 832. There are great destinations and beautiful landmarks that you can visit in this beautiful city to make your trip memorable. Here are the best things to do in Houston, Texas.
# 11 – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is one of the largest museums in the United States. This museum is an excellent destination to visit if you are an art enthusiast, and you can also visit with kids. During your visit to this museum, you will find an impressive collection of more than 6,000 years of history. Additionally, the museum is also home to more than 64,000 works from all over the globe that you will get a chance to see. Some of the rare treasures that you will be able to see during your visit include Gleizes’s La Femme, Memling’s portrait, Monet’s Water Lilies, and many Roman period sculptures and paintings. There are rare African sculptures that you will also get a chance to see.
# 10 – Buffalo Bayou Park
Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Well, this fantastic park is a great destination that you can visit while in the region. Additionally, Buffalo Bayou Park is one of the best places in Houston, Texas, where you can visit with kids to have fun. The park covers an estimated 160 acres, and you can also visit with your four-legged friends. During your visit to this park, you will find extensive trails that you can use for hiking, walking, and biking.
Moreover, the park also features a playground and a picnic pavilion that you can use for picnics. There are also sculptures, and you can relax in the plenty of shady areas in the park during your visit. Further, there are slow-moving waters in the park that you can use for water-related activities such as kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. There are rentals available in the park that you can rent bikes, canoe, kayak, and paddleboard. Last, there are live artistic performances at the park. You can visit the park daily between 6am and 11pm
Official site: https://buffalobayou.org/visit/
# 9 – Houston Zoo
If you love animals and want to get close and personal with them while in Houston, Texas, you should never fail to visit the Houston Zoo. The zoo spans around 55 acres, and it is home to more than 6,000 exotic and indigenous animals that you will get a chance to see during your visit. Additionally, this zoo is an excellent destination to visit as a family with kids. Some animals that call this zoo home include Grant’s zebra, whooping cranes, gorilla, Malayan tiger, Baird’s tapir, siamang, sea lion, African lion, red panda, southern white rhinoceros, white-faced saki monkey, okapi, ocelot, jaguar, and bald eagle. Further, you will also get a chance to feed the giraffes during your visit. Your kids can also take a ride on the Texas Direct Auto Wildlife carousel. The Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Hermann Park Drive. You can visit the zoo daily between 9am and 5pm
Official site: www.houstonzoo.org
# 8 – Houston Children’s Museum
If you are visiting Houston, Texas with kids and wonder which destination to have a fan with, then your destination should be 1500 Binz Street, where Houston Children’s Museum is located. This museum is a colorful and noisy place that will leave your kids with a smile. The museum features multiple exhibits such as Invention Convention and EcoStation. Additionally, there is an indoor and outdoor area within the museum where the kids will get a chance to observe turtles and animals in the pond. There are games that you kids can also engage in themselves by playing.
# 7 – Hermann Park
There are multiple destinations in Houston, Texas, that you can visit if you are an outdoor enthusiast. One of the remarkable destinations is Hermann Park. This beautiful park covers an estimated 445 acres, and it boarder various city neighborhoods, attractions, and universities. Additionally, this park is also a great place in the city to visit with kids. The park features lakes, pavilions, picnic areas, gardens, a golf course, playgrounds, and many more. You can visit the park for activities such as paddleboarding. You can also relax within the park while listening to the multiple bird species that nest in the park sing. There are trails that you can use for walking and hiking. Last, the park is home to several gardens with more than 50 different tree species, flowers, shrubs, and many more.
# 6 – The Menil Collection
Are you an art enthusiast? Well, this is also one of the great destinations that you can visit while in the region to view some fine pieces of art. The Menil Collection is a compilation of art gathered by John and Dominique de Menil between the 1940s and 1990s. During your visit, you will be able to see 10,000 works as part of the permanent collection. Additionally, you will also get a chance to see around 17,000 pieces that range from works of African and Byzantine art to Native American from the Pacific Northwest. You will also find a unique assortment of modern and contemporary art. You can visit The Menil Collection from Wednesday to Sunday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
# 5 – San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
Are you a history buff? If you are, you should never fail to visit San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is a 570-foot obelisk topped by a massive 220-ton Lone Star of Texas. This incredible landmark was constructed to pay tribute to the persons that fought for Texas independence from Mexico in the early 1800s. At the base of this remarkable landmark, you will find impressive artifacts from the Texas Revolution and Republic. You can also take an elevator to the top of the monument and have panoramic views. San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is located at 3523 Independence Pkwy. You can visit this monument daily between 9am and 6pm
# 4 – Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Are you looking for a destination with something you can do together as a family? One of the best family-friendly destinations in this beautiful city is the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Additionally, this is an excellent destination to visit if you want to relax and cool off your mind away from the busy and noisy city surroundings, especially in the afternoons. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center covers an estimated area of 155 acres, and it is located at 4501 Woodway Drive. This 155-acre nature sanctuary features 5 miles used as walking trails, gardens, multiple bird species, wildlife, pond habitats, and towering pine trees. Some of the bird species that you will get a chance to see during your visit include blue jay, yellow-crowned night heron, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, northern mockingbird, and great horned owl.
Website: www.houstonarboretum.org
# 3 – Downtown Aquarium
There are multiple family-friendly destinations in Houston, Texas. One of the unique places you can visit with kids while in the region to have fun is the Downtown Aquarium. This aquarium is impressive since it is designed as an underwater adventure apart from displaying fish. During your visit, you will find a 500,000-gallon aquatic wonderland home to more than 200 species of exotic global residents that you will be able to see. Additionally, you will also get a chance to get up-close-and-personal will horseshoe crabs and stingrays. You will also find various exhibits such as Louisiana swamp, shipwreck, rainforest, and sunken temple.
Furthermore, kids can play carnival-style games and take on rides such as Ferris wheel, carousel, and frog hopper. There are restaurants located there that you can hop into when hungry. The Downtown Aquarium is located at 410 Bagby Street in Houston, Texas.
Website: www.aquariumrestaurants.com
# 2 – Houston Botanic Garden
Are you an outside enthusiast who is nature-oriented? Well, if you are and you would love to spend some time outdoors and learn more about nature while in Houston, Texas, there is no better place to visit than the Houston Botanic Garden. This beautiful botanic garden was opened in 2020, and it is located at 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, Texas. The botanic garden covers an estimated area of 132 acres, and it is also a great destination in the city that you visit with kids. You can stop at the culinary garden during your visit, where you will find some herbal and medicinal species suitable for boosting immunity at the neat apothecary corner.
Additionally, you can visit the stormwater wetlands and the pine grove. You can also visit this botanic garden to take a stroll while relaxing your mind. Further, the botanic garden is well-marked and divided into distinct sections, while most of the plants are labeled for easy identification. You can also use seats to relax while listening to the birds that nest there sing. Furthermore, there are also 2.5 miles within the botanic garden that you can use for walking. You can visit the Houston botanic Garden daily between 9am and 5pm
# 1 – Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston
Houston, Texas, is globally known as the capital of space exploration. Your trip to this beautiful city will not be considered complete without visiting this destination. Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston are located at 2101 and 1601 Nasa Parkway, Houston, Texas. This is a vast complex, and it is home to more than 400 artifacts plus other abundance of both permanent and traveling exhibits relating to the American space flight programs that you will be able to see during your visit. Additionally, this is an excellent destination in the city worth visiting with kids while in the region. While in this vast complex, you will find the space shuttle replica Independence and an enormous shuttle carrier aircraft it is mounted on where you can walk through.
There is also a replica of America’s first space station, Skylab, where you can wander inside and get a chance to touch a rock from the moon. In addition to these, you will also get an opportunity to get detailed information on NASA’s upcoming missions, such as travel to Mars. You may also get a chance to meet an astronaut if you visit this destination on Fridays around noon. Moving along, you can visit the Johnson Space Center, which is home to mission control, using an open-air tram tour. At the space center, you will get a chance to see astronauts training for space missions.
Further, you will see an actual rocket on display when you take a pass by Rocket Park. You can also sign up for a level 9 Tour and experience something unique while taking a behind-the-scenes look at Johnson Space Center. Furthermore, you will see the Buoyancy Lab, the ISS Mission Control and simulation labs, plus many more. Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston are open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, while on Saturday and Sunday, it opens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Official site: https://spacecenter.org/
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