There is always something to do in Houston, the fourth most populous city in the United States and Texas’ most populous one –several would believe that it would be Dallas, but that is not the case. Houston is one of America’s many major destinations. Business, tourism, transportation, and entertainment all come together in this metropolis by the Gulf of Mexico. You can bet Houston is a melting pot of cultures as well. With such a city, it can be hard to pick out the best things to do. Here are some of Houston’s most famous destinations. Don’t forgot to go shopping for Car insurance in Houston, TX while you’re at it.
Promising lions, tigers, bears, and more, how can you not spend the day with the family at the zoo. Houston’s zoo is the second most visited one in the country, with over 6,000 animals and 900 species. Their African Forest exhibit remains one of the most impressive enclosures in the zoo, with zebras, rhinos, giraffes, ostriches, chimps, and gorillas. Hippos have recently been added. Other diverse exhibits include the carnivores, bughouse, aviary, and reptile house. The current Shasta mascot of the University of Houston can also be visited here. As of now, they are in the sixth generation. They also have a great Asian elephant habitat.
Houston Zoo
6200 Hermann Park Dr
Houston, TX 77030
Every major city’s art museum is going to have some historical and iconic pieces. Houston has an organized museum district, and the Museum of Fine Arts is regularly visited. About 70,000 art pieces across different media and different styles are available for viewing, including an original Vincent Van Gogh. Different buildings showcase different artists from around the world and throughout the decades.
Houston Museum of Fine Arts
1001 Bissonnet St
Houston, TX 77005
If there’s anything Houston is known for, it’s the site for NASA’s mission control at the Johnson Space Center. At their visitor center, see starships and equipment the astronauts use, along with a touchable moon rock. Space capsules include Mercury 9, Gemini 5, and Apollo 17. They also have the lectern that JFK used to give his “we choose to go to the moon� speech. America’s space history is often best recorded in the cities that experienced it.
Houston Space Center
1601 E NASA Pkwy
Houston, TX 77058
This museum isn’t just a major Houston attraction but one of the most visited museums in the country. It’s impressive for a non-Smithsonian facility. Natural science entails a lot like dinosaurs, geology, ancient civilizations, and some examples of evolution as well. Their paleontology hall includes three Quetzalcoatlus and T-Rexes. Their Triceratops skeleton is one of the most complete fossils on record of the dinosaur. Their geology exhibits have over 750 gemstones and minerals. They also feature taxidermied animal exhibits from local wildlife to the unique animals of Africa. Their planetarium and butterfly farm facilities are also worth a visit.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
5555 Hermann Park Dr
Houston, TX 77030
Houston’s Downtown Aquarium doesn’t have decades and decades of history like most of the classic museums in Houston do. Rather it was opened in 2002 by Landry’s (a restaurant group, believe it or not). Of course, Landry’s also knows how to entertain their guests. Their exhibits include Gulf swamp, rainforest, and deep-sea life. The Shark Voyage miniature train ride is a guest favorite as they travel through real shark tanks. They’re also known for their white tiger exhibit and children’s rides as well.
Downtown Aquarium
410 Bagby St
Houston, TX 770022
While Kemah Boardwalk is 30 miles from Houston’s downtown areas, that doesn’t stop residents and tourists from making the drive down the Gulf Coat road. There is a classic feeling about boardwalk theme parks, and Kemah captures it accurately. It truly ranks up there with Coney Island and Atlantic City. Naturally, they’ll have several rides, including a wooden roller coaster, a train, a Ferris wheel, towers, and some swinging ones. Admission is free, while rides and attractions have tickets.
Kemah Boardwalk
215 Kipp AveÂ
Kemah, TX 77565
About 30 miles southeast of Houston
Children’s museums are great because the little ones can append hours with the interactive exhibits on a wide range of basic natural science. Houston’s Children’s Museum is one of the most popular ones in the nation, with over one million in attendance each year. In addition to their exhibits, they also have classrooms and labs for kids up to 12 years old.
Houston’s Children’s Museum
1500 Binz St
Houston, TX 77004
Six Flags Astroworld may have been demolished, but there is still a Six Flags property by Houston, the water park Hurricane Harbor SplashTown. It’s a modest attraction with nine water slides, two pools, and two children’s play areas. While this is a seasonal location, SplashTown has become the foremost Six Flags attraction in the Houston area.
Hurricane Harbor SplashTown
21300 I-45
Spring, TX 77373
About 23 miles from Houston
Best described as the Central Park of Houston, Hermann Park is located by the museum district, so you can visit it on your way to and from them. Their golf course gets a lot of tee times during the summer weekends. The Sam Houston Monument makes for a great photo opportunity. The City Beautiful movement really shows here. The park is best seen from the two-mile small train ride you can take. Lakes and international gardens give visitors plenty to see.
Hermann Park
6001 Fannin St
Houston, TX 77030
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