The city of Houston was established by landowners in 1836, at the combination of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou, and was established as a city on 1837. Houston is a perfect weekend getaway location, with nonstop flights from throughout North America. It is a draw for tourists, closely connected to the Houston Space Center and also the NASA Astronaut Training and air traffic control Facility, along with many other popular attractions. In this article, we will take a look at the best things to do in Houston ( Texas ).

As far as tourism is concerned, the town has so many things to offer. Houston offers nationally recognised dining, shopping, entertainment and nightlife. Almost every attraction on this series is world-renowned and worth a try. This is the fourth largest city in the United States and home to the renowned chefs, inspirational parks, and stunning green spaces, with a bayou winding through the middle of the city.

Top things to do in Houston

Houston Space centre
Houston Zoo
Downtown Aquarium
The Museum of Fine Arts
Galveston Day-trip

1. Houston Space centre

Houston Space Center is a science museum that serves as the primary visitor centre of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. It was founded as a Smithsonian Associate Museum in 2014. The organisation is managed and controlled by NASA and runs under a partnership with the Manned Spaceflight training institute. From the visitor centre to the Johnson Space Facility, where astronauts prepare for spatial missions, take the open-air shuttle tour. In Rocket Park, you can find real missiles on show on this trip.

You can obtain a timed ticket to stop standing in queues and free of charge. Tickets are capped. The centre opened in 1992 to replace the old Visitor Center in the Johnson Space Center Building. The 250,000 square foot museum features 400 space objects, permanent and moving exhibitions. It also has theatres focusing on the history of the international space exploration programme. The centre also hosts STEM courses for all age groups.

Also read: Top 8 things to do in El Paso, Texas – Explore the Sun city

2. Houston Zoo

With a range of more than 6,000 species including tigers, red pandas, chimpanzees and rhinos make the Houston Zoo a must-see when you’re in the town. You can use the free GPS-enabled mobile app to better your experience. Take part in unique “Picture Days” across the year so that professional photographers can take full advantage of a range of sun, landscape and horticultural environments. If you have children with you, go to the Children’s Zoo, in which you’ll find a petting zoo, a playground, a bat cave, and live performances targeted at younger visitors to the Zoo.

From its newest Galapagos tortoise and jaguar shows to its famous red panda, called as the cutest animal in the world by most – the zoo promises to offer hours of an engaging experience. Houston Zoo is also home to a unique and gorgeous okapi or woodland giraffe. Cousins of giraffe, these magnificent species are found only in the most isolated rainforests of Central Africa.

Also read: Best Independent coffee shops in the USA – It’s time for coffee!

3. Downtown Aquarium

Downtown Aquarium is a popular aquarium and dining place located in Houston. It was formed from two landmarks of Houston, Fire Station and the Central Waterworks Building. The aquarium covers an area of about 6 acres. It is home to over 200 species of marine organisms in 500,000 US gallons of water. The complex also comprises two bars, a restaurant and a banquet room. It provides programmes such as Marine Day Biologist, Day Zoologist and Sea Safari Camp.

The Education Department partners with community associations and carries out development programs. Apart from that, Shark Voyage tours the entire area and halts in the middle of a 200,000-US-gallon shark sanctuary to let tourists see and know about sharks. The Diving Bell Ferris Wheel and the water-based carousel are the other top attractions on the location. There are two more rides; Lighthouse Dive, a drop platform, and Frog Hopper for younger ones. The centre also features festival-styled games.

4. The Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts is located in the Houston Museum District in Houston. It is considered as one of the biggest museums in the US. Apart from treating the never-ending tourists who come to admire the museum’s spectacular array of over 6,000 years of culture and over 64,000 pieces from 6 continents as well as the 1.25 million who visit the museum’s seminars, programmes and learning centres every year.

This world-class gallery is proud to be home to gems such as Gleizes’s La Femme, Monet’s Water Lily and an incredible collection of Roman works of art. If you want to ensure you’re not going to really miss something, there are 45 minutes of family-friendly guided tours. There’s also a nice cafe with some quality snacks and drinks. This is one of the informative things to do in Houston.

Also read: Top Lakes in Oklahoma that you must visit this summer

5. Galveston Day-trip

The gorgeous Galveston shores are less than an hour’s drive from Houston. If you’re looking for a fast escape from town, drive out to Galveston for a little fun, soaking up the heat, strolling through the old town and eating in a seaside restaurant. Thousands of limitless beach and shallow, turquoise water extend down the oceanfront. The Leisure Pier is at the centre of the beach activity. Other sites include the Ocean Star Offshore Oil Rig and also the Texas Seaport Aquarium.

If you’re travelling with your family, go to Moody Gardens. If you don’t have your own car or choose to keep it easy, you can even take a guided tour of the island. One alternative that blends some sightseeing is the Houston tour of the city and the Galveston Day Ride. This involves a 90-minute guided tour on a double-decker bus of Houston and transfers to and from Galveston, which you will have the chance to explore on your own.

Houston, in general, is a happening city with a wide range of activities that one could do. Want to know more about the destination? Get in touch with the destination experts from Pickyourtrail to customise your next United States vacation. Check out our guides page or leave a Whatsapp inquiry for more options