Things to do in Houston
This is just a sampling of all the things to do in Houston. The city is rich with history, science, fine arts, great cuisine, and endless entertainment. For a complete list go to the
Visit Houston website.
Space Center Houston
The Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center is Houston’s No. 1 attraction for international visitors and the first Smithsonian Affiliate in the greater Houston area.
Discover the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human spaceflight program set among the largest collection of space artifacts in the southwestern United States. There is always something new to see and do. With more than 400 space artifacts including flown spacecraft, the largest collection of moon rocks on public display and at multiple major seasonal exhibits a year, Space Center Houston offers an array of exciting attractions for people of all ages.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
As one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States, and one of the most attended venues in Houston, the Museum houses the
Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham GIANT Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and a fascinating variety of permanent exhibit areas that examine astronomy, space science, Native American culture, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, Texas wildlife, and much more.
Blaffer Art Museum
Blaffer Art Museum is a contemporary art museum located on the University of Houston campus.
Its vision is to foster engagement and exchange by and among artists, curators, scholars, and the museum’s diverse audiences through exhibitions and public programs. It is free and open to the public Wednesday through Sunday.
The Galleria
The Galleria, an international shopping destination that hosts more than 24 million visitors annually, offers world-class shopping with more than 375 stores, 30 restaurants, two hotels, and a full-sized ice rink. The Galleria is home to many upscale boutiques and a who’s who list of designers, including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Chanel, Jimmy Choo, and Ralph Lauren, among many others.
The Holocaust Museum Houston
Charged with educating students and the public about the dangers of prejudice and hatred in society, The Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims of the Holocaust and honoring the legacy of the survivors. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, they teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and apathy.
The Health Museum
The Health Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a multi-sensory and ever-evolving interactive experience featuring health science advances and the intricacies and implications of how bodies work. The Health Museum offers year-long programs and camps for all ages, special events, corporate rentals, and exhibitions including the DeBakey Cell Lab, which puts guests in the center of their own hands-on science exploration.
Moody Center For the Arts
Open and free to the public, the Moody Center For the Arts is dedicated to trans-disciplinary collaboration in the arts, sciences, and humanities, and is located on the Rice campus. The Moody Center houses facilities including an art gallery space, a 150-seat black box theater, a gallery for experimental performance, and a café. It’s open to the public Tuesday through Saturday.
Downtown Aquarium
Part attraction, part restaurant, the 500,000-gallon Downtown Aquarium complex is a multi-functional destination boasting a Ferris wheel, an aquatic carousel, Shark Voyage, a white tiger exhibit, and a restaurant. The spectacular wall-to-wall aquarium view complements the surf-and-turf menu. Parents can dig into silky lobster bisque and crabmeat-topped Gulf red snapper, while the little ones nosh on popcorn shrimp, ‘sand dollar’ pizza, and ‘Captain’s’ grilled cheese. During dinner, keep an eye out for scuba divers feeding fish in the restaurant-set tank.
The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum
The Ocean Star is a retired jack-up drilling rig that operated in the Gulf of Mexico from 1969-1984 and drilled over 20 wells during that timeframe. Located next to the Strand National Historic Landmark District in the Galveston harbor. Learn more about this museum.
Sports
Houston is one of the premiere sport destinations in the U.S. The city hosts world-class sporting events that range from Olympic qualifying soccer matches and the NCAA Final Four to rodeos and Super Bowl LI. Houston's five professional sport teams have long winning traditions and loyal fans. The city's four stadiums hold over 150,000 fans collectively and feature events throughout the year. See who’s playing here.
Live Music
Houston bars, clubs and music halls have long provided a springboard for a wide range of musicians. After all, it is where Lyle Lovett and even ZZ Top got their start, bringing unique rhythm to a city with a storied musical history. Check out Houston’s top spots for tunes in the Bayou City.
Kemah Boardwalk
Looking for a great place to take the whole family? Kemah Boardwalk is open daily providing fun for everyone! Located just 20 miles from downtown Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk is home to fabulous waterfront restaurants, amusements, charming retail stores, festivals and seaside shows every day.
Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum- Beaumont, TX
Beaumont rose to fame when the Lucas Gusher blew on a little hill in Beaumont affectionately called “Spindletop” on January 10, 1901. The gusher spewed 100,000 barrels of oil for nine days straight, reaching a height of 100 feet. A boomtown sprang up overnight ushering in the energy age, giving rise to major petroleum companies. By 1902, there were more than 500 Texas corporations doing business in Beaumont. The Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum gives visitors a chance to experience this remarkable chapter in history first-hand and learn about the industrial developments that followed.