Houston Travel Guide – Tourist Attractions, Sights, Tips & Things to do

Houston Travel Guide

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the US and a diverse destination with many attractions and sights. Whether you are interested in history, art, culture, nature, or entertainment, you will find something to suit your taste in Houston. Here is a list of the top Houston attractions and sights that you should not miss:

1. Space Center Houston: The official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where you can learn about space exploration and see exhibits and artifacts from past and present missions.
2. Houston Museum of Natural Science: One of the most visited museums in the US, featuring a dinosaur hall, a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and a butterfly center.
3. The Galleria: The largest shopping mall in Texas and one of the biggest in the world, with over 400 stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
4. Houston Zoo: A 55-acre zoo that houses over 6,000 animals from around the world, including rare and endangered species.
5. Downtown Aquarium: A public aquarium that showcases aquatic life from various regions and habitats, as well as a restaurant, a Ferris wheel, and a train ride.
6. Kemah Boardwalk: A waterfront amusement park that offers rides, games, dining, shopping, and live entertainment.
7. Museum of Fine Arts Houston: The largest art museum in the Southwest, with a collection of over 70,000 works from various periods and cultures.
8. Houston Botanic Garden: A 132-acre garden that features diverse plant collections, scenic trails, and educational programs.
9. Buffalo Bayou Park: A 160-acre park that stretches along the Buffalo Bayou, offering scenic views, hiking and biking trails, kayaking and canoeing opportunities, and public art installations.
10. Children’s Museum of Houston: A museum that caters to children of all ages, with interactive exhibits and activities that foster learning and creativity.
11. Minute Maid Park: The home of the Houston Astros baseball team, with a retractable roof and a train that runs along the left-field wall.
12. Discovery Green: A 12-acre park in downtown Houston that hosts various events and activities throughout the year, such as concerts, festivals, markets, and ice skating.
13. Houston Heights: A historic neighborhood that boasts charming architecture, eclectic shops, restaurants, bars, and galleries.
14. The Menil Collection: A museum that displays the private collection of John and Dominique de Menil, featuring works by modern masters such as Picasso, Matisse, Warhol, and Rothko.
15. Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens: A former estate of philanthropist Ima Hogg that houses a museum of American decorative arts and paintings from the colonial era to the 19th century.
16. Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park: A park that features a 64-foot tall fountain that resembles a cascading waterfall, surrounded by oak trees and benches.
17. Holocaust Museum Houston: A museum that educates visitors about the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides around the world.
18. Sam Houston Park: The oldest park in Houston that preserves 19 historic structures from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
19. Miller Outdoor Theatre: An outdoor theater that offers free performances of music, dance, theater, and film from March to November.
20. George Ranch Historical Park: A living history museum that showcases four generations of Texas history on a 20,000-acre working ranch.
21. Battleship Texas State Historic Site: A historic naval vessel that served in both World Wars and is now open to the public as a museum.
22. San Jacinto Monument and Museum: A monument that commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, where Texas won its independence from Mexico. The museum displays artifacts and exhibits related to Texas history.
23. National Museum of Funeral History: A museum that explores the history and culture of death and funeral practices from around the world.
24. Art Car Museum: A museum that showcases cars that have been transformed into works of art by various artists.
25. Beer Can House: A house that is covered with over 50,000 beer cans by its former owner John Milkovisch as a hobby project.
26. Rothko Chapel: A non-denominational chapel that features 14 paintings by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and serves as a place for meditation and contemplation.
27. Chinatown: A vibrant area that offers a variety of Asian cuisines, shops, markets, and cultural events.
28. Hermann Park: A 445-acre park that includes the Houston Zoo, the Miller Outdoor Theatre, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Japanese Garden, and the McGovern Centennial Gardens.