Houston and the surrounding area has a lot of things to do. Unfortunately, they are not always easy to find. Here are some things for those of you who are new to Houston as well as long-time residents who haven't explored much.
The Arts
- Classical Theatre Company - a cozy theatre that gives you a first row experience for excellent performances of classic plays.
- The Arts Hound - a guide to the arts in Houston (museums, performing arts, etc.)
- Hooks-Epstein Galleries: In business for more than three decades, with a penchant for contemporary surrealists
- Thom Andriola/New Gallery: Representing talents from up-and-coming Texas sculptress Tara Conley to hotly collected internationals video artist Michal Rovner and painter Yigal Ozeri
- Goldesberry Gallery: Houston's source for contemporary craft
- John Cleary Gallery: A significant stop for vintage photography
- McMurtrey Gallery: Represents contemporary regional and national artists
- Moody Gallery: Opened 1975, which emphasizes Texas talents such as Whitney Biennial-exhibited, 2006 Texas Artist of the Year Al Souza, known for his Pop jigsaw puzzle paintings
- Dean Day Gallery: Presents work by American contemporary artisans specializing in abstract expressionism, realism, impressionism & sculpture
- Thornwood Gallery: Diverse painting and sculpture focus
- Parkerson Gallery: A specialist in the secondary market featuring rare estate finds.
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston
- Alley Theatre
- Houston Ballet
- Houston Symphony
- Houston Opera
- Houston Society for the Performing Arts - a list of theatre and arts related venues and events
Museums (other than Art)
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Space Center Houston - where NASA controlled the space missions and trips to the moon
- Miller Outdoor Theatre - a way to watch great performances under the stars
- Children's Museum of Houston
- Houston Museum District
Nature & Outdoors
- Armand Bayou Nature Center
- Brazos Bend State Park
- Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
- Houston Arboretum & Nature Center - a convenient local get-away for nature lovers and kids.
- Garner State Park - Texas has a lot of parks. This is one of my favorites, in Texas Hill Country
- Memorial Park - one of Houston's many parks, with lots of activities
- Bear Creek Park - another great Houston park, with a small wildlife zoo
- Hermann Park - a great park, near the Houston Zoo and several museums
- Lake Conroe
- Lake Livingston
- Lake Somerville - not as many amenities as other lakes, but far fewer people
- Canyon Lake - a long drive, but a nice lake
- Sam Houston National Forest
- Galveston - a nice place to visit, for that seaside experience, but don't expect pristine beaches and crystal clear water
- Galvest/Bolivar Ferry
- Schlitterbahn Galveston Island
- Typhoon Texas
- Kemah Boardwalk - restaurants and carnival rides with a great view of the ocean and ships passing between Clear Lake and Galveston Bay
- Moody Gardens
- Houston Zoo
- Buffalo Bayou
- Discovery Green Park
- Kayaking / Kayak Rental (The Woodlands)
- Skydiving - several companies offer lessons or that one-time experience
- Scuba Diving - several companies offer lessons
- Paintball - several places to play, with a variety of playing fields from smaller fields with obstacles to larger forested play fields.
- Six Flags - Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) - a large theme park
- Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center (Orange, TX) - a very nice garden and nature center for photographers, kids, and nature lovers
- Cypress Trails Horseback Riding - great riding experience for first-time/beginner riders. If you are an experienced rider, highly recommend requesting a personal guide, not a group tour.
- Tubing on the Comal (San Antonio) - a relaxing way to spend a hot summer day, floating down this spring fed river that is always approximately 72 degrees, lots of companies offer tubing (be sure to read rules about containers/beverages)
- Tubing on the Guadalope River (near Canyon Lake) - a relaxing way to spend a hot summer day, floating down the river, lots of companies offer tubing (be sure to read rules about containers/beverages)
- Motorcycle Rides - there are a lot of nice places to ride in Texas, but some of the best trails are in the Texas Hill Country, like between/around Vanderpool and Leakey
- Rio Frio (and surrounding area) - a great place to get away for the weekend, rent a cabin, enjoy the river, Garner park, hiking, Lost Maples, and much more.
- Enchanted Rock - it's a long drive from Houston, probably better for a weekend trip, but a nice place for a hike up to the top, for great views of the area
- Dewberry Farm - a farm experience for the kids, with rides, games, and animals; near Christmas, kids can choose and cut their own Christmas tree
- Christmas Tree farms - there are a few in and around Houston, kids can choose and cut their own Christmas tree
History
- Battleship Texas
- San Jacinto Monument - where Texas defeated Mexico to become an independent country, "The Replublic of Texas"
- Bishop's Palace (Galveston)
- Moody Mansion (Galveston)
- San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site (San Felipe) - Commemorating the location where, in 1823, Stephen F. Austin established a headquarters for his colony in Mexican Texas
Nearby Cities
- Austin is the capital of Texas and has a very unique culture. The city is in the Texas Hill Country will rolling hills and lots of forested areas.
- state capital building
- Hamilton Pool
- bats - see the city's 1.5 million bat population take to the sky just after sunset
- Barton Springs
- vineyard tours
- much more - would require another page
- San Antonio is one of Texas' most historic cities, playing a pivital role in Texas becoming a country "The Replublic of Texas"
- The Alamo
- Natural Bridge Caverns - explore caverns
- Natrual Bridge Wildlife Ranch - drive through a park where you can see the wildlife up close
- Six Flags - Fiesta Texas - a large theme park
- The Riverwalk
- Gruene Texas - a historic, city of German heritage. Be sure to eat at the Gristmill, it is worth the wait. Absolutely ask for a riverside view in the lower section.
- Tubing on the Comal - a relaxing way to spend a hot summer day, floating down this spring fed river that is always approximately 72 degrees, lots of companies offer tubing
- Galveston
- Bishop's Palace (Galveston)
- Moody Mansion (Galveston)
- beaches
- Galvest/Bolivar Ferry
- Schlitterbahn Galveston Island
- Kemah Boardwalk - (on the way to Galveston) restaurants and carnival rides with a great view of the ocean and ships passing between Clear Lake and Galveston Bay
- Moody Gardens
Sports
- Houston Texas (football)
- Houston Astros (baseball)
- Houston Rockets (men's basketball)
- Houston Comets (women's basketball)
- Houston Dynamo (men's soccer)
- Houston Dash (women's soccer)
- Sugar Land Skeeters (baseball) - part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
Other
- Traders Village - Houston's Largest Outdoor Flea Market
- The Show Boat Drive-in Theatre - a nice place for an old fashion drive-in movie, there is a play area for the kids, if they get board with the movie, a good option for mild weather
- The Galleria - for the best selection of the biggest name brands (Armani, Gucci, Versace, etc.), there is also a large ice skating rink
- Houston's Downtown Tunnel System - explore the world under Houston's streets (map)
- Shooting Ranges - this is Texas, we have lots of gun/shooting ranges
- Athena - Club style shooting range where you can buy, rent, and shoot a wide variety of firearms.
- Boyert - Club style shooting range where you can buy, rent, and shoot a wide variety of firearms
- American Shooting Center - an outdoor range, must bring your own firearms and ammunition
- many more
- Trampoline Gyms - there are several in Houston, great for kids and the young at heart
- Indoor Skydiving - ever wanted to go skydiving but were afraid to jump out of a plane? This is for you.
- Top Golf - a great group activity, no previous golf experience required
**** If you have suggestions, please send them to me and I will update the post. ***