Amy & Leo
Things To Do
Memorial Park
We went on our first date here. COVID masks and all. Leo had to wait until the end of date #2 to see the grand reveal unmasked. ;) It's still a favorite area for us to go on walks. We recommend checking out the Eastern Glades for a nice picnic, Houston Arboretum for learning about plants, or any of the outdoor sport activities including a golf course, tennis courts, running trails listed on the map/website.
Chinatown
Houston boasts the second largest Chinese population in the U.S. (after Los Angeles), so it's only fitting to visit Chinatown when in town. Head to the thriving district in the city’s southwest for an epicurean adventure. There are too many good restaurants to list here, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Considered Houston's most significant natural resource, Buffalo Bayou has hundreds of acres of parkland and running trails. One of the finest ways to enjoy the bayou’s beauty is from the water itself, starting downtown at Allen’s Landing and working your way west. Rent a kayak from the Buffalo Bayou Partnership or join one of the company’s boat tours, including history tours and the popular twilight tours.
POST Houston
Formerly Houston’s main center for the United States Postal Service (USPS), the building was built in 1962 by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, the architects of the Astrodome. The massive 550,000 square-foot building on Franklin — formerly a mail sorting warehouse — sits on 16 acres and boasts a first-floor food hall, concert venue, office space and rooftop gardens tucked inside Houston’s skyline.
Hermann Park
Leo popped the question at McGovern Centennial Gardens while on a picnic in the park! =) The 445-acre park borders several different city neighborhoods, attractions, universities and local institutions, meaning you'll find plenty of green spaces and amenities that will appeal to all ages. Hermann Park boasts playgrounds, pavilions, picnic areas, lakes, gardens, a golf course, a railroad ride for kids, pedal boats and trails. What's more, the park is also home to the Houston Zoo. Aside from the zoo, the McGovern Centennial Gardens and the Miller Outdoor Theater are some of the most popular points of interest in the park. The McGovern Centennial Gardens cover 8 acres and feature 50 different species of trees, as well as plenty of flowers, shrubs and other greenery, including a rose garden and woodland garden. Meanwhile, the Miller Outdoor Theatre is an entertainment venue that showcases movies, plays, performance art, cultural presentations and musical performances year-round.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Texas' Oldest Craft Brewery. It was founded in 1994 by Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol, graduates of Rice University. The brewery offers tours every weekday & Saturday afternoons, which have attracted a large following. They have a huge outdoor space with an awesome view of the city skyline and great food to pair with the beer.
Discovery Green
This park may be small, but it gets a lot of love from both locals and tourists. Discovery Green is located in the business district of Houston and is just blocks away from hotels and entertainment venues, such as the Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center. As such, the park often features a mix of residents enjoying their lunches and visitors savoring some green space in the concrete jungle. The park measures a mere 12 acres, but it is packed with amenities for both the young and old. Kids will enjoy the playground and two fountain areas, while all sorts of travelers can take advantage of the putting green, bocce ball courts, picnic lawns and reading rooms. The park also features a lake that offers kayak rides, a jogging trail, dog runs, two restaurants, two performance spaces and multiple promenades. And Discovery Green hosts a variety of seasonal events, from exercise classes to markets, as well as live performances.
James Turrell's "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace
Located on Rice University Campus, this James Turrell’s "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace glass pyramid has become a cult favorite among Houstonians since it opened in 2012. Locals come out in droves to enjoy the spectacular natural light show, particularly at sunset. The ingenious structure uses LED lights in sequence with the rising and setting of the sun to create a dazzling display that's projected through a square aperture at the apex of the pyramid.
Houston Museum District
Houston's expansive Museum District is by far the city's greatest cultural asset. What's more, it's considered one of the top things to do in Texas. This district features 19 museums, which include popular spots like the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Menil Collection and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Located about 4 miles south of downtown Houston, The Museum District stretches from the southern edge of Midtown and includes Hermann Park. Millions of people visit each year thanks to its diverse array of offerings and the fact that admission to 10 of the 19 museums available is free, year-round.
The Galleria
The Galleria is just a fancy way to say "humongous mall." This gargantuan shopping center sprawls across 2.4 million square feet of space with 400 stores and restaurants. The massive mall predominantly contains upscale brands like Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. If those stores are out of your price range, you will find brands like Forever 21 and Gap here, too. Aside from the retail stores, the Galleria is home to more than 60 dining options. And it has an ice skating rink. Recent visitors cautioned if you plan to do a lot of shopping, anticipate a lot of walking (and wear some comfy shoes). They also say there are plenty of upscale accommodation options within walking distance, such as the Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria and The Westin Galleria Houston.
Space Center Houston
The first word spoken on the moon was "Houston," so it’s fitting that the city is home to one of the finest interstellar museums on planet Earth. NASA’s Space Center Houston boasts a mammoth amount of permanent displays and attractions, including a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that's over 156 feet long. Plus: an extensive artifact collection, live shows, and a NASA Tram Tour that takes visitors behind the scenes at Johnson Space Center.