The city of Houston in the American State of Texas promises you fun and unique experiences. There is no dearth of things you can do in this magnificent city; whether you like to eat good food or visit big parks and museums. Home to the world renowned Space Centre Houston, the city is the fourth largest in the U.S.A. Houston also offers a lot of adventurous experience on its lush-green outdoor spaces. Here are some of the main points of Interest in Houston.
Space Center Houston
Undoubtedly, the Space Center Houston sits on the very top of the list. The official center for visitors, NASA’s Johnson Space Center is a huge complex to experience NASA like activities. Walk through the ‘Independence’, a replica of a space shuttle of the same name and then head to the humongous shuttle carrier aircraft that it is mounted on. Wander inside ‘Skylab’, a replica of U.S.A’s first space station and learn about the upcoming Missions at NASA. Also, get a chance to touch a moon rock. Head to the Johnson Space centre in an open- tram and see where and how astronauts train for their space missions.
Museum District
Houston has as many as 19 museums in this one area alone, out of which 11 are free to the public. One of the greatest cultural attractions in the city, the Museums District is home to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Holocaust Museum, the Contemporary Arts Museum, and the Children’s Museum to name a few. Houston Museum of American Culture, The Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum, Rothko Chapel, Lawndale Art Center, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston Center for photography, Rice Gallery, and the Czech Center Museum Houston are the museums that are free for the public. The lovely Herman Park is also in this area. There is also the Miller Outdoor Theatre and the Houston Zoo.
Buffalo Bayou Park
The Buffalo Bayou Park is one of the natural gems of Houston city and an urban park with walking and biking trails. The beautiful waters of Bayou are the centre of attraction at this splendid 160-acre green space. The Buffalo Bayou Park is a great area to spend an evening, make new friends and gaze at the Mexican free-tailed bats on the Waugh Drive Bridge. Indulge into some slow-water activities and enjoy a nice ride on a canoe or a kayak, easily available on rent at the park.
Houston Zoo
The Houston Zee in Hermann Park is one of the biggest attractions in the city and has more than 6,000 indigenous and exotic animals that range from giraffes to cheetahs and bats to otters. Inside the zoo is a specially created habitat for some of the rare albino reptiles. There is also an educational centre and an interactive kids section within the zoo. The highlights of the zoo include the giraffe feedings, watching otters and sea lions in their elements, and getting a close-up view of marine animals.
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
The Arboretum & Nature Center is located in the heart of Houston and is a beautiful green oasis filled with flora and fauna. Lots of fun-filled activities are organized by the centre, thus making it a place to surely visit. Learn more about the natural habitats and urban wild-life of Houston at the Discovery Room. Take a stroll in the wild-life garden and encounter some beautiful butterflies, birds and bees and other wild-life. Also, make a quick stop at the Nature Park and take home some nature-related souvenirs.
Holocaust Museum Houston
To add a touch of history to your trip, stop by the Holocaust Museum Houston, a well designed museum with thought-provoking exhibits from World War II. You can see the insides of Jewish concentration camps and a lot of war related film-footage. There is also an original 1942 railcar used to transport victims, on display. The museum also tells stories of efforts made to resist the Holocaust. To that effect there is an exhibit of a Danish fishing boat that played an important role in rescuing more than 7,500 Danish Jews.
Houston’s Street Art
Houston’s street art is not something that sits on a quintessential list of things to be done. That said, not checking it out should be a criminal offence. This “graffiti wall” as people call it is out of the world, and a major stamp on the street life of Houston. It features work from some of the greatest street artists in the country, including Houston’s own Gonzo247 and COPE2. These colourful murals are seen on the walls of various establishments and locations throughout the city and make perfect photo moments. Gonzo247 created the huge “Houston is Inspired” mural at the corner of Preston and Travis Streets, a prominent public landmark.
Culinary Tours
While there is a lot to see in Houston, we strongly recommend that you take a culinary tour as well. The food-scene of Houston is a true highlight, with cuisines that range from delicious, traditional-southern and Latin American dishes, to Asian and Mexican cultural specialties. In the Montrose area you can take a guided, chef-led tour that lasts approximately for 3 hours. The culinary tour is a treat for food lovers and an experience unlike anything else.
Houston has an array of interesting sights and offers visitors a wealth of activities. The city is perfect because it caters to every kind of traveller; the outdoor enthusiast, big families, art aficionados and is even perfect for a romantic weekend getaway. While you are here, don’t forget to dig in to some delicious fusion Texas-Mexico (Tex-Mex) cuisine. So when are you heading there?
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