Houston is home to a wide range of amenities and entertainment. As the fourth largest city in the U.S., Houston offers some of the very best in arts and culture in the nation. Whether judging from the distinctive works included in the Menil Collection or the world-class theatre and performance art ensembles, Houston is top-notch. Museums here are one-of-a-kind, from the spooky (National Museum of Funeral History) to the sublime (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston). And attractions like the Houston Space Center and the Beer Can House make the city even more unique and intriguing. The city also has a vibrant nightlife that offers a little something for everyone. Escape from the Houston’s infamous traffic by hopping on the METRORail that makes stops close to many of the most popular destinations.
Houston Zoo
1513 N. MacGregor, Houston, Texas 77030; Tel. 713.533.6500
The Houston Zoo covers an expanse of 55 acres and is home to thousands of animals that represent more than 500 species, from the winged inhabitants of the Tropical Bird House to the slithering reptiles in one of the nation’s largest collections of venomous snakes.
Market Square Historic District
Bounded by Travis, Milam, Congress and Preston streets, Market Square has remained a geographic centerpiece of downtown Houston since the arrival of the Allen Brothers (the city’s “founders”) more than 150 years ago.
Menil Collection
1515 Sul Ross, Houston, Texas 77006; Tel. 713.525.9400
The Menil Collection houses more than 15,000 works in four major categories: Antiquity, Byzantine and Medieval, Tribal and 20th Century Arts.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005; Tel. 713.639.7300 or 713.639.7310
With a collection of more than 45,000 works housed in a family of buildings that boast 300,000 square feet of space, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is the fifth largest museum in the country.
National Museum of Funeral History
415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, TX 77090; Tel. 281.876.3063
The National Museum of Funeral History dedicates itself to the history and heritage of the undertaker.
Six Flags AstroWorld
9001 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX 77054; Tel. 713.799.1234
High altitude thrills abound at Six Flags AstroWorld, a popular theme park that features roller coasters, water rides and other attractions for the entire family.
Space Center Houston
1601 NASA Road 1, Houston, TX 77058; Tel. 281.244.2100
Space Center Houston is about as close as you can get to the moon without actually going there. Through a combination of live presentations, film and a large collection of artifacts, visitors to the Houston Space Center learn everything there is to know about the history of human space travel.
The Galleria
5085 Westheimer Rd., Suite 4850, Houston, TX 77056; Tel. 713.622.0663
One of the largest shopping malls in the nation, The Houston Galleria houses an indoor skating rink, two hotels and 2.4 million square feet of shops, in addition to office buildings, theaters and restaurants.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030; Tel. 713.639.4629
Giant dinosaurs, precious gems and ancient Egyptian artifacts are all on display at The Houston Museum of Natural Science, one of Houston's most popular attractions for locals and tourists alike.
The Orange Show Monument
2401 Munger Street, Houston, Texas 77023; Tel. 713.926.6368
It took more than twenty years for the late Jefferson Davis McKissack to construct this homage to the orange, his favorite fruit, and the end result is a unique, albeit bizarre architectural novelty that consists of a series of mazes, a wishing well and frog pond, amongst other features.
[Source: Houston.com - The Complete Guide to Houston, Texas]
