Fun Things To Do In Houston

Houston, Texas is loaded with fun things to do and see on a vacation or a weekend getaway. If you’re traveling to Space City, here is the Texas Outside list of favorite things to do while in town.

Visit a Museum

The City of Syrup has an abundance of museums, from the absurd to fine arts. If you like museums, visit the Museum District, which has several museums within close proximity. Some of the most popular museums in Magnolia City include:

• Byzantine Fresco Chapel
• Children’s Museum 
• Contemporary Arts Museum 
• Czech Cultural Center 
• Holocaust Museum 
• Houston Center for Contemporary Craft 
• Museum of Natural Science 
• Menil Museum 
• Museum of Fine Arts 
• and John P McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science

Other museums include: 

• Art Car Museum 
• Houston Fire Museum 
• and Museum of Printing History 

See All the Attractions

There are also enough attractions in H-town to keep you occupied for a week. Here’s a handful to keep you occupied:

• Battleship Texas
• Downtown Aquarium
• Houston Theater District Alley Theater
• Bayou Place
• The Heritage Society
• Jesse H. Jones Hall for Performing Arts 
• Tranquility Park 
• Wortham Center 
• Ensemble Theatre 
• Minute Maid Park 
• Houston Zoo 
• Miller Outdoor Theatre 
• NASA/Space Center
• Orange Show 
• NRG Park 
• Saint Arnold Brewing Company 
• Sam Houston Race Track 
• San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
• and Burke Baker Planetarium 

Outdoor Sports Options

Try running on one of the 300 miles of trails. These trails include:

• Memorial Park 
• Terry Hershey Park 
• Buffalo Bayou Park 
• Cullen Park 
• and Rice University Jogging Trail

You can also go exploring at the Arboretum, kayaking or canoeing through Armand Bayou Nature Center, or go birding along the Upper Texas Coast Wildlife Trail.

If all else fails, do some indoor skydiving at iFly.

Spend the Day at a Park

The Energy Capital of the World is home to one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Memorial Park has more than 1,466 acres with facilities for golfing, tennis, softball, swimming, track, croquet, volleyball, skating, cycling, and running.

Other parks to visit include: 

• Sheldon Lake State Park 
• Lake Houston Park 
• Houston Arboretum and Nature Center 
• Cullen Park 
• Sesquicentennial Park 
• Buffalo Bayou 
• and Discovery Green

Spend Some Money Shopping

The largest city in Texas also offers shoppers everything from huge flea markets to specialty boutiques. You’ll also find upscale shopping centers. Here are some places to shop in The Golden Buckle of the Sunbelt: 

• Traders’ Village 
• The Galleria 
• River Oaks Shopping Center 
• and Willowbrook Mall

Enjoy the Nightlife

Bayou City is loaded with excellent restaurants and lively nightspots from luxurious lounges to honky tonks. You can also cozy up to a new friend at an intimate wine bar, which you can find in any of these lively nightlife districts: 

• Downtown 
• Midtown 
• Montrose 
• Memorial Park 
• or Rice Village

Kids Activities

After some shopping and the nightlife, it’s time to take the kids out for some fun things to do. Here are some ideas to get you started: 

• Texas Rock Gym 
• Funplex 
• Celebration Station 
• Laser Tag 
• Splashtown 
• and Jumping World

Sporting Events

If you’re a sports fan, you’ll love Clutch City. There are plenty of sporting events to go around, including events for the following pro teams:

• Houston Astros
• Houston Rockets
• Houston Texans 
• Houston Dynamo 
• and Houston Aeros 

Best Golf Courses

The city is home to several top-rated golf courses. Here is Texas Outside’s list of the Best Houston Golf Courses. Use this Houston Golf Map to find a course and read our review.

Major Annual Events

Check out these great live annual events: 

• Houston Livestock Show in March 
• Houston International Festival in April 
• Freedom Over Texas in July

Dining and Restaurants

After all of that fun, you’re going to need some good food. Here are some sites that will help you find a restaurant: 

• The 38 Essential Houston Restaurants
• Best Restaurants in Houston on Yelp

More Good Information On Things To Do In H-Town

You can never have too much information on fun things to do in Big Heart. That’s why Texas Outside has compiled this extra list of links for your personal research.

• Chamber of Commerce Website – The official website for Space City.
• Must Do Activities – There are so many things to see and do in Texas’ largest city that you must check out this list compiled by Texas Outside.
• 150 Fun Things To Do In Houston – If you can’t find something to do above, check out this Pinterest board featuring 150 things to do in Houston.
• Houston City Map – This clickable map will help you locate something to see and do while visiting this international hub of travel and commerce.
• Lakes & Campgrounds – Quickly find a lake or campground in the area using this interactive map.