Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, is a must-see attraction in Houston. This is a huge complex where you can walk through the space shuttle replica Independence and the enormous shuttle carrier aircraft it's mounted on. In the visitor center, you can wander inside a replica of America's first space station, Skylab, and touch a rock from the moon.
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The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston is one of the top museums of its kind in the United States. The collection of 63,000 pieces is spread out over two structures: the Audrey Jones Beck building and the Caroline Wiess Law Building, both connected by the unique and exciting Wilson Tunnel.
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The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most famous museums in the city. A fun outing for all ages, the museum covers a wide array of topics sure to please everyone in your group. Be sure to swing by the Hall of Paleontology during your visit to see several complete dinosaur skeletons.
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Set on 55 acres in Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo is one of the city's star attractions, popular with locals and visitors. The zoo is home to over 6,000 exotic and indigenous animals and contains an education center and children's zoo. Some highlights include feeding the giraffes, seeing marine life up close in the aquarium, and watching sea lions and otters frolicking about.
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The building that houses the Menil Collection is almost as much of a work of art as the pieces housed within it. Designed by the renowned architect Renzo Piano, the building is light-filled, owing to the massive glass windows that look out onto the immaculate grounds. It's especially known for having the largest number of Max Ernst pieces worldwide.
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The Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park showcases an impressive multi-story sculptural fountain that sees sheets of water cascading over large concrete walls and sculptures. The structure's semi-circular shape towers 64 feet above you and is fronted by an enormous arch and 46,500 square feet of water.
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Buffalo Bayou Park is a beautiful 160-acre green space running through the city, with the slow-moving waters of Buffalo Bayou as its centerpiece. This urban park is home to extensive walking and biking trails, a dog park, sculptures, and plenty of shady areas to relax. If you want to get outdoors, rent a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard and enjoy a paddle along the bayou.
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The Art Car Museum, also known locally as the Garage Mahal, has been a popular Houston attraction since it opened in 1998. The cars and exhibits change regularly, and you'll never quite know what you will see, as artists do their best to transform something quite pedestrian into a unique statement or message.
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Houston's biggest annual event, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a fun-filled, 19-day event that brings the whole city out to celebrate in February or March. If you are going to be here during this time, you are in luck, and if you are wondering when to visit Houston, this might be the time to plan your trip. This is an activity the whole family can enjoy, and it's so much more than just a rodeo and livestock show.
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Catch a sunset or sunrise (if you're an early bird) LED-light show at James Turrell's "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace on Rice campus. The grass-covered pyramid illuminates and changes colors as the natural light reflects off the structure and is a 40-minute wonder for the eyes. The show is free and is only closed on Tuesdays.
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