Conducting a trip could be never possible if you don’t know how to plan it properly. Recently, I did a 3-day tour to Houston and let me tell you, I had a wonderful time there. The fourth most populous city in North America, Houston is home to around 2.5 million people. It was named after former General Sam Houston, who in 1836 won the Battle of San Jacinto and secured Texas’ independence from Mexico. The city attracts tourists due to its proximity to the Space Center Houston, the NASA astronaut training and flight control facility, and several other fascinating sites. Whichever places I was able to check out, I will mention it down below. You and your family may plan a fun-filled, exciting experience by reading through the list of the top things to do in Houston.
How to reach Houston?
Houston has three airports, but George Bush Intercontinental Airport serves as the city’s main airport for foreign travelers. It has connections to several foreign cities, including Mexico City, Calgary, Paris, Auckland, Tokyo, and London. It also has connections to domestic cities, including Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Several well-known airlines, including Air Canada Express, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, and many more, fly at this airport. A lot of tourists book flights to this destination.
Best time to visit Houston:
The greatest times to visit Houston are from February to April and from October to November. The weather is between the hot, humid summer and the colder, winter months. If you’re planning a trip to Houston in the fall during hurricane season, bear in mind that the city occasionally experiences hurricane conditions. This depends on the storm paths over the Gulf.
Insider Tips:
- With a total area of more than 637 square miles, Houston is a large metropolis. Houston faces some of the worst traffic in the country. Despite recent improvements in public transportation, the majority of sites require a car to get to.
- To enjoy the beach and all the hotel pools, be sure to bring your swimwear.
- If you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside, don’t forget your hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- A smart suggestion is to carry an umbrella as Houston does see some rain, particularly in the summer and fall.
- Look into the Houston City Pass to save money on admission prices. Do so if you want to visit several museums or tourist attractions.
- I suggest hiring a car to make the most of your time and avoid wasting a lot of it waiting for Uber.
- Visit the Houston Rodeo, the world’s largest cattle display and rodeo, for a true taste of Texas. Each year, millions of people attend the 20-day festival.
- It’s advisable to review Houston’s activities the weekend before your trip. This is because some of them may raise hotel rates and draw more visitors.
- Don’t be hesitant to start a discussion with some residents and ask for further advice. Remember Houstonians are very kind and polite.
Best Eateries options:
1. Saigon House
With Oxtail Pho and Viet-Cajun Crawfish as their signature dishes, Saigon House is a distinctively Texan Vietnamese eatery. The filet mignon pho is an option here to try as well.
2. Xochi
Renowned chef Hugo Ortega is the creator of this amazing food eatery, Xochi. The cuisine is reminiscent of Oaxaca, Mexico, with its vibrant assortment of maize, seemingly countless more options, and grasshoppers. Do check out the bar’s wide variety of tequilas, mezcals, and Mexican specialty beers. The eatery welcomes vegetarians too and offers a Sunday brunch buffet.
3. BB’s
It is true that BB’s, a 24-hour establishment, calls itself the “home of Tex-Orleans cooking.” The restaurant’s menu includes delicacies like the Elvis Waffle, a banana, and a peanut butter waffle covered with Nutella. You can even taste dishes like Tex-Cajun fries topped with queso, gravy, and roast beef. Lastly, don’t forget to try the crawfish etouffee and shrimp and grits.
4. Better Luck Tomorrow
Better Luck Tomorrow is the food outlet to go to if you want to taste the best. This local bar has won the title of restaurant of the year from Food & Wine magazine and is well known for its brunch. The chef who owns Better Luck Tomorrow has a fascinating menu that includes dishes like lamb belly nibbles and Wagyu beef salad. Unable to decide? For $99, taste everything on the menu with three or four companions.
My experience in Houston
Day 1:
After breakfast, I set out for Buffalo Bayou Park to begin the morning. Hiking and biking routes, lovely landscaping, and art pieces are all there along Houston’s canal. I began a stroll to Downtown Houston along the bayou at Waugh Drive. It’s the location of the neighborhood bat colony in Houston. Accessible from Wells Fargo Plaza are Houston’s subterranean tunnels. After a quick meal at Cafe Basil in the tunnels, I proceed to Discovery Green. In addition to an amphitheater, a man-made lake, two dog parks, and several children’s playgrounds, Houston’s top green space is always hosting entertaining events.
After that, I proceeded to MUV Rental to get a scooter and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring EaDo (East Downtown). I explored this emerging, stylish area on the scooter to find a ton of unique murals. Dinner options in the vicinity are plentiful and excellent, including the burgers at Rodeo Goat and the food trucks at Truck Yard. I had my share from one of the food trucks and my meal was scrumptious. Next, I returned downtown for some late-night dancing at Etro NightClub for 80s music. Nevertheless, one can even check Fabian’s for Latin flair if one wants to keep the celebration going.
Day 2:
I knew the greatest option for today’s journey is to rent a car. So I hired a ride-sharing service, although it was costly. I was traveling to the south today to do some space exploration and then have some fun on the sea. The Mission Control Center for all of NASA’s space communications is located in Houston. I visited the well-known Space Center Houston in Clear Lake to learn about the history of space exploration in our nation. Here, I got an opportunity to get up close and personal with a real rocket and even took a tour of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Additionally, there is the Kemah Boardwalk nearby, where “the fun never stops!”
For lunch, I ate seafood at one of the restaurants along the water. One can also visit Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack for crawfish, a regional delicacy. Following the meal, I wandered down the beachfront to explore Galveston. Next, I also rode the Boardwalk Bullet, a wooden roller coaster with the most track crossings ever at the amusement park. I continued traveling south until I reached Galveston Island! Then, I enjoyed the last few hours of sunshine on the Seawall before going shopping at the Strand. Well, if you are coming here, don’t miss La King’s Confectionery. It’s a family-run confectionery store that produces classic confections using 19th-century formulae and techniques.
Day 3:
Today I visited the Museum District after breakfast to check out some science, history, and art! There are 19 museums here, so there is one for everyone. I suggest visiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science since I did the same. Here, I was able to catch a glimpse of an impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons, a stunning display of real butterflies, and a state-of-the-art planetarium. If you have time and it’s not too hot, continue your trip to Hermann Memorial Park. I was lacking some time so was not able to explore it. Next, I crossed the street to explore the McGovern Centennial Gardens. Depending on your preferences, you can go to The Galleria or Montrose after your stroll if you want to locate some air conditioning. Due to its upscale elegance and designer shopping selections, The Galleria draws visitors from all over the world. Additionally, there are a ton of notable eateries where one may stop for lunch, like Nobu and Fig & Olive.
But if the Galleria isn’t your thing, walk over to Montrose’s Westheimer neighborhood and browse the adorable boutiques and antique consignments there. Lastly, I spent my final evening in Houston going to a few bars and having supper in the Heights. For something more informal, you can’t go wrong with BB Lemon or Hughie’s. There are a ton of restaurant alternatives, so feel free to look online for what fits you best. Popular restaurants in the area include McIntyre, Heights Beer Garden, Lei Low, and Eight Row Flint. A lot of breweries, including Platypus, Eureka Heights, and Buffalo Bayou, are worth checking out too. However, I was only able to visit Eureka Heights.
Bottom Lines:
As you can see, Houston has so much to offer that a single weekend would never be enough to take it all in. Depending on what interests you, you may alter your 3-day Houston itinerary and plan to spend more days here. No matter what you’re searching for, visit the city since there are a ton of exciting things to do!
Read More: Exploring Houston: A Vibrant Array of Experiences
