All the best things to add to your Houston agenda (2024)

The first word spoken on the moon was "Houston," so it is fitting that the city is home to one of the finest interstellar museums on planet Earth. NASA’s Space Center Houston boasts masses of permanent displays and attractions, including a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket over 156 feet long. Plus: an extensive artifact collection, live shows, and a NASA Tram Tour that takes visitors behind the scenes at Johnson Space Center.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science boasts several world-class exhibits, including fossils in action. Most major paleontology exhibits feature dinosaur skeletons lined up one after the other, but this museum tried something entirely different; it recreates actual encounters between dinosaurs as they might have occurred millions of years ago. The results are fantastic, with skeletal dinosaurs eating, chasing, and fighting. The breathtaking jewelry vault and indoor rainforest are also not to be missed.

When MaKiin, the finest of Thai dining restaurants, opened in 2023 under the helm of two multi-award-winning Thai chefs, it became the talk of Houston. The restaurant is at the base of the prestigious Hanover in River Oaks, but you might as well be in Bangkok when you step inside. Between the architectural details, the supremely unique cooking methods, and the over-the-top presentation, this is not your typical Thai restaurant. And you don’t have to go nearly as far as Bangkok!

The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston is one of the largest museums in the United States, so expect exhibitions and installations galore. On Thursdays, admission is free all day. Bonus: Happy Hour Thursdays means you can check out everything from Renaissance art to rare African sculptures with a co*cktail in hand before enjoying the resident DJ and grabbing a bite from one of the curated food trucks usually parked outside. Plus, if you can tear your eyes away from the Matisses and Rodins in the museum’s sculpture garden, you’ll find yourself in the perfect position to enjoy the sunset over the city skyline, too.

You may have heard that it gets hot in Texas, and we’ve got the perfect place for you to cool down. The Marriott Marquis sits right next to Minute Maid Park and Discovery Green and offers a day pass to its Altitude Rooftop and Pool. The 550-foot lazy river in the shape of Texas is flanked by your choice of lounge chairs, cabanas, pergolas, and day beds. A festive bar and live music create a party atmosphere, but the giggles of kids ensure that the space is family-friendly. Set the kids up by the poolside grill Hive Dive and enjoy a mahi mahi sandwich. Be sure to check out the infinity pool, where you can snap photos of yourself swimming with the Houston skyline as your backdrop.

From neon-lit tattoo parlors to tree-covered bungalows and quaint coffee shops, this four-square-mile neighborhood is a pocket of eccentricity like no other on this side ofAustin. Spend an afternoon perusing its experimental art galleries or find a one-of-a-kind treasure at one of the offbeat boutiques along Westheimer Curve. Of course, the food scene is stellar, and our pick isKâu Ba's Viet-Cajun restaurant and bar, an exceptional brunch spot.

One of the most significant art assemblages of the 20th century, the Menil Collection is housed in a magnificent purpose-built gallery designed by none other than Renzo Piano (the same architect behind NYC'sWhitney Museum of American Art). Displayed in spacious, naturally lit white-walled sections, the superb works are the collection of John and Dominique de Menil. The nearly 15,000 pieces range from Paleolithic carvings to Surrealist paintings, and many prominent artists—including Picasso and Rene Magritte—have entire rooms to themselves. With free admission and parking, it would be a crime not to spend time here.

Houstonians flock to this weird nighttime ritual, but most visitors know nothing about it. Head to the Waugh Drive Bridge in Buffalo Bayou Park, where every night at sunset, 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from their slumber. Even the locals who have witnessed this site countless times still gasp at the flaps of the wings, the chirping and squeaking, and the sheer mass of the blanket of black as the bats head out to explore the city. It’s the perfect way to end a day at the park or kick off an evening in the city.

This octagonal building in the Museum District is an oasis of peace and calm where religion, art, and architecture intermingle. The 'Chapel' (a misnomer given that the venue is without denomination) is decorated with 14 mural canvasses painted by celebrated Russian-American artist Mark Rothko shortly before his death in 1970. Rothko considered them his most important works, and their power in this tranquil space is undeniable.

Considered Houston's most significant natural resource, Buffalo Bayou has hundreds of acres of parkland and running trails. One of the finest ways to enjoy the bayou’s beauty is from the water, starting downtown at Allen’s Landing and working your way west. Rent a kayak from the Buffalo Bayou Partnership or join one of the boat tours, which include history tours and the popular twilight tours.

Visitors can discover everything from the mysterious traditions surrounding the burial of a Pope to the recreation of Abraham Lincoln’s state funeral at this morbidly curious museum. Alright, a trip to this museum may not be the most upbeat adventure, but it is certainly engaging. The real must-see is the enormous 1916 Packard graveyard bus, created to eliminate funeral processions. It could carry a coffin, pallbearers, and 20 mourners but was hastily retired after the weight caused it to tip over on a San Francisco hill, sending bodies (both living and dead) bouncing down the street like a real-life version ofCoffin Flop.

Towering over the Houston Ship Channel, the San Jacinto Monument is the tallest war memorial in the nation, standing 15 feet higher than the Washington Monument. The 570-foot obelisk—topped by a massive 220-ton Lone Star of Texas—pays tribute to those who fought for Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836. The outstanding San Jacinto Museum at its base contains several fascinating artifacts from the Texas Revolution and subsequent Republic and serves as the access point for the all-important elevator to the summit. The San Jacinto Museum also houses the Albert and Ethel Herzstein library, where you'll discover rare books and delicate manuscripts.

Formerly, the Williams Waterwall and the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall are two of Houston’s most popular spots to relax (naturally, it is also one of the most photographed sites in the city). A dramatic 64-foot semicircular fountain, the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall recycles a ferocious 11,000 gallons of water per minute in what has become liquid Instagram gold. Once you’ve taken your mandatory snap, grab some lunch to-go from the neighboringGalleriabefore returning to the oak glades in the Waterwall’s three-acre park for picture-perfect picnicking.

The home of the Houston Astros can keep as many as 40,000 fans cool through all nine innings thanks to its 242-foot-high retractable roof and surprisingly effective air conditioning. If the promise of relief from the Texas heat isn't enough to entice you, Minute Maid Park's food will do the trick.Besides, even if you aren't a baseball fan, the atmosphere alone is worth the ticket price. You'll be rooting for the home team before you know it.