Visiting Houston you better read this article :
This sprawling city hums with the energy and independent spirit that turned it from swampland into the fourth-largest city in the U.S. Everything is big, from the towering skyscrapers to the city's prominence in aerospace, oil, shipping and finance. Even the architecture makes big, bold statements, like the medical center towers that resemble two giant syringes. A thriving business center, the city has become increasingly cosmopolitan, with an influx of diverse ethnic groups and a strong emphasis on the arts. Opera, ballet, symphony and theater are all top-notch, and museums abound. The midday heat is easily escaped inside the numerous attractions and shopping areas, particularly in the pedestrian-friendly 6.5-mile underground city. Since you're in the place that broadcast man's first step on the moon, you may want to pay a visit to Space Center Houston, where you'll be whisked into outer space through simulations and films. Once back on earth, you can hop on the tram to the complex's NASA/Johnson Space Center to watch astronauts and engineers at work and in training.
Here is a break down of the things you can accomplish in just a few days :
here's one thing for certain: no one will be bored! H-Town is jam-packed with exciting things to see and do year-round. Here's your five-day guide to a fun-filled adventure, plus family-friendly hotels and restaurants and much more to help you plan your trip. Of course, you should mix and match to suit your group. And if you have a specific question about your trip, you can always contact our concierge service, Ask Veronica. What are you waiting for!
DAY 1
MORNING: Check out the Houston Zoo, the place Parent's Magazine recently named one of the "10 Best Zoos" in the nation. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Houston Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 800 species.
AFTERNOON: The Houston Museum of Natural Science, one of the most visited museums in the U.S., features the Wortham IMAX Theatre, Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, permanent exhibit halls and traveling exhibitions. One of the best discovery places for kids and adults alike.
EVENING: Witness 250,000 bats emerge at dusk from under the Waugh Drive Bridge, located over Buffalo Bayou between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive. You can watch them from a special deck beside the bridge or take one of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership's Waugh Bridge Bat Colony Pontoon Boat Tours.
DAY 2
MORNING: Space Center Houston is the official visitors experience at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The Starship Gallery Journey begins in Destiny Theater with the 12 minute feature of "On Human Destiny" which traces the history of the manned space program. You can also observe three capsules that were actually flown in space and mock-ups that were used for astronaut training. The Level 9 tram tour consists of a behind the scenes tour to Johnson Space Center including the Historical Mission Control Center and the International Space Station Shuttle mock-up facility where astronauts receive their training.
AFTERNOON: Overlooking Galveston Bay, and just 20 minutes from downtown Houston, Kemah Boardwalk is a 35-acre coastal getaway featuring themed restaurants, retail shops, and amusements for the whole family.
DAY 3
MORNING: The world-class Children's Museum of Houston is crazy fun for all kids, featuring 90,000 square feet of interactive and bilingual exhibitions in the areas of science and technology, history and culture, health and human development, and the arts. Kids can run their own city and compile their own TV news reports at Kidtropolis, make their own gadgets in the Invention Convention exhibit, and check out the forces of hydropower at FlowWorks. And for children three years and younger, Tot Spot provides a wonderland of invigorating activities for infants and toddlers. Or perhaps you want to head to the Health Museum takes kids on an interactive, Magic School Bus-like exploration through the human body, letting them identify their personality, view their internal organs, see what they will look like in 30 years and much more!
AFTERNOON: Head over to Hermann Park. This 445-acre urban park is the perfect place to spend a day with kids, whether it's riding the train along Hermann Park Railroad, pedal boating on McGovern Lake, or enjoying a peaceful moment in the Japanese Garden. Or if you're looking for a more rustic outdoor experience, check out the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, where miles of trails and different habitats make for a fun afternoon of exploration.
EVENING: The Downtown Aquarium is a 500,000-gallon under-water adventure complex that includes a Ferris wheel, an aquatic carousel, Shark Voyage, a white tiger exhibit and a restaurant.
DAY 4
MORNING: One of the most dynamic attractions in the region, Moody Gardens is a fun-filled and educational destination on Galveston Island (about an hour south of Downtown Houston). The expansive eco-themed park includes three pyramids: an aquarium, rainforest and "discovery" pyramid. The Rainforest Pyramid recently underwent a massive, $25 million upgrade that exposes guests to more than 2,000 plants and animals from rainforests around the world. The Aquarium Pyramid lets visitors dive into four of the world's oceans and see penguins, sharks, seals and much more. Moody Gardens also has an IMAX 3-D Theater, its own waterpark dubbed Palm Beach and the Colonel Paddlewheel that cruises through the bay. (note: if you plan to do all of the attractions, Moody Gardens can easily fill an entire day).
AFTERNOON: Enjoy more of what Galveston has to offer. If the weather is good, head to the beach with the kids for a little fun in the sand and sea. East Beach just off Seawall Blvd. is a popular hangout where you're likely to find concerts and other special events during the summer season. If you're looking for a different experience, check out The Historic Strand District. Fronting Galveston Bay, The Strand is a National Historic Landmark that harkens back to Galveston's heyday in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of the buildings here are more than a century old, stunning in their detail and craftsmanship. Storefronts are a mix of antique shops, art galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants. There are also a number of entertainment options, including the Ocean Star Offshore Energy Center and Museum, Pier 21 Theater, the Texas Seaport Museum and the tall ship Elissa. Moody Gardens' Rainforest Pyramid
EVENING: After a long day exploring, it's time to recharge with...dessert! Take the kiddos to one of Houston's great sweet shops. The Dessert Gallery is chock-full of pies, cakes, candies and much more. The Chocolate Bar is a Houston favorite, where you will find everything you could possibly want dipped in chocolate plus ice cream and more. Then of course there are the delicious cupcake shops including Sprinkles and Crave. Be wary of the sugar rush!
DAY 5
MORNING: The San Jacinto Monument is the world's tallest war memorial, standing 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument. It's dedicated to the brave men under General Sam Houston who fought for and won Texas' independence in 1836. The San Jacinto Museum of History, within the base of the San Jacinto Monument, holds one of the largest collections of Texas art, artifacts and history. The museum's collections include Ancient Mayan and Aztec artifacts, Spanish arms, art and treasure, missionary artwork and religious artifacts, Mexican artwork, uniforms and weaponry and much more. Floating in the nearby Houston Ship Channel is Battleship Texas, the last of the battleships to participate in World Wars I and II. The Texas also had the honor of becoming the first battleship memorial when it was decommissioned in 1948.
AFTERNOON: The 2,500-acre Armand Bayou Nature Center is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the U.S. Featuring natural wetlands, forest, prairie, and marsh habitats once abundant in the Houston/Galveston area, the center is home to more than 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, along with thousands of native plants. Hiking and paddle trails provide easy public access to unique outdoor experiences. Turn the clock back at the restored 1890's Martyn Family Farm site. Or consider a bayou cruise, canoe trip or night owl prowl. See native wildlife including American alligators, hawks, river otters, white-tail deer, several turtle species and much more.
EVENING: Those who dream of riding bowls, grinding rails, or cutting and sweeping through the largest cradle in the world, can fulfill that desire at the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark. Designed by the premiere skatepark firm Gridline, this state-of-the-art, public 30,000 square-foot in-ground skate park is the first world-class, in-ground skatepark in the Houston region. For skateboarding enthusiasts, head north to the largest skatepark in the United States, Greenspoint Spring Skatepark, a 78,000 square-foot park including a competition-scale Texas bowl featuring a full pipe, a 12-foot vertical ramp, a 10-foot bowl, banked walls and speed hips Pleasant stay Corporate Housing is offering you the best accomodation option by renting fully furnished apartments , a place to call home after a long day of having fun outside there is noting better then to come back to a spacious apartment which is equipped with everything you will need for your stay
.