In this blog series, we’re exploring some of our favorite cities and showing off some of our favorite things to do. We hope you enjoy it!
Our first stop on this road trip is in Houston, TX –– home to Beyoncé and NASA, also known by its biggest fans as ‘Clutch City.’
Join us in saying HOWDY and checking off all the fun things in one of the most charming and folksy city.
1. Buffalo Bayou Park
“This urban oasis draws a comparison to New York City’s Central Park, but when the sun sets behind Rosemont Bridge, and the Houston skyline lights up the sky, it’s impossible to think of being anywhere else. Joggers and cyclists commit miles to the park, thanks to the generous, ten-foot-wide paths and a landscape peppered with hidden art installations.” – The Goop
2. The James Turrell Skyspace
“James Turrell’s installation on the campus of Rice University is your multiverse of color. Let us explain: The sleek steel-and-stone structure projects an LED light sequence from an open ceiling, so you can gaze up and see the muted pastel lights interplay with the changing colors of the sky above. Plan to reserve the most coveted time slots, at sunrise or sunset.” – The Goop
3. Steel City Pops
“Disguised as a throwback to the ice pops of your youth, Steel City pops are a serious upgrade. Expect flavors like strawberry shortcake, vanilla bean (with a cookie in the middle), pineapple, and jalapeño. Ask for your pop dipped in a layer of chocolate or drizzled with caramel. If the menu doesn’t keep you occupied, the Ping-Pong table will.” – The Goop
4. Lemon Laine
Lemon Laine is a natural beauty and wellness shop filled with products that are good for you and make you feel good too. Lemon Laine carries clean and luxurious products with transparent labeling. Not only is the shop very instagramable, but it is also perfect for anyone wanting to up their wellness game!
5. The Galleria
It’s often difficult to fathom what 2.4 million square feet looks like until you step inside the Galleria. The mall is home to the usual suspects like Lululemon, Athleta, and Free People. If you’re more of a department store type, Saks, Dillard’s, and Nordstrom all have gleaming outposts in the mall. The mall has so many restaurants to choose from, catering to everyone’s diets and needs. There’s also an ice rink located in the middle of the mall, a perfect way to cool down after a long day of shopping. What’s not here? Hard to tell. There’s something here that caters to everyone’s needs.” – The Goop
6. The Museum District
“Nineteen museums sit within a mile of the historic Hermann Park, so there’s more to see here than just about anywhere else in the city.” There’s no shortage of art and sculptures in the area as well as trails to run through. Hermann Park is the perfect place for a morning run, bike ride, or paddle boat in the park’s lake. – The Washington Post
7. The Gyms on the Zeamo Platform
If you’re looking to take a break from the city’s hotspots and get a quick workout in, look no further than utilizing the Zeamo platform. Now you can soak up what it’s like to live like a local. If you’re in the Montrose area checking out all the trendy thrift shops and coffee spots, make sure to drop in at Timberline Fitness Studio and see what they have to offer! Also, you can check out nonameFIT in EaDo (also known as East of Downtown)!
8. Bike on Rice University’s campus
There is nothing more breathtaking than biking down the tree-towering cave of the main road on Rice’s campus. All the buildings are so beautiful that it makes you stop and appreciate the architecture and the university itself. When biking through the campus, make sure to check out Flo Paris, a windowed-in pavilion and coffeehouse centered in the middle of the school.
9. Catch a show
There is something special about the warmth in Houston, and it’s definitely for the better. Miller Outdoor Theatre offers an eight-month season of entertainment that is artistically excellent, culturally diverse, and always FREE of charge to the public. This is the largest “always free” program of its kind in the country. Classical music, jazz, dance, ballet, Shakespeare, musical theatre, classic films, and some of the performances included. Relax in the covered seating area or enjoy a pre-performance picnic on the hillside. All performances at Miller are perfect for any audience!
10. Launch yourself into space
Houston, we have no problems here… “For anyone who grew up in Houston, visiting the Johnson Space Center was a field trip rite of passage. Newcomers will want to be influenced, too, as today NASA’s Mission Control is almost like a theme park, with tours and experiences for kids of all ages. Don’t forget: “Houston” was one of the first words spoken on the moon.” – Houstonia Magazine
11. Watch a movie at River Oaks Theatre
As soon as you walk into River Oaks Theatre, you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It first opened in 1939 and has only three screens. The evening showings usually sell out on the weekends, so we always make sure to purchase our tickets in the afternoon from the box office, where they are free from service charges. People enjoy River Oaks theatre for their under the radar movies and old fashioned popcorn.
12. Bayou City Bike Tours
“Looking for the road less traveled? Bayou City Bike Tours is a sure way to get an entertaining history lesson and a good workout in historic heights. Bayou City Bike Tours give California cruisers and helmets to each rider, and the guides are fun and knowledgeable. The near eight-mile trip is attainable to anyone’s ability since there’s plenty of stopping. It hardly feels like the tour has been traveling that far.” – Culture Trip
13. Eat from the Garden at Coltivare
“This Italian kitchen from chef Ryan Pera and beverage master Morgan Weber is seriously fresh thanks to the 3,000 square foot urban garden in the side-yard. Don’t come here expecting you’re Nonna’s gravy. Instead, you’ll find inspiration on the classics, like oxtail sugo with slurpable housemade pasta, blistered butternut squash pizzas, and shareable whole wood-roasted fish.” – 365 Houston
