17 Things To Do In Houston, TX USA, The Bayou City

Houston, Texas USA, the 4th largest city in the U.S., population about 7.5M and rising, is one of those cities that if you ask people what is there to do, they pause a bit before they answer, then they can’t really think of anything. But that’s really far from the truth as there are many things to do in Houston, TX. Just so you know, when you visit you will get a taste of Texas and you’ll hear people talk about the Bayou city; that’s ’cause there is a Bayou (river) running through the city. This river actually helps to drain the city when it rains, well most of the times anyways.

 

I’ve been digging around my adopted city and airports since December 1996 and I’ve found seven things you can enjoy in the city for free. But before I begin, here’s some very important items you need to know before you delve further:

Facebook Live Videos

From time to time I’ll do Facebook Live Videos, stop by http://www.facebook.com/passrider to check them out.

1. Houston Police Memorial

 

How To Get To Houston

 

Houston is located in the southern middle part of the United States. As United Airlines has a hub in Houston, it is very easily accessible by air as well as buses, but not so much by train. Let’s take a look.

 

By Air

 

There are two major airport serving Houston, TX. Houston-Intercontinental airport (IAH) is about 21 miles north of the city mostly along I-45 and Houston-Hobby airport (HOU) is about 12 miles south of the city mostly along the same I-45. Most people drive in Houston so like Los Angeles, CA, traffic is just ridiculous especially at rush hour.

 

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Houston-Hobby (HOU)

American Airlines (AA), Delta Air Lines (DL), JetBlue (B6) and Southwest Airlines (WN).

 

Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Houston-George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)

Aeromexico (AM), Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air France (AF), Air New Zealand (NZ), Alaska Airlines (AS), All Nippon Airlines (NH), American Airlines (AA), Avianca (AV), Bahamasair (UP), British Airways (BA), Delta Air Lines (DL), EVA Airways (BR), Emirates (EK), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Frontier Airlines (F9), InterJet (4O), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), Lufthansa German Airlines (LH), Qatar Airways (QR), Silver Airways (3M), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Spirit Airlines (NK), Turkish Airlines (TK), United Airlines (UA), VivaAerobus (VB), Volaris (Y4) and WestJet (WS).

 

Cargo Airlines Service Houston-George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)

Air France/KLM/Martinair Cargo, British Airways World Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, DHL Cargo, EVA Air, FedEx, Lufthansa Cargo, PrimeAir, Qatar Airways Cargo, Saudi Arabian Airlines and UPS.

 

Airfare Tip

If looking for a low fare, book at the Web sites for the low cost carriers as you’ll more than likely get the best value there.

 

Airport Lounges

• IAH: American Express Centurion, British Airways-Terraces (OneWorld), Executive Lounge (Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar), KLM Crown Lounge (SkyTeam), United Club (Star Alliance), USO; additional information. Note that some Lounges require a confirmed ticket and/or only are departure lounges.
• HOU: USO

 

How To Get From the Airports To The City

The best way to get around Houston is by taking the local bus. My friends do think I’m crazy when I say this, but I’ve not had a car in Houston since 2005. If you do need one, then you can certainly rent one as all major car rental companies are represented. I must warn you though that Houston is one of the more expensive car rental markets. To take the local bus, you should acquire a Metro Q card. Sadly, this cannot be purchased at the airport nor on the airport buses. Instead, you must first pay $1.25 in exact change (a paper dollar is acceptable), then once you make it downtown you can purchase a Q card at the Metro office at Main and Jefferson Streets. The Q card allows you to transfer for free to buses within a two hour timeframe.

• IAH – Local Bus (102) exact change required, Shared ride or taxi. Additional Information.
• HOU – Local Bus (40) exact change required, Shared ride or taxi. Additional information.

 
 

Airport Hotels

• IAH – Hampton Inns & Suite, Spring Hill Suites, Sheraton North Houston, DoubleTree, Red Roof Inn, Country Inn and Suites, Comfort Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Ramada Houston,  Holiday Inn, Towne Place Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Staybridge Suites, Hyatt Place, Hyatt, Hilton.
• HOU – DoubleTree By Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Spring Hill Suites, Drury Inn & Suites, Baymont Inn & Suites, Houston Marriott South, Marriott Courtyard.

 
 

By Bus

 

Flixbus

Greyhound

Megabus

 

By Train

 

Amtrak

 

 

By Car

 

 

Currency

US Dollars (USD).
 
 

Language

English. Due to its proximity to Mexico, Spanish is widely spoken.
 
 

Visa Information

You may qualify to use ESTA, if not,  use this link to check U.S. visa requirements.
 
 

Things To Do

There are many things to do in Houston. Like most cities some are free, others are popular and some you’ve never heard of. Here’s an ever growing list of things to do in Houston, TX. Feel free to leave a comment and I’ll try to add it:
 

1. American Statemanship Park (Mount Rush Hour)

Or as I call it, the Presidents Heads. This piece of artwork is found in one of the six Wards, the Sixth Ward, of Houston. The Wards are/were the low income areas of Houston primarily in the downtown area. I don’t think this was the initial intent, it may have just happened. In some area, land developers have bought them up and relocated the people and built new expensive townhomes; the process continues. Visible form I-45 and I-10 highways you can see the huge sculptures of four statesmen (Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington). The statues are 18 foot tall and made of white concrete. A pretty impressive sight.

• Open: Dawn to Dusk
• Location: 1400 Elder St

 

2. Echo Chambers at the Houston-Intercontinental Airport

This one is not downtown, but its worth mentioning. When you are at the airport in Terminal C. There are two places where four walkways cross. I guess the architects thought it would be fun if they created an echo chamber. So if you stop in the dead center and speak it echoes and scares everyone around you. Its a lot of fun so try it when you are passing through the airport. They are located near C14 and C45. If you don’t know they are there, you will walk right past them.

• Open: As long as the airport is open.
• Location: Intersection near gates C14 and C45

 

3. Free Green Link Bus

To help visitors get around the city form their hotels, the city operates a complimentary bus. Typically, it goes from the hotels to the Convention Center (Minute Maid Park (baseball stadium) and Toyota Center (basketball)) are close by; Houston is a mega convention city and has many conventions year round. If you have 30 minutes, get on at one of the designated stops to get out of the heat in the summer time and the cold at winter. Both locals and tourist take the bus. You can get on and off at any of the stops, check out that are and then get on again. Check the schedules.

• Open: 6:30a – 6:30p operating every 7-10 minutes
• Location: Downtown Houston

 

4. Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park In The Middle of The City

If you journey a little bit to the Galleria area and locate the Williams Tower; don’t worry its the tallest building in the area with a rotating beacon so you can’t miss it, you will find a park with a huge waterfall. It’s mesmerizing that such a monument sits in the city, just constantly gushing water. And yes, when you get too close you will get sprayed. If you put the address in the Google Maps, it will tell you how to get there using public transit. But basically, just take the 81/82 from downtown Houston, get off at the Galleria Mall and walk down Post Oak Boulevard until you get to it. Just walk past the Williams Tower.

• Open: Daily 8a – 9p.
• Location: 2800 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056

 

5. George Bush Monument

I was walking around the city one day and I just happened upon this monument. As you may or may not know, President George Bush, the 41st President of the Unites States is a Houston resident. In this monument, he is looking toward the city of Houston. You just walk a bit from the curb to the center of the monument to enjoy the view that he sees. Unlike the one at his namesake airport 21 miles away, IAH in Terminal C, just inside security, he has his jacket on. The statue was created by famed portrait artist, Chas Fagan.

• Open: Dawn to Dusk
• Location: Corner of Franklin and Bagby Streets

 

6. Houston Public Library – Julia Idelson Building

This building is a hidden gem in the city. Once you step inside you will see what I mean. Just go one level up and look up. The detail is unbelievable, not mention the pristine surroundings. For a moment, you will forget that you are in a Library. There are also pictures of Houston dating back to 1924. If you look closely, you should recognize that some of the buildings are still standing.

 

 

7. The 1940 Air Terminal Museum 

Located at the other side of Hobby Airport, this museum is a must see if you are visiting for more than a day and is an aviation geek.

• Open: Tuesday – Saturday: 10a – 5p; Sunday: 1p – 5p
• Location: 8325 Travelair St.

 

8. Battleship Texas

• Open: Daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day  10 – 5p.
• Location: 3523 Independence Parkway South LaPorte, TX 77571

9. Downtown Aquarium

• Open: Monday – Thursday: 10a – 9p; Friday & Saturday: 10a – 11p; Sunday: 10a – 9p
• Location: 410 Bagby St @ Memorial Dr.

 

10. Houston Zoo

• Open: Daily 9a – 7p. Last entry at 6p
• Location: 6200 Hermann Park Dr

 

11. Lynchburg Ferry

This is perhaps one of the coolest things I’ve done in Houston. It’s perhaps the shortest vehicular ferry crossing I’ve ever taken. If you take I-10 to the San Jacinto Monument, then you have to take the Lynchburg Ferry in order to cross the Houston Ship Channel. And its free. If its closed, you have to take the long way around.

• Open: Saturday – Sunday: 11a – 6:30p; Monday – Friday: 4:30a – 8:p. Closed: New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Location: 1001 Independence Parkway N, Baytown, TX

 

12. Museums

Houston has many museums to choose from, some make you wonder, Really? There’s a museum for that? Here are a few:

• ArtCar Museum
• The Beer Can House
• Children’s Museum of Houston
• Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
• Holocaust Museum Houston
• Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Museum of African American Culture
• The Menil Collection

13. San Jacinto Monument

From the top of this monument on a clear day, you can see the downtown Houston, the Houston Ship Channel and of course Battleship Texas. It’s quite spectacular as you can see from the Earthcam installed on the tower – http://www.earthcam.com/usa/texas/laporte/.

• Open: Daily 9a – 6p. Various times for different sections of the exhibit.
• Location: Independence Parkway

 

14. Space Center Houston

During weekdays, from IAH, you can take the 102 and connect to the 246. From HOU take the 40 to the 246.

• Open: Daily 10a – 7p
• Location: 1601 Nasa Pkwy

 

15. Children’s Museum

 

 

• Open: Monday Closed, Tuesday – Wednesday 10a – 6p, Thursday 10a – 8p, Friday – Saturday 10a – 6p, Sunday 12 noon – 6p.
• Location: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004

 

 

 

16. Minute Maid Park

 

Located in downtown Houston, this is the home of the Houston Astros Baseball Team. The entrance actually used to be the main train station in Houston back in the day; Union Station. It’s amazingly grand and worth visiting.

• Open: During games. Check the Web site for dates and times.
• Location: 501 Crawford St, Houston, TX 77002

 

 

17. Discovery Green

 

This is an Park that is located in downtown Houston. Many local events are held here.

• Open: 6a – 11p
• Location: 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010

 

 

Where To Eat In Houston, TX

Invariably get hungry when you are here and need something to chew on. It’s said that there are more restaurants per capita in Houston than anywhere else in the U.S. I’m not sure how true that is, but there are a lot of restaurants here. I’ve made a list of a few of the more memorable ones. If you know of any more, please leave a comment below:
 

1. Greyhound Bus Station Restaurant.

My friends think I’m nuts as no one in their rightful mind uses the Greyhound bus station in Houston unless you really must. But I’ve had occasions to use it when I can’t get to/from other Texas cities by air. The area around the station is one of the not so nice areas of the city, so be careful as lots of people who are not taking a bus or picking up anyone hangs out there. But if you get past that, the burger joint inside makes good burgers. Of course they also claim they are the best burgers in Midtown, but you know what, I enjoyed the burger. Is it the best in Midtown? You tell me.

• Open: 24 hours
• Location: 2121 Main

 

2. Hubcap Grill Downtown

Yes, they do have hubcaps on the roof of the building. It’s very tiny, but again the food is quite good. Oftentimes, there is no place to sit, so that tells you the food is good; burgers is their specialty.

• Open: Monday – Saturday 11a – 3p
• Location: 1111 Prairie

 

3. Lankford Grocery & Market

I don’t know why it’s called “grocery” as this is a burger and breakfast joint and yes the burgers are good; the place is a dive and you’d perhaps not go there unless told the food is good. The food is good.

• Open: Monday – Saturday 7a – 3p
• Location: 88 Dennis

 

4. Treebeards – The Cloister

It’s actually inside an old church. The ambience is good and so is the cajun food.

• Open: 11a – 2p
• Location: 1117 Texas

 
 
5. The Teahouse Tapioca and Tea

The Teahouse in Houston, TX is owned by a local and now has upwards of 14 locations in and around the city. If you are a fan of Taiwanese tea then you must stop by. There’s free Wifi and some stores offer a bite to eat.

• Open: 7-midnight or 10a to 10p depending on the location
• Locations: Check their Web site for details

 

What have you found on your visit to Houston? Or if you live here, what say you? Please leave a comment below.