Transcript

Houston has a great museum scene and one of Houston’s top museums is the Menil Collection.

The Menil Collection presents artwork in spaces designed to enhance the pieces without drawing attention away from them and that is part of what makes it such a great and respected museum. The other thing that makes it a world-renowned private museum is the amazing artwork from the private collection of John and Dominique de Menil.

The collection includes art and antiquities from across the world, spanning from prehistory to the 20th century.

There are Paleolithic objects, pieces of Classical Greco-Roman art, Byzantine paintings, Malian sculptures, and many other treasures.

But the museum is best known for its world-class collection of modern art. You can see works by European masters like Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Willem de Kooning.

And the Menil Collection isn’t even limited to just one building. The extensive campus includes buildings dedicated to the artists Cy Twombly and Dan Flavin.

Another notable building is the Rothko Chapel. This non-denominational chapel contains 14 paintings Mark Rothko created specifically for the building.

The Menil Collection and its campus are a haven for the arts, and they should be included in any visit to Houston.

Transcript

For many people, the name Houston inspires thoughts of astronauts and space exploration. Houston is home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

This is the home of Mission Control, where NASA’s flight control is managed. Johnson Space Center is also where astronauts are trained in everything they’ll need to survive a trip into space.

You can visit Johnson Space Center through the Space Center Houston. This is Johnson Space Center’s visitor center.

Space Center Houston is a unique museum that teaches visitors all about space exploration and what it’s like to be an astronaut through interactive exhibits.

Find out what life is like on the International Space Station and experience zero gravity at the Feel of Space and Living in Space exhibits.

You can also take a tour through the Johnson Space Center itself, with stops at the historic Mission Control building and the building astronauts use to train.

If you’re lucky, you might even get to see real astronauts in training while you’re there.

This is a museum that can truly appeal to anybody, old or young, whether you’re an aspiring astronaut or simply curious.

Space Center Houston offers a unique and exciting educational experience, making it easily one of Houston’s most popular attractions.

Transcript

Houston is rightfully known for amazing Tex-Mex and barbecue, but there’s more to the restaurant scene than that.

If your sightseeing has you running low on energy, Empire Café serves one of the best cups of coffee in town. You can also get a delicious breakfast any time of the day there.

If all you want is some old fashioned, handmade, artery-clogging goodness, go to Hubcap Grill. The burgers served there have been called Houston’s best.

Houston also has a great international food scene. For a casual gourmet meal, eat at Dolce Vita. The fresh pizzas they serve are far from run-of-the-mill.

But if you want a fancier meal, Da Marco serves fine Italian cuisine in an elegant setting.

Kata Robata is the place to go for sushi and other Japanese dishes. Only the best ingredients are used to create each innovative dish.

For Vietnamese food, Mai’s Restaurant offers an extensive menu of delicious, authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

There’s also plenty of drinking to be done in Houston. At La Carafe, you can sip good wine and listen to great music, without doing much damage to your wallet. But Texas is better known for beer than wine, and you’ll find plenty of great places for that as well. At the Saint Arnold Brewery, you can even take a tour to see how your beer is made before you drink it.

Houston is a great place to eat and drink, no matter you like!

Transcript

Chances are, if you’re visiting Houston, you’ll need a car. Heavy traffic and aggressive drivers can make driving in Houston difficult, so avoid the rush hour as often as possible.

On the bright side, there’s lots of inexpensive or free parking and the layout of the streets isn’t too confusing.

As long as you have a good map and you allow plenty of time for travel, you’ll be fine.

If driving is not an option for you, you’re not completely out of luck. Houston’s light rail system may not be the locals’ first choice for getting around, but it covers the downtown and a few other areas. It’s also inexpensive and easy to use.

But Houston is huge, so if you want to see much more than the downtown area you’re going to need another way to get around. The bus system will take you much further, though it may not always be a quick trip.

Both the light rail and the bus system are operated by the METRO system, and can be paid for with the same money card.

Visit the METRO website for maps, schedules, information about pricing, and a trip planner.

If all else fails, you can always take a taxi. You might be able to hail one on the street if you’re downtown, but it’s usually best to call one.

Getting around Houston isn’t always quick and easy, but if you allow plenty of time and bring a sense of adventure, you’ll be just fine.

Transcript

Unless you’re already used to extreme heat, skip visiting Houston in the summer.

Air conditioning is just about everywhere, and for good reason. The locals find the heat and humidity just as stifling as everybody else.

Average highs are in the 90s, and the humidity makes it feel even hotter. It’s also very rainy in the summer.

Fall heat isn’t as intense, but it’s still warm. Fall can see significant rain too, as hurricane season comes into full swing. Flooding in summer and fall is not unusual.

It’s no secret that Texas is hot, but it’s not always too bad. The winter is a pleasant time to visit. It cools down considerably but rarely freezes.

It’s also one of drier seasons — snow and winter storms are uncommon. Winter is also when Houston receives the fewest visitors, so you won’t have to deal with crowds and it will be easier to find good deals.

Spring is another good time to visit. It will be warm, but not unbearable yet. Though there are thunderstorms, spring is generally one of the drier seasons. As an added bonus, you’ll get to see the famous Texas bluebonnets — a beautiful blue flower that pops up all over the state in spring — if you venture outside of the city. Like in the winter, Houston also doesn’t see as many visitors during the spring, so it’s a good time to find bargains.

There are things to do in Houston year-round, but for the best weather and prices, opt for a visit in the winter or spring.

Transcript

Houston is a center of culture and education, and it has the museums to prove it.

The Menil Collection is one of the best private museums in the country. The collection includes art and antiquities from across the world, but the modern art is the best known. You can see work by artists like Warhol, Matisse, Pollock, Picasso, and many more.

Another great museum is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It’s Texas’ oldest art museum and it’s one of the biggest in the country. The extensive collection of art covers different styles and time periods from around the world.

The Museum of Fine Arts is also notable for the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. This is a 1920s mansion with beautiful gardens and an excellent collection of American antiques.

If art and antiques aren’t your thing, head to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Visit the Butterfly Center and be surrounded by hundreds of live butterflies and tropical plants.

Houston’s museums are also great if you’re travelling with children. There’s the Children’s Museum of Houston, which features a variety of fun exhibits to engage kids and the Health Museum which is also very kid-friendly. Interactive exhibitions teach visitors about health and the human body.

Since Houston has such a broad variety of museums, there should be at least one that’s worth a visit for everyone.

Transcript

The name Houston was made more famous by association with space, and rightly so. Houston is home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, which you can visit through the museum Space Center Houston. This unique museum teaches visitors all about space exploration.

Come down from space and learn about what’s right here on earth. The Houston Zoo may not be the largest zoo in the country, but it’s one of the most popular. The Houston Zoo offers educational experiences that bring visitors closer to the animals.

You can learn more about Houston’s past at the Heritage Society in Sam Houston Park. Here, you can take a tour of some of Houston’s oldest buildings or visit a museum to learn more about the city’s history.

You can also get a feel for the Houston of today in Discovery Green. This new park is where Houstonians go to play, taking advantage of the modern amenities.

Houston also boasts some fine architecture. Houston’s City Hall is a simple but striking example of modern architecture, designed by one of Houston’s top architects. The JPMorgan Chase Tower is also not to be missed. Designed by acclaimed architect I.M. Pei, this skyscraper is Texas’ tallest building. The San Jacinto Monument isn’t quite as tall, but it is the tallest column in the world and the view from the top is phenomenal.

No matter how you look at it, Houston has something for everyone.

Transcript

You can’t see all of Houston in a short time, so you’ll need to decide which neighborhoods to visit.

The downtown area is where you’ll find many of the city’s biggest attraction including some of the iconic buildings in Houston’s skyline.

Downtown also includes the theater district. This is where you’ll find the best venues for opera, ballet, symphony orchestra, and more.

And, for sports fans, the Minute Maid baseball field and the Toyota Center basketball arena can both be found downtown.

Houston is also a great town for shopping. Uptown, you’ll find the Galleria, a massive shopping mall full of high-end shops.

You’ll also probably want to spend some time in the Museum District, south of the downtown area. Many of Houston’s best museums are in this neighborhood, conveniently close together. This is where you’ll find the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Health Museum, the Children’s Museum, and many more.

Nearby is the Montrose neighborhood, where you can visit the Menil Collection. Montrose is one of Houston’s most trendy, quirky areas.

The Heights neighborhood, to the north, is more upscale. You might want to visit just to see the old Victorian-style houses.

There’s something for everyone in Houston — Find the neighborhood that best suits your interests, and you’re sure to enjoy your visit.