Explore the reason we’re called Space City, or visit a pyramid full of wildlife.
It’s easy to visit Houston and stake your claim in the expansive downtown area. But then you would miss so much of what this sprawling city has to offer. From Space Center Houston to pyramids full of wildlife, there’s a wide spectrum of things to see and
Beer Can House John Milkovisch didn’t want to mow his lawn. Solution: Pour concrete and then decorate with rocks, marbles and other found objects. Ta-da. What next for a handyman? Milkovisch began covering his home with flattened beer cans. Not flashy enough? How about a little garland using beer-can tabs and tops to create a decorative trim? This monument to recycling is open noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission to the grounds is $5, but you can view the house anytime from the street for free. 222 Malone, orangeshow.org.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Newly restored and revamped 160 acres from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street, including hike and bike trails, a dog park, public art, picturesque bridges and green space, all with a skyline view. The latest addition to the expanse is the underground cistern, which visitors can tour. Stay till sunset and hop over to the Waugh Drive Bridge viewing platform (at the corner of Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway) for a chance to see the mass exodus of Texas’ second-largest urban bat colony. 3422 Allen Parkway; buffalobayou.org
Downtown Aquarium
Visitors can ride the Ferris wheel, explore exhibits featuring alligators, fish, sharks, snakes and white tigers, as well as dine at the on-site restaurant surrounded by a 150,000-gallon aquarium. 410 Bagby, 713-2233474; aquariumrestaurants.com. Aquarium tickets start at $8.99; ride tickets begin at $3.99; allday passes begin at $18.99.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
A Landry’s-owned waterfront attraction with rides that let you soar above the Gulf, midway games, retail stores and food vendors. 2501 Seawall, in Galveston, 409-766-4950; pleasurepier.com. Ride passes begin at $19.99.
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Visitors can wander the many trails through the 155-acre nonprofit urban sanctuary that anchors Memorial Park; it also offers a variety of classes and events celebrating the great outdoors, including nature-inspired art classes, bug’s night out, and programs for families and kids. 4501 Woodway, 713-681-8433; houstonarboretum.org.
Houston Zoo
From chimpanzees and gorillas to elephants and lions, the zoo gives visitors the chance to discover countless animals from around the world. Check website for feeding times. 6200 Hermann Park, 713-533-6500; houstonzoo.com.
James Turrell Skyspace
Don’t think you have time for art? This work could be a wakeup call. James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Rice University campus activates daily at sunrise and sunset. Set within the spaceship-like pavilion, it provides an otherworldly light show that lasts about 40 minutes and changes depending on the weather conditions. The skyspace is behind the Shepherd School of Music; parking is close in the campus’ Central Garage. Find the schedule at skyspace. rice.edu.
Moody Gardens
Three must-see pyramid attractions — the Rainforest Pyramid, which houses tropical plants, birds and animals, including sloths and monkeys; the Aquarium Pyramid, a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium teeming with aquatic creatures ranging from fish and sharks to seals and penguins; and the Discovery Pyramid, which features science-oriented events, exhibits and activities. One Hope Boulevard, in Galveston, 800-582-4673; moodygardens.com. Adult tickets start at $21.95; day passes from $59.95.
Museum District
In the blocks between downtown and the Texas Medical Center, visitors will find 19 museums. A few recommendations: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet; Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive; Contemporary Arts Museum, 5216 Montrose; Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross; and the Children’s Museum, 1500 Binz. For maps, hours and admission, see houstonmuseumdistrict.org.
NASA
When people say they’re visiting NASA, they often mean Space Center Houston, a family destination with exhibits, attractions and theaters. The tram tour includes part of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Don’t miss Independence Plaza, home to the first shuttle-carrier aircraft, NASA 905, and the shuttle replica Independence. 1601 NASA Parkway; spacecenter.org.
San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas
The site in La Porte features the monument to the Texans’ 1836 victory over Santa Anna’s troops and the resting place for the 100-year-old ship. Another feature is a 1,210-foot boardwalk where you can view Texas as it may have looked (think native prairie and tidal marsh) in 1836. 1 Monument Circle, La Porte. 3523 Independence Parkway, La Porte, 281-479-2421; sanjacinto-museum.org.
The Galleria
Texas’ largest shopping mall gets more than 30 million visitors annually. It boasts more than 400 stores — from luxury brands like Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Tiffany & Co. to the hip and trendy Topshop and Zara — and an ice-skating rink. 5085 Westheimer; shophoustongalleria. com. Nearby is one of Houston’s most-photographed attractions: the 64-foot-tall Gerald D. Hines Waterwall, 2800 Post Oak.