Looking to get out of your neighborhood? Houston has a lot to offer and we want to give you a guide to a weekend in H-Town. Whether you’re just going to try new restaurants, bars & attractions or showing out of town visitors the sites, we want to help you find the best spots in Houston.
A Trip to Houston’s Museum District:
Houston’s Museum District is full of fun and educational museums, plus it is situated in Hermann Park which is a beautiful spot where Houstonians go to picnic, walk, bike, view art exhibitions, experience events and or simply enjoy the weather.
For a trip with the family, we recommend stopping for breakfast or brunch at Barnaby’s Café (1801 Binz St. Houston 77004). Your kiddos will love the banana walnut pancakes and you’ll love all of the menu options. From delicious salads to yummy burgers, to tortas, they have something for every palate.
After getting fueled for the day, head to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It is one of our favorite Houston attractions, with great exhibits, a planetarium, butterfly pavilion and Movie Theater, your kids will be entertained for hours. Its fun, educational and air conditioned so you can beat the summer heat!
Permanent exhibitions include: The Hall of Ancient Egypt, our favorite exhibit the Weiss Hall of Energy which is an interactive, technologically advanced exhibit showing viewers how energy works and interacts, The Morian Hall of Paleontology which shows bones of dinosaurs and ancient creatures. There are 15 permanent exhibitions, travelling exhibitions, plus the movie theater, planetarium and the butterfly pavilion – you can stay here for hours and never get bored!
If you are an animal lover, you need to visit the Houston Zoo. The giraffe feeding is a wild experience that you should try during your visit. A unique feature of the Houston Zoo is the Naturally Wild Swap Shop. Visitors can bring in items from nature that they find interesting, learn more about them from the staff and then trade in their natural finds for store items.
Head over to the Kipp Aquarium if you want to see what goes on below the ocean’s surface: “Home to over 200 species and 2,000 individual fresh and saltwater fish, as well as marine invertebrates, you’ll be sure to find a new favorite underwater animal here.” The Kipp Aquarium is fun and educational. Your kids will love seeing all of the amazing underwater creatures featured here!
Children’s Museum of Houston and the Holocaust Museum Houston are also in Houston’s Museum District. The Children’s Museum of Houston was named the #1 children’s museum in the United States and is filled with family fun and activities. The content of the Holocaust Museum of Houston is heavy but it is the largest Holocaust museum in the United States and teaches a lot about history and humanity.
Hermann Park is an incredibly beautiful and well maintained park. Fountains, gardens, statues and art dot the 285 acres of public space. There is a Japanese Garden, a railroad for rides through the park, rental sites for pedal boats on the lake and more. Snag a bite at Pinewood Café, rent pedal boats, or read on a blanket in the grass. It’s great for a low key day in the sunshine. The park is also home to festivals and events each year.
There are a lot of great restaurants in the Museum District and in the trendy neighborhoods nearby. Some of our favorites include: Bodegas Taco Shop, The Black Labrador, The Hay Merchant and Niko Niko’s.
Bodegas Taco Shop (1200 Binz St #160, Houston, TX 77004) is a Tex-Mex spot with build your own burritos, tacos, tostadas and salads, with a large tequila bar and live music. It’s a fun, yummy place to get your fill after a busy day at the museum.
The Hay Merchant (1100 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006) is a casual spot for great craft beers and comfort foods like chicken wings, pork buns and more. Plus they have a delicious brunch if you go over on the weekend!
The Black Labrador (4100 Montrose Blvd #8, Houston, TX 77006) is a “Houston’s own English Pub!” and has awesome burgers, sandwiches, and of course, English dishes like Shepard’s Pie, Bangers & Mash, and Fish and Chips.
Niko Niko’s (2520 Montrose Blvd Houston, TX) is the place to go for quick, fast, delicious Greek food. Try their hummus, gryo sandwiches, and souvlaki. They have a lot of delicious greek flavors!
If you are looking for an upscale evening, take a date to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. You can take a gallery tour if you want an educated guide to show you around the museum. They have photography exhibits, modern art, ancient art as well as films. Spend a quiet, insightful evening in the museum, followed by an upscale dinner at Monarch in the ZaZa Hotel or Davis Street at Hermann Park.
There you have it! That is our guide to the Museum District of Houston! We hope you check out each museum and have a great time with friends and family. Let us know which museums are your favorite and what exhibits you enjoyed the most!
Natural Science Museum Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Houston Zoo & Kipp Aquarium Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Bite to Eat Images: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
