Experiencing The Best of Houston In 1 Day

Image source: Flickr - Katie Haugland

Houston is one of the biggest cities in the United States with not only its population but with its impressive urban sprawl. While getting a lot accomplished can be a bit difficult due to size and traffic, here are some must-do things if you happen to find yourself in Houston for one day.

Museum District

Houston is the New York of the South with its thriving museum culture. Comprised of twenty venues and museums, experience everything from the Houston Museum of Natural Science to one of the most popular zoos in the United States, the Houston Zoo. Eleven of the museums have free admission with the other museums in the collective offering various free days throughout the month. Bypass Houston traffic by utilizing the METRORail as it offers four distinct stops within the 1.5-mile Museum District radius.

Montrose Neighborhood

Within the last few years, Houston has surpassed both New York and Los Angeles for cultural diversity. If you’re looking for a neat experience, head to this historic location. With buildings over 100 years old, this bustling community has everything from designer stores to antique shopping to some of the best eateries in the southern US. This part of Houston is both family friendly and provides an exciting night life.

Eat

The biggest port in Texas means a melting pot of cultural food. Tasting the local flavors is a great way to get to know an area. Specialties include Mexican, Cajun, Greek, American-style, and Vietnamese. One of the biggest attractions can be found in Chinatown where Vietnamese families have acquired a majority of the businesses in the area. Cheap bahn mis, hot bowls of authentic pho, and fresh seafood markets can be found. If you’re looking for more American flavors, check out the two top rated restaurants in Houston. Underbelly claims to be true Houstonian fare while Oxheart provides delicious experimental flavors that are not for the faint of heart.

The Galleria Mall

If you happen to have any time leftover after your day of shopping, eating, and museum visiting, head over to The Galleria. The largest mall in Texas, it contains 375 stores and 2.4 million square feet of shopping bliss. This behemoth boasts a large ice-skating rink, two Westin hotels, and 50 restaurants.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.