This NASA hub also comes with world-renowned culture and shopping.
The energy in Houston, Texas, is electric, making it no surprise that this cosmopolitan hub is the cultural epicenter of the Lone Star State. Shopping districts are plentiful, with everything from vintage wares to luxury boutiques — the Galleria alone has 375 stores, and 19th Street in the Heights offers a funky mix of options. There’s the Museum District with 19 different cultural centers to explore, with everything from an expansive collection of modern art at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston to the 6,000-animal zoo.
Explore Houston
- Downtown Houston
- Houston Heights
- Uptown
- Museum District
Downtown Houston
Overview
Bounce from one world-renowned cultural destination to another in the heart of Houston. Take in a show at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts on the outskirts of the city’s Theater District or explore a collection of restored historic properties at the Heritage Society Museum at Sam Houston Park.
Known For
Culture, Green Spaces, Museums
Houston Heights
Overview
This trendy neighborhood is a favorite for its unique collection of shops as well as its stately Victorian-era architecture. Find out why when you stroll 19th Street, home to a quaint esplanade lined by hip boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants.
Known For
Architecture, Dining, Shopping
Uptown
Overview
With 375 shops, 30-plus restaurants and even a full-size ice skating rink, this trendy shopping district offers the largest mall in Texas. But that’s only the beginning of your shopping trip here, where you’ll find dozens more open-air retail destinations to explore.
Known For
Shopping, Business , Dining
Museum District
Overview
With its impressive array of institutions, this buzzy hub is the city’s top cultural destination. At the area’s core is Hermann Park, an expansive urban green space that’s the gateway to the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Known For
Museums, Parks, Dining
Stay in The Center of it All
Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.
Find Out Why Houston, Texas, Is the Cultural Hub of the Lone Star State
Shop Till You Drop
Begin your trip to Houston with a visit Uptown. At the Galleria, the foremost shopping destination in the city, there’s also a full-size skating rink and top-notch restaurants. Then head off to explore two of Houston’s top open-air retail districts before enjoying a picnic in the park.
Stroll a Quaint Esplanade Lined With Victorian Architecture
Spend your Saturday soaking up the sun in Houston Heights, one of the first planned communities in Texas. Walk down streets lined by Victorian-style homes as you stop in record stores and convivial cafés before catching an open-air concert.
Visit Houston’s Most Impressive Museums
With a staggering 19 museums, Houston’s Museum District lives up to its moniker. Spend the day frolicking through Hermann Park, home to the Houston Zoo, before finishing your evening at the Museum of Fine Arts and dinner at their upscale French restaurant, Le Jardinier.