Things to do in

Houston

Explore Space Center Houston with its 400 space artifacts as well as permanent and traveling exhibits. Discover attractions and theaters related to the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human space-flight program, all for one admission price. See the world’s largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples for public view. Go behind-the-scenes to see NASA Johnson Space Center (based on availability). Learn about the world-renowned home of NASA Mission Control, International Space Station Mission Control, and astronaut training. Experience the newest permanent exhibit, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, displayed outside the center. Walk around and underneath the first-stage booster spanning more than 156 feet long. See the only Falcon 9 on public display outside of SpaceX’s headquarters which is the same type of rocket that launched NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft on May 30 for the Demo-2 mission. It marked the first time since 2011 that astronauts have launched from American soil.

Explore the wonders of space travel on an unforgettable tour that includes a mini-city tour around Houston and roundtrip transportation to the NASA/Johnson Space Center. Enjoy interactive exhibits and activities, touch a moon rock, take a tram ride to the NASA control center and see the shuttle replica at the Independence Plaza. Begin your day of space exploration on land as you are taken a short city sightseeing tour around Houston where you can see some of its most important landmarks.  Afterward, drive 25 miles from the center of Houston to the Space Center Houston and experience America’s adventures in space first-hand. Space Center Houston is the visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center. It is a separate facility that features activities and exhibits designed jointly by NASA and Disney Imagineering. Get a chance to ride the half-hour tram tour that goes to the gigantic International Space Station Assembly Building and to the NASA control center. Both kids and adults will enjoy the interactive displays. Don’t miss the Starship Gallery Artifact Museum, where you can touch a moon rock or try out the simulator that lets you land the lunar orbiter.

This flexible CityPASS is the perfect way to explore some of Houston’s top attractions.  Simply present your mobile ticket at each attraction for entry.     Houston CityPASS includes admission to: 1- Space Center Houston - Explore the wonders of space and let your imagination soar. Go behind the scenes and experience the past, present and future of human space exploration. Arrive early to join in on a free tram tour to NASA Mission Control room; space is limited. 2- Downtown Aquarium - Experience the wonder of the underwater world at the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit, a 500,000-gallon aquatic wonderland. Discover over 300 species of marine life from around the globe, touch and feed live stingrays, and catch a glimpse of the magnificent Bengal tigers of the Maharaja’s Temple. 3- Houston Museum of Natural Science - Delight in the natural world and experience four floors of dynamic permanent exhibits that will entertain and educate every age group. See real-life dinosaur skeletons in the Morian Hall of Paleontology exhibit. 4- Houston Zoo OR Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Houston Zoo - Majestic elephants, red pandas, chimpanzees and rhinos are just a few animals you can find at the Houston Zoo. This accredited zoo is home to over 6000 animals and 900 species with a mission to save animals in the wild. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Explore one of the largest museums in the U.S., home to nearly 70,000 works of art from around the world, from antiquity to the present. Take advantage of an ever-changing schedule brimming with activities and programs for all ages! 5- Kemah Boardwalk OR Children’s Museum of Houston Kemah Boardwalk - Enjoy this unique Boardwalk which is full of amusement rides, nine waterfront restaurants, shopping, midway games, live entertainment and weekend festivals. Brave the Bullet rollercoaster, ride the train and Ferris wheel, and plunge 140 feet on the Drop Zone. Kemah Boardwalk appeals to all kids – young and old!   Children’s Museum of Houston - At this playground for the mind, your children will harness the power of water as FlowWorks unleashes a tsunami of wet, wild fun; run an entire city at Kidtropolis; leap, jump, crawl and climb up PowerPlay; and create, concoct and invent their own gadgets in the Invention Convention.

Visit Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston’s No. 1 attraction for international visitors and the first Smithsonian Affiliate in the greater Houston area. Discover more than 400 space artifacts including flown spacecraft, the largest collection of moon rocks on public display. Explore the red planet in the new Mission Mars exhibit. Experience a virtual Martian sunset, climb into a simulated Orion capsule, and feel the texture of rock cliffs. Discover what it takes to travel to Mars, the hardware required, and how we may live on the red planet in the next few decades. See the international landmark Independence Plaza presented by Boeing, the only shuttle replica mounted on a shuttle carrier aircraft, and the only place where you can enter both vehicles. Get a rare glimpse into the historic shuttle era and the NASA breakthroughs and technological advances gained from the Space Shuttle Program. Journey on to the NASA Johnson Space Center and get a behind-the-scenes look at human space exploration (you will not be accompanied by a guide during your visit to the center). Explore Rocket Park, where one of only three of the remaining actual Saturn V rockets is displayed. Visit Historic Mission Control, from which NASA led Gemini and Apollo missions, including the first lunar landing. Discover the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, where NASA astronauts train and where scientists are developing the next generation of space exploration vehicles.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of natural science with an entrance ticket to the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, one of the USA’s most-visited museums. See spectacular mineral specimens, dinosaur skeletons, space-station models, and much more. Gaze at dozens of prehistoric beasts in the Morian Hall of Paleontology, brought to life in lively displays that animate their struggle to survive. See a blue topaz crystal of more than 2,000 carats in the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals. Celebrate the diversity of America’s indigenous peoples in the John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas. Come face to face with wildlife ecology at the Frensley Graham Hall of African Wildlife, or learn about shell science and the study of molluscs at the Strake Hall of Malacology.

Experience the major sights of Houston on a fun and comprehensive bus city tour. On this relaxing and informative excursion you’ll see Buffalo Bayou, the historical downtown area, the theater district, historic Texas Avenue, the sports stadiums, the museum district, and much more. Your guided tour begins at the Visitors Center located at 1302 Dallas street. From here, you’ll board the comfortable bus that’s parked right outside. Explore Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s birthplace. See the downtown historical district and the city’s tunnel system, admire the breathtaking skyscrapers, and marvel at the spectacular views from atop the unique double-decker bus. You’ll travel down Texas Avenue and see the Rice Hotel where President Kennedy delivered his last public speech in Houston before his assassination in 1963. You can also listen to his speech on the tour bus. Continue on to Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros baseball team. Admire the majestic Harris County Court House and the George R. Brown Convention Center. See the home of the Houston Rockets basketball team, more amazing sites and landmarks.

Spend your day learning about space and space exploration at two different attractions in Houston. Visit Space Center Houston to learn more about the NASA Mission and astronaut training. Explore space at the Burke Baker Planetarium, which offers an unprecedented immersive experience with a best-in-class projection system.  Space Center Houston features more than 400 space artifacts including the world's largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples. As the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, guests are taken behind the scenes to see NASA Mission Control, International Space Station Mission Control, and areas used for astronaut training. At the Burke Baker Planetarium, the newly updated Digitar 6 system enables our visitors to fly through the universe, experience the vastness of space, roam planetary surfaces, navigate asteroid fields, and watch the latest fulldome shows. With this pass you'll also gain entry to the Museum's permanent exhibit areas that examine astronomy and space science plus a whole host of other topics focused a little closer to Earth!

Houston landmarks are more than worthy of the time and effort it would take to see and appreciate their beauty. With our tour, an expert guide will take you on a trip through the best sights, from the entertainment, historic and art districts to the Toyota Center and McGovern Centennial Gardens. Highlights on the tour include: - Green Park - George R. Brown Convention Center - Graffiti Park - Court district - Annunciation Catholic Church - Minute Maid Park - Harris county courthouse - Congress Plaza - The Rice Hotel And many more. With personal stories and an expert knowledge of the history of the city, your guide will show you all the highlights of Houston so you can really say you’ve seen the city. As one the most beautiful cities in the United States, Houston is indeed a metropolis of international renown, which boasts some marvelous landmarks. In just 3 hours you can see many of them for yourself, in a small and intimate group.

Explore different parts of the city while taking in all of the world-renowned street art that Houston has to offer. Ride to each spot in a comfortable Polaris GEM electric vehicle as you pick up priceless local insights into the vibrant culture of the city from your local guide. Learn the history of the art movement that colors the walls all across Houston, and the passionate artists who have made their mark on the city. All that is required on this tour is your camera — you won’t want to miss out on taking pictures of all of the fantastic art that you’ll be seeing. Criss-crossing through the city, you’ll find yourself in an artistic cluster in Houston, with over 20 murals in close proximity to one another. Discover the best spots with your local guide and take home some awesome memories of the city.

Explore Houston according to your own interests with a 24-hour or 48-hour pass to the original London-style hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. With 6 strategically placed stops on the comprehensive route, it offers the best of the city’s symbolic sites and attractions in one easy sitting. Along the way, a live guide will provide a lively commentary about attractions such as the giant Chase Tower, tell you stories about the colorful Theater District and tell you where to get off if you want to relax in Discovery Green Park. • Hilton Americas Hotels at the Convention Center • Market Square - Historic District • City Hall and Visitors Center • Downtown Aquarium - Theater District • Sam Houston Monument at Hermann Park • Fine Arts Museum - Museum District