Advise for vacation in Houston

[usregimechange]

Accompaning my wife to a conference in Houston, taking the kids. What are the can't miss attractions/places? Also, what are the best beaches in the area? Thanks,

[HubertHeaver]

1. Galveston Island, Moody Gardens

About 40 miles south on IH 45. If the highway is clogged up, take Texas 3. It will merge into 45 for the bridge onto the island.

The Gulf side beaches run the length of the island. I prefer the public access beaches toward Jamaica Beach, or even beyond. Lots of new beach-front housing along that road but there are public access points.

[Xipe Totec]

5. My first thought as well. nt

[TBF]

16. I love the pool at Moody Gardens -

the rooms are so-so for the price but the restaurant/pool are good. For someone coming from out of the area be aware that Moody is on the bay so you have to drive a few streets over to get to the beach.

We live in the south suburbs of Houston and went down for a weekend with our kids - had a great time.

Even better if you have time is to go down to Corpus or South Padre. Great for building sand castles ... no white sand beaches though (many drive in the other direction and visit Northern Florida for those).


This weekend bring both sunscreen and insect repellant (Bullfrog makes some good combos) - we've been hit by mosquitoes from the rains the past few weeks.

[onestepforward]

20. You can buy discounted tickets online:

https://secure4.gatewayticketing.com/MoodyGardens/Content.aspx?Kind=LandingPage

It's a great place to go!

[evemac]

2. CityPASS

We just used CityPASS for Boston, and I would recommend it as well for Houston. I believe it includes NASA, the Fine Arts Museum and the Houston Children's Museum among other city attractions. Check out Miller Outdoor Theatre as well. The closest beach of course is Galveston, but I haven't been recently, so I cannot give you updated info on the best beach. Moody Gardens is on the way to Galveston, and this is a great place to see as well. Hope you have a good time!

[antigop]

3. Space Center --- definitely. n/t

[HubertHeaver]

4. Staying in the city, Houston museums are top-rate.

You will need a very good city map or gps guidance. the city streets don't really make sense.

[HubertHeaver]

6. Flying in or driving?

[usregimechange]

7. driving

[HubertHeaver]

10. That should be a fun drive.

Is the family accustomed to long drives?

[usregimechange]

11. Not really but they will be a sleep for most of it, I love to drive at night, esp in car 40mpg

[Sedona]

8. My advice...go to Hawaii

nt

[kentauros]

18. Sure, if his wife's conference was being held in Hawaii.

Or did you miss that part?

[HubertHeaver]

21. That's an even longer drive than Texas

And a good part of it is underwater.

[Paladin]

25. Thanks For That Trenchant Advice, Ms. Arizona..... (nt)

[Ilsa]

9. Indoor stuff. Johnson Space Center is

a great flashback for us older folk and a hood educational experience for young folk.
Moody Gardens is neat.
Depending on when you are there, the Cynthia P. Mitchell Pavillion in The Woodlands might have some wonderful and affordable concerts to attend.

[TexasTowelie]

12. Come on Ilsa,

we both know that the Johnson Space Center isn't in just any hood! (Darn those night-time typos).

Good suggestions otherwise.

[efhmc]

15. The concerts at Miller are free and the park has wonderful museums, train ride

and peddle boats. http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/

[Ilsa]

13. I'd skip the beaches near Houston.

If you want a nice beach, drive all the way down to South Padre Island.

The water and beaches north of So Padre make my skin feel dirty.

[efhmc]

14. Children’s Museum of Houston ranked best in the U.S. by Parent's

Magazine. My gboys LOVE it. If you go to Galveston for the beach, go to the county beach to get away from the crowds. Plan to eat out at the amazing ethnic variety of restaurants. There is an asian town/area near downtown. http://www.yelp.com/biz/port-of-houston-authority-free-boat-tours-houston This is great tour and free but reservations need to be made a month in advance. Could go on and on. I miss that city soooo much.

[TBF]

17. Houston Zoo, Children's Museum and HMNS -

The Houston Museum of Natural Science just re-did their dinosaur wing and they have IMAX movies.

[usregimechange]

22. Looks like you have to buy tickets per exhibit, that's absurd

[efhmc]

23. Did you check out the city pass?

[TBF]

24. I can't argue with that assessment -

we moved to Texas from the Wash DC area, so it was new to pay for entrance to museums. I really miss the Smithsonian ....

[kentauros]

19. Check out the Houston Press online:

The Houston Press (site map)

I linked the site map because their homepage is really laid out mostly for news reporting and finding all the arts, entertainment, restaurants, sports, and park info is difficult among that mess.

Anything labeled "Best of" usually is a good choice.

Also, if you like Mediterranean food (as well as Indian) Houston is full of restaurants and groceries catering to those cuisines. Might as well plug my friends' place, Zabak's Mediterranean Cafe, as home to the best falafel in the city!

[Curmudgeoness]

26. This time of year isn't the best time to be in Houston.

I would plan around all things indoors. The beaches are crappy around there, but as someone who did not live near any large bodies of water until I lived in Houston, I always enjoyed going there anyways. The zoo is nice, but this time of year would probably kill you walking around there. Johnson Space Center is not my cup of tea, but everyone who visited me enjoyed it.

[freshwest]

27. If you're up to the heat and humidity, I suggest a walk through the wild life refuges.

Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail - Upper Texas Coast (UTC)



http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wildlife/wildlife-trails/coastal/upper

Another area you might enjoy, particularly in the evenings which will be marginally cooler:

Houston Theater District



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Theater_District

Despite its problems after Hurricane Ike, there are things to do on Galveston Island, which has new amusements and places to eat. It's a short run, in terms of driving in Texas, 50 miles down Interstate 45 and across the causeway either to Broadway and the older part of Galveston, or take one of the exits going west to see newer places.

Although it's nowhere near what it once was. There are condo suites for families to stay at with grocery delivery, extra bedrooms and small kitchens with views of the Gulf of Mexico. All air-conditioned. For example, there is The Victorian Condo-Hotel Resort & Conference Center, which I'm linking through the city's Galveston.com site which tells you more:


http://www.galveston.com/victoriancondo/

Have a great trip. watch for traffic, mosquitoes and a few other things natives may warn you about.

[usregimechange]

29. Thanks!

[ceile]

28. The Orange Show and Beer Can House

Quirky things to see:
http://orangeshow.org/

The Orange Show and the Beer Can House are must sees. I went to these things on various field trips when I was a kid and I remember them 25+ plus years later. Admission is about $2.

Battleship Texas, San Jacinto Monument, Kemah Boardwalk
All about 45 mins south of downtown. Kemah has rides and games for kids and good food.