ONE-DAY ITINERARIES
24 Hours in Houston? The Itineraries below provide helpful suggestions and activities grouped by common areas of interest. If you are looking for the cultural scene, family friendly activities, sporting events, exciting nightlife, or shopping tips see below...
Houston's Cultural Scene
Enjoy Houston's rich cultural scene by visiting one of the more than 30 museums in the city or at a world-class theater performance in its renowned Theater District. With nearly 16,000 theater seats, Houston's 17-block Theater District is the second largest in the country with distinctive, state-of-the-art venues, convenient to downtown restaurants, hotels, and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Houston is also one of a few U.S. cities with resident companies in all the major performing arts disciplines - opera, theater, symphony and ballet. www.houstontheaterdistrict.org
Morning
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Founded in 1900, Texas' first municipal art museum now houses an encyclopedic permanent collection. The addition in 2000 of the $83 million, 192,400 sq. ft. Audrey Jones Beck Building more than doubled the museum's exhibition space, making the MFAH the nation's sixth largest art museum. Highlights of the museum include the Straus Collection of Renaissance and 18th-century art and the Beck Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including the creations of Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Paul Gaugin. Located in 1001 Bissonnet; for more information call 713-639-7300 or visit www.mfah.org.
Houston Museum of Natural Science - At the nation's fourth most highly attended museum, a star attraction is a spectacular $6 million assembly of more than 600 mineral specimens. A 70-foot dinosaur skeleton, Native American artifacts, astronaut suits and space station models are part of the permanent collections. The Burke Baker Planetarium lets visitors experience the universe through star shows and laser-rock shows. The Wortham IMAX Theatre shows IMAX films on a six-story screen and the Cockrell Butterfly Center houses over 2,000 live butterflies in a six-story glass cone. Located in One Hermann Circle Drive; for more information call 713-639-4600 or visit www.hmns.org.
Afternoon
The Menil Collection - The work of world-renowned art collectors and philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil, this 15,000-piece collection ranges from Byzantine and tribal art, to the 20th-century schools of Cubism, Minimalism and Pop, to exceptional Surrealist works by Ernst and Magritte. The Cy Twombly Gallery showcases some 35 works of the contemporary artist. Located in 1515 Sul Ross; for more information call 713-525-9400 or visit www.menil.org.
Two related institutions are located on the nearby grounds. The eight-sided Rothko Chapel is an ecumenical space adorned only by 14 paintings executed expressly for it by modern artist Mark Rothko. The reflecting pool in front of the chapel contains Barnet Newman's sculptural memorial to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Broken Obelisk. Located in 3900 Yupon at Sul Ross; for more information call 713-524-9839. The Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum houses two 13th-century frescoes from Cyprus, the only pieces of this size or quality representing this period to have ever been seen in the Western Hemisphere. Located in the Corner Branard & Yupon Streets; for more information call 713-622-8724.
The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens showcases 17th, 18th and 19th-century American paintings, furniture, silver and ceramics that are considered among the finest collections of American decorative arts in the nation in the home of the late Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. Located in One Westcott St.; for more information call 713-520-2600
Family Fun
Have a blast when visiting Houston with your family. Exotic fish aquariums, a shark tunnel and a spectacular view of the downtown skyline from atop of the Ferris Wheel at the Downtown Aquarium www.downtownaquarium.com. Let the kids explore the world while having fun at the Children's Museum of Houston, or pet their favorite animal at the Children's Zoo.
Morning
The Children's Museum of Houston - The Children's Museum encourages children ages 4 months to 14 years to touch, experiment and ask questions. The joyous, colorful building invites children inside, where they explore a variety of subjects through hands-on participation. Located in 1500 Binz; for more information call 713-522-1138 or visit www.cmhouston.org
Afternoon
The Houston Zoo - Home to more than 5,000 animals, representing more than 700 species, the Houston Zoo is the most-visited zoo in the Southwest. Highlights include the $6.7 million Wortham World of Primates, a lush 2.2-acre rainforest and natural habitat for 13 species of prosimians, monkeys and apes, and the hands-on John P. McGovern Children's Zoo, featuring a petting zoo and kid-sized exhibits that bring curious tots right into the animal's habitats. Located in 1513 N. MacGregor in Hermann Park; for more information call 713-533-6500 or visit www.houstonzoo.org.
Houston’s Nightlife
Be a star and shine your best after the sun goes down in Houston! Downtown, Richmond and Montrose are the hottest spots for night entertainment.
The Main Event! -Houston's premier downtown entertainment destination features sidewalk cafes, a pedestrian-friendly environment spanning Main Street from Congress to Capitol streets, live entertainment, laser light shows, street performers, the "Man on Main" roving reporter and some of the city's best restaurants and nightlife every Friday and Saturday night.The Richmond Area -Just South of the Galleria, you can find Richmond Street. One of Houston's hottest nightlife areas, it is alive with clubs, pubs and discos that feature rock, karaoke, country and more.
Montrose Area - Located just South of downtown, this bohemian area of Houston offers quaint cafes, bars, boutique shops and clubs that highlight Houston's artistic side.
Outdoors and Sports
New sports facilities with the latest technology to better accommodate both the teams and fans, as well as professional teams in football, baseball, basketball and hockey make Houston a true sports city. Additionally, Houston's temperate climate means golfers can play 12 months a year. With more than 165 public and private golf courses with relatively inexpensive fees, golf is one of Houston's most popular pastimes. Houston also offers a number of parks and the beaches of Galveston at only 50 miles away from downtown Houston.
Don't miss the opportunity to see one of Houston's professional sports teams in action.
- Houston Astros - Baseball -www.astros.com
- Houston Rockets - Men's Basketball - www.nba.com/rockets
- Houston Comets - Women's Basketball - www.wnba.com/comets
- Houston Aeros - Hockey - www.aeros.com
- Houston Texans - Football - www.houstontexans.com
Galveston Beaches - Galveston Island is widely known for its 32 miles of beautiful Gulf beaches, in addition to its Victorian homes and shops. The beach nourishment project added as much as 150 feet of sand to the beaches from 10th Street to 61st Street along Seawall Boulevard. Located in I-45 South, exit 61st Street to Seawall; for more information call 409-763-4311 or visit www.galveston.com.
Shopping
Houston is an internationally acclaimed shopping destination that includes deluxe malls with hundreds of stores, class European-style shopping centers, eclectic shopping districts in historic neighborhoods and bargain filled outlets.
Where to Shop 
Click here for a comprehensive list of shoping spots in Houston.
Insider's Look
Take an inside look into Houston's shopping scene.
Boutique Guide
From classy couture to street chic, check out Houston's best boutiques.
Fashion Forward
Read about Houston's cutting-edge designers.
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