01

Day 01

The Museum District & Hermann Park

World-class museums, gardens and a free show under the stars.

1. Morning

   Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

   Start at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and walk through James Turrell's tunnel of colored light.

2. Late Morning

   Houston Museum of Natural Science

   Cross to the natural science museum for the dinosaur hall and the butterfly center.

3. Lunch

   Museum District

   Have lunch at Le Jardinier inside the art museum, or at a casual cafe nearby.

4. Afternoon

   Hermann Park

   Stroll the Japanese Garden and McGovern Centennial Gardens, or rent a pedal boat on the lake.

5. Late Afternoon

   Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

   Stop at the free contemporary art museum across from the MFAH.

6. Evening

   Miller Outdoor Theatre or Montrose

   Catch a free performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre, or head to Montrose for dinner.

02

Day 02

Space Center Houston & Clear Lake

Spacecraft, Mission Control and sunset by the bay.

1. Morning

   Space Center Houston

   Drive southeast to Space Center Houston and take an early tram tour into NASA's Johnson Space Center.

2. Late Morning

   Independence Plaza

   Walk through the shuttle replica and its carrier aircraft.

3. Lunch

   Space Center Houston

   Have lunch at the center's cafe between exhibits.

4. Afternoon

   Space Center galleries

   Explore the spacecraft, moon rocks and astronaut exhibits.

5. Late Afternoon

   Kemah Boardwalk

   Head to the Kemah Boardwalk on the bay for rides and views.

6. Evening

   Kemah or Clear Lake

   Have seafood by the water before driving back to the city.

03

Day 03

Montrose, the Menil & Buffalo Bayou

Art, contemplation, the bayou and a great dinner.

1. Morning

   The Menil Collection

   Explore the free Menil Collection and the Cy Twombly Gallery.

2. Late Morning

   Rothko Chapel

   Walk a few blocks to the Rothko Chapel for a quiet moment.

3. Lunch

   Montrose

   Have lunch in Montrose, such as barbecue at The Pit Room or modern West African at ChòpnBlọk.

4. Afternoon

   Buffalo Bayou Park

   Walk or bike the bayou trails, and book a tour of the Cistern.

5. Late Afternoon

   Waugh Drive Bat Colony

   In warm months, watch the bats leave the Waugh Drive Bridge at dusk.

6. Evening

   Montrose dinner

   End with dinner at March or BCN Taste & Tradition, booked well in advance.

04

Day 04

Downtown, the East End & EaDo

Houston's birthplace, folk art, fajitas and a ballgame.

1. Morning

   Allen's Landing & Market Square

   Start where Houston was founded, at Allen's Landing, then walk to Market Square Park.

2. Late Morning

   Discovery Green

   Explore the lively downtown park and its public art.

3. Lunch

   The Original Ninfa's on Navigation

   Have fajitas at the East End restaurant that popularized them.

4. Afternoon

   The Orange Show and Smither Park

   Visit the folk art maze and the mosaic park, checking opening hours first.

5. Late Afternoon

   EaDo murals

   Walk the murals around Shell Energy Stadium.

6. Evening

   Daikin Park or the Theater District

   Catch an Astros game, or a show in the Theater District.

05

Day 05

Uptown, Memorial Park & the Heights

A roaring fountain, a big park and barbecue in the Heights.

1. Morning

   Memorial Park

   Walk or run the trails and visit the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center.

2. Late Morning

   The Galleria

   Browse Texas's largest shopping center.

3. Lunch

   The Heights

   Have barbecue at Truth BBQ or Pinkerton's, arriving early.

4. Afternoon

   Beer Can House

   Visit the house covered in beer cans in Rice Military.

5. Late Afternoon

   Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

   Feel the spray of the Waterwall as the light fades.

6. Evening

   The Heights

   Have drinks and dinner on 19th Street or in the Heights.

06

Day 06

Day Trip to Galveston

Beaches, Victorian architecture and Gulf seafood.

1. Morning

   Galveston Seawall

   Drive about an hour south and walk or bike along the Seawall.

2. Late Morning

   Moody Gardens or the beach

   Visit the glass pyramids of Moody Gardens, or relax on the beach.

3. Lunch

   Galveston

   Have Gulf seafood on the island.

4. Afternoon

   The Strand

   Explore the historic Strand district and its Victorian buildings.

5. Late Afternoon

   Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry

   Ride the free ferry and watch for dolphins.

6. Evening

   Seawall sunset

   Watch the evening light over the Gulf before driving back to Houston.

07

Day 07

San Jacinto, the Third Ward & Asiatown

Texas independence, Black history and a food crawl.

1. Morning

   San Jacinto Monument

   Drive east to the San Jacinto battlefield and its monument, checking what is open during restoration.

2. Late Morning

   San Jacinto Battleground

   Walk the battlefield trail and read the markers.

3. Lunch

   East End

   Have tacos or Tex-Mex in the East End on the way back.

4. Afternoon

   Third Ward

   Visit Project Row Houses and Emancipation Park, bought in 1872 to celebrate Juneteenth.

5. Late Afternoon

   Twilight Epiphany Skyspace

   Reserve the sunset light sequence at James Turrell's Skyspace at Rice University.

6. Evening

   Asiatown on Bellaire Boulevard

   End with a food crawl: crawfish, pho, dumplings or hot pot.