Houston, Texas

A great piece of Texas history. Located in the battlefield where Texas gained its independence from Mexico, this museum, situated at the base of the 567-foot tall San Jacinto Monument, holds one of the largest collections of Texan art, artifacts, and history. Take an elevator ride to the top of the tower to get beautiful views of the area where the battles took place.

Visitors can walk through the aquarium exhibits and amaze themselves with an unexpected exhibit of white tigers. Outside, a Ferris wheel and other rides make for a fair-like atmosphere. There's a train that takes you around the small complex, stopping in the middle of an acrylic tunnel tank filled with sharks that swim above you. The aquarium contains, all in all, more than 200 species of marine life. Apart from the exhibits and fun rides, the Downtown Aquarium also features a restaurant, a bar, a ballroom, and a gift shop.

Recently named one of America’s great public spaces, this massive green area in the heart of Houston is a great opportunity for those looking to mingle with the locals, do some outdoor activities or just lay down on the grass and relax. Around the park, you'll find paddle boats for rent, jogging and bike trails, a bird island, a golf course, a Japanese garden, the Miller Outdoor Theater as well as the Houston Zoo.

One of the most heavily attended museums in the U.S., the Houston Museum of Natural Science showcases within its permanent exhibits a paleontology hall, the McFerrin Fabergé collection, a gems and minerals hall, as well as an energy hall. You'll also find an IMAX theater, a planetarium, plus world-class traveling exhibitions.

The Battleship Texas in La Porte provides an educational experience for visitors. It takes about three hours to tour the ship on the inside and on the decks. There is also a great video that tells the story of the Battleship Texas and the important role it has played in both World Wars.

The Museum of Fine Arts offers a fantastic collection spanning classical to modern art, and every period in between. This huge museum has two gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, visitors center, library, café, movie theater, two art schools, two house museums, and two gift shops.

The Children's Museum Of Houston is a huge playground with innovative and interactive exhibits for kids up to 12 years old. This is the place for family fun and children's activities. You can easily spend the whole day here.

The Houston Zoo has over 6,000 animals housed in natural settings, with beautiful trees and flowers. This is a great place to experience animal life and its different ecosystems.

An emotional, but inspirational experience. This building shaped as a cylinder houses a memorial and museum dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. Be warned, the exhibitions can be difficult to explore due to the graphic photos and videos.

Former home of Houston philanthropist and collector Ima Hogg, this gigantic 28-room mansion was donated by her and turned into a museum where visitors have a chance to experience the elegant lifestyle from 1620 to 1870 through a collection of American furniture and artwork. The beautiful gardens and surrounding wooded areas make for a lovely and relaxing stroll.

Look up and admire the tallest building in Texas. The JPMorgan Chase Tower was built in 1981. Unfortunately, the tower's observation deck on the 60th floor is closed indefinitely.

This imposing baseball stadium is the home of the Houston Astros. If you can catch a game here during your visit, go and marvel at the stadium's retractable roof, air conditioning system, and even the great views of the downtown skyline from the higher decks.