The Houston Museum of Natural Science, one of the most heavily attended museums in the U.S., features the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center, permanent exhibit halls and traveling exhibitions.

Drift away in the midst of exotic and native plants, flowers and trees complimented by butterflies, birds and other wildlife that make up the Houston Botanic Garden. It is easy to discover and connect with the beauty and splendor of nature in the Garden’s 132 acres surrounded by Sims Bayou in what once was a public golf course.

Houston Botanic Garden features a collection of themed gardens including Global, Culinary, Stormwater Wetlands and the Coastal Prairie. Each garden provides a unique opportunity for visitors to explore hundreds of species related to a specific environment, from tropical to subtropical to edible and medicinal plants. The Woodland Glade, Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden and Community Garden allow interactive discovery for visitors of every age and even offer a place for outdoor events like weddings.

Education and research are a critical part of Houston Botanic Garden’s mission, so a number of programs and cultural events are planned throughout the year, including things like cooking demonstrations, lectures and performances. The real bonus is while learning about conservation, planting, growing, sustainability and flood control, visitors are also able to simply getaway and relax in the beauty serenity of nature.

Hard for anyone to believe the Garden is just a few miles from busy downtown Houston and Hobby Airport. Houston Botanic Garden calls itself an outdoor museum, inspired by nature, so grab a pair of comfy shoes and explore the world-class botanic garden that is certain to become a Houston institution.

The Houston Botanic Garden is located at One Botanic Lane at 8210 Park Place Blvd., Houston, TX 77016 and open Monday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Try one of the many amazing barbecue spots throughout Houston. Check out this list of places to check out:

https://www.visithoustontexas.com/restaurants-and-bars/cultural-fare/awesome-bbq-spots-in-houston/

Feel free to go shopping at one of the biggest malls in Houston! You can ice skate, walk around high end designers, or eat at one of the many restaurants in the mall (we recommend Del Frisco's!).