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From the everyday to the esoteric, Houston attractions are sure to satisfy almost any curiosity. The Houston Space Center, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Zoo and surrounding parks offer family-friendly activities, and the Houston Museum District is sure to please even the most discerning art patron. Sports fans will marvel at the modernity of Minute Maid Park and Reliant Park, as well as the recently constructed Toyota Center. For those seeking attractions off the beaten path, Houston sights such as the Orange Show Monument and the National Museum of Funeral History will undoubtedly appease a desire for the unusual. Any way you slice it, Houston has something for everyone.
Reliant Stadium, 8334 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas: Tel. 832.667.1000
The biggest event of the year in Houston is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Riders compete in traditional rodeo events, while national and international superstar musical entertainers perform nightly for sell-out crowds. The Houston Rodeo is home to the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.
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Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast
The Beaches of South Walton is a premier Florida vacation destination. When the heat and day-to-day hustle of Houston becomes tiring, an escape to one of these 15 fabulous beachside towns might be just what the doctor ordered. Each town boasts its own collection of beaches, restaurants, clubs, art galleries and shops, not to mention its own personality, ranging from quiet and romantic to fun and family friendly. And since each town is within minutes of the next, all of the individual offerings are at travelers’ fingertips no matter which resort destination they choose.
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410 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002; Tel. 713.223.FISH
Sea creatures of every shape and size are on view at the Downtown Aquarium. A great place for family fun.
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Houston Studio Glass Studio
610 Jackson Hill, Houston, TX 77227; Tel. 1.713.802.0500
Call for exhibition and glass blowing demonstrations times.
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1513 N. MacGregor, Houston, Texas 77030; Tel. 713.533.6500
The Houston Zoo covers an expanse of 55 acres and is home to thousands of animals that represent more than 500 species, from the winged inhabitants of the Tropical Bird House to the slithering reptiles in one of the nation's largest collections of venomous snakes.
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1001 South Lynchburg Road, Baytown, TX 77520; Tel. 281.424.3521
The historic Lynchburg Ferry service played a vital role in Texas' fight for independence in 1836. Although short, the ride is enjoyable and the scenery is beautiful, making the 10-mile drive from the city to the ferry dock well worth it.
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Bounded by Travis, Milam, Congress and Preston streets, Market Square has remained a geographic centerpiece of downtown Houston since the arrival of the Allen Brothers (the city's “founders”) more than 150 years ago.
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6501 Memorial, Houston, TX 77098
Spread over more than 1400 acres, Memorial Park offers a variety of activities and excursions including six miles of recreational trails along the bayou (perfect for biking or jogging) and the behemoth Memorial Park Golf Course.
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1515 Sul Ross, Houston, Texas 77006; Tel. 713.525.9400
The Menil Collection houses more than 15,000 works in four major categories: Antiquity, Byzantine and Medieval, Tribal and 20th Century Arts.
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1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005; Tel. 713.639.7300 or 713.639.7310
With a collection of more than 45,000 works housed in a family of buildings that boast 300,000 square feet of space, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is the fifth largest museum in the country.
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415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, TX 77090; Tel. 281.876.3063
The National Museum of Funeral History dedicates itself to the history and heritage of the undertaker.
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1601 NASA Road 1, Houston, TX 77058; Tel. 281.244.2100
Space Center Houston is about as close as you can get to the moon without actually going there. Through a combination of live presentations, film and a large collection of artifacts, visitors to the Houston Space Center learn everything there is to know about the history of human space travel.
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5085 Westheimer Rd., Suite 4850, Houston, TX 77056; Tel. 713.622.0663
One of the largest shopping malls in the nation, The Houston Galleria houses an indoor skating rink, two hotels and 2.4 million square feet of shops, in addition to office buildings, theaters and restaurants.
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1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004
Providing the ultimate journey—inside you—it lets guests explore giant sculptures of human organs, including a brain, ribs and even teeth, at the Amazing Body Pavilion.
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One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030; Tel. 713.639.4629
Giant dinosaurs, precious gems and ancient Egyptian artifacts are all on display at The Houston Museum of Natural Science, one of Houston's most popular attractions for locals and tourists alike.
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2401 Munger Street, Houston, Texas 77023; Tel. 713.926.6368
It took more than twenty years for the late Jefferson Davis McKissack to construct this homage to the orange, his favorite fruit, and the end result is a unique, albeit bizarre architectural novelty that consists of a series of mazes, a wishing well and frog pond, amongst other features.
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-- Houston attractions reviewed by Joy Howard
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