Tuesday, June 2, 2015

The Ultimate Houston, TX Travel Guide // The BEST of H-town!



HOUSTON is a massive melting pot of culture, arts, food, and different backgrounds, but it also has those true Texas roots that I just can't help but love. It's the combo of a modern appreciation for diversity mixed with a true southern very American nature. Houston is unique, and I'm proud to call it home! And was so excited to put together this Houston Travel Guide!

I've lived here for a couple years now and decided it's time for my very own BEST OF HOUSTON list!

I've been adding to this list for a while, mainly because it seemed overwhelming to take on all at once and because I am constantly discovering new places, eats, and things I love about this place! Also, if we're being honest, I didn't want the responsibility of narrowing it down--and because of that I'm sure I'll be amending/changing/editing this list from time to time!

But here we go...

Organized by geographic neighborhood, I've listed out our favorite sites, to-do's and of course--EATS. We love our food, and Houston does not lack in that department.


Neighborhood: The Heights

Things to do!
(Whether you're just visiting or new to Houston...or just have visitors coming into town, these are all great options and great photo ops!)

Adickes SculpturWorx Stuidio (aka The President Heads)

These are just two of the many presidents that they have there! It's totally random, but a fun stop especially if you are in the city already. It's fairly close to some of the other heights attractions as well. The "We Love Houston" sign above is also from here, however it's recently been moved and is now off of the side of the freeway also in The Heights area.

Oh and this attraction is FREE. Always a plus!


The Beer Can House (Website here)
Beer Can Houston Texas
Another very random attraction--yes, it's a house made of beer cans. Check out their website for some history.

$5/person (More info here)


The Love Fence (10th & Dorothy Street)
Sites Houston Heights

One day we stopped by this fence when we were in the neighborhood, and the owner/artist happened to come out. We were able to chat with her as she touched up the paint. There are so many colorful sites and people in The Heights!

Also, on the side of Gelazzi in the heights, you can check out this super fun mural!


The Art Car Museum (A fave of mine--Website here)
Houston Art Car Museum
Houston Art Car Museum
I've been to the Art Car Museum a few times now, and it never disappoints! They change up the cars every few months. I have never seen the same one twice. This will give you a fun taste of Houston's quirky side.


This attraction is also FREE, but--of course--you can always donate to the museum if you'd like!


Buffalo Bayou Park

See my detailed post HERE. We love this park! There is a little bit of everything--bike/running trails, nature path, dog park, art, and a beautiful view!





Things to Eat!

Papa Genos Houston Texas

Kraftsman Bakery: A favorite brunch spot of mine--my sister-in-law and I went on a tour of the best French Toast in Houston and their's is still one of my favorites!

Lola's: One of the first little places I went in Houston, and I always enjoy it when I'm in the area. Try the chicken and waffles!

Laredo Taqueria: Legit. Get the tacos--obviously.

Zelko Bistro: Been here a couple times now and it's delicious. I really don't think you can go wrong.

Gatlin's Barbeque: It's delicious and very popular--so prepare for crowds. Some say it's the best BBQ in Texas. I would recommend going early for dinner or lunch because once they're out they are out!

Papa Genos: I used to work right by this place, and it was so difficult not to go all the time! Get the #1 or the grilled chicken sandwich. Delish.

Decapos Pastry Cafe: BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER

Also, I recommend using Yelp when looking for good eats in The Heights area, because there is a lot. Yelp is used actively in this neighborhood and it has yet to let us down. You can see the highest rated spots--and see what is popular to get there.

Neighborhood: The Montrose/ Fourth Ward

Things to do!

Texas Junk Company

This store is true Texas, through and through! If you need some legit boots or just want a feel of Texas--make sure to stop by The Texas Junk Co. They are only open on Friday and Saturday from 11:00am-6:00pm and they only take cash or check. 

More details here!

The Menil Collection
Gorgeous collection of located in the Montrose/ Fourth Ward area. There is an interesting background/history to this museum. It really is a local treasure. I've been 3-4 times now and some of the exhibits stay the same, while others change. It never disappoints.

Also, I have no pictures from here because inside there is a museum attendant literally around every corner to keep people from taking pictures!

Check out their website here.


Shopping/ Galleries
There are lots of small private galleries, eclectic shops, and second-hand shopping in this area. It's a fun place to spend an afternoon, grab some lunch and walk from store to store.
More fun shopping & some great photo ops!

Things to Eat!

The Breakfast Klub: Just go, you won't regret it. It's so good, but the line will get really long! It usually moves pretty fast though. Try some chicken and waffles. .

Roost: We just went here a couple months ago with some friends--I was still in the nausea phase of my pregnancy and hesitant to try anything new, but I was so glad we did. I haven't enjoyed a meal this much in a long time. Everything we ordered was tasty. And make sure to top off your meal with homemade donut holes at the end! Delicious.

Torchy's Tacos: Great queso, great tacos, great everything. It definitely lives up to the hype.

Maine-ly Sandwiches: Two words, Lobster Roll. Yum. Atmosphere is kinda weird, but we don't care--we just like a good Lobster Roll. It's not a cheap sandwich, but I usually just get a 1/2 roll.

Mark's American Cuisine: Very romantic! It's built in an old church I believe, and it's such a unique atmosphere. Definitely not cheap, but we went here for our one year anniversary and it was such a special treat. The quail was delightful, but my favorite part was dessert! I don't think you can go wrong with any of their desserts.



Neighborhood: The Galleria/ River Oaks/ Highland Village

Things to do!

The Galleria
the galleria houston
Pretty much every store you could imagine in one giant shopping mall. Take an afternoon to do some shopping and maybe even stop off for some ice skating--there is an indoor rink!

They literally have every store here! Check out their website to see them all.



The Waterwall
 Just outside The Galleria, take a picnic lunch if the weather is nice--or at least make sure to take your camera. It's a classic Houston stop--and one of their landmarks that all visitors should stop by and see. You'll probably see some wedding or quinceanera photoshoots going on as well.

Highland Village Shopping

It is an outdoor shopping area (one of my favorites) with lots of home/interior décor shopping, boutiques, and high-end retail.  Different vibe from The Galleria--and a little less intense. Check out the Apple store! It's beautiful! And if you're into desserts--there is a Sprinkles Cupcakes right next door.

Pretty much every home décor shop can be found here, along with J.Crew, Anthropologie, Lululemon, Kate Spade...all sorts of good ones!


Things to eat!

Americas Restaurant (River Oaks): Fun vibe and great food!

Tiny Boxwoods (Highland Village): Literally is part of a garden/greenhouse and is so incredibly charming. Also, the have the BEST chocolate chip cookies that I've found in Houston.

Adair Kitchen (Galleria): Delicious Chicken and Waffles!

River Oaks Doughnuts: Some of the only good doughnuts in Houston! (For some reason we don't have a lot of great doughnut options...which makes me sad)


Neighborhood: Memorial/ Spring Branch

Things to Eat!

Thai Gourmet: One of our VERY favorite places in all of Houston. Pretty much everything is amazing but we usually go with the massaman curry, pad thai, and glass noodles! Please go here, it's SO yummy. It's 11pm at night when I'm finishing writing this review and I'm honestly salivating...suddenly feeling starved...wishing I could some of it's goodness in my tummy right now.

Korean Noodle House: This place is so legit. Get the seafood pancakes. For real, just do it.

Phoenicia: Get the Chicken Shawarma. Never met anyone who didn't love it. Oh, and add some pita bread and hummus. Yummmmm.

Ragin Cajun: Crawfish Po'boy for the win! And load up on the "Slap yo' mama" seasoning!


Neighborhood: Outside of the City (Day Trips)

Galveston


It's not about to win any "beautiful beaches" awards, but it's our Texas beach all the same! Another good beach option (and a slightly cleaner but smaller one) is Sylvan Beach Park!




Bluebonnets (seasonal)

We took this picture our first year here! Check out MY POST from last year's bluebonnets--with my baby bump! And see our post this year when we took Mila to see the bluebonnets for the first time! It was so lovely!



Bluebonnet season is most definitely one of my FAVORITE times of the year in Texas! Its absolutely stunning. I love this yearly tradition of ours--heading out into hill country and spending the afternoon in the bluebonnet filled countryside.

Here is the Bluebonnet sighting website: http://www.texasbluebonnetsightings.com/

We usually just head out towards Navasota--and it never fails!


Kemah Board Walk




See my Kemah Boardwalk post HERE. We just recently did this for the first time, and really enjoyed it. See more details and tips HERE.



RODEO

And then of course, we can't forget about the HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO! The biggest event of the year around here. Nonstop concerts and fun for weeks!
Make sure to visit the carnival afterwards and get yourself a fried oreo--they are my favorite! But you can really get anything and everything fried that you can possibly imagine. 


It really is one of my favorite times of the year!

So there you have it! My Houston, Texas Travel Guide! My home sweet home! And as always if any of y'all have anything else to add, please comment below! I plan on updating this list frequently.

XOXO.







41 comments:

  1. Love my little Texan. This list is awesome

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kristen, Long time no talk! I'm so glad to see that you've become the most well-rounded Houstonian ever - it looks like you've been EVERYWHERE in the city! Seriously! This guide is amazing!!! We still need to meet up!! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Omg hi! I can't believe it's been so long! Yes, I would LOVE to get together! Let's plan something! And I still go back and look at that Houston list you sent me! It's the best! Xo

      Delete
  3. Thanks for your list! My husband and I are visiting this week (rain, rain go away!!) and looking for some fun things to do and places to eat! Love it!

    Suzanne
    www.suzannehines.org

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great Post!! Thanks for sharing such an awesome post. I am finding this type of information since long time, because I am new native in Houston. This blog really helps me a lot for spending time with mine family on the weekends. Tell me one thing, someone suggested me http://www.dine-deal.com/ for getting food at discounted price in the famous restaurants of Houston. Should I download this follow this?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cheap car rental is not difficult to find. Booking vacation or business Car Rental Sicily in advance is recommended if you are traveling to a foreign country, but many people fail to do so and trust airport car hire firms to give them the car they need. They might get a car, but perhaps not the car rental they need! Booking in advance is preferred,

    ReplyDelete

  6. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well..

    Ref:- Beauty Courses in australia

    ReplyDelete
  7. When you think about tour then should think about guide too. Because they will guide in the whole tour. If you feeling to need a guide then visit best travel guides online here. Here you will find the best guide for your tour.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The past week in Houston was great. Saw some inspirational speeches, and met a lot of great people. I didn’t think I’d enjoy this city as much as I did, but I hope I get to enjoy this place again soon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Transportation is an essential part of all our lives. Some of us have our own vehicles; some of us travel by bus or train, while others choose delhi to jaipur cab for their everyday ride. There is another growing option for us today that is affordable and also very convenient - self drive car rentals. You can rent any type of car you want in terms of days, weeks and even months.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Each of us want our any function or occasion to be a memorable one. We want to see its long lasting impact. We certainly do not want it to be a simple or pale, instead, we want it to be vibrant and glamorous. The article throws light on how a car service atlantacan make our ordinary event into a glamorous one

    ReplyDelete
  12. Are you looking for professional movers packers pune? Here's an overview of the most essential aspects to consider when looking for professional packers and movers.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is a great post. I like this topic.This site has lots of advantage. It helps me in many ways.Thanks for posting this again. Hotels in Frankfurt-Oder

    ReplyDelete
  14. travelling is really helpful in keeping mind and body active and charge and if you have a reliable travel agency your chances of enjoying doubles.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi This a Great post. Keep posting such kind of info on your page. Im really impressed by it.

    you will learn professional beauty techniques. Starting with the basics, more advanced & professional beauty courses will be learned at Majestic Beauty Academy, beauty school in japan.

    ReplyDelete
  16. While travelling in Houston!! Delicious food is necessity of every tourist. To know about .delicious Indian food Restaurants in Houston Visit the Link

    ReplyDelete
  17. The concept of Dynamic Packaging is to bundle all the components chosen by the aspiring traveler and create one reservation. Regardless of where the inventory originates, the package that is created is handled seamlessly as one transaction, and requires only one payment from the consumer. browse this site

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Appreciate it! movers los angeles

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for your information, it was really very helpfull.. torrance moving company

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great post. Keep sharing good work. Avoid long time wait at the busy airport.
    Luton park and ride
    cheap park and ride Luton

    ReplyDelete
  21. The Gracious Angeli Travel and Tours Hotel can be a suitable place to stay in for tourists with small budgets. Avail of great amenities, services and more at the Gracious Angeli Travel and Tours Hotel in Baguio. https://travelwithtouragent.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22.  In order to decide which one is the right one to choose, it pays to spend a little time researching your various options by seeing what competing providers have to offer you. https://travelsmartvacation.com/

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wine travels and tours have become a staple part of the wine lovers' annual itinerary. There are thousands of wine travels and tours that commence every day and they are becoming increasingly popular as the years go by. https://travelbudgetonline.com/

    ReplyDelete
  24. In this particular article, you will see a summary, satisfy browse this post. strippers in Houston

    ReplyDelete
  25. Houston is the most ethnically diverse city in the country. That means their food & drink scene, local music & arts, and street culture are cool as hell.

    Dubai Dune Buggy Bashing

    ReplyDelete
  26. amazing . very well done this article is so professional .
    top travel agency in Karachi

    ReplyDelete
  27. The University I settled on for my semester studying away was the "Budapest University of Technology and Economics" or "BME" as it's known by the local Hungarians. budapest rental

    ReplyDelete
  28. I would like to recommend spending sometime in Budapest if only for a holiday too, such a wonderful city, I even wrote a blog about my student life there to assist with other considering the move. ingatlan budapest

    ReplyDelete
  29. Are you curious about planning a trip within the short term? If you are and if your holiday will require airline reservations, you may want to checkout online travel internet sites. Online travel web sites are an excellent way to rapidly make travel arrangements, as well as easy technique to compare costs. جولات سياحية

    ReplyDelete
  30. Travel Insurance is an essential part of any trip and is something that should not be put aside. Most soon-to-be travelers usually have heard about travel insurance, but might not know the specific reasons why they need travel insurance. This is an important article about frequently asked questions for travel insurance. this page

    ReplyDelete
  31. Travel Insurance is an essential part of any trip and is something that should not be put aside. Most soon-to-be travelers usually have heard about travel insurance, but might not know the specific reasons why they need travel insurance. This is an important article about frequently asked questions for travel insurance. Luchthavenvervoer Ternat

    ReplyDelete
  32. Spot up with this write-up, I truly think this website requirements a lot more consideration. I’ll oftimes be again to read additional, thank you that info. 게임 링크 빌딩

    ReplyDelete
  33. Travel Insurance is an essential part of any trip and is something that should not be put aside. Most soon-to-be travelers usually have heard about travel insurance, but might not know the specific reasons why they need travel insurance. This is an important article about frequently asked questions for travel insurance. Niagara Tour from Toronto

    ReplyDelete
  34. A lot of people, when they travel, find themselves tense and worried. While it is it natural to feel excited when leaving home and exploring another destination, it is also a normal feeling to be anxious and thus feel the need to find ways to protect their health and well-being, as well as the act of travelling itself. What if there is a sudden change of plans like an accident or a weather disturbance, or if other unforeseen events occur? Travel plans may have to be postponed, cut short or cancelled altogether. Niagara Tour from Toronto

    ReplyDelete
  35. Grand Canyon National Park during Labor Day is awesome. Especially if you take an airplane tour from Las Vegas or South Rim. Learn more about these incredible flights. Read this article. برنامج سياحي في السعودية

    ReplyDelete
  36. I am very happy to discover your post as it will become on top in my collection of favorite blogs to visit. Packers and Movers Pune to Hyderabad

    ReplyDelete
  37. Consider the holiday season to some brand new degree through making unique product packaging for the items which indicates the languedoc roussillon holiday season tend to be right here. This can appeal to purchasers as well as assist all of them picture your own choices since the perfect vacation present. Bundle several items collectively for any designed present bundle or even supply present covering providers to create this actually simpler for any client to obtain their own vacation to-do checklist carried out through purchasing out of your company.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Travel Insurance is an essential part of any trip and is something that should not be put aside. Most soon-to-be travelers usually have heard about travel insurance, but might not know the specific reasons why they need travel insurance. This is an important article about frequently asked questions for travel insurance. dubai desert safari

    ReplyDelete