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With a whole world to explore choosing a destination for your next trip can be overwhelming, but our River Oaks Travel Agency Team is here to help. Explore our in-depth destination travel guides for destination must knows, can’t miss experiences and hotel recommendations from savvy travelers – then reach out to an advisor to start planning your amazing journey!

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World Travels LLC is a full-service luxury travel agency headquartered in Houston, Texas. We specialize in domestic and international vacations, cruises, honeymoons, and more. We can assist with couple getaways, international & domestic travel, group travel, birthdays, destination weddings, tours & excursions, villa rentals, consulting, planning and travel booking. No matter the destination "We'll take you there".

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Why Choose World Travels?

World Travels, LLC is equipped with the tools and connections to guarantee personal attention to each and every one of our clients, developing them into a true travel connoisseur. Our knowledgeable and friendly travel agents are committed to providing you the best customer service experience, personalized itineraries and an unsurpassed luxury experience both domestically and internationally.

Our company prides itself on the fact that we are a dedicated full-service travel agency. Whether you are a solo traveler, planning a group vacation or a couple, World Travels is the ideal choice for anyone planning a trip or dream vacation at any time of the year.

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Are you looking for ideas on where to go and what to do on your trip? Our travel consulting services will match you with the ideal destination.

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Here at World Travels, LLC, our mission is to help people travel smartly worldwide, one destination at a time.

Our vision is to be the world’s most trusted and innovative travel planning agency, elevating the global travel experience for the BIPOC community.

Contact our travel agency at (800) 860-9876 in Houston, TX, for all of your consulting, vacation planning, and travel booking needs.

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World Travels, LLC helped me to plan a trip for myself and 9 family members in Cabo. While COVID cancelled our original June 2020 plan, Shenita and her company worked with us to get everything rebooked and rescheduled for June 2021. She was responsive and intentional with her communication. She kept us on schedule with deadlines and timetables and communicated with us until the time of our departure and soon after we returned home! I would recommend World Travels, LLC and I look forward to using them again in the future.

Happy Clients

Shenita and her staff at World Travels are phenomenal! This is the 2nd all-inclusive trip that I've booked through them and I am ready planning the 3rd. Riu Baja California Palace is impeccable and her recommendations were incredible. As far as the eye could see, powdery sand and crystal clear turquoise water were marvelous. Shenita is top notch and treats clients amazingly well.

Dr. Tameka L.

Shenita was excellent to work with in planning our honeymoon in Bora Bora!!!!! We were lost until contacting her. She planned everything from the beginning to the end. Very informative and responsive. We definitely will utilize her and her team in the future! We appreciate you so much! XO, Mr. & Mrs. Davis

I’ve booked two trips with World Travels and the service was great. Our honeymoon was no exception. Shenita and Cassie helped us navigate the COVID-19 restrictions in Hawaii, found an amazing luxury adults only resort and was available to us throughout the trip for any issues that came up. It was great to have our transportation needs to and from the airport already scheduled as well. I highly recommend her team.

Danielle C.

World Travels gave me the best of both worlds. From their amazing customer service to an affordable & hassle-free travel experience, I’m extremely satisfied. My experience with this company left me breathless (in a good way!) Shenita booked me in amazing resort with beautiful amenities and excellent cuisine and service. Destination: Cancun, Mexico

Shenita was very easy to work with and I would definitely use her again. My trip to St. Lucia was everything I wanted it to be. My accommodations were beyond my expectations. I would highly recommend.

I have worked with World Travels twice and both have been enjoyable experiences. The team is very responsive to questions and always willing to make suggestions of things to do on your trip. They arranged ground transportation for us and coordinated reasonable payment plans for the group. The team is knowledgeable of various destinations and the best places to stay.

Shenita is an amazing travel agent! She was very patient with me during the planning process. She is , accessible, knowledgeable, and accommodating! I highly recommend her for any travel needs. I plan to utilize her service again for my next trip.

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Shenita and her staff did an amazing job planning our Couple's Cancun Trip. She planned everything from beginning to end. Our trip was everything we wanted. Her recommendations and suggestions were very helpful. We will use World Travels LLC again.

This was a trip of fun and memories for a life time of anniversary .

My very first solo trip to San Pedro, Belize and World Travels did an amazing job. They planned everything out for me which relieved the anxiety and stress I had. The villa was gorgeous and the staff was top notch! I am definitely keeping World Travels as my agent from now on!

It was so reassuring to work with Shenita and her team. They were resourceful, dependable, and most importantly knowledgeable. They offered suggestions and went above and beyond to exceed my expectations.

World Travels LLC planned my 40th birthday trip. Shenita made it the process so easy that I didn't have to worry about the stress of organizing a trip. I will definitely use this service for a future trip. Highly recommend!

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Welcome to Well Traveled Texan, global travel advisors. True luxury travel is about letting us plan your trip, all you do is show up. It’s how we deliver The World, Well Done.

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Well Traveled Texan’s Custom Travel Planning Service starts with a partnership where your needs meet our experience. Details always matter. We design every itinerary based on your travel style, timing, wish list and budget, booking the best accommodations, transportation, tours and local experiences to reveal the magic of every destination. Not sure where to go? We’ve literally, been everywhere – and always share our honest thoughts on the best place to enjoy your next great adventure. It’s how we deliver The World, Well Done.

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There are cities that claim to be melting pots, but they can't compare to Houston. There is no single racial or ethnic majority here, and 25 of every 1,000 refugees in the world settles down to stay. Each community in this sprawling, highway-riddled metropolis brings its own flavor to Texas' "by your bootstraps" spirit, meaning you can get Ethiopian kifto, Vietnamese pho, Mexican mole, and good ole' Texas barbecue within a 10-mile radius. There's culture at every turn here, with more than 150 museums throughout the city—and a March rodeo that puts the rest to shame. Ever heard the saying, "Everything's bigger in Texas"? They were talking about Houston.

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Elite Eventz is a Houston based wedding and special event planning boutique that specializes in creating, managing, and producing memorable eventz.  Elite Eventz’ extensive network of only the finest vendors, venue spaces, and creative minds create eventz unparalleled by any other event planning organization. We offer an array of event management & production services such as corporate meetings & events, milestone birthdays, galas, showers, quinceaneras and bar mitzvahs.  And in our wedding division we offer day of coordination, partial & full service planning and destination weddings both nationally and abroad.  Everything is at your fingertips and completely customized for your individual needs.  Elite Eventz has executed a multitude of highly successful eventz since its establishment in 2009.

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Elite Eventz team is experienced and skilled in successfully executing from start to finish an array of cultural events and weddings.  We strive to create an event that is the perfect combination of religious customs, culture, traditions, elegance, grace and even that touch of modern fusion events. No matter what the culture or religion Elite Eventz is there to help see that your event goes off without a hitch and is everything you envisioned.  Our planners are certified and participate in continued education to stay aware of cultural norms and traditions along with those new emerging trends.  We’ve handled South Asian/Desi (Indian & Pakistani) weddings, Jewish weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs, Quinceaneras, Nigerian, Haitian, Hispanic, Indonesian, Chinese, Korean, and Jamaican weddings and events just to name a few!!!

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At Elite Travel & Adventures we plan private trips for both solo and group travelers as well as public group meet ups for any vacation or holiday you might be planning.  We are a source for adventurous travelers to learn, gain free tips, download free itineraries, keep up with the owner Erica Christine’s latest travel adventures, and hire a travel planner for your next vacation. If you love travel, adventure and have a huge bucket-list but don't know where to start with the planning we definitely gotcha covered. ​

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After 10 years in the event industry, the owner Erica Christine is excited to expand the scoop of her work by adding  Interior Design as an additional component of the Elite Collective portfolio (Elite Interior & Design). For years she's turned blank canvas' (venues) into beautiful & functional works of art and now she plans to do the same in the interior design world. Many industry friends, vendors and past clients continuously reached out to Erica Christine over the years for pricing, but she wasn't sure about changing a fun hobby into something with more structure, but the time is definitely now in year 10! After all others will definitely benefit from her extreme organizational skills and eye for filling empty spaces. Elite Interior & Design focuses on two main components; Interior Deign and Interior Organization. So if you're looking for a closet/pantry organizer, a room make-over or a complete remodel we are definitely the team for you for both commercial and residential properties. 

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Plan your trip to Houston. Start by getting to the destination from your hometown. Then figure out where to stay (like Hotel ZaZa), find things to see and do (like Houston Galleria), and research places to eat (like Uchi).

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5-Day Houston Itinerary

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• Houston in 5 days
• 1-Day Houston Itinerary
• 2-Day Houston Itinerary
• 3-Day Houston Itinerary
• 4-Day Houston Itinerary

Table of contents

Day 1: most popular attractions, day 2: center of town, day 3: off the beaten path, day 4: proximity is everything, day 5: keep it simple, space center houston.

Kemah Boardwalk

Houston zoo, hermann park.

Miller Outdoor Theatre

Where to eat, the pit room, bcn taste & tradition, the galleria, gerald d. hines waterwall park, houston arboretum & nature center, memorial park, river oaks shopping center, the menil collection, buffalo bayou park, 93' til, burger-chan, the capital grille, minute maid park, shell energy stadium, discovery green, downtown aquarium, market square park, niko niko's, huynh restaurant, houston museum of natural science, mcgovern centennial gardens, the health museum, japanese garden, the breakfast klub, hungry's, brennan's of houston, top searches in houston, popular road trips from houston, what's the weather like in houston.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Houston for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Houston in January
• Weather in Houston in February
• Weather in Houston in March
• Weather in Houston in April
• Weather in Houston in May
• Weather in Houston in June
• Weather in Houston in July
• Weather in Houston in August
• Weather in Houston in September
• Weather in Houston in October
• Weather in Houston in November
• Weather in Houston in December

All road trips from Houston

• Houston to New York City drive
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• Houston to Mexico City drive
• Houston to Nashville drive
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• Houston to Memphis drive
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• Houston to St. Augustine drive
• Houston to Boston drive
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• Houston to Saint Louis drive
• Houston to Miami Beach drive
• Houston to Niagara Falls drive
• Houston to Playa del Carmen drive
• Houston to Fredericksburg drive
• Houston to Charleston drive
• Houston to Philadelphia drive
• Houston to Tampa drive

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• South Houston
• Missouri City
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• Channelview
• Jersey Village
• Friendswood
• Taylor Lake Village
• League City

All related maps of Houston

• Map of Houston
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• Map of Pasadena
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Houston throughout the year

• Houston in January
• Houston in February
• Houston in March
• Houston in April
• Houston in May
• Houston in June
• Houston in July
• Houston in August
• Houston in September
• Houston in October
• Houston in November
• Houston in December

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The Ultimate 3 Days in Houston Itinerary (2024 Guide)

• Last Updated: February 4, 2024

Trying to find great activities and attractions in Houston? Our Houston itinerary is all you need to plan the perfect trip!

Houston, the fourth most populous city in the United States, has a little bit of everything for travelers, making it one of the best places to visit in Texas .

Perhaps its most known attraction is the Space Center. It lives up to its billing but it’s not enough to fill a three-day itinerary.

Luckily, Houston is much more than meets the eye thanks to its range of cultural districts that present solo travelers, friends, couples, and families with plenty to see and do.

Start your day at any one of Houston’s numerous gorgeous parks. Walk, ride or paddle to discover the natural side of the large, modern city.

Beyond the parks are fascinating museums, malls to scratch the shopping itch, and live sports in each direction.

Read Next: Don’t forget to check out our list of the 21 best things to do in Houston before your trip as well!

Table of Contents

Day 1 Morning

Day 1 afternoon, day 1 evening, day 2 morning, day 2 afternoon, day 2 evening, day 3 morning , day 3 afternoon, day 3 evening, when is the best time to visit houston, getting around houston .

• Best Hostel in Houston: Wanderstay Houston
• Best Mid-Range Hotel in Houston: Cambria Hotel

Best Luxury Hotel in Houston

How to spend 3 days in houston itinerary.

Yep, Houston is a huge city. Neighborhoods are spread out, each with something great to offer. Thankfully, we’ve wrapped it up with a nice bow on top.

A few of the attractions in this itinerary cost money, such as the Space Center Houston, the Zoo, and a number of museums.

To save a bit of money on these amazing attractions, we highly recommend getting the Houston CityPASS .

The pass allows you to choose 5 Houston attractions and enjoy a discounted price. You can save 50% on the entry fees, so it’s definitely worth it!

Day 1 in Houston

Your 3 days in Houston starts with a head of steam as you visit the Space Center Houston before kicking back for an evening in Hermann Park.

For travelers, one of the top reasons for visiting Houston is because of its connection with the exploration of space. “ Houston, we have a problem”  isn’t just a line from a movie.

So start your weekend in Houston with a bang and head straight to the  Space Center Houston . The incredible complex offers both quality and quantity, so be sure to leave as much time as you like to get the most out of the experience.

Begin at the official visitor center where you’ll embark on a hands-on experience. It’s insightful and thrilling for young and old.

Within minutes you can wander inside a recreation of America’s original space station known as the SkyLab . Your eyes will pop as you gaze upon the same instruments used by astronauts decades ago.

In addition to the fascinating gadgets, there is also a real rock taken from the moon!

The thrills don’t end there. Jump on board the open-air tram and make your way across to the Johnson Space Center where you can see mission control, where the action goes down and history is made.

Book your ticket to the Space Center online in advance here !

• Address:  2101 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058
• Hours:  10am-5pm (Mon-Fri) 10am-6pm (Sat-Sun)
• Price:  $29.95

There’s a great chance that you’ll spend more than just the morning exploring Space Center Houston. But whenever you feel like you’re all  spaced out,  then next on the agenda is the wonderful Hermann Park .

The urban space is a highlight of the Houston Museum District, providing not just a place to picnic as you wander between the attractions, but plenty of its own fun things to do.

Related: Check out our post on all of the top day trips from Houston !

Hermann Park has similarities to San Diego’s Balboa Park, with zoos, theaters, lakes, and ornate gardens.

After a big morning, you can just chill in the park or explore the Hermann Park Railway . On McGovern Lake, you can rent a small boat and see the natural treasures found along the water’s edge. Travelers will also have the opportunity to explore the neighboring Rice University Campus.

Traveling families will want to check out the Houston Zoo . Spread across 55 acres, the zoo is home for 6,000 animals from around the world.

There are areas dedicated to native Texan wildlife, the African continent, where cheetahs and giraffes roam, and an elephant enclosure.

• Address:  6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
• Hours:  9am-5pm (Mon-Sun)
• Price:  $21+

Read Next: Don’t miss out on our guide to an awesome 3 days in San Antonio Itinerary !

As the sun falls over Houston, there’s no need to depart Hermann Park for greener pastures. The urban park puts on events throughout the year that keep the fun going well into the evening.

The best example can be found at the park’s Miller Outdoor Theatre .

At the park’s northern end, the theater has a  packed calendar  of live performances, from plays to concerts. It makes for a romantic (and family-friendly) evening for all who visit Houston.

Also within Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo also runs nighttime  events  that allow you to explore the zoo under the stars, or even take part in a silent disco!

True night owls excited to experience the local nightlife will want to make their way to Downtown Houston. It offers the full gamut from happening sports bars, Texan honky tonks, and nightclubs.

Captian Foxheart’s Bad News Bar has a charming difference that makes a night here the most memorable. Sample their delightful cocktail menu and the eye-catching decor before making your way to the rooftop to enjoy great views across the city skyline.

Day 2 in Houston

Day 2 on your Houston itinerary sees you venture into the city’s biggest park, explore the Museum District, and hit up a live ball game!

As your time in Hermann Park will have shown you, Houston has no shortage of green space to enjoy.

Its many urban oases provide a wonderful escape from the United States’ fourth biggest city, allowing for a blissful time among the urban sprawl.

To begin the second day of your weekend in Houston, make your way to the best urban space in the city, Buffalo Bayou Park . Under the inevitable Houston sunshine, find yourself a spacious spot among the rolling lawns that stretch along the Buffalo Bayou stream.

Once you’ve taken in the sights and sounds and enjoyed your morning coffee, jump on one of the walking and cycling trails to explore the 160-acre park.

Aside from excellent city views, dog runs, and playgrounds, Buffalo Bayou Park is known for its public arts. It puts the space at the forefront of not just leisure, but the local arts culture.

The highlight of this is the park’s famous Cistern. This was developed in the 1920s and is an underground reservoir that provided water for residents. Now, it hosts art installations both temporary and permanent. There are also  tours  you can take of the historic piece of engineering.

But if the sun is really beating down, get out on the water for a paddle. At the Lake Lost Visitor Center, you can grab a paddle and jump onboard a SUP or kayak.

Exploring more of Texas? Check out this list of the best things to do in Austin .

After an eventful morning exploring Buffalo Bayou Park, get some respite from the Texan sun and make your way into Houston’s fantastic Museum District .

You could fill an entire Houston itinerary with the district’s 19 museums alone. Over half of them are free to explore, making it as budget-friendly as it is educational and fun. Whether you’re traveling as a family, solo or with your partner, you’ll find something that piques your interest.

Some of the top attractions in the Museum District include the Menil Collection , the Houston Museum of Natural Science , and the Contemporary Arts Museum .

But those that love their art can’t pass up a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston .

Covering two buildings with an additional sculpture garden, the museum boasts 6,000 worth of creative history with over 60,000 impressive works of art.

• Address:  1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005
• Hours:  11am-5pm (Wed) 11am-9pm (Thur) 11am-6pm (Fri-Sat) 12.30pm-6pm (Sun)
• Price:  $19

If you’ve taken the kids along for the ride on your 3 days in Houston, then why not check out the Children’s Museum of Houston ?

The vibrant complex will keep everyone entertained as the little ones embark on a journey of interactive exhibits. Highlights include the SECRETS Spy Game, where they can solve mysteries as a detective.

• Address:  1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004
• Hours:  10 am-6 pm (Tue-Wed/Fri-Sat) 10 am-8 pm (Thur)
• Price:  $15

Read Next: Check out our post on all of the best things to do in Texas!

In Downtown Houston, a baseball game at Minute Maid Park is a great way to start your second evening in Houston.

From March to October, the Houston Astros swing for the fences in front of an adoring home crowd and plenty of opposing supporters. The retractable roof ensures that the game is always fun and comfortable to watch.

You won’t have to worry about the rain coming down, or the sun being too much. Simply kick back with a hot dog (and a tall boy) and watch the action unfold.

Speaking of sports, you can catch the NBA’s Houston Rockets play at the Toyota Center and the NFL’s Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Day 3 in Houston

Your weekend in Houston is quickly wrapping up. But don’t worry, we have much more to see. Today, discover parks, underground tunnels, historic beach towns, and a man-made waterfall.

In Downtown Houston, Discovery Green is  the  place to start the final day on your Houston itinerary. It’s another example of Houston effortlessly blending nature into its urban sprawl, providing a lively spot to enjoy your morning coffee as the city slowly wakes up.

Discovery Green spans 12 acres and in the early hours, you’ll find groups of residents enjoying yoga classes or admiring the many sculptures strewn around the greenery.

Other common events include reading sessions for the little ones. There is also an ice skating rink in the winter months.

A great alternative is the Market Square Park , which first opened when Houston was founded in 1836. Here, you’ll find patios set around the small park, the famous Buster statue and a horde of surrounding cafes and restaurants.

As the sun ascends higher into the sky, escape the heat by exploring Houston’s fascinating Underground Tunnel . It once connected two movie theaters but now it stretches for 6 miles of air-conditioned tunnel.

Places to stop on your subterranean adventure include the large underground food hall and the intriguing lower story in the Bank of America Building. Book a guided tour of the Underground Tunnel if you’d rather have a local show you around!

Read next: 3 Days in Austin Itinerary

They say it’s best to travel like a local. So if that’s the case, then enjoy the hour drive to Galveston Island !

Galveston Island is Houston’s go-to beach destination. The island itself is just shy of 30 miles long and is enveloped in golden beaches, historic piers, plenty of shopping and sunshine.

The barrier island has a fantastic story. One that you can read with a stroll through the East End Historic District, past historic mansions from the 1800s, old-time cafes, and boutique galleries that hold the key to the past. Among them, leafy trees paint the streets.

You’ll find even more history and even better shopping in the Strand , a National Historic Landmark District. Aside from the on-point aesthetics, you’ll discover a vibrant neighborhood and the impressive Grand 1894 Opera House.

But yes, you haven’t escaped the city just to see old buildings. Galveston Island is what it is because of its powdery white sand.

Venture down to the Seawall for some time on Stewart Beach . With lifeguards watching on, trade the warm sands for the balmy waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Travelers will be able to rent beach chairs and umbrellas. You’ll also have easy access to several concession stands slinging your favorite beach treats and beverages. Finish off by checking out Galveston’s answer to the Santa Monica Pier, the Historic Pleasure Pier .

Don’t have a rental car? Check out this  day trip  to Galveston Island, departing from Houston.

After returning to the Space City, take some time to reflect on your 3 days in Houston with a visit to the mesmerizing Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park .

In a city of impressive art and public installations, the grandeur of this attraction still manages to stand out. Lay down a picnic blanket on the park’s surrounded lawns and gaze upon the man-made waterfall.

The Waterwall is a semi-circle structure standing at 64 feet tall. Every minute, 11,000 gallons of water trickles down, creating a glistening sight and gentle sound. Add on the 200 towering oak trees in the park, and you have a stunning sight that is the best place to reflect on the previous 72 hours.

As the sun begins to set, admire the ever-changing colors before exploring what nighttime in Uptown Houston has to offer. In keeping with the laid-back vibe, you’ll find plenty of chill bars, like Muldoon’s the Patio, which serves up excellently potent cocktails.

If you want to go out with a bang, head to the West End where you’ll find regular themed nights like karaoke, with DJs and live music on the weekend.

Read more: The 21 Best Things To Do In San Antonio !

Houston Travel Guide

Now that you know what to do in Houston, here is some information that will help you know the best time to visit, how to get around and where to stay.

The best time to visit Houston is in the spring. As you’ve seen, Space City has some wonderful urban parks, and as the temperatures warm the city’s flora bursts into life. With leafy trees and blooming azaleas, it’s a vibrant time to be in Houston.

To add to the case of spring travel, the Texas Livestock Show and Rodeo occurs annually in March. Sure, you may not be into rodeos, but the enthralling carnival is as good as any with heart-stopping rides and plenty of big, boisterous Texan culture.

Given Houston’s position on the map, it’s no surprise the city gets  hot  in summer. But if that’s the time you prefer to travel, then you’ll still have much to look forward to.

Many of the city’s top attractions are indoors, while the tunnels help you explore and Galveston Island is only an hour away.

Related: Don’t miss this post on all of the great road trips from Houston !

With the fourth biggest population of any American city, it’s easy to say that Houston is a  big  city. But unlike New York, for example, it’s not well set up for public transport.

Depending on where you stay, you may wish to hire a car in order to explore the attractions on the edges of town.

However, you can avoid a multi-day car hire by staying in Downtown Houston. There is a light rail system that runs through downtown and the Museum District. But you are more likely to find your next attraction within walking distance.

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

Where to Stay in Houston

Because of the light rail system, the best place to stay in Houston is downtown. Not only will you have sports stadiums, attractions, and parks within walking distance, but you can jump on the rail to visit the Museum District.

Uptown and Galleria are other options, with Galleria having some budget-friendly accommodation. However, you’ll want to hire a car.

If you’re wondering where to stay in the city, our recommendations for the best accommodation in Houston will help you choose the top spot for your budget!

Read Next: Don’t miss out on our guide to an awesome 3 days in Dallas Itinerary !

Best Hostel in Houston : Wanderstay Houston

Wanderstay Houston  places you close to Hermann Park with access to downtown via the light rail system.

The modern hotel has plenty of character, especially within its themed rooms, from sports to music and rodeo. The spacious communal area is great for meeting fellow travelers, with bike rentals also available.

Best Mid-Range Hotel in Houston : Cambria Hotel

Stay downtown and have much of Houston at your fingertips with a weekend at the  Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center ?.

Enjoy upscale amenities, lush linens, and cable TV with an on-site gym, restaurant, and bar. From the lobby, you’re just steps from Minute Maid Park and Main Street.

So you want to treat yourself to some luxury? Well, it’s time to head to the  La Colombe d’Or .

Dive into the outdoor swimming pool, dabble in the delicious dining and revel in the Victorian-era decor before exploring the Museum District and Hermann Park.

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Your Trip to Houston: The Complete Guide

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Houston is Texas’ largest city and attracts hordes of travelers every year. However, the vast majority of these visitors travel to Houston on business. Relatively few travelers see Houston as a vacation destination on par with other top Texas tourist spots. But, believe it or not, Houston has much more to offer visitors than most people realize.

Houston actually is home to some of Texas’ most popular attractions. The Johnson Space Center was at the center of the space race during the 1960s and is still active in space exploration. Of course, the San Jacinto Monument marks the very spot where Texas won it’s independence from Mexico and is a must-see for history buffs. Adjacent to the San Jacinto Monument is the Battleship Texas, which fought to maintain America’s freedom during WWII.

The Houston Zoo has long been a favorite stop for Houston area residents and visitors alike. More recently, the Downtown Aquarium has also drawn a lot of attention from visitors. Houston also boasts an impressive array of museums , including the Buffalo Soldier Museum, the Holocaust Museum, Museum of Natural Science, Museum of Fine Arts, and many, many more.

Sports fans also have plenty to cheer about while in Houston, regardless of the season. The University of Houston and Rice University each field a full complement of men’s and women’s NCAA Div. I athletic teams. And, Reliant Stadium is home to the Houston Bowl, a DI college football bowl game. On the pro level, the NBA Rockets, NFL Texans, and MLB Astros all call Houston home.

Houston is also a popular stop for shoppers. From the upscale Galleria in the heart of the city to the sprawling Katy Mills Mall on the outskirts of town, Houston is home to thousands of retailers.

When it comes to dining, Houston offers some of the best – and most diverse – restaurants in the nation. From seafood to steaks, Tex-Mex to Indian, Houston has an eatery with virtually any and every style of food.

Throughout the year, Houston also hosts a number of festivals and events. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is by far the biggest of these annual events and draws hundreds of thousands each year. Houston is also home to the Houston International Festival, Houston Hot Sauce Festival, and many, many more.

So, whether it is business or pleasure that brings you to Houston, finding plenty to do won’t be a problem. In fact, you’ll probably find you don’t have nearly enough time to squeeze in everything.

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Whether you're spending a day in Houston, a weekend or a week, planning a trip to maximize your time can be a challenge. We've created a series of travel itineraries to take the guess work out of it. Select itineraries based on interest--arts, food, shopping, etc.--or the type of trip you're planning--family, romantic, girlfriend getaway or a guy's trip. Feel free to mix and match, and remember to use resources on other parts of the site:  Maps and Transportation ,  Neighborhoods ,  Calendar  and H otel Deals . 

If you're looking to add luxury to your Houston vacation, The Houstonian offers an all-inclusive luxury package, or make your own with our tips!

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3 Perfect Days in Houston: A Complete Itinerary

If you have 3 days in Houston, you can check out the city’s best attractions, explore its top restaurants, and even add some time to shop to your itinerary.

As a big metropolis and one of the biggest cities in Texas, Houston is ever-changing. Therefore, there is always something new to see or do. However, there are a few classic things that you should plan on visiting while here.

If you have from Friday to Sunday or a long weekend, you have the perfect amount of time to see the best of Houston.

This post has a 3-day itinerary to Houston, so you can enjoy a few days away from the office, travel on a long weekend, or experience the best of the city.

Table of contents

Houston citypass, the best hotels in houston, getting around houston, houston itinerary day 1 – downtown, houston itinerary day 2 – museum district and galleria, houston itinerary day 3 – space center.

This post may contain affiliate links. By purchasing through these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Tips for Visiting Houston

To explore the best of Houston, you should purchase the  Houston CityPass . By purchasing the pass for US$ 64, you can save up to 47% on some of Houston’s top attractions.

When you purchase the  Houston CityPass , you can visit 5 of the top places to visit in Houston, including the Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo  OR  Museum of Fine Arts, and Houston Kemah Boardwalk  OR  Children’s Museum Houston.

• Marriot Marquis Houston – A great option of a hotel in Downtown Houston and a perfect place to stay near Minute Made Park, the Convention Center, and the Theater District – a few main places to visit in the city. This well-located hotel also has the world’s largest Texas-shaped rooftop lazy river.
• The Post Oak Hotel – This hotel is in the Galleria area, where you’ll have access to a wide offer of malls and some of the best restaurants in Houston.
• Hotel Zaza Museum District – A perfect hotel if you’re planning on exploring the museums of Houston and walking around Herman Park, one of the best parks in the city.
• Hilton Nasa Clear Lake – This hotel is located only 5 minutes away from the Space Center Houston, giving you the flexibility to explore the nearby attraction without the need for a long commute.
• La Colombe d’Or – A boutique hotel set in a 1920s mansion, located in the trendy Montrose neighborhood, close to many cafés and shops. You’ll also be relatively close to Downtown and the Museum District, and the top attractions of Houston.

The best way to get around Houston is with a car. If you’re not from the area, you can  rent a car   at the airport and use it to explore the city. For a big city, parking is relatively easy, making a car a convenient way to get around.

I personally use and recommend  RentalCars  for my trips as it allows me to choose the best price amongst the top car rental companies.

If you don’t want to drive, you can also use the ride-sharing services available in the city, like Uber, Lyft, and the local Alto.

And if you prefer to use the public transportation system, you can rely on  METRO ; though it isn’t available throughout the entire city, it’s a good way to explore the main tourist path – Downtown, Museum District, and other areas.

On the first day of your itinerary, it’s time to see the best of Downtown Houston. Start by going for a stroll at Discovery Green , a lovely park near George R. Brown Convention Center that is one of the best parks in the city.

After a walk around Discovery Green, head over to Downtown Aquarium , one of Houston’s top things to do. Spend some time checking out the 200 species and special exhibits. You can also go up 100 feet at the Diving Bell Ferris Wheel to look over Downtown.

Another highlight of Downtown is POST Houston , a newish cultural development with more than 20 food stalls and a communal seating dining style. Have a quick bite to eat at one of the vendors, and then go up to the outdoor terrace for stunning views of Downtown Houston.

You might also like to read: Tips for planning your visit to the POST Houston and the complete guide to Downtown Houston

In the afternoon, make your way to Buffalo Bayou Park for some time outdoors, soak in the green area, and have a picture-perfect perspective of Downtown’s skyline. Sunset is a great time to be at the park, and you can also see the bats flying away as a large group from Waugh Drive Bridge.

For dinner, visit the famous Xochi , a Mexican restaurant with Oaxacan dishes that is one of the best restaurants in Downtown Houston (at Marriot Marquis ). Or, if you prefer something more low-key, head over to Frank’s Pizza for delicious New York-style pizzas, where you can buy them as a whole pie or by the slice.

HOUSTON ITINERARY – DAY 1 SUMMARY

• Discovery Green
• Downtown Aquarium
• POST Houston for lunch
• Buffalo Bayou Park
• Dinner at Xochi or Frank’s Pizza

For the second day of your itinerary, get ready to see some of Houston’s hot spots and try the famous Texas BBQ.

Start your day by heading over to the Museum District . There are many attractions here, but the Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Zoo are the top ones. Both places are excellent for family fun, and they are both included on the Houston CityPass .

The Museum of Natural Science has amazing permanent exhibits. The highlights are the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, packed with stunning gemstones; the Cabinet of Curiosities, where you see and touch the objects displayed; and the Morian Hall of Paleontology, with many dinosaur fossils that are especially attractive for kids.

And the zoo is another unique place to go in Houston with kids. They have many animals (including flamingos!), a wildlife carousel, and the Animal Encounters program where the little ones can meet some animals.

When it’s lunchtime, go to either Truth BBQ, Pit Room, or Pinkerton’s for a classic Texas BBQ in a friendly, informal setting. Be prepared to wait a little bit in line to order their delicious brisket, sausage, and pulled pork.

In the afternoon, go to the Galleria area and spend some time at the Galleria Mall, the largest in Texas, to shop in its department stores and designer boutiques. Or pay a visit to the River Oaks District for your dose of high-end designer goods – think Hermès, Dior, and Cartier. You can also go to Highland Village for stores like Anthropologie, J. Crew, and Sephora.

At night, finish the second day of your Houston itinerary with a dinner at Hugo’s – a restaurant for a tasty Mexican dinner. Everything on the menu is delicious, the margaritas are superb, and you can even try eating grasshopper!

HOUSTON ITINERARY – DAY 2 SUMMARY

• Museum of Natural Science or Houston Zoo
• Texas BBQ for lunch
• Afternoon at Galleria
• Dinner at Hugo’s

Now for your third and last day in Houston, your itinerary will start with a brunch. Choose between the best brunches in Houston, such as Tiny’s Boxwoods, Hungry’s, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, and Snooze.

After brunch, it’s time to visit Houston’s top attraction – the Space Center. Plan on spending some time here immersing yourself into the universe of space exploration and NASA’s world. And don’t forget to add some time to see the exterior area where the Independence Plaza and Space Shuttle Independence are. You can purchase tickets to the Space Center Houston online or use your Houston CityPass .

You might also like to read: Space Center Houston: What to know before you go

Following the Houston Space Center, finish your day at Saint Arnold Brewery, the top brewery to visit in the city. They have a beer garden and an indoor area with chapels painted by local artists.

At night, finish your 3-day itinerary by treating yourself to a special dinner in Houston. For Japanese food, the go-to are Kata Robata, Uchi, and Uptown Sushi. If you’re craving Italian, you can’t go wrong with Coppa Osteria, Lulu’s, or Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino (a neighborhood favorite). Perry’s, B&B Butchers, and Taste of Texas are excellent choices if you’re more of a steak person. Other superb alternatives are Le Colonial, Traveler’s Table, Flora, Marmo, and Brasserie 19.

HOUSTON ITINERARY – DAY 3 SUMMARY

• Space Center
• St Arnold Brewery
• Special Dinner

What is Houston known for?

The most famous attraction in Houston is the Space Center. However, the city is also renowned for its diversity, which is reflected in its many restaurants. So, Houston is also known for its energetic culinary scene.

Is Houston worth visiting?

Definitely! Houston is perfect for a long weekend getaway, and with 3 days in the city, you can see its top attractions, shop, and enjoy the wonderful dining life.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ

Top things to do in Houston: the best attractions of the city

• The complete guide to Downtown Houston
• Space Center Houston: What to know before you go
• The best coffee shops in Houston
• Tips for planning your visit to the POST Houston
• All about the Immersive Van Gogh Experience in Houston

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• Flight Detroit - Baltimore (DTW - BWI) $88+
• Flight Orlando - Washington, D.C. (MCO - DCA) $91+
• Flight Atlanta - Washington, D.C. (ATL - IAD) $93+
• Flight Chicago - Baltimore (ORD - BWI) $102+
• Hotel Casa Mallorca $61+
• Real Inn Cancún $66+
• Suites Malecon Cancun $73+
• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Cancún (FLL - CUN) $172+
• Flight Dallas - Cancún (DFW - CUN) $189+
• Flight Chicago - Cancún (ORD - CUN) $195+

United States

• Flight New York - Chicago (LGA - ORD) $60+
• Flight Dallas - Las Vegas (DFW - LAS) $69+
• Flight Dallas - New York (DFW - LGA) $69+
• Tip Top Motel Cafe & Bakery $179+
• Kauai Palms Hotel $195+
• Kauai Inn $226+
• Flight Los Angeles - Hawaii (LAX - USHI) $156+
• Flight San Francisco - Hawaii (SFO - USHI) $174+
• Flight San Jose - Hawaii (SJC - USHI) $229+
• Stay Classy $54+
• California Suites Hotel $81+
• Super 8 by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle $87+
• Flight San Francisco - San Diego (SFO - SAN) $48+
• Flight Houston - San Diego (HOU - SAN) $55+
• Flight Houston - San Diego (IAH - SAN) $55+
• Shared Living Not A Hotel $37+
• Super 8 by Wyndham Phoenix West $51+
• Econo Lodge Phoenix North I-17 $52+
• Flight Dallas - Phoenix (DFW - PHX) $51+
• Flight Ontario - Phoenix (ONT - PHX) $53+
• Flight Salt Lake City - Phoenix (SLC - PHX) $55+

Los Angeles

• Freehand Los Angeles $49+
• City Center Hotel $102+
• The Dixie Hollywood $108+
• Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport $121+
• Hotel Normandie $133+
• Holiday Inn Los Angeles - LAX Airport $137+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX $137+
• Flight Oakland - Los Angeles (OAK - LAX) $41+
• Flight San Jose - Los Angeles (SJC - LAX) $50+
• Flight Phoenix - Los Angeles (PHX - LAX) $53+
• Flight San Francisco - Los Angeles (SFO - LAX) $55+
• Flight Salt Lake City - Los Angeles (SLC - LAX) $57+
• Flight Portland - Los Angeles (PDX - LAX) $60+
• Flight Dallas - Los Angeles (DFW - LAX) $64+
• Selina Gold Dust $51+
• La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Miami Airport North $65+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Miami Airport East $76+
• Miami Gardens Inn & Suites $77+
• Motel 6 Miami. Fl $78+
• Holiday Inn Miami West - Airport Area $87+
• Yotel Miami $88+
• enVision Hotel Miami International Airport $91+
• Life House, Little Havana $95+
• Courtyard by Marriott Miami West/FL Turnpike $95+
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Miami-Kendall $96+
• Flight Baltimore - Miami (BWI - MIA) $55+
• Flight Atlanta - Miami (ATL - MIA) $65+
• Flight Charlotte - Miami (CLT - MIA) $66+
• Flight Los Angeles - Miami (LAX - MIA) $66+
• Flight Houston - Miami (HOU - MIA) $69+
• Flight Houston - Miami (IAH - MIA) $69+
• Flight Detroit - Miami (DTW - MIA) $72+
• Flight Dallas - Miami (DFW - MIA) $73+
• Flight Boston - Miami (BOS - MIA) $74+
• Flight Las Vegas - Miami (LAS - MIA) $77+
• Flight Chicago - Miami (ORD - MIA) $78+
• Super 8 by Wyndham Denver Stapleton $62+
• Hometowne Studios by Red Roof Denver - Glendale/Cherry Creek $66+
• Motel 6 Denver Co Downtown $73+
• Baymont by Wyndham Denver International Airport $75+
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denver Airport $78+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Denver Airport Dia $94+
• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denver International Airport $108+
• Flight Los Angeles - Denver (LAX - DEN) $56+
• Flight San Francisco - Denver (SFO - DEN) $58+
• Flight Chicago - Denver (ORD - DEN) $61+
• Flight Atlanta - Denver (ATL - DEN) $68+
• Flight Minneapolis - Denver (MSP - DEN) $68+
• Flight Ontario - Denver (ONT - DEN) $78+
• Flight Detroit - Denver (DTW - DEN) $86+
• Hi Boston - Hostel $67+
• Ramada by Wyndham Boston $140+
• Temple Place Suites $187+
• Flight Atlanta - Boston (ATL - BOS) $33+
• Flight Chicago - Boston (ORD - BOS) $44+
• Flight Newark - Boston (EWR - BOS) $46+
• Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Atlanta Airport $61+
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Atlanta/Buckhead Area $65+
• DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody $88+
• Flight Boston - Atlanta (BOS - ATL) $33+
• Flight New York - Atlanta (LGA - ATL) $37+
• Flight Newark - Atlanta (EWR - ATL) $37+
• Generator Madrid $25+
• Toc Hostel Madrid $32+
• C&H Aravaca Garden $36+
• Flight New York - Barcelona (JFK - BCN) $284+
• Flight Miami - Madrid (MIA - MAD) $316+
• Flight New York - London (JFK - LGW) $330+
• Rodeway Inn Fairgrounds-Casino $67+
• Econo Lodge Airport at RJ Stadium $69+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tampa Fairgrounds - Casino $69+
• Flight Dallas - Florida (DFW - USFL) $64+
• Flight Atlanta - Florida (ATL - USFL) $65+
• Flight Los Angeles - Florida (LAX - USFL) $66+
• Flight Raleigh - Tampa (RDU - TPA) $55+
• Flight Philadelphia - Tampa (PHL - TPA) $56+
• Flight Trenton - Tampa (TTN - TPA) $58+

New Orleans

• Super 8 by Wyndham New Orleans $50+
• Ramada by Wyndham New Orleans $55+
• Maison Saint Charles by Hotel RL $87+
• Flight Dallas - New Orleans (DFW - MSY) $43+
• Flight Atlanta - New Orleans (ATL - MSY) $55+
• Flight Chicago - New Orleans (ORD - MSY) $58+

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Houston Travel Guide

Meena Thiruvengadam is a lifelong traveler and veteran journalist who has visited more than 50 countries across six continents. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal , Departures , TripSavvy , and other publications.

Whatever you're looking for, Houston's got it.

America's fourth-largest city, Houston is a fast-growing melting pot of cultures. It's home to several professional sports teams, a world class zoo, a top-notch symphony, and the Houston Rodeo. Beaches are just a short drive away.

The Houston metropolitan area is home to nearly seven million people. More than 20% of the population was born abroad, giving the city a rich cultural tapestry that spans religions, languages, and cuisines. Houston has significant Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, African, and Hispanic populations.

Want to watch professional basketball? Catch a Houston Rockets game. Prefer football? The Houston Texans have you covered. Baseball more your speed? Plan your trip around a Houston Astros game.

For a real Texas treat, check out the Houston Rodeo , the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world. Millions of people visit the 20-day event each year. Performers including Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Kiss, Taylor Swift, even Elvis Presley have taken the stage at the Houston Rodeo.

Don't miss a chance to visit the Johnson Space Center, which serves as Mission Control for American space missions and welcomes visitors to explore the artifacts of American space exploration. Afterwards, walk along the beach in nearby Galveston.

One thing's for sure, you'll find plenty of things to do — and eat — in Houston.

Central Standard Time. (Daylight Savings Time is observed seasonally)

Best Time to Go

Summers may swelter, but winters are mild, making Houston an excellent escape from freezing temperatures elsewhere. The first several months of the year are the best time to visit Houston. Basketball season is in full swing. Mild temperatures make a January marathon bearable. February brings Lunar New Year and Mardi Gras celebrations as well as the start of the Houston Rodeo, a weeks-long event that draws top recording artists to the city. March brings the Bayou Regatta, Texas' largest canoe and kayak race. April offers a chance to see creatively decked out cars at the city's annual Art Car Parade while May brings the Houston Dragon Boat Festival. For football fans, September through November offer bearable temperatures and the chance to see the Houston Texans in action.

Things to Know

Houston summers are hot and sticky. Temperatures in the 90s and 100s aren't uncommon. If you must visit during the summer, don't forget the sunscreen and do carry a water bottle.

Houston is a sprawling city that covers more than 637 square miles. Houston traffic is among the worst in the U.S. While public transit has improved in recent years, you'll still need a car to get most places.

Houston is pronounced differently in Texas than it is in New York.

How to Get Around

Trains : Houston's METRORail system covers downtown, midtown, the Museum District, and the Texas Medical District. Routes are limited, but the rail system does make it possible to get to baseball games and the rodeo for just $1.25 a ride.

Buses : Houston bus services run on a series of color-coded networks. Routes are limited, but buses run between 14 and 18 hours a day with rides priced at $1.25 each.

Taxis : Several taxi companies operate in Houston with meter rates at $2.75 for the first 1/11 mile. Riders over the age of 60 receive a 5% discount.

Rideshare : Both Uber and Lyft operate in Houston.

Best Hotels

Address: 5701 Main St, Houston, TX 77005 Phone: (713) 526-1991 Book Now

Hotel ZaZa is a luxury art hotel in the heart of Houston's Museum District. The Hotel includes a collection of specialty suites with themes ranging from Casa Blanca and Houston We Have a Problem to Geisha House and Soho Loft. Even standard rooms are spacious and include balconies and workspaces. The Hotel is part of a collection of boutique hotels with locations across Texas and offers both a rooftop terrace and shuttle services. Do lay by the pool and check out the spa.

Marriott Marquis

Address: 1777 Walker Street, Houston, TX 77010 Phone: (713) 654-1777 Book Now

If you've never floated on a lazy river shaped like the state of Texas, you're missing out. This one-of-a-kind Marriott Marquis hotel offers not only a rooftop lazy river shaped like Texas that's perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day, but also an infinity pool with views as expansive as Houston. The hotel is perfect for convention attendees and is linked to the city's convention center via a skywalk, meaning you won't have to break a sweat regardless of when you're visiting.

JW Marriott Houston Downtown

Address: 806 Main St, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 237-1111 Book Now

This hotel is housed in a historic downtown skyscraper and features art from local artists as well as a Houston-themed restaurant. The hotel is located near the city's convention center and offers easy access to public transit. Rooms are spacious, elegant and come equipped with iPads. Spa rooms offer luxurious bathrooms perfect for unwinding after a busy day

Sara's Inn on the Boulevard

Address: 941 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77008 Phone: (713) 868.1130 Book Now

Sara's is Houston's top B&B and offers a respite from chain hotels and trendy boutiques. The urban inn is located just a few miles from downtown in the Heights, a neighborhood that's a shopper's paradise. Almost all rooms include en suite bathrooms. Sara's is known for its breakfast and 24/7 brownies. Rooms are organized by themes ranging from Wild West and Man Cave to Paris and Floral. Two- to four-night minimums are required for holiday weekends.

Sonesta ES Suites

Address: 525 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058 Phone: (281) 486-2424 Book Now

If you're a space buff, the Sonesta ES Suites in Clear Lake is for you. This hotel is just minutes from the Johnson Space Center and the campuses of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The straightforward hotel's suites are well-equipped for long stays, and the property is known for its excellent hot buffet breakfast.

Address: 2800 Brazos St, Houston, TX 77006 Phone: (713) 529-3600 Book Now

La Maison is a bed and breakfast in the heart of Midtown Houston. The property includes seven unique guest rooms, some with Jacuzzi tubs or rain showers built for two. All rooms are accessible via elevator and guests receive access to a nearby gym.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria

Address: 5353 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056 Phone: (713) 961-9000 Book Now

If you like your shopping sprees capped off with freshly baked cookies back in the hotel room, this is the hotel of your dreams. The Doubletree is located near the Houston Galleria and serves up some of the best warm chocolate chip cookies you'll ever eat. The hotel is about an eight-minute walk from the Galleria and includes a pool and gym.

Westin Galleria Hotel

Address: 5060 W Alabama, Houston, TX 77056 Phone: (713) 960-8100 Book Now

Forget walking to the mall, this hotel lets you sleep at the mall. The Westin Galleria is located inside the iconic Houston Galleria, offering easy access to shops, restaurants, and the Galleria's year-round ice rink. The hotel has recently been renovated. It's the best choice for someone whose mission in Houston is to shop until they drop.

Aloft Houston by the Galleria

Address: 5415 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056 Phone: (713) 622-7010 Book Now

For a more affordable stay near the Houston Galleria, head straight to the trendy Aloft hotel. The hotel is just a few blocks from the Galleria, Houston's most visited destination. Rooms are spacious, bright, and include connectivity stations to charge all your devices and connect them to wall-mounted flat-screen TVs.

Four Seasons Hotel Houston

Address: 1300 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010 Phone: (713) 650-1300 Book Now

If you're looking for a kid-friendly luxury escape, the Four Seasons Hotel Houston is for you. Hotel activities include mommy-and-me yoga, pizza-making classes, and movies by the pool. The rooms are huge — even by Texas standards. A Cabana room with a king or two double beds measures a whopping 450 square feet.

C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton

Address: 400 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 759-0202 Book Now

This luxury hotel in the Houston financial district is fresh off a renovation of its 354 rooms. Its rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and 55-inch TVs. Certain rooms include in-room Peloton bikes. The hotel has a fitness center as well as an on-site nail salon.

Hilton Americas-Houston

Address: 1600 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010 Phone: (713) 739-8000 Book Now

This is a truly Texas-sized hotel and the largest hotel in Houston. It has a whopping 1,207 rooms and is connected to Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center by skybridge. The hotel's rooms and meeting spaces just underwent a massive renovation that was completed in July.

Best Restaurants

The breakfast klub.

Address: 3711 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 528-8561 Website

Forget everything you thought you knew about chicken and waffles. This casual spot takes the trendy brunch dish up a notch. Its Wings & Waffle signature plate takes one golden Belgian waffle topped with powdered sugar and a single strawberry and surrounds it with 6 chicken wings. Not your style? Opt for the Wings & Grits, Green Eggs & Ham or Biskits & Gravy.

Address: 1777 Walker Street, Houston, TX 77010 Phone: (713) 400-3330 Website

Xochi is the project of award-winning Chef Hugo Ortega. The menu channels Oaxaca, Mexico with a colorful array of corn, a seemingly endless selection of mole, and grasshoppers. Don't skip the bar and its extensive selection of tequilas, mezcals, and Mexican craft beers. The restaurant is vegetarian friendly and serves up a buffet brunch on Sundays.

Ninfa's on Navigation

Address: 2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77003 Phone: (713) 228-1175 Website

This is where the legendary Ninfa's Tex-Mex chain got its start. Ninfa's opened in 1973 when a newly widowed Ninfa Rodríguez Laurenzo started grilling up skirt steak to serve with tortillas from the family's struggling tortilla factory. Nowadays, she's credited with popularizing fajitas in Houston. Do try the queso and don't miss the fajitas.

JINYA Ramen Bar

Address: Multiple Locations Website

JINYA Ramen Bar isn't Houston born and bred, but it's quickly become one of Houston's top ramen spots. JINYA simmers its ramen broth for more than 10 hours. Noodles are made fresh daily and aged for three days for maximum flavor. JINYA Ramen Bar's original location is in Tokyo but the business has since expanded across the Pacific with locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Houston.

Better Luck Tomorrow

Address: 544 Yale Street, Houston, TX 77007 Phone: (713) 802-0845 Website

If you're looking for a howling good time, look no further than Better Luck Tomorrow. This is a neighborhood bar that's known for its brunch and has earned a restaurant of the year rating from Food & Wine magazine. Better Luck Tomorrow is owned by a James Beard-Award winning chef and features a creative menu with items like lamb belly bites and Wagyu beef salad. Can't decide? Taste the whole menu with three or four friends for $99. Don't skip the cocktails with creative names like Long Story Short, Cold-Fashioned, and the Gettin' Bzzy. Better Luck Houston opens at 3:30 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends.

Address: 2710 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006 Phone: (713) 868-8000 Website

BB's is a 24-hour spot that bills itself as the home of Tex-Orleans cooking, and that's exactly what it is. The restaurant's menu is truly one-of-a-kind with dishes like Tex-Cajun fries topped with queso, gravy and roast beef; Boudin Balls, fried balls of dirty rice and pork; and the Elvis Waffle, a banana, bacon, and peanut butter waffle topped with Nutella. Don't miss the shrimp and grits or the crawfish etouffee and do leave room for the only dessert on the menu: Maw-Maw's Bread Pudding.

Shri Balaji Bhavan

Address: 5655 Hillcroft St, Houston, TX 77036 Phone: (713) 783-1126 Website

If you're looking for an authentic South Indian dining experience without having to fly to India, make your way to Shri Balaji Bhavan in Houston's Mahatma Gandhi district. This casual vegetarian spot serves up south Indian classics like idly, dosas, and pakora. Don't know where to start? Try the Madras Thali, a sampler tray of small bowls containing different dishes. Thalis are served with rice and typically include savory curries, sambar, yogurt, and a dessert. For a lighter meal, opt for the dosa, a semolina crepe that's served in a variety of styles. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.

Taste of Texas

Address: 10505 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024 Phone: (713) 932-6901 Website

If you're looking for a true taste of Texas, look no further than, well, the Taste of Texas. The Taste of Texas is part restaurant, part Texas history museum, and has been feeding Houston for more than 40 years. This is a place where you can choose your Certified Angus Beef steak from a butcher shop-style display, choose your seasoning, and have your steak wrapped in hickory-smoked bacon. Start your meal with Texas quail bites or Jalapeno-stuffed shrimp and end it with Snickers pie or a slice of Texas pecan pie topped with vanilla ice cream.

Things to Do

Johnson space center.

Address: 1601 Nasa Parkway, Houston, TX 77058 Website

The Johnson Space Center is a complex of 100 buildings spanning 1,620 acres serving as NASA's hub for human spaceflight. The facility is responsible for training astronauts and managing International Space Station operations. The Johnson Space Center also serves as Mission Control for U.S. spaceflights. Parts of the center are open to the public, giving visitors the opportunity to take a close-up look at spacecraft, spacesuits, and a shuttle replica mounted on an original shuttle carrier aircraft. Adults $29.95, Seniors $27.95, Children $24.95

Downtown Aquarium

Address: 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002 Website

Houston's Downtown Aquarium is a six-acre entertainment and dining complex that's home to more than 300 species of aquatic life from around the world. The project includes several rides, among them a Ferris Wheel and a Carousel. Exhibits include a Stingray Reef where visitors can touch and feed live stingrays. Dining areas are set up around aquariums. Adults $12.99, seniors $10.99, Children $9.99

The Beer Can House

Address: 222 Malone Street, Houston, TX 77007 Website

The Beer Can House is a one-of-a-kind piece of art. It's a house that's been covered with beer cans, beer bottles, and bottle caps and turned into one of the city's best-known pieces of art. The house began its transformation in the late 1960s and is covered by an estimated 50,000 beer cans. The house is owned and operated by The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, a non-profit aimed at preserving works of extraordinary imagination. $5

Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

Address: 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, TX 77056 Website

The best Instagram spot in Houston may just be the Waterwall, a 64-foot semicircular fountain set among 118 Texas live oak trees. The fountain's water supply consists of 78,500 gallons recycled every three hours and two minutes. The Waterwall has hosted weddings and served as the backdrop of both Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Free

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Address: 5555 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030 Website

Founded in 1909, this museum is one of the country's most visited. It houses the Cockrell Butterfly Center, a three-story glass cone filled with tropical plants that's home to 60 different butterfly species. It also houses several lifelike robotic dinosaurs that make visitors feel as if they've just entered a real life "Jurassic Park." Other exhibits examine astronomy, Native American culture, paleontology, Texas wildlife, and more. Be prepared for crowds on school day as this museum is a popular field trip spot. Adults $25, Children and seniors $16

Houston Art Car Museum

Address: 140 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007 Website

If you like art and you like cars, you're going to love the Art Car Museum, aka the Garage Mahal. The museum has been around for more than 20 years and houses a number of elaborately decorated art cars, lowriders, and other imaginative mobile contraptions. Houston hosts an Art Car parade each spring and is believed to have the largest collection of art cars in the U.S. Free

National Museum of Funeral History

Address: 415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, TX 77090 Website

This is no ordinary museum. This is a museum that's dedicated to the people and practices who make funerals possible. The museum delves into funeral culture from around the world. Exhibitions focus on the history of cremation, presidential funerals, and 19th century mourning. Several historical hearses also are on display. Adults $10, Seniors and Veterans $9, Ages 6 to 11 $7

Houston Zoo

Address: 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030 Website

The Houston Zoo is the second most visited zoo in the U.S. The 55-acre zoo is home to more than 6,000 animals representing 900 species. The zoo is home to a collection of Asian elephants, a collection of sea lions, and Shasta the cougar, mascot of the University of Houston. The zoo opened its doors in 1922 and now draws over 2 million visitors a year. Adults $18, Seniors $11.50, Children 2 to 11 $14

Buffalo Bayou Park

Address: Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street, between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive Website

This 160-acre park is an urban green space with something for everyone. Whether it's hiking or biking trails, fountains, a skatepark, or bats, you'll find it and more here. This expansive urban green space is home to a 30,000 square foot skatepark, the cistern that was the city's first underground drinking-water reservoir, lakes, trails, and about 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats. It's a great place to spend a pleasant day relaxing outdoors and a perfect spot for a picnic. Free

Kemah Boardwalk

Address: 215 Kipp Ave, Kemah, TX 77565 Website

The Kemah Boardwalk is a 60-acre theme park along the Texas Gulf Coast about 30 miles southeast of Houston. The boardwalk offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of Houston. It's owned by the restaurant operator Landry's Inc. and includes nearly a dozen restaurants as well as rides, midway games, shops, and a boutique hotel. The boardwalk is home to the Boardwalk Bullet, a 96-foot-tall, 3,236-foot-long roller coaster that's one of the most compact in the world. Free, rides require paid passes

San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site

Address: 3523 Independence Pkwy, La Porte, TX 77571 Website

For a bird's eye view of Houston, head to the top of the San Jacinto Monument. The monument's observation deck overlooks Houston, the Houston Ship Channel, and this historic battleground. The San Jacinto Museum of History, which chronicles 400 years of early Texas history, is located at the bottom of the monument. The Battleship Texas is also located on the grounds. Free

Best Shopping

Houston galleria.

Address: 5085 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056 Website

The Galleria is Houston's top spot for shopping. More than 30 million shoppers pass through its doors each year to visit high-end retailers like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co. and Valentino. The Galleria spans 2.4 million square feet and is home to two Westin hotels, three office towers, 400 stores and restaurants, 13,000 parking spots, two swimming pools, and a full-size ice rink.

Houston Premium Outlets

Address: 29300 Hempstead Rd, Cypress, TX 77433

If you're looking for designer labels at a fraction of the price, make the half-hour drive to Houston Premium Outlets in Cypress. The outlet mall is home to 145 stores, including Armani, Burberry, Kate Spade, and Tory Burch. Covered walkways make it more comfortable to shop through rain or blistering sunshine.

Katy Mills Mall

Address: 5000 Katy Mills Cir, Katy, TX 77494 Website

Katy Mills is a rare indoor outlet mall with more than 175 stores. It's located 25 miles west of downtown Houston and includes outlets from retailers including Kate Spade, Nike, Coach, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Republic Boot Co.

Address: 4222 San Felipe St, Houston, TX 77027 Website

If you're looking to take home a pair of cowboy boots, look no further than Republic Boot Co. Each pair of the store's custom boots is crafted by hand in Houston using premium materials designed to age well over time. The shop's master bootmakers have made boots for celebrities including John Wayne and Steve McQueen. These boots are a souvenir that will last a lifetime.

Pinto Ranch Fine Western Wear

Address: 1717 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056 Website

If you've got nothing to wear to the rodeo, this is the store for you. This Texas-sized western wear store sells everything from boots and jeans to hats, hand-engraved belt buckles, even saddles. Expect top-of-the-line brands including Lucchese, Tony Lama, and Stetson.

Houston Heights

Address: Heights Boulevard and 19th Street Website

This historic district is Houston's go-to spot for antiques, home decor, and vintage clothing. The Heights offers an intimate collection of shops as well as restaurants and a hair salon. Don't miss Retropolis, a well-known resale shop known for its bargains.

River Oaks Shopping Center

Address: W Gray St at Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019 Website

Dating back to the 1930s, this is one of the oldest shopping centers in the U.S. River Oaks is an open-air shopping center known for its art deco buildings. It's now a historic landmark that's home to around 75 retailers, restaurants, and service providers. Among its tenants: Sur La Table, White House Black Market, Ann Taylor, Sunglass Hut and J. McLaughlin.

Neighborhoods to Know

Montrose: Montrose is a quirky Houston neighborhood known for its gay bars, vintage shops, and independent art galleries. The neighborhood is home to the Rothko Chapel, a non-denominational chapel filled with abstract murals by its namesake artist. It's a great place to take in views of the city skyline, have a picnic, and play sand volleyball.

Museum District: This is Houston's beating cultural heart. The Houston Museum District is home to 19 institutions, 11 of which are free. This is where you'll find the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Children's Museum of History, and the Houston Zoo. A grassroots effort in the late 1970s led to the creation of this pedestrian friendly district.

Midtown: Midtown was a Victorian-style residential neighborhood that declined during the latter part of the 20th century. It was home to Little Saigon in the 1970s. Gentrification and redevelopment have since pushed much of the area's Vietnamese population to move. Nowadays, it's a millennial hotspot known for restaurants, bars, and breweries.

Uptown: This upscale area is a shopping mecca. It's home to the Houston Galleria, the Uptown Park open air mall, and the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park. Uptown has more than six million square feet of retail space and more than 1,000 stores. It's where you'll find upscale retailers including Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bvlgari. And there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and wine bars to fuel those shopping sprees.

June to September can be down right steamy. Snow, ice and freezing temperatures are rare. Below are average temperatures in Fahrenheit for each month.

January 44 - 62 February 46 - 65 March 54 - 72 April 60 - 78 May 66 - 84 June 72 - 90 July 74 - 92 August 74 - 93 September 70 - 88 October 61 - 81 November 52 - 71 December 45 - 63

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7 Free Travel Planning AI and ChatGPT Apps to Get an Instant Itinerary

Quick links.

• PLAN by ixigo
• Trip Planner AI
• Vacay Chatbot
• Layla, Wonderplan, and PLAN by ixigo are AI travel planning apps with customizable itineraries.
• iplan.ai offers detailed itineraries for popular tourist cities based on interests and budget.
• Curiosio plans road trips on all continents, while Trip Planner AI helps with activity selection and cost estimation.

You can tell a travel agent your preferred dates, the place you want to visit, and your budget, and expect a full itinerary of what to do there based on your preferences. But can AI do the same job?

These free travel planning apps use AI and machine-learning tools like ChatGPT to prepare an itinerary for you in a few seconds, and we took them for a spin.

Layla describes itself as an AI trip planner, meaning you can use it to decide your vacation destination, create itineraries, and find suitable hotels and flights.

If you are uncertain about your destination or would like suggestions, you can ask Layla for advice regarding your trip. Otherwise, enter your destination and ask Layla to create your itinerary. Within a few seconds, you'll get a detailed plan for your trip.

As Layla is a chatbot, you can enter a prompt to ask it to change your itinerary. For instance, ask it to focus more on outdoor activities or include local restaurants. If you're unsatisfied with the activities planned on any particular day, you can give instructions and ask Layla to regenerate that part only.

Once you've perfected your itinerary, you can share it with your friends via a URL or add it to your bucket list.

2. Wonderplan

Wonderplan is a wonderful AI tool for planning your trip. To create your itinerary, Wonderplan first asks you to enter your destination country and city, your budget, the number of days you'll be staying, and your interests.

It then creates a travel plan within a few minutes, displaying various places to visit, their descriptions, and the time usually spent at each location. Although Wonderplan doesn't show the trip map, it does provide a link to Google Maps for each place.

It also displays different types of accommodation available (like Airbnb, hotel, or hostel) and their respective costs. Similarly, there are details about transportation, food, and activities. This way, you can estimate the potential cost of your trip.

In addition to your itinerary, Wonderplan also shows essential information about the country you're visiting. These include the currency conversion rate, electricity plug type, languages spoken, weather, and popular conveyances.

3. PLAN by ixigo

PLAN by ixigo starts by asking you about your dream destination. Then, it provides an option to describe the type of experience you want to have. This is just like a ChatGPT prompt, so you can enter anything you wish.

For example, you can specify the duration of your stay, your interests, the kinds of activities you're looking for, whether you have a family with you, and so on.

But if you can't think of any prompts, PLAN by ixigo provides a few trip ideas, so you can always select those. PLAN by ixigo then shows a day-wise plan, showing what you can do in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

However, if the suggested itinerary doesn't sound appealing, you can again enter a prompt to edit it.

4. iplan.ai

While iplan.ai doesn't mention which AI or machine-learning algorithm it uses, the results are fantastic enough to gloss over that. The app works beautifully on phones to give you a full itinerary for any one city at a time, depending on how many days you have there.

The app first asks you to name the destination city. As far as we checked, iplan.ai works best for popular tourist cities, not offbeat or obscure travel. Next, note how many days you will be there, and then choose your free time each day—a cool step to ensure a better itinerary if you already have some plans, but not a whole days worth.

Tell iplan.ai if you're traveling solo, as a couple, with family, or with friends, and then choose your interest among topics like history, art and culture, nature, entertainment, shopping, food, sports, relaxing, etc. Finally, choose between an economy, normal, or luxury budget.

After a few minutes, iplan.ai gives you a day-wise itinerary for your trip. It's plotted on a map so you can see all the locations, and each point of interest has a brief description along with estimated travel time.

The app has both free and paid plans. With a paid account, you can share the trip plan with your friends and access it offline. Another limitation of iplan.ai is that you can't get an itinerary for a multi-city trip. For now, you'll need to make a plan for each city you're visiting, one at a time.

Download: iplan.ai for Android | iOS (Free, Paid)

5. Curiosio

The easiest last-minute travel plan is to get into a car and drive. Curiosio specializes in helping you plan an itinerary for a road trip to several major countries on all continents. It doesn't cover every single place, but the existing collection is impressive enough.

Curiosio uses its own AI engine, Ingeenee, which is trained on several crowdsourced travel-based resources, such as Wikivoyage, Wikipedia, Wikidata, Freebase, DBpedia, GeoNames, OSMNames, and OpenStreetMap. Through this dataset, it can chart an itinerary that meets your requirements across various parameters.

You can set options for a round trip or a one-way trip with starting and finishing points. If there are any places you want to visit on the way, add them in. Then set the number of travelers, dates of the journey, what vehicle you're using, total budget, and whether you want to visit places that spark curiosity or are obscure. The AI will usually give you multiple plans and routes for these options.

The itinerary includes a map of your route and a day-wise breakdown of where you'll be going and what you'll be seeing. Each point of interest is clickable to find more information about it. There are easy ways to share your itinerary with co-travelers, print it out, or even export it to Google Maps. Curiosio is one of the best road trip planners for your next adventure .

6. Trip Planner AI

Trip Planner AI plans a perfect trip to your dream destination. Begin creating your itinerary by entering the city you wish to visit and traveling dates. You can add multiple destinations here.

Then, select the kinds of activities you prefer, the number of people, and whether you're traveling with friends or family. Trip Planner AI asks you about your dietary preferences and budget.

As an optional step, you can specify the place where you'll be staying so that it creates an itinerary accordingly. If you haven't decided on your lodging yet, you can explore hotels suggested by Trip Planner AI.

Finally, Trip Planner AI generates a detailed itinerary, a map, and basic information about the city you're visiting. For each destination, it provides the details of the place, expected traveling time, and cost. Though it provides a complete plan for your trip, you can manually add or remove activities from your itinerary. You can also invite your friends to edit the itinerary and download it as a PDF.

7. Vacay Chatbot

Vacay Chatbot is not a dedicated itinerary maker but an AI chatbot that acts like your travel advisor. So, you can ask it to give travel recommendations, compare different destinations, and, of course, create an itinerary. If you've previously used AI chatbots like ChatGPT, you'll find this trip planner easy to use.

Just enter a prompt specifying your destination and trip details and ask Vacay Chatbot to create an itinerary. You can include details like your trip duration, budget, preferences, number of travelers, etc. The more details you provide, the better your itinerary will be.

One of the downsides of using Vacay Chatbot is that it doesn't provide a map for your trip. However, you can use these apps to plot your itinerary on a map .

All these travel planning AI apps urge you not to use the itinerary as-is and only treat it as a template or guide to begin planning your trip. This is because they currently have several limitations, like databases that aren't recently updated or require specific prompts from the user.

A real human travel agent will still give you a more customized itinerary, but it will cost you a few bucks. If you want a free base guide, more basic travel planning apps are a good starting point.

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Amtrak is planning a new high-speed rail route in Texas

A bullet train may connect Houston and Dallas

Everything's bigger in Texas. And it's about to get faster. 

Amtrak released details of its plan to introduce high-speed rail, Acela, to Texas via a YouTube video detailing the upcoming steps of the plan. The new routes, including a proposed 240-mile between Dallas and Houston, aim to help folks commute efficiently without the need to visit an airport or drive long distances in personal vehicles. 

As some of the fastest-growing metropolises in the United States, these cities are prime candidates to be linked by high-speed rail. The I-45, which runs between the two major cities, is known for traffic, and though a flight route exists between the cities, it's inefficient. 

“We believe many of the country’s biggest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas, like Houston and Dallas, deserve more high quality high-speed, intercity rail service and we are proud to bring our experience to evaluate this potential project and explore opportunities with Texas Central so the state can meet its full transportation needs," said Amtrak Senior Vice President of High-Speed Rail Development Programs Andy Byford. 

While Amtrak's Acela train can travel as fast as 150 miles per hour, the fastest train in the Western Hemisphere, an even faster solution is proposed for the largest state in the continental U.S.: A Japanese bullet train. At 205 miles per hour, an average of 187 miles per hour, this train would be the fastest in the world. The trip between Dallas and Houston would be reduced to under 90 minutes, as opposed to the three and a half hour drive (without traffic) the same route typically takes. 

"Once we've got high speed on one or two routes, what Americans will say is, 'We should have had this years ago. It's fantastic. Bring it on. Let's have some more.'" Byford says in the video. 

No current timeline is available for the project, but Amtrak certainly seems to be bulding hip. 

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

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More From Forbes

Texas is the latest destination to receive its own michelin guide.

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San Antonio is one of four Texas cities to be highlighted in the newest Michelin Guide. The guide is ... [+] coming out in late 2024. Shown is a Tacos De Carnitas dish from Ocho restaurant in San Antonio.

Texas has become the latest destination for a new Michelin Guide. This past week, Texas Tourism and Michelin officials co-shared news about the upcoming guidebook, to be revealed later this year. This inaugural guide on the Lone Star State will highlight culinary recommendations in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

Texas gastronomy is broadly known for Texas-style barbecue, steaks, Gulf Coast-sourced seafood and Tex-Mex, a Texas take on Mexican food. However, its respective cities are linked to certain culinary contributions.

Specifically, San Antonio is recognized as the birthplace not only of Tex-Mex but also chili con carne, puffy tacos and Fritos. San Antonio is also the location of the southwest campus of the Culinary Institute of America and one of two U.S. cities named as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. The other is Tucson, Arizona.

Michelin's Texas Guide is the 11th guide focusing on a North American destination.

“Visit San Antonio has been in conversations with Michelin and Travel Texas for several months and we are delighted that Michelin chose Texas and San Antonio for their next guide,” said Marc Anderson, president and CEO for Visit San Antonio. “Our city’s inclusion in the upcoming guide underscores San Antonio's emergence as a destination for discerning food enthusiasts seeking unique and memorable dining experiences.”

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As for the city’s counterparts, Houston is known for Viet-Cajun, influenced by the Vietnamese diaspora and mingled with French Acadian and Southern cuisine. Austin has gotten high marks for breakfast tacos and food trucks. Dallas is a go-to for Frito pie, and Fort Worth offers many options for trying chicken-fried steak, among other orders.

“Texas cuisine reflects the state’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population,” said Director of Travel Texas Tim Fennell, in an emailed media statement. “As a leading agricultural state, Texas offers our local chefs an abundance of homegrown ingredients and a diverse selection of high-quality livestock, while our fisheries offer fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico.”

In Texas, Fort Worth is where to order chicken-fried steak.

Also in his statement, Fennell expressed that “while Texas is proud of its renowned Tex-Mex and barbeque cuisine, our culinary industry is a dynamic blend of traditional and contemporary flavors with chefs across the state pushing boundaries with innovative techniques, creative ingredients and outstanding hospitality."

Texas is to be the 11 th North American destination featured in the Michelin Guide series. Michelin published its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York.

Guides have since been added in Chicago (2011), Washington, D.C. (2017), California (San Francisco in 2008, statewide 2019), Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Florida (2022), Toronto (2022), Vancouver (2022), Atlanta (2023) and Mexico (2024).

According to Carly Grieff, who handles external communications for Michelin, the guide’s management sends their inspectors—who are kept anonymous—to conduct a destination assessment within a specific locale.

Dallas is also among the four cities to be included in a new Michelin guide coming out in 2024.

“The inspection team evaluates whether an area’s culinary scene is advanced enough for a Michelin Guide selection of restaurants and whether the culinary landscape has potential for growth,” explained Grieff. “If they determine that is the case, the process would begin for the Guide to be established in that area.”

Grieff added that their team independently chose to highlight Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. “Nevertheless, it is only the beginning of our story with Texas, and as the Michelin Guide works on a long-term scale, we observe very often the extension of its geographical scope within a country, a region or a state over time.”

The 2024 Texas restaurant selection will join the Michelin Guide selection of hotels later this year that will feature unique and exciting places to stay in Texas and around the world.

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• The MICHELIN Guide Makes Waves in Texas

The Lone Star State becomes the 11th MICHELIN Guide destination in North America

Michelin news Announcement Editor's Pick New Additions

2024 has been an exciting year for The MICHELIN Guide , and today sees more buzz as Texas joins as the newest addition to the United States selection. Together with Travel Texas, the Lone Star State becomes the eleventh location to join the ever-growing list of North American destinations. And with award-winning barbecue, locally sourced seafood and steaks, and savory Tex-Mex, it's easy to see why our famously anonymous Inspectors couldn't wait to share their finds.

“The Texas culinary scene has proven to be an exhilarating one, with multicultural influences, homegrown ingredients, and talent that is rich in ambition,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guide. “Foodies and travel enthusiasts alike will find something to enjoy, with such a broad dining scene spanning farm-to-table dishes, fusion cuisine, upscale dining, and the famous Texas-style barbecue. Texas is a perfect fit for the MICHELIN Guide, based on the experiences of our anonymous Inspectors.” The first MICHELIN Guide Texas selection will be revealed later this year, and will feature culinary gems in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

"The MICHELIN Guide Texas will illustrate to global travelers the culinary journey that’s waiting to be discovered in our state, featuring restaurants that embody our heritage and introducing innovative chefs and local artisans who are redefining our food scene,” said Tim Fennell, director of Travel Texas. “The introduction of the Guide will be a tremendous asset for Texas, promoting our rich and diverse food culture and elevating the restaurant scene to an international stage.”

About the process

The MICHELIN Guide’s anonymous Inspectors are already in the field, making dining reservations secretively and paying for all their meals to ensure they are treated the same as any other customer.

The 2024 Texas restaurant selection will join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels later this year and will feature the most unique and exciting places to stay in Texas and around the world. Every hotel in the Guide is chosen for its extraordinary style, service, and personality – with options for all budgets – and each hotel can be booked directly through the MICHELIN Guide website or app.

The MICHELIN Guide is constantly observing the evolution of culinary destinations around the world. Michelin works with Destination Marketing Organizations, or tourism boards, to promote the travel industry in the respective locations; however, the MICHELIN Guide selections process remains completely independent. While selections remain fully independently determined by anonymous Inspectors, the MICHELIN Guide is working with Travel Texas on marketing and promotion activities only.

History and methodology


The upcoming Texas restaurant selection will follow Michelin’s historical methodology, based on five universal criteria, to ensure each destination’s selection equity:

1) quality products

2) the harmony of flavors

3) the mastery of cooking techniques

4) the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine

5) consistency between each visit and throughout the menu (each restaurant is inspected several times a year).

The MICHELIN Guide remains a reliable companion for any traveler seeking a great meal. The Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage tire sales by giving practical advice to French motorists. Michelin’s Inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by Inspectors in the very beginning, now applied in destinations around the world.

Michelin published its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York. Guides have since been added in Washington, D.C.; Chicago; California; Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Florida; Colorado; Atlanta, Toronto; Vancouver; and Mexico. 

Hero collage image:  f11photo / San Antonio | RoschetzkylstockPhoto / Austin | Travel Texas / Houston | Christina Childress / Dallas | stevecoleimages / Fort Worth | zrfphoto / Texas 

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Uk's scrapped rwanda migrant plan a 'shocking waste' of $904 million in public funds, minister says.

Associated Press

LONDON – A scrapped plan by former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to send some migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda was the “most shocking waste of taxpayer money I have ever seen," the U.K.’s new home secretary said Monday as she put the cost at 700 million pounds ($904 million) in public funds.

Sunak's successor Keir Starmer spiked the controversial plan as soon as his Labour government came to power this month. Sunak had made “stopping the boats” a key policy as his Conservative government struggled to stem the flow of asylum-seekers across the English Channel from France, but his plans were stalled by legal challenges and were widely criticized by human rights groups.

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Home Secretary Yvette Copper said the failed plan's costs included 290 million pounds in payments to Rwanda, plus “chartering flights that never took off, detaining hundreds of people and then releasing them and paying for more than a thousand civil servants to work on the scheme.”

Rwanda's government has said it was not obligated to refund the money.

“The previous government had planned to spend over 10 billion pounds of taxpayers money on the scheme, they did not tell Parliament that,” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told lawmakers.

The home secretary said the high number of risky small boat crossings will likely persist through the summer, when weather conditions are more favorable. She also acknowledged that more needs to be done to tackle people-smuggling “upstream," but did not spell out details.

Official figures showed that nearly 1,500 migrants had arrived in the U.K. on small boats across the English Channel in the past week alone. The French coastguard said two people died amid rescue operations off the northern French coast.

Sunak's plan was meant to address the growing number of migrants from around the world — reaching a high of 46,000 in 2022 — who cross the English Channel . Most who arrive that way apply for asylum, and in the past many have received it. The Conservative government argued that these migrants should not be treated as genuine refugees because they did not claim asylum in another safe country they reached first.

The U.K. struck a deal with Rwanda in 2022 to send migrants who arrive in the U.K. as stowaways or in boats to the East African country, where their asylum claims would be processed and, if successful, they would stay.

Human rights groups and other critics of the plan called it unworkable and unethical to deport migrants to a country 4,000 miles (6,400 miles) away that they don’t want to live in.

The plan was challenged in U.K. courts, and no flights to Rwanda took off under it. Cooper said that just four people have been removed to Rwanda — and they did so voluntarily.

Britain’s Supreme Court in November ruled that the policy was unlawful because Rwanda is not a safe third country where migrants can be sent, with five justices unanimously saying that “the removal of the claimants to Rwanda would expose them to a real risk of ill-treatment” because they could be sent back to the home countries they had fled.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

A first-time guide to Hawai'i, the Big Island

Jul 19, 2024 • 8 min read

Plan your visit to the Big Island with this guide to seasons, costs and experiences. Matt Anderson Photography / Getty Images © Matt Anderson Photography / Getty Images

Hawaii ’s largest island – Hawai'i the Big Island  – is grand in size and scale. Filled with superlative scenery — the world’s most active volcano (Kilauea), some of its newest land (in Puna), the largest mountain when measured from the seafloor (Mauna Loa), and some of the planet’s best night sky star viewing (atop Mauna Kea) — there’s a lot more than just tropical beaches to wow visitors here… though, of course, there are those, too. 

This largely rural island in the central Pacific has been inhabited for millennia by proud and self-sufficient communities sustained by land and sea. That ethos — the island takes care of us, so we take care of the island — still thrums through residents’ daily lives. For the visitor that translates to an expectation that you will also treat the land and its people with respect. Dig in by sampling the island’s literal fruits ( including globally recognized Kona coffee ) at abundant farmers markets and farm-to-table restaurants island-wide, frolicking with offshore wildlife including massive mantas at night, volunteering to restore native habitats, and immersing yourself in Hawaiian legends and lore at some of the oldest and most sacred sites in all of Hawaii.

Here's what every first time visitor to Hawai'i needs to know.

When should I visit Hawai'i Island?

Buffered by surrounding deep seawater, and at a latitude the affords nearly equal parts night and day year-round, the Big Island enjoys relatively little temperature fluctuation throughout the year. At sea level, most days are between 75 and 85ºF, and nights from 65 to 75ºF. However, because of its varied volcanic topography — from sea level to nearly 3 miles up — it’s possible to experience multiple types of weather within the same day at different locales across the island. The eastern or windward side is usually wetter than the dryer western or leeward side. And higher elevation areas are typically cooler, often with afternoon rains. The highest elevation areas can be downright chilly… during storms it’s not unusual to experience snow atop the highest peaks… even in summer.

Though summer (May to November) brings the Pacific hurricane season with the potential for weather curveballs, winter storms are more likely to cancel scheduled boat charters, which is unfortunate because that’s also when migrating humpback whales from Alaska visit to frolic, mate and give birth in the islands’ warm offshore waters. 

The island experiences high seasons during North American school holidays: spring (February to April), fall (mid-November) and winter breaks (December and January) and fall break are the priciest times to visit. Budget travelers will benefit from discounted hotel and rental car bookings in the shoulder season (September and October), and well as the low season during the North American summer (June to August). Popular festivals – including the Merrie Monarch hula competition , which brings dancers and vendors from across the islands to Hilo in mid-April, King Kamehameha Day celebrations in North Kohala, and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival in November – are all worthwhile events to plan a trip around.

How much time should I spend on Hawai'i?

Most visitors to the island by cruise ship will spend a day in both Hilo and Kailua-Kona , but that’s far too short to get a sense of what the island has to offer. You’ll need at least four to five days to hit the highlights including Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park , Kona coffee country , northwestern beaches and scenic drives to sites including the southerly Punalu’u Black Sand Beach and Kohala Mountain Road between the northerly towns of Hawi and Waimea. A week or more will afford a deeper dive to lesser-visited areas like the Hamakua Coast and the quaint town of Honaka’a as well as exploration in the more remote reaches of Puna, home to the islands most recently created lava lands.

Is it easy to get to and around Hawai'i Island?

Two airports — one on each side of the island in Hilo and Kona — are the main entry points for visitors. Though both are technically international airports many flights from the US mainland and international destinations route through Honolulu first. 

A rental car is a must due to the island’s large size and the fact that the limited public bus primarily services residential areas… unless you plan to book a series of tours where someone else will be doing the driving for you. Waikoloa, the northeastern coastal region home to the bulk of the islands’ resorts, does have shuttles between properties and area shopping centers, but not to and from the airport (Kona International, 25 miles away) or into the town of Kailua-Kona a few miles even further south. Visitors based in either downtown Kona or Hilo will find both places walkable, but neither town is draw enough for most visitors to spend their entire visit there; you’ll still need that rental car to get from Hilo to Volcano or from Kona to coffee country.

Top things to do on Hawai'i Island

A trip to Hawaii Island would not be complete without a visit to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park . Spanning two volcanoes including the world’s most active ( Kilauea ), it’s often possible to see red hot lava roiling within a summit crater lake if an eruption is present. (Check the national park’s website for current eruption notices and activity as well as the best viewing spots). Most visitors walk the trail from the visitors center to the boardwalk through the steaming Sulfur Banks, meander through the remnants of an old lava tube, and some traverse a longer loop trail along the crater rim. But there are three very worthwhile add-ons if you have the time. 

First is a drive down Chain of Craters Road. This 19-mile down and back driving tour includes stops at pit craters, the site of former lava fountains, and the chance to see the state bird, nene. You’ll descend some 4000ft of elevation taking in sweeping vistas to where the lava cliffs meet the sea. 

Second, in a pull-off near the bottom of Chain of Craters Rd, is a mile-long hike through an old lava field the Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs , a collection of sacred and mysterious native Hawaiian rock carvings, some over 800 years old.

And, finally, back at elevation, a hike into Kilauea Iki Crater through fern forest and jungle (2–3 hours, 4 miles) is well worth the trip. Not only does it give you a closer look at the terrain and some of the landscape’s more unusual features, it’s also easy to visualize what it would have been like when this crater was filled with a boiling lava lake just 65 years ago – some parts still vent steam.

Other island highlights include the 442-ft cascade of Akaka Falls into verdant Hamakua Coast jungle ( Honamu Goat Dairy on the same road offers free "therapy" with the kids and is well worth the stop); spotting sea turtles basking on the black sands of southerly Punalu’u Beach while eating a fresh malasada (fried, sugar-coated Portuguese-style donut) from the United States’ southernmost bakery; and exploring the upcountry paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) vibe in Waimea before traversing the sky-high, ethereal and foggy ranchlands along Kohala Mountain Road to the quaint former plantation town of Hawi.

My favorite thing to do in Hawai'i Island

Hawaii is a world-class destination for marine life viewing and whether you’re a novice snorkeler, experienced diver, fearless adventure seeker, or prefer the dry vantage of a boat, there’s an experience for you off the island’s west side. Numerous dive shops offer what has become a bucket list experience for many visitors: snorkeling (or scuba diving) at night with 10ft-plus manta rays. Lights attract plankton, mantas’ food, and draw in mantas that feast using graceful loops through the water column to filter-feed the tiny creatures within inches of gleeful viewers.

Experienced divers also can head offshore on scuba trips that focus on the plankton themselves. So-called blackwater diving takes the bold one-to-two miles offshore after dark to where the seafloor plummets some 5000ft below. There, they watch migrating zooplankton — and the cast of otherworldly predators (think strange jellyfish and colorful squid) that follow them up from the deep — in the first 50ft below the surface. Thalassophobics (those fearful of deep water) would do well to keep to the mantas that hover above the reef.

Daytime charters can be just as fun. Though the previously popular practice of swimming with resident spinner dolphins is now considered illegal (they sleep during the day and keeping them awake makes them more vulnerable to predators), it’s still possible to spot them and other large marine animals (including endangered resident monk seals, migrating humpback whales, pods of pilot whales and even the occasional whale shark) on dedicated boat charters. Some of these operate zippy former military watercraft that can speed to the first sign of a sighting and put snorkelers within underwater viewing distance of porpoises and — with a trained in-water guide — sharks.

How much money do I need for Hawai'i Island?

There’s no question: Hawai'i is an expensive tourist destination. In addition to the typically high cost of getting here, the island economy — where most materials and goods still have to be imported — also commands higher prices for hotels, tours and dining out. Still, this isn’t the big city (read: Honolulu), and bargains and cost-saving measures can still be found if you know where to look. A tip, though: don’t skimp on experiences if you’re taking a tour — you really do get what you pay for.

Here are a few estimated costs to help you plan your budget:

• Hostel dorm bunk: $25–50
• Basic room for two (hostel/hotel): $75–150/$250+
• Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): $100–200
• Rental car per day: $50–100
• Gallon of (non-CostCo gas*): $4.75
• Pound of 100% Kona Coffee: $30+
• Poke bowl: $15
• Dinner for two: $50+
• Beer/pint at the bar: $7
• 2.5-hour manta snorkel experience: $125
• Entry to Volcanoes National Park: $15/person or $30/private vehicle

*CostCo members can save as much as $1/gallon on gas and many island residents make a point to fill up at the island’s only location north of Kailua-Kona.

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