Travel Guide Intro
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- 48 Hours in Houston
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Vibrant cultures collide in the Energy Capital of the World through a dynamic fusion of flavors, history, and innovation. The largest city in Texas and fourth largest in the United States, the city of Houston hosts a diverse mix of cultures, cuisines, and experiences. Start exploring the city, and book your weekend getaway now.
Houston is known for: Space exploration, Tex Mex, Vietnamese BBQ, 500+ parks and green spaces
Houston is perfect for: families, foodies, nature lovers, shopping
Day 1
Start your day with a soulful breakfast at The Breakfast Klub, known for its delicious comfort food dishes, like Wings & Waffles and Katfish & Grits. After breakfast, head to the Space Center Houston, where you can see actual spacecraft, experience interactive exhibits, participate in augmented reality experiences (like walking on the moon and watching the Saturn V launch), and learn about NASA's space missions.
Spend some time exploring the Museum District, home to institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Choose a museum or two based on your interests. Then have lunch at Ninfa's on Navigation, an authentic Tex-Mex spot and Houston institution famous for its sizzling fajitas and flavorful margaritas for over 50 years. Stuffed? Kickstart digestion while exploring Buffalo Bayou Park, a scenic urban oasis along the bayou where you can go for a walk or hop on a bike. Enjoy views of the city skyline, public art installations, and lush green spaces.
Have dinner at Safina Mediterranean, the InterContinental’s restaurant that highlights wellness-driven food and pays homage to the Mediterranean’s rich history of mercantilism, craftsmanship, and innovation. End the evening with a drink at the Naturalist Bar & Lounge (also inside the hotel) or spend an hour or two out on the town experiencing Houston’s buzzing nightlife. Visit bars and live music venues like Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge or the House of Blues for a memorable evening.
Day 2
Start the day bright and early with a trip to BlendIn Coffee Club for a cup of joe. The cafe, roastery, and training campus provides a true tree-to-cup experience and uses high quality beans grown in Panama and Colombia. Another amazing bakery and cafe in the city is Koffeteria, located in what used to be known as Vietnam Town. Now called Eado, or East Downtown, the area is a hotspot for breweries, bars, galleries, and more. At Koffeteria, try the beef pho kolache, the double thicc chocolate chip, or the taro egg & cheese tacos. Then head to the Houston Zoo, home to a diverse collection of animals from around the world. Make sure to visit popular exhibits like the African Forest and the Kipp Aquarium. If you prefer shopping, head to The Galleria, Houston's premier shopping destination in the Uptown District, featuring a wide range of luxury boutiques, department stores, and dining options.
Ready for lunch? Switch things up with a visit to the Galleria Food Truck Park, where you’ll find great tacos and other Latin and Asian foods. Another option is POST Market, where you’ll find everything from hot chicken and boba to burgers, paletas, ramen, and Thai food. The market has happy hour specials on weekdays, too. In the afternoon, explore the Houston Museum of Natural Science home to fascinating exhibits on dinosaurs, gems and minerals, space exploration, and more.
Take a stroll through Hermann Park, a sprawling green space in the heart of the city. Visit the Japanese Garden, ride the pedal boats on McGovern Lake, or simply relax and enjoy the scenery. At dusk, visit James Turrell's "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace at Rice University. The free outdoor exhibit was built in 2012, can hold up to 120 people, and is acoustically engineered to host musical performances and act as a lab for Shepherd School of Music students. The light sequence here takes place at sunrise and sunset daily and lasts about 40 minutes.
End the trip with dinner at Navy Blue, a contemporary American seafood restaurant that celebrates the treasures of the Texas Gulf Coast. Start the meal with sparkling wine and caviar, then move on to a cocktail (the menu lists them under Sbagliato, Hiball, and Rocks categories) paired with a pasta like the Linguine Vongole or a seafood dish like the Swordfish Au Poivre. Save room for dessert here. The Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Coulant are both fan favorites, and the Affogato provides a nice kick in case you plan to go somewhere else after dinner.
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