Houston
For more information on things to do, events, restaurants, nightlife, or more about Houston in general, go to for more information on the city.
Close to MD Anderson:
Rice University Tours (~1mi)
On May 18, 1891, Massachusetts-born businessman William Marsh Rice chartered the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science, and Art as a gift to the city of Houston, where he made his fortune. Whether you walk the campus on your own to admire Rice's unique architecture or come with a group and follow a student guide, a Rice campus tour is a memorable experience. Group tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 10am daily. Tours must be requested at least two weeks in advance. Parking – visitor parking available. If lot full, visitors can park in another lot for $3-$5 per hour with a maximum daily limit of $11 – Credit or debit cards only. 1 hour, 60-minute campus tour and Rice information packet. Lunch options available – group must plan separately.
Rice University Village (~2mi)
Rice Village, also known as The Village, has been one of Houston's oldest and best-loved shopping destinations since the 1930s. Just two blocks from the Rice University campus, the area is known for its wide variety of restaurants, nightlife venues, and shopping. Rice Village is home to some of the best and most varied places to eat in Houston. Choose from fun, casual,and eclectic fine dining, specialty restaurants, pubs, bars & clubs, coffee, tea & smoothies, candy, sweets & dessert. For the last 70+ years, Rice Village has been considered one of Houston's premier shopping destinations. With over 300 shops in the immediate 16-block area, Rice Village has something for everyone and is known for its multitudes of small and eclectic shops and boutiques.
Houston City Pass
The Houston City pass is a great option to see many Houston attractions at a discounted price. If you are planning on arriving early or staying after the conference to explore Houston, this may be a practical option for you. The pass includes a visit to Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo or Museum of Fine Arts, Kemah Boardwalk or Children’s Museum of Houston. Link below for more info.
Houston Zoo (~2mi)
Founded in 1922, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving more than 1.9 million guests annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the zoo is home to more than 6,000 exotic animals representing more than 800 species. Visitors can experience the wonders of Africa at The African Forest, the new 6.5 acre, $40 million addition featuring chimps, rhinos, and giraffes.
Hermann Park; Miller Outdoor Theatre (~2mi)
ExxonMobil Summer Symphony NightsJun 23 and 14, 2017 at 8:30 p.m.: Bringing the sights and sounds of Houston's symphony, thesefamily-friendly concertsintroducerising guest artiststo Houston audiences while delighting with classic compositions.This is a ticketed event for the covered seating area. Free tickets are available (4 per person over age 16 while they last) at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office the day of the performance between the hours of 10:30 AM-1:00 PM. If tickets remain at 1:00 PM, the box office will re-open one hour before show time to distribute the remaining tickets. As always, open seating on the hill. The show goes on, rain or shine.
Houston Museum of Natural Science (~2mi)
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a science museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston. The museum was established in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society, an organization whose goals were to provide a free institution for the people of Houston focusing on education and science. Museum attendance totals over two million visitors each year. The museum complex consists of a central facility with four floors of natural science halls and exhibits, the Burke Baker Planetarium, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. The museum is one of the most popular in the United States and ranks just below New York City's American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art and the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco in most attendance amongst non-Smithsonian museums.
Museum of Fine Arts (~2mi)
The Museum of Fine Arts is the oldest art museum in Texas. In 1917, the museum site was dedicated by the Houston Public School Art League (later the Houston Art League) with the intention of becoming a public art museum. The museum is one of the largest museums in the United States. The permanent collection spans more than 6,000 years of history with approximately 63,718 pieces in 270,000 square feet of exhibition space. The Museum has the largest and most diverse art collection in the Southwestern United States. The majority of the museum's collection lie in the areas of Italian Renaissance painting, French Impressionism, photography, American and European decorative arts, African and pre-Columbian gold, American art, and post-1945 European and American painting and sculpture. (We will be having an evening reception at the MFA on Wednesday evening at our GCC meeting!)
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (~2mi)
The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is a non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national, and regional art of the last 40 years.The museum was founded in 1948 by a group of seven Houston citizens to present new art and to document its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures and other activities.The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston continues to look forward with exhibitions that exemplify the art of today. From German painters to South African videographers to Houston sculptors, the Museum is proud to show work by artists from many different cultures and backgrounds.
Holocaust Museum Houston (~2mi)
The Holocaust Museum Houston is located in the Houston Museum District in Houston, Texas and was opened in 1996. The museum is the fourth largest Holocaust memorial museum in the United States. The museum's mission is to make people aware of the dangers which prejudice, hatred and violence brought about during the Holocaust. Italso endeavors to remind us that these dangers are still relevant today. The museum promotes understanding, remembrance and education with the goal that both students and the general population stay and become aware of the lesson of these tragic events. This lesson is that humankind must strive to live together in peace and harmony.
Menil Collection (~4mi)
The museum houses the private art collection of founders John de Menil and Dominique de Menil. Spanning the prehistoric era to the present day, the Menil’s collection grew out of personal and intellectual passions rather than encyclopedic ambitions. The collection itself it comprised of approximately 17,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs and rare books. Admission is free and open to the public. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 7pm.
Rothko Chapel (~4mi)
If you plan on visiting the Menil, The Rothko Chapel is a non-denominational chapel five minutes from the Menil Collection that is also worth visiting. The interior serves not only as a chapel, but also as a major work of modern art. On its walls are fourteen black but color hued paintings by American painter Mark Rothko. Rothko is generally identified as an abstract expressionist and is one of the most famous postwar American artists. The shape of the building, an octagon inscribed in a Greek cross, and the design of the chapel was largely influenced by the artist.
Astros Baseball Game (~6mi)
Ready for some baseball, beer, and hotdogs at Minute Maid Park? The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros are members of the American League (AL) West division in Major League Baseball (MLB), having moved to the division in 2013 after spending their first 51 seasons in the National League (NL).The Astros have played their home games at Minute Maid Park since 2000.The team has games from the 27th through July 2nd. Single game tickets are on sale now!
Beer Can House (~6mi)
The Beer Can House is a folk art house in Rice Military, Houston, Texas, covered with beer cans, bottles, and other beer paraphernalia. Houstonian John Milkovisch worked through the late 1960s to transform his Houston home at 222 Malone Street into the Beer Can House. It is a folk art monument to eccentricity and recycling. The Beer Can House is now one of Houston's most recognizable folk art icons. It is covered with flattened beer cans, bottle caps, bottles, and other beer ephemera. The house is estimated to include over 50,000 beer cans.
Buffalo Bayou Park (~6mi)
Buffalo Bayou, the 52-mile slow-moving waterway that was the site of Houston's founding in 1836, has become a destination for outdoor recreation near downtown Houston. It remains in its natural state and contains an incredibly diverse urban ecosystem supporting dozens of native species of flora and fauna.See downtown from a new perspective. Buffalo Bayou is perfect for canoeing, kayaking, biking, and hiking! Hop aboard the Spirit of the Bayou for a private charter tour, bat tour or history tour. Experience the sights and sounds of over 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats at Waugh Drive Bridge
Galleria of Houston (~7mi)
The Galleria, an international shopping destination that hosts more than 24 million visitors annually, offers world-class shopping with more than 375 stores, 30 restaurants, two hotels, and a full-sized ice rink. Sitting alongside the upscale boutiques are anchor stores Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and two Macy's department stores, The Galleria has more than 2 million square feet of shopping thrills. A range of restaurants to suit every taste can be found throughout The Galleria—from steakhouses and dumpling bars to sandwich shops and fast food. On the lowest level, in the heart of the food court, guests can put their skating skills to the test on an ice rink made famous by Olympian Tara Lipinski.
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall (~7mi)
The Waterwall is a Houston landmark inspires feelings of awe, and inner peace. Located amid lovely live oaks in an 18-acre landscaped park south of Williams Tower, the Waterwall has the power and beauty of a man made waterfall, with 11,000 gallons of water per minute falling almost seven stories down the semi-circular structure from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Parking can be difficult, but visitors can use the Williams Tower garage for free every night after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
Downtown Aquarium (~7mi)
The Downtown Aquarium is the product of redeveloping two downtown Houston landmarks – Fire Station No. 1 and the Central Waterworks Building. This magnificent six-acre entertainment and dining complex is a 500,000-gallon aquatic wonderland, home to over 200 species of aquatic life from around the globe. With a full-service restaurant, an upscale bar, a fully equipped ballroom, aquatic & geographic exhibits, shopping and a variety of amusements, Downtown Aquarium has it all!
Memorial Park (~10mi)
The Memorial Park landscape has century deep roots. Until 1883, the property was family owned. However, from 1917 to 1923, the land was the site of Camp Logan, a World War I U.S. Army training camp.The foliage is lush and plentiful, with some sections leading through densely vegetated areas offering many peaceful views. Dubbed “the largest urban park in Texas,” the park includes Texas’ top-rated municipal 18-hole golf course, as well as facilities for tennis, softball, swimming, track, croquet, volleyball, in-line skating, cycling, and a popular three-mile running course. In addition to the many trails the park is host to several softball/baseball fields, as well as a soccer/football filed.Memorial Park features mixed pine/oak woodlands, fenced in by urban sprawl from all directions that still support a diverse population of eastern woodland birds. Pine, Swainson's, Kentucky, and Hooded warblers breed within this park. In late winter, American Woodcocks (a rare breeder on the upper coast) have displayed here
South of Houston:
Space Center Houston (~30mi)
Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, is Houston’s No. 1 attraction for international visitors and the only Smithsonian Affiliate in the greater Houston area. Discover the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human spaceflight program set among the largest collection of space artifacts in the southwestern United States. There is always something new to see and do. With more than 400 space artifacts including flown spacecraft, the largest collection of moon rocks on public display and at least three major exhibits a year, Space Center Houston offers an array of exciting attractions for people of all ages.
Kemah Boardwalk (~35mi)
Overlooking Galveston Bay, the Kemah Boardwalk features themed restaurants, retail shops, and amusements for the whole family. At the heart of the Kemah Boardwalk are the restaurants. Kemah boasts some of the most recognized names in the restaurant industry. Aquarium Restaurant serves guests a great view of our 50,000 gallon aquarium brimming with marine life. This 35-acre carnival-like atmosphere has a 36-foot carousel, a 65-foot Ferris wheel and rides like the Aviator and the Boardwalk Tower. Don't miss the arcade and Midway games. And for thrill seekers, there's the Boardwalk Beast, an adrenaline rush of a boat ride that takes passengers four miles into Galveston Bay at speeds up to 40 mph. Just 20 miles from downtown Houston, The Kemah Boardwalk is a great coastal getaway.
Galveston (~52mi)
Considered the “Playground of the South”,Galveston Islandhas become one of the fastest growing coastal tourist destinations. Be assured that there are many things to spark your interest in Galveston.Explore the live tropical rainforest replica at Moody Garden Rainforest Pyramid, and enjoy an interactive experience with some of Asia, Africa, and the Americas’ most exotic wildlife. The best feature is that guests are able to get up close and personal with amazing animals like the Saki Monkey! You can also visit the one-of-a-kind Aquarium where you can explore the depths of the ocean and view the many wonders of the sea like sharks and stingrays. You can even meet a tuxedo-clad penguin! In the Pyramids you’ll also find a water park, golf course, ropes course, zip line attraction, and even 3-D/4-D theaters! Or you can take do some Dolphin and Whale watching while you’re there. As you stand on Galveston's shore and look out over the Gulf of Mexico, you will most likely see them dotting the horizon -- huge oil rigs. The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum gives you a chance to explore the history and evolution of technological advances in offshore oil extraction, from the 19th century to the present.
San Antonio (~200mi)
If your memories of San Antonioare limited to a stop at the Alamo and a meal on the River Walk accented by colorful umbrellas and mariachi music, it’s time to visit again. Texas’s second largest city is in the midst ofa cultural revival, with the up-and-comingPearl districtleading the charge. With a burgeoning restaurant scene, historic restorations, and a raft of new construction, San Antoniois reinventing itself, becoming a multifaceted metropolis well worth exploring. If you plan on coming early or staying late to explore other Texas cities such as San Antonio, do consider exploring the Riverwalk, the Alamo , Misson San Jose , the Natural Bridge Caverns, or many of the awesome flea markets the city has. The McNay Art Museum is Texas’s first founded modern art museum, the result of a 1950 bequest by local painter and oil heiress Marion Koogler McNay, who donated an impressive array of Postimpressionist acquisitions along with her24-room Spanish Colonial Revival estate in which to house them.
Austin (~170mi)
Or perhaps you’d like to visit the Texas capital, Austin, the live music capital of the world. Austin has a lot to offer for tourists, with delicious food, great culture, legendary live music, art, and an array of outdoor activities for those who like hiking and natural spring pools. Plan a visit at the Capital, or explore UT Austin. If you’re a history buff, visit the LBJ Library. If you are looking to cool off from the Texas heat, Barton Springs Pool is a recreational outdoor swimming pool that is filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. It is located on the grounds of Zilker Metropolitan Parkthat is also worth visiting with its spectacular view of Austin’s skyline. Rainey Street is a cool area with lots of the bars renovated from old houses and has great outdoor areas. You can find a good amount of food trucks here as well. If you’re into graffiti art, consider going to Graffiti Park at Castle Hills. The park has great energy, amazing art, and offers remarkable views of the city.