Tourism

Fun in the Bayou City is easy to find. Houston's downtown has been revitalized with the opening of Bayou Place, as well as numerous restaurants and musical entertainment that has helped bring nightlife back to downtown. And that's in addition to the rest of the City's attractions, shopping and restaurants to fit all budgets.

• Dining in Houston is a treat. While here you can indulge in one of the more than 11,000 restaurants ranging from award-winning and upscale to memorable deli shops. In fact, Houston has more gold-medal award-winning restaurants than any other city in the United States. It's no wonder Houstonians eat out more than residents of any other city in the country.
  
  
• Houstonians love to shop and they have many places to indulge in the City's unofficial pastime. From bargain basement shops to upscale stores specializing in the hard-to-find items, Houston is a shopper's dream. And every Houstonian knows about the Galleria, legendary for its variety of shops and international ambiance. For many, an afternoon spent there strolling and window-shopping is the ultimate escape. Of course, you can always sit in one of its numerous restaurants and watch the ice skaters and other shoppers, or just indulge in one of the many other treats available.
  
  
• Still want something else to do? Six Flags AstroWorld ushers in spring with the March opening of its 85-acre entertainment complex filled with exciting rides, shows, water sports and attractions, while its sibling, WaterWorld, makes a splash in April. Both are great for family fun.
  
  
• An out of this world experience awaits those who explore Space Center Houston, NASA's official visitor's center, located south of Houston. A little further south, Moody Gardens in Galveston is a one-stop destination for year-round fun featuring a huge aquarium pyramid, rainforest pyramid and two IMAX theaters. The fascinating Lone Star Flight Museum is next door.
  
  
• In the heart of Houston, downtown's Bayou Place keeps the beat with a slew of urban dining and entertainment options. Or you can take a drive east to visit the famed San Jacinto Battleground, the site of Texas' independence from Mexico, or west to George Ranch Historical Park, a living history museum.
  
  
• Just north of the City is one of the country's largest outdoor markets, Traders Village, as well as Mother Nature's sanctuary, Mercer Arboretum. In addition to Galveston and Clear Lake, heading south points you toward a day at the races at Gulf Greyhound Park or a back-to-nature excursion at Armand Bayou Nature Center. Nature lovers can also find a bountiful wildlife retreat at the Houston Arboretum, near Memorial Park.