places of interest around Houston
A Librarian's Guide
Houston, the largest city in Texas and the fourth in
the United States in population, is ready to welcome you! A steady flow of
newcomers from across the nation has created a cosmopolitan city rich in
diversity that offers a number of attractions for those interested in sports,
theater, shopping, and a variety of great foods. Check with the Greater Houston
Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.houston-spacecityusa.com), Houston
Chronicle (www.houstonchronicle.com), and
Houston Press for more information (www.houstonpress.com).
210
There are more than 1,000 places of worship located throughout the Houston area.
A number of exotic temples and churches Taoist, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic,
Russian Orthodox are just some available to you. Visit Rothko Chapel, a
world-famous ecumenical chapel in a meditative environment. www.menil.org
387.8
Space Center Houston is just a short trip south of Houston but offers a world of
exploration fun.
500
Houston Museum of Natural Science houses the Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell
Butterfly Center, and IMAX. www.hmns.org
590.73
Houston Zoological Gardens and Kipp Aquarium are home to about 3,000 animals in
the 50-acre zoo. Visit with koalas, monitor lizards, vampire bats, and much,
much more. www.houstonzoo.org
641.5
There are over 200 restaurant and clubs in downtown Houston alone. Click on www.b4-u-eat.com and enter the zip code 77002 for a list of restaurants by type of food located right downtown.
658.87
Interested in shopping? Foley's and The Park Shops are within walking distance downtown, and the Galleria
is just a short drive away in uptown Houston. For something different, visit the shops on Harwin for
no-name merchandise, knock-offs, and
the real McCoy.
711.58.1.1
Green spaces include Hermann Park (duck pond, Japanese gardens), Memorial Park (jogging trails), and
Houston Arboretum and Nature Discovery Center (nature study and birdwatching).
725.98.1
The downtown tunnel system, accessible through any building connected to the tunnels, provides six miles
of corridors with food courts, restaurants, and shops.
781.65
Try the Mercury Room for live jazz, blues, and swing music. www.mercuryroom.com
Cotton Exchange, a timeless watering hole downtown, is on the corner of Franklin at
Travis. www.cottonexchangebar.com
791
Visit Bayou Place in the heart
of Houston for a variety of diversions (food, movies, live music) and the Theater District that
offers Houston Grand Opera, Alley Theatre, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony Orchestra, and Theatre Under
the Stars (TUTS). Kiss Me Kate from TUTS will be playing in the new Hobby Center while TLA is in town.
For what's happening where and when, check www.houstontheater
district.org.
796
Houston offers sports galore with the Rockets, Texans, Comets, and Astros. Opening night at Minute Maid Park
is April 1 against Colorado. Check www.astros.com for ticket information.
976.404
After the conference, take a short drive to visit an important site of Texas history. The
San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas are just a few minutes
away. www.sanjacinto-museum.org
976.414
Sam Houston Park, located in the block behind the Houston Public Library, offers preserved homes linked
to Houston's history. The Heritage Society has a museum center nearby. www.heritagesociety.org
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