What to do in Houston while house and pet sitting

“Houston, we have a problem” – is one thing we most definitely do not want to hear you say during your house or pet sitting trip to Texas. And to be 100 percent sure we won’t, we’ve decided to provide you with ample ideas for what to do in Houston while you’re there – from inspiring cultural shenanigans, to journeys through the city’s rich history, all the way to adventures in (almost) outer space.

So, lean back, get comfortable, and find out why your next house or pet sit with TrustedHousesitters should, beyond doubt, take you to northern Texas!

Houston attractions

Any trip to a new city should start with some traditional sightseeing. So, if you’re wondering what’s to do in Houston in terms of historic and cultural sights, look right here for some absolute must-dos and -sees:

1. The Museum of Fine Arts & the Houston Museum of Natural Science: Do you love to combine seeing intriguing things with learning something new? Perfect – cause that’s exactly what will happen during a trip to Houston’s many fantastic museums. Two of the most prolific ones among the many options are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. While the former offers visitors nearly 70,000 international exhibits ranging from paintings to sculptures and presented in nine uniquely beautiful facilities, the latter focuses on natural pieces such as shells, gems, insects, and minerals, as well as Native American artifacts. It also includes a planetarium, an observatory, and a theatre for a fully interactive experience.
2. Houston Theater District: Similar to London’s West End or New York’s Broadway, Houston’s Theater District is home to numerous venues offering shows for every cultural taste, ranging from operas, ballet and musicals to small indie productions and stand-up comedy performances. If you get the chance, be sure to grab tickets for one of the shows at the impressive Houston Grand Opera.
3. NASA Johnson Space Center: If you’ve ever looked to the stars and wondered what it must be like up there, you absolutely have to visit the NASA Johnson Space Center while you’re in Houston. While Houston isn’t one of the launch sites for US space travel, the Johnson Space Center serves as a training center for manned space missions, mission control for all US space launches, as well as an important research facility. Most interesting for you, though, it is also a museum, housing about 400 space artifacts, additional travelling exhibitions, and a theatre with screenings focussed on examining the history of human spaceflight.

Free things to do in Houston

While having a bit of a budget to play with is certainly nice, you might also ask yourself: “What is there to do in Houston that doesn’t require any funds at all?” And the answer is: lots! Here are a few of our favourite free Houston places and activities:

1. Memorial Park & Houston Arboretum: Do you love long, relaxing walks through scenic natural landscapes? Then this next one here is for you! Memorial Park is located in western Houston and includes several facilities, many of which are free to enter. You can take a stroll along Memorial Drive, which runs right through the park, and simply enjoy its natural beauty, or you can visit the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, which also includes a birding trail, a butterfly meadow, and several flower-lined walking trails. If your “What to do in Houston today?” extends into “What to do in Houston tonight?”, you can also partake in regular after-dark events in the park, like night hikes or close-up encounters with its nocturnal inhabitants. And for some dog-friendly fun at the park, check out one of the many Houston dog parks including TC Jester Dog Park, Millie Bush Dog Park, and Discovery Green Dog Run.
2. The Menil Collection: If you’re into art but not into paying admission fees, we recommend you also plan a trip to Houston’s Menil Collection. The interesting exhibition features a huge selection of private art pieces, from paintings to sculptures, and promises “Free admission, always.”
3. Battleship Texas: For a pretty spectacular seaborne sight right where Houston’s Buffalo Bayou meets Burnet Bay, look out for a huge – actually pretty easy to spot – museum battleship, the USS Texas. This impressive hunk of chunk played a role in both World War I and World War II, fulfilling several duties, from escorting war convoys to shelling beaches for the Normandy Landing. The museum inside is currently closed for renovation, but the outside alone is surely enough to make your jaw drop – and 100% free to behold.

Fun things to do in Houston

Not that all previously mentioned places and activities weren’t great already – but let’s now move on to some extraordinarily fun things to do in Houston. Or rather, some almost peculiar ones. Here we go:

1. National Museum of Funeral History: Under normal circumstances, anything to do with funerals is something most of us would rather not partake in, but this quirky museum in Houston might be the big exception. The National Museum of Funeral History aims at preserving the heritage of death care and presents visitors with a large, sometimes slightly macabre collection of funeral artifacts and relics – including some previously used in papal funerals, thanks to an ongoing partnership with the Vatican itself.
2. The Beer Can House: Imagine the gingerbread house from “Hansel and Gretel”, but to lure in adults – that’s pretty much what the Houston Beer Can House looks like. This otherwise rather ordinary building at 222 Malone Street is covered from base to roof in beer cans, beer bottles, and other beer paraphernalia, and was created by its owner and folk artist John Milkovisch. Definitely a very unique photo opportunity!
3. Kemah BoardWalk: Fantastic views and fun rides, that’s the Kemah BoardWalk in a nutshell. The waterfront amusement park features various rides and games, regular events, a boutique hotel, a charter yacht, its own marina, as well as a collection of restaurants and shops. If you’re still looking for fun ideas about what to do in Houston at night, this might be it!

Best restaurants in Houston: food and drink

What to do in downtown Houston when you’re starving after a long day of exciting adventures? Easy: You go looking for the best restaurants in Houston. And to make things easier for you, we’ve already scoured the city’s many eateries and picked out some especially yummy candidates:

1. Briny delights: Houston is a coastal town and as such – unsurprisingly – boasts some pretty fantastic sea chow. But where are the very best seafood restaurants in Houston? Independent of how upscale or affordable a place you’re looking for, the best seafood eateries in town are sprinkled through the city centre, especially the area around Memorial Park.
2. La dolce vita: Seafood isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but hardly anyone can resist some nice, freshly cooked pasta. So, if you’re in the mood to try out one of the best Italian restaurants in Houston, head over to Downtown and check in at Potente for some first class Italian delicacies, from traditional Italian starters and pasta to exquisite meat and fish dishes.
3. Viva la Mexico: As one of the USA’s states directly bordering Mexico, Texas has a lot of great Mexican eateries – and Houston is no exception. So, for a taste of – and especially at – some of the best Mexican restaurants in Houston, take a stroll through the city centre and then let your nose guide you – or, you know, Google’s restaurant ratings. Whichever you prefer.

If it's dog friendly restaurants in Houston you're after, we've got you covered with our guide to all the spots in town that love furry friends almost as much as you'll love their food!

Frankly, if it was us who had a house or pet sitting trip to Houston coming up, we’d be on cloud number nine for the prospect of being able to visit the Lone Star State with an adorable four-legged friend by our side alone – and considering just how much there is to do and see in Texas’ largest city, we’re sure you’ll be happily busy every single minute of your own sit.

And just in case you can’t fit everything in the first time, you can always find more house and pet sits in Houston via TrustedHousesitters – as well as even more inspiration for what to do in Houston by scrolling through our Community Forum and asking our friendly, pet-loving community for first-hand insider tips!

Ready to start your next sitting adventure?

Whether you’re off to Houston (again) to enjoy (even more of) its fabulous sights, or have your sights set on a different destination, on TrustedHousesitters’ you will always find thousands of exciting house and pet sitting offerings for you to choose from. Have a look right now and plan your next big adventure!