Houston

A reader recently suggested that, given my frequent travels to different cities, I could attract "a million more views" by turning my blog into a travel guide, showcasing the must-see spots and activities in each destination.

Following the ‘mid’ success of my Vancouver day trip post, I'm giving it another shot with a new travel blog post—this time, covering a day trip to Houston, Texas. 

I landed in Austin, and since I've already blogged about Austin during those good ol' COVID days, I decided to venture out for a day trip to Houston. Since I'm coming from Austin, this Houston day trip will start from the east side, move west, and then head back east across the city.

TLDR Itinerary (map)

• 9:00am - The Houston Farmers Market

• 11:00pm - The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (best picture of the city skyline!)

• 1:00pm - NASA Johnson Space Center

• 4:30pm - Hermann Park

• 7:00pm - Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Everything is bigger in Texas, including Houston! The city is so massive that you’ll need my travel blog, endorsed by dozens, to navigate which areas are worth exploring. With so many options, it can feel overwhelming, but don't worry, I’ll break it down into a simple day trip that anyone (or any couple) can enjoy. 

Pro tip: You won’t need a rocketship but please rent a car because everything in Houston is spread out.

We’ll kick off the day at The Houston Farmers Market, where you can enjoy an array of fresh vegetables, fruits, spices, and exotic foods. Surrounded by countless stalls, I suggest diving into the experience by picking out snacks you’ve never tried before to truly capture the spirit of the farmers market.

After enjoying a hearty snack at the Houston Farmers Market, we’ll head over to The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park. On the way, we’ll pass Lawrence Park, where a nicely covered basketball court caught my eye—perfect for escaping the Texas sun, because let’s be honest, no one wants to fry while shooting hoops!

After a quick shootaround, it’s time to refuel. Houston has plenty of excellent Mexican restaurants, so be sure to stop by one and indulge in some delicious Mexican cuisine.

Continuing on our journey to Buffalo Bayou Park, we’ll pass Spotts Park, which also has a covered basketball court. It’s great to see Houston encouraging all-day basketball with these shaded courts!

Finally, we’ll reach The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, offering one of the best views of the Houston skyline. Surrounding this spot is a massive park, bike rentals, and a decommissioned water reservoir. I’m not entirely sure of the historical significance of the reservoir, but honestly, coming here for the view alone is worth it!

Before heading west to the NASA Johnson Space Center, we’ll make a quick pit stop at MacGregor Park—yes, another covered basketball court! Houston's dedication to covered courts is a game-changer.

Finally, we’ll make our way to the NASA Johnson Space Center, where you can see real space rockets that have flown in space. Maybe my next blog will be convincing NASA to send me into orbit for a pickup game with space rocks! You could easily spend 1 to 10 hours here, but since we’re on a day trip, we’ll keep it brief.

On the way back to the city center, we’ll stop by Sunnyside Park for—you guessed it—another covered basketball court!

After another quick shootaround, we’ll head to Hermann Park, where there's always something happening. We were lucky enough to catch the Japan Festival Houston, filled with visitors, booths, performances, and even some ducks!

As sunset approaches, we’ll make our way to the Waugh Drive Bat Colony, where thousands of bats fly in and out from under the bridge. Just be sure to stand back to avoid the “bat smell."

To wrap up the day, we’ll finish strong with a final pickup game at Cottage Grove Park, once again at a covered court. 

Conclusion 

Texas is huge. Houston is even bigger. With so much to explore, one day isn’t enough to see everything. Let me know if you visit Houston and if I missed anything important!

Travel Tip

Rent a car. It will save your life