We rarely take a trip to a city for a weekend, let alone go to Texas for any time at all, but we did a weekend trip to Houston and actually had a great time. I don’t know what we were all expecting, but we weren’t expecting Houston to be cool and really fun, even though we should have. I mean, Beyonce is from Houston so that should’ve been the key indicator that it would be good times. Here’s our weekend plan for Houston that kept us busy and we all loved.
I don’t know if you’re planning a trip to Houston or have to visit for work, but I have to say that if you can add some extra time to your visit to enjoy the city you should do it. We’ve got our plan from our fun weekend trip to Houston to share, and if you have any questions or want to share your own tips, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more so YOU can experience awesome trips!
Why do a Weekend Trip to Houston?
Texas as a whole gets a bad rap, and it’s earned it with its horrible laws, backwards politicians and in many cases living up to the stereotypes people hold of Texas, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL OF TEXAS. There are some great cities, and Houston really doesn’t fit the stereotypes that you may expect of visiting Texas. While I’m sure there are pockets of big-haired blonde women wearing cowboy boots while eating a 64 oz steak, most of Houston is wonderfully diverse with a solid Latino influence. Doing a weekend trip to Houston will break your presumption of what visiting Texas is like.
And I have to say, every single person we interacted with, from checking into our hotel to figuring out our confusing museum tickets was so kind, funny and patient. Some cities really do have a vibe that makes you think twice before asking for help or starting up a conversation (Sup, Boston. How you doin’?), but this wasn’t the case with anyone we encountered in Houston. Even the dudes sitting in front of us at the Astros game knowing that we were Mariners fans were awesome.
One final bit of motivation to consider spending a weekend in Houston is just to have a change of city pace. We visit New York with kids often and it’s always such a hustle and bustle. Houston is NOT that. During the week downtown is busy, but during the weekend the streets are mostly empty until you get to the neighborhoods. Houston is full of sidewalk cafes, taco shops, community parks and fun places to hangout. Really, planning a fun weekend trip to Houston was great for us and resetting our expectations of a Texas city.
Where to Stay in Houston
Where to stay in Houston on the weekend is going to vary from where to stay on a weekday it seems. Because the downtown core is so quiet on the weekends, you may want to stay at the edge of downtown or if you have a specific activity you’re doing (for us it was a theater show and baseball game) choose a hotel that’s nice and close to it. Most of the hotels really are in the downtown area or Skyline District, but it all kind of blends together if you’re located between the freeways.
There are some really cool hotels though when you start looking for a place to stay in Houston. We stayed at the C. Baldwin Hotel (Hilton Curio) because it’s right by Hobby Center where the stage/theater is. It was a beautiful place to stay but on the weekends finding food in the Theater/Skyline Districts is difficult. Thank goodness for good food within the hotels, because restaurants on the weekend are SHUT unless you head into a neighborhood.
Another cool hotel, and maybe the most famous hotel in Houston, is the Marriott Marquis over by the Convention Center and Daikin Park (where the Astros play). This is the hotel with the world famous lazy river in the shape of Texas. It’s a premium property, but if you’ve got the travel budget for it and it’s convenient to your plans, go for it!
What’s the Weather Like in Houston
Despite being in Texas, I would call Houston the “Southeast.” It’s not too far from New Orleans (as the crow flies) and it’s just a half hour from the Gulf of Mexico. This means that spring through fall it’s hot and humid, like summer in the Florida Keys, and then in winter it can still be pretty warm, but every now and then a genuine cold snap will roll in.
When you’re packing for a weekend trip to Houston, plan for heat… and then icy cold blizzard fronts every time you walk into a building. We live in the Southeast also, but Houstonians are SERIOUS about their AC and I swear the median indoor temperatures in Houston are between 63 and 68 degrees with a breeze. Treat every day like April 25th and carry a light jacket.
Note: Houston does indeed get hurricanes. They have the same Atlantic Hurricane Season that we do in Florida, running June through November. They usually see at least one major storm per year. Remember Hurricane Katrina? That was Houston and New Orleans that got hit so hard.
Houston Airports
Did you know that Houston has two major airports? There is the one most people think of, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and this is where nearly all airlines fly into, and then there is Houston Hobby Airport (HOU). Hobby Airport only services Southwest Airlines and American Airlines (as of 2025), but you should always double check your flight booking when you’re coming to Houston, or when you’re heading to the airport to leave, to ensure you know which airport you’re flying out of. Even though it’s only two airlines flying out of HOU, if you’ve booked through an OTA like Expedia or Hotwire you need to be sure you show up to the correct airport.
Things to do for a Weekend Trip to Houston
Time for the fun part! This is our plan for a weekend trip to Houston based on our own weekend trip. Of course there is a ton more that you can do during your visit, but if you only have a few days and you want to enjoy Houston to the max, go with our list of activities or pick just a few and you’ll have a great time. There are tons of things to do and Houston has a great cultural vibe, so plan a little and then you can add on and enjoy the city fully as your energy levels allow.
Go to a Houston Astros Game
Going to a professional baseball game has been a favorite travel activity for our family for a long time. Spring through early fall, you’ve got a great opportunity to catch a Houston Astros game if you’re planning a weekend trip. In comparison with Tampa or Seattle MLB ticket prices, the Astros’ tickets tend to be a bit cheaper, and they have lots of seat options. They play at Daikin Park on the east side of downtown, so it’s walkable from most hotels. Also, Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid Park) has a retractable roof, so if it’s either crazy hot or if it’s raining you’ll be all set. And yes, it’s air conditioned.
NOTE: the Astros have lots of themed games. We went to Star Wars Weekend and it seemed like everyone but us got the memo. Also, Astros fans have a ridiculous amount of team spirit and they really show it in their dress for game day. Even if you’re not particularly an Astros fan, you may want to dress in orange to fit in.
See a Show at the Theater Under the Stars
Part of a weekend trip to Houston has to be seeing a show, whether it’s a stage show or a concert or symphony. We love seeing Broadway shows with our kids and if we’re in a new city and they’ve either got an awesome Broadway roadhouse or local production company, we try to see a show. The Theater Under the Stars does an awesome job with major productions at the quality of Broadway in NYC. We enjoyed seeing In the Heights when we were in Houston and it was just as good as the original production.
Visit a Botanic Garden
There are actually four beautiful and very different botanical gardens you can visit during your weekend trip to Houston. There’s the Houston Botanic Garden (east side), Houston Arboretum and Nature Center (west side), and the McGovern Centennial Gardens and Japanese Garden at Hermann Park. Which to choose? Well, Hermann Park is the closest to the downtown area, as it’s in the Museum District, but if you’re heading out to the coast or Houston Space Center, you can add the Houston Botanic Garden to your day quite easily.
Sam Houston Park
Located on the west edge of the Skyline District of downtown Houston, Sam Houston Park is kind of cool and really easy to visit. It’s got some nice walking paths and shady areas, and then all sorts of historic buildings and exhibits. It’s open to the public (free) and if you’re in the area, you can simply stroll through and enjoy the stops within the park. This is also right next to the Hobby Center / Theater Under the Stars so it’s a breeze to stop in before or after a show.
Spend All Day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Seriously, we spent more than three hours at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and could’ve been there another two hours. There is a cafe on site, so you totally could be here all day. We’ve been to many natural history or science museums, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC and the NY Museum of Natural History and Houston’s Museum of Natural Science absolutely was better than both of them. There were so many different exhibit areas, and special exhibits, and exhibits that were just as amazing for adults as kids. We did two different special exhibits (separate tickets) when we were here and we so very impressed. Hands down: my favorite museum I’ve ever been to, and that included MoMA in New York and the British Museum in London.
NOTE: when you’re having a weekend trip to Houston and you come to the Museum of Natural Science you’ll also get to stop into the artisan market that sets up here between the museum and the park. Also, if you’re doing Houston Museum Pass or Houston CityPASS the Museum of Natural Science is included!
Buffalo Bayou Park
Buffalo Bayou Park and the subsequent greenway that follows the river is one of the best urban parks we’ve been to. Trails, green space, exhibits, gardens, natural areas… It’s really cool and is a wonderful activity for a morning or evening walk. Starting at Sam Houston Park and following the river westward, you can spend a few hours walking the river and wandering just off the paths to enjoy great food in the neighborhoods. Heck, be fancy and have dinner at Flora, an upscale Mexican restaurant in the park, and you’ll have a lovely evening plan.
Nightly Bat Exodus
I don’t know what else to call it but an exodus, but every evening the Waugh Drive Bat Colony does a mass exit from the underside of the bridge and blasts out into the night sky. Sitting on the hillside by the bridge or waiting on the eastern side of the bridge itself, you can show up at sunset and wait for the first bat to emerge. While you wait, the night herons also fly along the river and get themselves ready for the night, roosting along the river. And then all of the sudden you see a bat… and then the 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats fly out en masse and it’s incredible!
TIP: You can also do a twilight kayaking tour on Buffalo Bayou to see the nightly bat exodus. Super cool paddling tour!
Houston Zoo and Hermann Park
I know I said to consider Hermann Park for a botanical garden visit, but there’s just so much at the park you can spend a half day here and have so much fun. The Houston Zoo is located within the park, there’s the Japanese Garden and then the Centennial Gardens as well. You’ve got so many options, and since we’re talking about planning a weekend trip to Houston, no doubt there’ll be some sort of event happening at the park too.
TIP: the Houston Zoo is also a part of the Houston CityPASS!
Bonus Day Trips from Houston
Even though Houston is a fascinating city and it’s big enough to keep your attention for a weekend trip or longer, there are also easy day trips that you can do away from the city.
Space Center Houston
Located on the way out to the Gulf of Mexico from Houston is an awesome place to visit if you’re a space nerd or are traveling with kids. If you want to have a non-city themed day trip, consider heading out to Space Center Houston (“We have a problem.”). It’s kind of a mix of Kennedy Space Center and Udvar Hazy in Virginia. This visit will take at least a half a day, so plan accordingly. Also, if you’re heading to our next day trip recommendation and doing an overnight there, you can visit the Space Center on the way back to Houston. Get Space Center Houston advance tickets here!
Trip to Galveston, TX
Galveston is a little over an hour from Houston, so you could come out for a beach day or plan an overnight enjoying the Gulf of Mexico and this fun beach town atmosphere. And there is a Schlitterbahn Waterpark here!! There are some really cool natural areas around Galveston, from wildlife refuges to preserves and kayaking trails. Depending on what you want to get out of a day trip, you could have a variety of activities out here and then start planning another LONGER weekend trip to Houston with even more time in Galveston.
NOTE: Cruise lines also leave from Galveston for Caribbean itineraries, so if you have a cruise out of here in the future, keep in mind that you can easily add a few days or a weekend trip to Houston as a part of your cruise plans.
Well I hope you’re interested and excited to plan a weekend trip to Houston, Texas. We really had more fun than I thought we would have and we still have so much more to explore that we’ve already got a running list of the things to do in Houston for next time. If you have any questions about planning a trip like this or any of the special events we did (sports or theater) please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
I had no idea Houston had this much variety for a weekend trip! Your tips make it feel totally manageable—and I’m definitely adding your restaurant picks to my list.