Houston, TX

Bayou Place
DESCRIPTION: A large complex featuring many entertainment and dining options; Verizon Theater stages small concerts; the eight-screen Angelika Film Center presents select Hollywood, foreign and Independent films; restaurants include VIN - sophisticated Southern European cuisine, Mingalone – Italian cuisine, plus standards like Hard Rock Café and Slick Willies Billiards for family and buddy dining; do some serious clubbing at RocBar, Sake Lounge, and Mosaic

ADMISSION: Free except for the Film Center

DAYS & HOURS: daily, the action starts after work and stays open late

ADDRESS: 520 Texas Street  MAP

PARKING: Valet Parking offered daily; self parking available from entrances off Rusk Street, Capitol Street, and Texas Ave for $8 - Daytime and $5 Events and Evening

PHONE: 713-230-1600

WEBSITE: http://www.bayouplace.com

Old Market Square
DESCRIPTION: This historic district is considered the spot where the Allen Brothers founded Houston in 1831; today there’s a huge collection of restaurants and bars for dining and dancing in this district; the best part is that the early 20th century architecture is unique to Houston and have lots of character

DAYS & HOURS: daily, many of the bars stay open until 2a

ADDRESS: between Main, Milam Streets, Congress and Preston Streets  MAP

PARKING: at night, garages and paid lots are recommended rather than the street

PHONE: none

WEBSITE: Link

Shops at Houston Place
DESCRIPTION: With over 200,000 square feet of shopping and dining space with a couple hotels in a 4-block complex, it is the leading shopping center downtown; it features JoS. A. Bank, Worth the Weight, T-Mobile, Strip House, Massa's Seafood Grill, Monsoon Wok & Lounge, Ninfa's and Longhorn Café and among its 60 dining and shopping establishments

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 7:30 a-5:30p

ADDRESS: 1200 McKinney Street  MAP

PARKING: 4 Houston Center parking garage

PHONE: 713-759-1442

WEBSITE: http://www.shopsathc.com

Houston Pavilions
DESCRIPTION: A large shopping and dining space with a couple hotels in a 2-block complex, it is downtown's newest general attraction; it features III Forks Steakhouse, Andalusia Tapas Restaurant & Bar, House of Blues, Lucky Strike Lanes, Polk Street Pub, Cork Wine Bar, The Board Room, Mia Bella Trattoria, The Agave Lounge, Guadalajara del Centro, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Yao Restaurant and several boutiques, all just few blocks from Discovery Green; you can also enjoy dinner and a show via their Theatre Under The Stars shuttle service with Hobby Center, dropping you off on the Walker Street side in a spot clearly lit and designated as Houston Pavilions’ Shuttle Stop  

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-9p, Sun 12a-6p

ADDRESS: 1201 Fannin Street  MAP

PARKING: Houston Pavilions parking garage

PHONE: 832-320-1200

WEBSITE: http://www.houstonpavilions.com

House of Blues Houston
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 2008, this venue designed in a vertical format as the anchor tenant for the Houston Pavilions shopping & entertainment complex; The Bronze Peacock Room pays tribute to an early Houston blues club where Big Momma Thornton and Lightnin' Hopkins played; the giant hand–painted mural in the restaurant portrays these legends, along with hometown heroes Albert Collins and Johnny "Guitar" Watson; the House of Blues Houston also displays the Crazy Quilt and keeps a metal box of mud from the Delta Mississippi underneath its stage;

DAYS & HOURS: Daily 11a-2p and 4p until close

ADDRESS: 1204 Caroline Street  MAP

PARKING: Houston Pavilions parking garage

PHONE: 888-402–5837

WEBSITE: http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/houston

Galleria Houston
DESCRIPTION: An architectural treat with exceptional mix of shopping, dining entertainment, The Galleria is the #1 shopping and tourist destination in Houston; includes the world famous ice-skating rink – a nice contrast to the blazing hot summers; restaurants nearby are too numerous to name; featured stores are Abercrombie & Fitch, Zara, PUMA, New York & Company, Louis Vuitton, Solstice, French Connection and more

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-9p, Sun 11a-7p


ADDRESS: 5085 Westheimer Road  MAP

PARKING: 13,000 free parking on premises

PHONE: 713-622-0663

WEBSITE: Link

Sam Houston Race Park
DESCRIPTION: Year round horse racing on a near-mile-long turf track and on a one-mile, dirt track; the fairgrounds also host concerts in the Spring/Summer

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10:30a; Thu-Sat night post time 7p, Sun night post time 5p

ADDRESS: 7575 North Sam Houston Parkway West  MAP

PARKING: Valet Parking for live racing days $8; Premium Parking for live racing days and concerts $10; Regular Parking $5

PHONE: 281-807-8760

WEBSITE: http://www.shrp.com

Hitchcock, TX

Gulf Greyhound Park
DESCRIPTION: Since opening in 1992, the 110 acre park has attracted over 10 million fans; Greyhound races run year round Wednesday through Sunday; between or before the races, you can dine at The Terrace Club restaurant and enjoy a panoramic view of the park which seats 6,600 patrons; closed circuit TVs are located throughout the facility

ADMISSION: General $2, Clubhouse $3

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: 1000 FM 2004  MAP

PARKING: Valet $3

PHONE: 800-275-2946

WEBSITE: http://www.gulfgreyhound.com

La Porte, TX

San Jacinto Monument & Historical Battleground
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1939 on the spot where Texas won its independence from Mexico; a 570 foot Art Deco monument as tall as DC’s Washington Monument anchors spot to an adjoining museum that provides Texan context about the Battle of San Jacinto, which was spurred on by cries of "Remember the Alamo!"; the observation level at the top is 30 wide and provides a great view of the Houston skyline; the air conditioned 160-seat Jesse H. Jones Theatre for Texas Studies in the museum shows a 35-minute film of the earliest Spanish colonies to the day of the battle; surround sound and digital projectors enrich the experience

ADMISSION: Combo ticket $12 Adults, Age 65+ $10.50, Child $8

DAYS & HOURS: Museum, Battleground & Observation Floor daily 9a-6p, Jesse H Jones Theatre daily 10a-6p

ADDRESS: One Monument Circle  MAP

PARKING: free on premises

PHONE: 281-479-2421

WEBSITE: http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org

Katy, TX

Forbidden Gardens
DESCRIPTION: A unqie (for America) outdoor Chinese museum designed to educate visitors about the history, culture, and varied landmarks of ancient China; see fascinating exhibits, including scaled replicas of Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army, the Forbidden City and the canal of Suzhou and so much more; note that days of heavy rain generally close the museum

ADMISSION: Adults $10, Age 60+, Ages 6-18, Age 5 and under $5

DAYS & HOURS: Fri-Sun 10a-5p with guided tours at 11a, 1p, 3p

ADDRESS: 23500 Franz Road  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 281-347-8000

WEBSITE: http://www.forbidden-gardens.com