Surrounded by 16 museums and the city’s most beautiful parks and gardens, Hotel ZaZa is centrally located in the cultural Mecca of Houston’s museum district. Just two miles from downtown Houston, with easy access to the George R. Brown Convention Center, Reliant Park, The Galleria, and all the dining and shopping pleasures the city has to offer. If so many possibilities overwhelm you, just ask – we love to offer suggestions.
Parks
Hermann Park
Dedicated in 1914, Hermann Park is one of the city’s oldest parks and home to the Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, Japanese Garden and a popular golf course. With pedal boats on McGovern Lake, miniature train rides, the Buddy Carruth Playground for All Children and a shaded picnic area, this is a wonderful park for the whole family.
Memorial Park
With 1,400 acres, Memorial Park is Texas’ largest urban park, conveniently located between downtown Houston and the Uptown/Galleria area along beautiful Memorial Drive. The lovely space includes a 3-mile loop for joggers, paved cycling and in-line skating trails, tennis and croquet courts, picnic areas and an award-winning 18-hole golf course.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Located just east of downtown, Buffalo Bayou Park is a place of hills and plateaus filled with exercise trails, sculptures and some of the best views of the downtown skyline. The meandering bayou is a canoer’s and kayaker’s dream.
Museums
The Health Museum
A unique museum in a city of museums, step inside and explore giant sculptures of a brain, ribs and teeth at the Amazing Body Pavilion, play a game of Mindball or check out the Amazing Imaging Machine, all at the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science.
The Children’s Museum of Art
With 14 galleries filled with all sorts of hands-on exhibits, like KID-TV, Think Tank and EcoStation, it’s no wonder that MSN.com ranked the Children’s Museum of Houston as the number one children’s museum in the country.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Recognized as one of the premier art museums in the country, MFAH exhibits art dating from the major civilizations and antiquity to the present in two gallery buildings, a sculpture garden and two home museums. Works by Rembrandt, Monet, Remington and Picasso are also on view.
The Weather Museum
A great museum to learn about the weather, its history and public safety, with exhibits like Touch a Tornado, interactive Weather Sphere and Be Your Own Weatherman.
The Menil Collection
Considered one of the most important privately assembled collections of the 20th century, the Menil features modern and contemporary art by such masters as Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. This modern landmark, designed by Renzo Piano, also houses the Cy Twombly Gallery, a large, multicolored, fluorescent installation by Dan Flavin, and surrounding sculpture parks.
Holocaust Museum Houston
Established to promote awareness of the dangers of hatred and prejudice, Holocaust Museum of Houston is one of the leading institutions of its kind. Firsthand accounts of Houston-area Holocaust survivors are chronicled in its permanent exhibit, Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
A multi-level centerpiece highlighting the earth’s wonders through world-class touring exhibitions, nine permanent exhibit halls, the Wortham IMAX Theatre, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, the Burke Baker Planetarium and the George Observatory, which is located off-site in Brazos Bend State Park.
Lawndale Art Center
Dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art, Lawndale Art Center is a great alternative art space that promotes the creative exchange of ideas between diverse artistic, cultural and student communities.
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Featuring the best international, national and regional art of the past 40 years, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston displays works in an award-winning, all-metal structure created to complement the art it houses.
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
This innovative space is dedicated solely to art made of glass, fiber, clay, metal or wood. Here you can visit with artists working in their studios and enjoy some truly unique shopping.
The Jung Center of Houston
Providing a place for psychological, artistic and spiritual discourse based on the life work of Carl Jung, this nonprofit educational institution also displays artwork by Texas artists. The center’s bookstore offers a fantastic collection of books on psychology, spirituality and comparative mythology in the Southwest.
The Rothko Chapel
This modern meditative environment houses 14 paintings by American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and provides an intimate sanctuary open to people of all beliefs. Serving as both art museum and public forum, the Rothko Chapel supports educational programs and inter-religious dialogues on critical issues.
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum
Designated as a quiet place for meditation and reflection, this museum displays the largest and most important intact Byzantine frescoes in the Western Hemisphere. Stolen from a chapel on Cyprus, the fresco was cut into pieces and taken off the island. The Menil Foundation rescued, restored and displays them in this intimate chapel.
Houston Center for Photography
Exhibiting works by emerging, mid-career and under-recognized artists, the Houston Center for Photography strives to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the photographic arts.
Rice University Art Gallery
Rice is the only university in the U.S. with a museum dedicated to installation art. Contemporary artists are invited to create site-specific installations throughout the grounds of the campus.
Bayou Bend
The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens houses the decorative arts collection of MFAH at the estate of the late Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. The 14 acres of woodlands and gardens surrounding this gorgeous home make it one of the top 10 most visited historic homes in the U.S.
Rienzi
Filled with English furniture, European paintings and a beautiful collection of 18th-century Worcester porcelain, this off-site center for the MFAH’s European Decorative arts was a gift of philanthropist Carroll Sterling Masterson and Harris Masterson III.
Performing Arts
Theater Under The Stars One of the largest nonprofit producers of musical theatre in America, TUTS premieres new musicals, presents great Broadway classics, and welcomes national and international tours to its home in Sarofim Hall in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
Houston Grand Opera
Founded in 1955, the HGO is the fifth-largest opera company in the country and one of the Theater District’s brightest stars. Winning Grammy, Tony and Emmy awards, along with 35 world premieres, television recordings, special recordings and extensive touring, the HGO has more than earned its place in the spotlight.
Houston Symphony
Begun in 1913 with a nudge from Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg, the Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas. The Symphony regularly performs more than 175 concerts a year both in the states and abroad, earning international acclaim.
Broadway in Houston
An energetic mix of touring hits from Broadway and London’s West End, Broadway in Houston takes the stage in the breathtaking Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and includes everything from classic to modern drama as well as the lighter side of the arts.
Houston Ballet
Cited by the New York Times as one of the nation’s best, Houston Ballet has toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. Enjoy one of over 80 annual performances at the Wortham Center.
Alley Theatre
Begun in a Houston alley in 1947, this Tony award-winning theatre is one of the oldest resident professional theater companies in the country and home to a diverse range of classic and contemporary drama.
Da Camera of Houston
Since its founding in 1987, Da Camera of Houston brings together small ensembles to perform a broad range of musical styles from classical chamber music to jazz. By blending music with other art forms, Da Camera hopes to continually attract new listeners to the concert hall.
Verizon Wireless Theater
Enjoy everything from music concerts to Broadway productions and family shows at the Verizon Wireless Theater. With a flexible floorplan to suit whatever is showing, you can be sure that every seat is one of the best.
Points of Interest
Downtown Aquarium
This is an incredible downtown aquatic wonderland, with 500,000 gallons of underwater tanks holding more than 200 species of marine life. With educational exhibits, the Shark Voyage, 100-foot Diving Bell, Ferris Wheel and Aquatic Carousel, this is truly an outing for the whole family.
Galveston Island
An easy hour’s ride south from Houston is Galveston Island. At the turn of the 1900s Galveston rivaled San Francisco before hurricanes stopped its rise, but now it’s enjoying a revival of the historic Strand District. Add to that Moody Gardens with its aquarium, IMAX theatre and rainforest pyramid, and you’ll find enough beaches, shopping and restaurants to make the trip more than worth your while.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
With over thirty-seven years of tradition behind it, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world’s largest. Of course, there’s more to it than just the rodeo competition; there’s the livestock show with scholarship competition, concerts each night by some of the country’s best country, pop, rock and jazz superstars, and award-winning chili and other decadent fair fare. Held annually from late February to early March.
Space Center Houston
For anyone who ever wanted to be an astronaut, this is a stop not to be missed. Here you can observe Mission Control in action, touch moon rocks, walk through the Sky Lab, and learn how astronauts eat, sleep and shower in space. Prepare to be wowed.
Convention Centers
George R. Brown Convention Center
This amazing center has over 1.2 million square feet of space filled with seven exhibit halls, an arena with telescopic seating for 6,000, a 31,500-square-foot ballroom and four exterior balconies, each capable of holding 3000 for outdoor festivities, just to name a few amenities. Centrally located in downtown Houston, it’s home to a number of conventions, presentations, concerts, corporate meetings, sporting events and exhibitions.
Reliant Park
As the largest and most versatile collection of event venues, Reliant Park can easily accommodate everything from large exhibitions, concerts, sporting events and corporate affairs to more intimate gatherings. It’s also home to the NFL’s Houston Texans and the world-famous Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Shopping
Rice Village
This wonderful collection of shops and unique boutiques is one of Houston’s oldest and best loved. Found near Rice University, it’s also home to a great collection of bars, clbs and some of the city’s best Thai restaurants.
River Oaks Shopping Center
In this shopping enclave you’ll find a one-of-a-kind mix of top-notch shopping, upscale resale shops, and home goods stores, as well as a few galleries and make-your-own shops for your more artistic side.
The Park Shops
This is a three-level shopping mall found conveniently downtown in the expansive Houston Center. Just about every retailer you would want to keep the shopper in you busy, along with enough restaurant options to keep the food lover in you content.
Katy Mills
If you want to shop big while enjoying some equally big savings, Katy Mills is the outlet store Mecca for you. With hundreds of the best names in retail as well as a rock climbing wall and a 200-screen AMC theatre, there’s enough to keep both locals and visitors coming back for more.
The Galleria
When you think shopping in Houston, you think the Galleria. It’s considered one of the world’s great shopping centers, so you won’t be disappointed in the over 300 high-end shops to choose from. Enjoy a little respite in one of the many restaurants found here as well.
Sports
Reliant Stadium
With a natural grass field, the first retractable roof, 69,500 seats, and the closest front-row seating in the NFL – the better to enjoy our own Houston Texans – the stadium at Reliant Park is most definitely a local favorite.
Gulf Greyhound Park
If racing is your sport, Gulf Greyhound Park won’t disappoint. Evening races are held Tuesday through Sunday, with matinees on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Don’t miss “Winning Wednesday” with a 4:00 post time.
Minute Maid Park
Home to our world-famous Houston Astros, this is a great place to catch a game. You can also catch a tour of the park daily at 10:00 a.m., noon, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sam Houston Race Park
Eight bars, two restaurants and the excitement of horseracing – what more do you need to know? Quarterhorse season runs from June 30 through September 10 and hosts races almost every Thursday through Sunday.
Toyota Center
Hosting everything from sports to music to family entertainment, the Toyota Center is an amazingly versatile venue that’s probably best known as the home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, WNBA’s Houston Comets and the IHL’s Houston Aeros.
