Go Shopping At The Galleria
One of the best things you are able to do on a rainy day is to go shopping! After all, malls arent going to be that packed during a rainy day. So this gives you a chance to freely roam around and shop till you drop.
And the best place to go shopping at is the Galleria. It is the largest mall in the state of Texas as well as being the 7th largest mall in the United States. It is currently home to over 400 high end stores with delicious restaurants and food outlets like the Cheesecake factory, Chilis, and much more located inside this building. There is even a full sized ice ring that lets people of all ages come and have some fun skating.
From Gucci to Prada to Louis Vuitton to Victoria Secret and much more, there is definitely something for everybody to enjoy.
This is the perfect thing to do for any rainy day in Houston.
Location: 5085 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056
Create A Family Recipe Book
If you’ve got some keen little chefs on your hands and are wondering what to do on a rainy day, the perfect activity might just be to make a family recipe book. Here are the details:
What You Need
- Recipe cards
- Wine or Champagne labels
- Shimmery alphabet stickers
- Ribbon
What to Do
Catch A Show At Miller Outdoor Theatre
What’s better than relaxing on a grassy hill on a balmy summer evening? Seeing a free show, of course! This is exactly what you’ll get at the Miller Outdoor Theatre, located in the heart of the Houston Museum District. Concerts, film screenings, and cultural performances are held throughout the year here, so check their schedule so you don’t miss out on something awesome.
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Free Things To Do In The Houston Area
As the fourth largest city in the country, Houston offers its residents and visitors exciting things to do and places to see. From beautiful parks to street murals, there is no shortage of activities — and many of them are free.
As the fourth largest city in the country, Houston offers its residents and visitors exciting things to do and places to see. From beautiful parks to street murals, there is no shortage of activities — and many of them are free.
With thousands expected to flood the city for Super Bowl LI, below is a list of 51 free things to do when trying to make the most of your visit here:
Perfect for picnics or an afternoon run….
1. Discovery Green
- Located in downtown Houston and right across from the George R. Brown Convention Center, Discovery Greens 12-acre urban park offers something for all ages. There are multiple recreation areas, a lake for kayaking, two dog runs and a public art display.
- More info
2. Buffalo Bayou
- A beautiful bayou nestled in the heart of the city, the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park offers its visitors multiple trails to walk, jog or run. Many people enjoy having a picnic along the banks or taking their dogs to the dog park. Visit the Water Works on Sabine Street to see a beautiful view of the downtown skyline.
- More info
3. Eleanor Tinsley Park
4. Market Square Park
5. Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
6. Tranquility Park
7. Glenwood Cemetery
If you love art and culture…
8. The Menil Collection
9. Blaffer Art Museum
31. Bayou Burp
The Houston Museum Of Natural Science
I love a good museum of history and/or natural science and I was shocked how much I loved the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
A historic building in its own right, the museum was founded in 1909 and has exhibits from around the world. I particularly enjoyed the Egyptology exhibit and one about native peoples in the Amazon. I had never seen an exhibit about Amazonia before, and it was one of the most interesting. Theres also a planetarium, butterfly pavilion, and large screen for IMAX-format movies.
Its definitely family-friendly, but Im confident curious adults will love visiting too.
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The National Museum Of Funeral History
Admittedly, the National Museum of Funeral History is a pretty obscure recommendation and its a ways out of town, so its almost better to do on your way to the airport if that makes sense but I went here on my last trip and it was just too unusual and interesting not to recommend.
First of all, this museum is way bigger than youd expect, with a handful of wildly fascinating exhibits: famous deaths, the history of hearses, funerals around the world, the history of embalming and some special exhibits from time to time! Instead of being creepy or weird, the National Museum of Funeral History is educational and normalizes what happens after death. Seriously, must do if youre up for that sort of thing.
Day 1 Downtown Houstons Sights
On your first day in Houston, start out seeing the citys most popular sights: wandering the city streets, exploring Discover Green, taking in some of the street art, and going for a long walk in Buffalo Bayou Park. Id do it in just that order.
Make your way to Discovery Green, the epicenter for many of the citys biggest events . Take a leisurely stroll or boat on the lake. Lunch at The Grove with a view out over the park.
In the afternoon, you could catch an Uber over to the East End to see street art, or head straight for Buffalo Bayou Park for a long walk. If you time it right, you can enjoy some of the public art in the park, and see the bats come out at sundown before or after dinner at The Dunlavy.
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San Jacinto Museum Of History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
The San Jacinto Museum of History is housed in the base of the San Jacinto Monument. Special treasures can be found from Mexican Texas, the Texas Revolution, and the Republic of Texas. But the Museum also holds art and artifacts from Pre-Columbian Mexico to the Civil War and beyond. From books to bayonets, swords to sketches, theres something here for everyone. The Museum is housed in the base of the San Jacinto Monument, the tallest column monument in the world. Take an elevator ride to the top to look out over the Houston Ship Channel. View the Texas Forever!! movie for a quick review of the Texas revolution. The multi-facetted destination state park is also home to the Battleship Texas which is the only dread-naught battleship in existence and was used in both world wars. Picnic spots abound in the beautiful state park. A Boardwalk will take you on a fascinating nature walk out into the marsh habitat of birds and alligators. Stop by our annual San Jacinto Day Festival in April.
Reviewed By ksufan88 – Wichita, United States
Bike Along Buffalo Bayou
With miles of urban bike trails, it turns out that Houston is a great place to work up a sweat. One of the best spots in town for this is along Buffalo Bayou through Eleanor Tinsley Park. Ride the curvy trails over hills and old-fashioned bridges into downtown and back, enjoying a view of the skyline along the way. If you don’t have your own bike, rent one from one of the many Houston BCycle stations in the area . You can also go for a jog, or enjoy a leisurely stroll.
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During A Storm Dash Indoors Into The Houston Museum Of Fine Arts
Amidst the lightning and thunder , we dash into the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
The Houston Museum of Fine Arts is a giant museum, mostly empty hallways and staircases. It isnt as packed as most of the other art museums weve visited in Texas and there doesnt seem to be much artwork on view. But part of the museums beauty is the sparseness, which makes everything on display the antiquities, the paintings, the modern art pieces that much more meaningful.
Being an Instagram-obsessed millennial, I have to admit to loving the light tunnel a bit too much. The Light Inside, by artist James Turrell, is part-artwork and part-passageway. Neon lights illuminate within a small space that connects the Caroline Leiss Law Building with the Audrey Jones Beck Building.
Snap. I take a picture as the hall shines a bright bubble-gum pink . Snap. I pose as the scene changes to blue. I adjust my camera to take yet another picture of the black-crimson contrast.
Ahem.
The guard is definitely judging me. Moving on to the next exhibit.
Travel Tip: The Houston Museum of Fine Arts is FREE if you have a Texas library card. I was trying to go for the student discount when I saw the sign at the front desk. And for once, Im really glad I didnt clear out my purse pre-trip.
Where To Stay In Houston
Need a place to stay in Houston in between days of adventuring?
- The Hotel Icon is right downtown, all luxury and modern elements. From $169/night, book on Booking.comor Hotels.com.
- I stayed at the Four Seasons Houston during my second trip to Houston in July 2019. From $244/night, book on Booking.com or Hotels.com.
- If you prefer a bit more history in your hotels, The Lancaster was refurbished in 2018 but still has historic charm. From $169/night, book on Booking.com or Hotels.com.
- While I didnt stay in downtown Houston during my trip , here are a couple of vacation rentals in the heart of the city that caught my eye:
- Not far from downtown, this one-bedroom apartment is historic and a great deal, from $120/night.
- Another option is this gorgeous apartment with a full kitchen and back patio, from $162/night.
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Play Some Retro Arcade Games
Feeling like a kid again? Or maybe you have kids? Then come on down to The Game Preserve where you can play all the games you want. They have many of the old classic arcade games for you to play like Pacman, Asteroids, Donkey Kong, and a whole lot of others as well. Youll be able to easily spend an entire day here without knowing that time has passed so fast. Definitely a great way to have some fun.
Location: 473 Sawdust Rd, Spring, TX 77380
Find Something Fun To Do
Whether you want to find something free, somewhere to run, art to appreciate, something new to learn or you are looking for something just a little odd, Houston has it! Find something fun to do below.
- Free & Fun Things to Do in Houston with Kids
- 100 Fun Things to Do around Houston, with Kids!
- Houston Parks: Citywide Map, Pictures & Parent Reviews
- Things to Do in Houston with Teens
- Unique Things to Do in Houston, with Kids
- Houston Murals Map… Find Art Around Houston
- Surfside Beach Texas… An Alternative to Galveston!
- Galveston Island Beaches Guide
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Climb At The Texas Rock Gym
Where: 1526 Campbell Rd
Just because the weather isnt perfect doesnt mean you cant get an outdoor-inspired workout in, just head to Texas Rock Gym. The indoor rock climbing gym welcomes climbers of all skill levels, from newbies to seasoned climbers. The professional staff can get you set up and on your way up the rock wall.
Houston Museum Of Natural Science
The next stop on our tour is the Houston Museum of Natural Science. With a bunch of options this place is your one-stop-shop for things to do in Houston on a rainy day. This museum has a very interactive aesthetic and vibe.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science features exhibits like the Hall of Ancient Egypt, Paleontology, Pompeii, Body World, Death by Natural Causes, just to name a few. That last exhibit will take you on a ride for sure! Love Astronomy? View the vast, expansive stars there is the planetarium! The Butterfly Center is an absolute blast that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.
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Snap A Selfie At The Water Wall
Looking for that one-of-a-kind photo for your Instagram? Hit up the Water Wall, a 64-foot-tall U-shaped fountain situated just a few blocks south of the Houston Galleria. Step inside the “U” and listen to the water rush past you as you’re sprayed by a cool mist, a great way to temporarily escape the summer heat.
Learn And Explore At Area Museums And Cultural Centers
Houston is a melting pot of nationalities and history, and you can learn about many of them by visiting museums and cultural centers. It is fun to learn the history of places and people from other parts of the world as well as here in Texas. It might be raining outside, but you can learn about history, space, art, and many other things while staying dry
25. Experience Asian Heritage The Chinese Community Center puts on all kinds of great tours and classes including dumpling making classes, Asiatown food tours, and cultural showcases.
26. Buffalo Soldier Museum Learn all about the brave African American men who joined the military and were known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
27. American Cowboy Museum Learn about the multinational cowboys that lived in Texas and beyond as well as their contribution to society.
28. Lonestar Flight Museum See an array of vintage planes and warbirds, practice flying with a flight simulator, or maybe even fly in the sky with one of their warbirds.
29. Printing Museum Learn about how print has evolved from the ancient Mesopotamian clay tablets to Johann Gutenbergs printing press. Or take one of their printing workshops!
30. Museum of Fine Arts You might be surprised to learn that this is one of the largest museums in the United States, but with several different sections, you could spend all day exploring art and architecture from around the world.
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Catch A Show On A Rainy Day
There are so many types of shows around Houston, that you could go every weekend and see something different. So when the weathers got you down, go catch a show.
1. Enjoy an OperaGet dressed up and attend an opera at the Houston Grand Opera. If you go a little early, you can even catch their Opera Insights lectures before the performance.
2. Broadway at the Hobby Center has some classics, as well as newer broadway plays that will brighten up your day!
3. Sit in on a symphony From Mozart to Bocelli, you will hear some amazing sounds from the talented musicians performing at the Houston Symphony.
4. Laugh heartily as the comedians at one of the Houston comedy clubs provide entertainment that is sure to take away the rainy day blues. A few options are the Houston Improv Comedy Club and CSz Houston.
5. Listen to Jazz Romance is in the air with some smooth jazz at Cezanne with performances throughout the week.
6. Action, SciFi, Romance, Comedy or Thriller? Youll easily find a great movie from any of those genres among the movie theatres scattered across Houston. Its a great way to lose yourself in the movie and forget about the rain falling outside.
No Flooding Head Down To Buffalo Bayou
Now that the rain has subsided, we can head back outside. First stop, Buffalo Bayou.
Buffalo Bayou is a cozy, local park. Joggers race past, checking their watches as their soles click to a rhythmic pace. Dogs laze around the muddy paths.
In the hot summer heat, the Buffalo Bayou River is a little more shallow than usual. But with a sprinkle of rainfall, the water level rises into a gorgeous scene. The park, itself, is over a hundred acres. We could easily be here for a whole day biking along the many trails and spreading out a picnic lunch.
But weve come at the right time.
The storm clouds have drifted apart and the sun is slowly sinking. I smile in anticipation because I know were in for a treat. At sunset, Mexican Free-tailed bats soar in droves away from their nook under Waugh Bridge. Its an equally eery and beautiful sight.
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Ifly Houston Indoor Skydiving
I have always wanted to Skydive, but the idea of me jumping out of plane simply terrifies me. So what do I do instead? Ill head to an indoor area where you can skydive inside. Its a high-tech equipment that lets you float in the air through a vertical wind powered tunnel skydiving simulation. Definitely a lot of fun!
Location : 9540 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77055
Rainy Day Fun In Houston
Being stuck indoors when the kids have loads of energy is no fun. Fortunately, Houston is home to many indoor attractions geared towards children. In addition to the local library or mall play space there are other fun venues that may be the perfect cure to cabin fever.
Visit the Childrens Museum of Houston
Visiting the Childrens Museum of Houston is a great way to spend a rainy day. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10am to 6pm and Sundays noon to 6pm, adults and children over one enter the museum for just $9 and on Thursdays between 5pm and 8pm, museum admission is free. With 14 hands-on galleries, children can enjoy a fun and educational interactive experience. Check the museums website to plan your adventure and make the most out of your trip.
Head to Happy Playground
Heading to Happy Playground will give the kids a chance to play and party. Open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 5pm and Fridays from 10am to 3pm for open play, kids can run, play and climb in a safe and clean indoor environment. Open play is $8 per child with no charge for adults.
Jump on over to Fun Max Jump In
Jump on over the Fun Max Jump in Webster and let the kids jump and bounce on giant inflatables. With an obstacle course inflatable and an inflatable set aside for younger kids, the kids are sure to get some energy out. Open gym times vary, so visit contact Fun Max Jump In prior to heading out. Open play is $7 per child and adults are free.
Wander over to Wonderwild
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