A stint in Space City doesn’t have to mean spending hours stuck indoors. Take advantage of Houston’s warm, sunny weather by immersing yourself in the city’s extensive list of outdoor offerings. From horseback riding, to hiking, and even yoga in the park, there is something for everyone.
Get Fit at Discovery Green
No need to kiss your fitness regime goodbye during your stay in the Space City. Ditch the hotel’s fitness room and make your way over to Discovery Green, a 12-acre park set in the heart of downtown Houston. Here you’ll find an extensive program of outdoor fitness classes that locals, tourists, and people of all ages and fitness abilities can enjoy. The offerings include yoga and Zumba classes alongside more unexpected classes like hula-hooping, circus arts, and even parkour. And the best part? They’re all totally free of charge.
Kayak at Buffalo Bayou
Forget hitting the pavement. Pay a visit to Bayou City Adventures and explore Houston by water. The Houston Skyline Tour, just one of the many guided tours available, is 7.65 miles long and offers a unique way to view downtown Houston. For three and a half hours, you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful natural scenery and landscapes of Memorial Park, Hogg Bird Sanctuary, and Buffalo Bayou, before disembarking at Sabine Street in the heart of the city. If group tours aren’t really your thing, there are also kayaks available for rent, so you can strike out on your own.
Hop on a Bike
Biking is a great way to explore any city. Houston has a bike share program, which makes it easy and convenient to grab a bike and go, but you can also rent them on a weekend, weekly, and monthly basis from West End Bicycles or Bike Barn. Want to hang with the locals? Join one of the city’s weekly group rides.
Take a Trail Ride
Love horseback riding? Head over to The Spread, just 15 minutes from downtown Houston hotels. Enjoy an hour-long trail ride on the ranch’s extensive property, or arrange for a ride along the beach or a special picnic outing. The quaint, countryside-like setting will make you feel like your miles away from the urban core, making for a truly relaxing experience. But with the added benefit that you won’t have to spend hours in the car to get there.
Day Trips
When you’ve had your fill of the city life, branch out and explore all that the Texas countryside has to offer. Mustang Island is a prime spot for camping out on the beach, while Gorman Falls is the perfect place to reconnect with nature. For something a little more laid-back, Fredericksburg is the place to go. The town itself is charming and has appeared in numerous travel magazines, deemed as a must-visit vacation destination, but it’s also Texas Wine Country. Take a tour around any of the 15 vineyards along the Wine Road 290 route and pick up a few bottles of the good stuff to take home as souvenirs.
Photo by Katie Haugland via Flickr
NOTES FROM THE BACK ROW 