Things to Do in Usa

Located in Hermann Park, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is dedicated to providing interesting and educational science exhibits and experiences. Visitors can find four floors of science halls and exhibits in the main building, as well as a planetarium, butterfly center and big screen theater. You could easily spend hours perusing all the institution has to offer.

With so much to explore, where do you begin? The permanent exhibits are included in your general admission ticket and host some worthwhile attractions. For example, the Paleontology exhibit is a common favorite, as it showcases a unique display of predators in action, creating an illusion that the skeletal displays are alive. A progressive timeline layout showcasing over 50 dinosaurs and a section on human evolution also keeps things interesting.

The Gems & Minerals exhibit is another favorite. Featuring over 450 crystallized minerals and rare stones, you’ll find gems you didn’t even know existed. Make sure to catch a glimpse of the enormous blue topaz crystal weighing more than 2,000 carats. This exhibit is best viewed with a visit to the onsite Gem Vault, which has been compared to London’s Crown Jewels. Other permanent exhibits include Hall of Ancient Egypt, Energy Hall, The Americas, African Wildlife, Chemistry, Earth Forum, Malacology and Texas Wildlife. Before leaving, take a stroll through the Cockrell Butterfly Center and immerse yourself in a live butterfly habitat. Additionally, the Houston Museum of Natural Science hosts a variety of special exhibits that change throughout the year.

Weekends and weekday mornings can get crowded, so you may want to opt to visit later in the day or call the museum (713-639-4629) to inquire about crowd levels.

Hours for the exhibitions are Monday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Admission for permanent exhibits is $15 for adults, $10 for children, college students, military and seniors 62 and over, $7 for groups of 20 or more, $3.50 for school groups, and free for members. Admission to the permanent exhibits is free from 2pm to 5pm on Thursdays. Special exhibit prices vary.

The Houston Museum District encompasses 19 museums in a 1.5 mile radius of the Mecon Fountain, creating a walkable destination within Houston for those wanting an immersive educational experience. While the Asia Society Texas Center provides insight into Asian arts, business, culture, education, and policy, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum focuses on American and African American history. Continue your stroll to the Rothko Chapel, a place for meditative contemplation for people of all faiths, the Health Museum, an interactive science museum, and the Houston Zoo, which provides a home for over 6,000 animals.

Those looking for a creative experience may want to visit institutions like the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston Center for Photography, Lawndale Art Center, The Menil Collection, The Jung Center of Houston, The Museum of Fine Arts or the Rice University Art Galley. Other museums in the district include the Children’s Museum of Houston, Czech Center Museum Houston, Holocaust Museum Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the John C. Freeman Weather Museum and the Museum of African American Culture.

A convenient feature of the Houston Museum District is over half these museums are free all the time, while all of them offer free entry at certain times. Visitors can easily have a worthwhile day browsing the different institutions without spending a dime. Along with creating an accessible world of art, history, culture and science, the museums also feature interesting daily events that can make your Houston visit more interesting. In the spring, the Houston Museum District truly comes to life as the many gardens littering the area becoming vibrant with seasonal flowers.

Home to more than 6,000 animals and 900 species, the Houston Zoo is a popular attraction for locals and visitors to Houston. Located in the beautiful Hermann Park, the 55-acre zoo features many exhibits, animal encounters, shows and ecosystems to explore. Additionally, the attraction is well-staffed, and there is always a knowledgeable worker to answer your questions or direct you.

While the zoo has numerous interesting sites within it, there are a few experiences you shouldn’t miss. First is the Masai giraffe feeding, which can be done daily from 11am to 2pm. Visitors can feed these long-necked creatures crispy lettuce leaves while getting a close-up view. Another not-to-miss attraction is the African Forest exhibit, which will transport you to a different continent as you trek through an African jungle full of chimpanzees, rhinos and antelopes, Masai giraffes, zebra and ostriches. Part of the experience is also authentic drumming and art. The Hoofed Run exhibit also introduces visitors to some of Earth exotic hoofed animals, like the Okapi, Eland, Warthog and Duiker. And of course, no visit to the zoo would be complete without taking in a sea lion show as they cute creates dive, flip and learn how to distinguish from four objects in a mirror’s reflection.

Travel tip: Go early, as parking can be tricky as it gets later in the day.

The Houston Zoo is open daily from 9am to 6pm. Tickets cost $14 for adults, $10 for children 2 through 11, $7.50 for seniors 65 and over and free for children under two. A portion of the proceeds go toward protecting wild animals. From September through May the Houston Zoo offers for admission to guests on the first Tuesday of each month from 2pm to close.