Houston is known as the fourth largest town in America. It has a lot to offer in terms of food and entertainment. If you’re visiting Houston there are plenty of things to do even without having to spend any money. You can visit museums, take a stroll through the various hiking trails and ride through the biking trails if you have a bike. The weather in Houston is pleasant throughout the year and hence, is a great place to be in if you’re seeking some adventure. If you want to experience its exclusive entertainment facilities but don’t want to spend then you’re in the right place. Read on to find out 10 free things to do in Houston, Texas.
1. Visit Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Houston Arboretum is a 155-acre (22.25 hectares) forest reserve and is only a mile’s drive from the west of Memorial park. You can take a stroll along the 5-mile (8.04 km) walking trail that runs through the nature reserve and catches sight of the beautiful sycamore, oak and pine trees and further ahead you will see a shallow wetland where you will find turtles and fishes swimming through. Entry to this Nature Center is free and whether you visit with family or alone, it is definitely going to be a treat to both the eyes and the soul.
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Address: 4501 Woodway Dr, Houston, TX 77024, USA
Opening hours: 7 am to 6:30 pm
Website: Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
2. Explore Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo Bayou along Eleanor Tinsley Park is a place in Houston where you can ride away in your bicycle for free for as long as your heart desires. The biking trails and the old bridges make it a fanciful ride. Whether you decide to burn your calories, have a game for fun’s sake with the friends or the family members you’re touring with or simply to gorge on the skyline and the surrounding scenery while taking a stroll. You can rent a bike from the Houston BCycle stations if you don’t have a cycle and still want to ride.
Buffalo Bayou
Address: 1800 Allen Pkwy &, Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77019, United States
Opening hours: 6 am to 11 pm
Website: Buffalo Bayou
3. Enjoy live performances at the Miller Outdoor Theatre
Miller Outdoor Theatre is located in the Houston Museum district at Hermann Park near the Houston Zoo. It is an outdoor amphitheater which serves its audience for free. Several cultural activities, movie screenings, and concerts are held every weekend throughout the year for 80 years now. You can watch good live performances sprawled out in the green grass for free.
Miller Outdoor Amphitheater
Address: 6000 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Website: Miller Outdoor Amphitheater
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4. Visit the Art Car Museum
This is a very unconventional museum that practically exhibits art cars in the majority than other works of art by artists from all around the world; artists who have been less known or may not have been as well acknowledged by other cultural institutions. Entry to this museum also known as ‘Garage Mahal’ is free. Local, national and international artists display their works in this exhibition forum, which was built in February 1998 as a non-profit arts organization by Ann and James Harithas, connoisseurs of art.
Art Car Museum
Address: 140 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007, USA
Opening hours: 11 am to 6 pm
Website: Art Car Museum
5. Boat tour on the Port of Houston
Cruise for free aboard the Port of Houston Authority’s public charter boat. The vessel carries up to 100 passengers offering them a 95-minute free cruise during which the tourists are told stories about the port and also the workings of the maritime industry in general. This free tour is not only leisurely but also very educational. Port Houston’s public tour vessel, M/V Sam Houston gets its name after the legendary military commander who led the fight for Texas’ independence from Mexico.
Port of Houston
Website: Port of Houston
6. Visit the Moody Center
The Moody Center for Arts in Houston is located inside Rice University and allows free visits during open hours. The building is on the right once you enter gate number eight. The Moody Center is open to collaborative discussions stimulated by creative thinking and original expression. Individuals across campuses conglomerate at the Moody Center to express and actualize transformative ideas related to arts.
Moody Center for the Arts
Address: 6100 Main Street, MS-480, Houston, TX 77005, 6100 Main MS-550, Houston, TX 77005, United States
Website: Moody Center for the Arts
7. Visit Rothko Chapel
As per GQ magazine, the Rothko Chapel is considered one among the ten most famous places to experience art in America. The chapel is also a museum exhibiting wonderful works of modern art and is open to everyone for a visit, to both explore modern art and to pray irrespective of one’s religious origin.
Rothko Chapel
Address: 1409 Sul Ross St, Houston, TX 77006, USA
Website: Rothko Chapel
8. Go to the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
This 30,000 square feet (2,787 square metre) in-ground area is free for anyone to skate in. There are areas for both seasoned skaters and amateurs. It is situated off of the Sabine Street Bridge in Buffalo Bayou Park. The most attractive feature of this skate park is that it can be used for free to practice your skills, to rehearse or learn to stay balanced. Skating is quite a popular and common game-activity in America and if you’re in Houston, you should give this free activity a try. You only need to either rent or purchase a helmet.
Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
Address: 103 Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007, USA
Opening hours: 9 am to 10 pm
Website: Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
9. Visit horseshoe-shaped waterfall in Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
This 64-feet (19.5 metres) high waterfall is a marvel. It has a unique sculpture which gives it the shape of a horse-shoe. It is a beautiful sight located in the Uptown district of Houston and you can visit it for free. You will enjoy it better when the sun has set because there is beautiful lighting, on the sculpture which improves the appeal of the fall. Avoid visiting during drought, because the waterfall’s operation might be different during such conditions.
Horseshoe Falls
Address: Sienna Village Of Anderson Springs, TX 77459, USA
10. See bats at Waugh Bridge
Eleanor Tinsley Park is where you’ll catch sight of up to 250,000 bats. If you decide to take a stroll or ride through it at dusk, halt at the Waugh Bridge. Waugh bridge is between Allen Parkway and Memorial drive between Studmont Street and Shepherd Drive. This is absolutely free entertainment. Make sure to avoid the fog and the rain if you want to catch a glimpse of the colony. There is also free parking along Allen Parkway and Spotts Park.
Bats at Waugh Bridge
Address: 1705 Waugh Drive, Houston, Texas
Opening hours: Arrive about 20 minutes before the sunset
Free fun
What can be better than traveling for free? Pay only for your stay and food and roam around the city absorbing its culture and history to your heart’s content while enjoying adventure outings for free. Houston is rich culturally and has a wide array of creative exhibits and all of this you get to encounter without spending a penny from your pocket. If you’re on a budget then do plan a trip to Houston and more so if you have friends staying here so that you don’t even have to pay for lodging.
History
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