Millions of tourists flock to Houston, otherwise known as America’s fourth-biggest city and the largest metropolitan area in the great state of Texas. There is an abundance of kid and family-friendly activities scattered throughout this massive city, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find distractions and amenities to please even the staunchest, most refined individual.
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It’s estimated around eight million visitors explored the various cultural institutions gracing Houston’s landscape, including museums, libraries, symphony halls and opera houses. If you can pull yourself away from the kids for a few days, here are just a few of the eye-opening, uplifting and mind-expanding things to do in Houston.
Houston Symphony Orchestra
Aside from creating some of the most beautiful music in all of Texas, the Houston Symphony Orchestra boasts some impressive numbers and statistics:
- Opening its doors in 1913, The Houston Symphony Orchestra now has an annual budget of nearly $24 million, which supports its internationally renowned orchestra of nearly 90 musicians.
- Nearly 350,000 individuals attend the orchestra’s 170 concerts, which feature a variety of music from classical to pops.
- Each year, members of the symphony play for nearly 22,000 of Houston’s citizens in hospitals, schools, retirement homes, shelters and community centers.
- Get the entire family involved by attending some of the symphony’s more kid-friendly concerts, which recently included a viewing of the “Wizard of Oz,” complete with a live rendition of the film’s score by the orchestra. Check the symphony’s website for future dates, free concerts and workshops for children.
Museum of Fine Arts
No trip to a metropolitan area would be complete without a stroll through its major museum, which in this case is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The museum, which is one of the largest in the United States, houses a permanent collection that spans 6,000 years of history and boasts an astonishing 62,000 pieces from around the world. Slip on a comfortable pair of shoes because the museum spans over 300,000 square feet, not including the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, which features an impressive collection of American furniture and other decorative pieces.
Lawndale Art Center
Located on the outskirts of Houston’s “Museum District” you’ll find a gallery like none you’ve ever visited. The Lawndale Art Center is committed to not only showcasing the works of local artists, but also ensuring the state’s rich cultural heritage and diversity continues to thrive. The Lawndale features four galleries, artist studios, an outdoor sculpture garden and offers several workshops for local artists throughout the year. Any patron of the arts would be remiss to skip the “Big Show,” which allows artists livings within a 100-mile radius of Houston the opportunity to showcase their pieces, and have them judged and critiqued by the center’s curator, and enjoyed by enthusiastic art lovers.
Alley Theatre
Founded in 1947, the Alley Theatre is one of the last remaining American institutions that support an entire troupe of actors, company of designers and craftsmen throughout the year. The group generally stages 10 to 11 contemporary and classic plays throughout the year in two venues, the 824-seat Hubbard stage and the smaller, 310-seat Neuhaus stage, which are both found in the heart of Houston. This Tony Award-winning theatre group wont’ disappoint, so don’t hesitate to visit the company’s website to learn about future productions and how you can offer your support to ensure this Texas landmark survives.
Houston Grand Opera
Located near the Houston Symphony in the historic theatre district, lies the home of the multiple Tony, Grammy and Emmy-award winning Houston Grand Opera. Founded in the early 1950s, the Houston Grand Opera has garnered an impressive reputation for a multitude of reasons, one of the main being its continued excellence and the fact it has both commissioned and performed works by a number of impressive contemporary composers. The company tours extensively throughout the United States, Japan, Egypt, Italy and France and is broadcast both internationally and nationally through WFMT of New York, as well as the European and Australian Broadcasting Companies.
Aside from Houston’s impressive array of museums, galleries, symphony halls and theaters, the city is also home to over 100 libraries. Amongst them are the Houston Public Library and the McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library, winner of the 2010 “Best Public Library Branch” award from the Houston Press.
Jackie Horton is an art critic that hails from the great state of Texas.
