I am a Houstonian

One of my friends just moved to Houston and asked me for a list of things to do here. This is what I compiled and I thought I would share with you! Should I add anything?

Calendar of Events:

http://www.visithoustontexas.com/travel-tools/events/

http://www.houstonpress.com/calendar/

http://www.houstontx.gov/events/index.html

http://houston.culturemap.com/events/

http://www.houstonpublicradio.org/events/

Annual Events:

Rodeo in March! http://rodeohouston.com/

Strawberry Picking in the spring: http://www.frobergsfarm.com/

Renaissance Festival in Oct-Nov: http://texrenfest.com/

Nutcracker Market in Nov: http://www.houstonballet.org/nutcracker_market/nutcracker_market_overview/

Churches:

http://www.clearcreek.org/ 

http://www.sojournhouston.com/ 

http://kaleohouston.com/ 

http://www.ecclesiahouston.org/ 

Downtown:
Houston Ballet – Mitch and I have season tickets. We love it!
Miller Outdoor Theater - we go several times each summer - particularly 4th of July. It's an outdoor theater, free shows, bring a picnic!

Theater District: Jones Hall, Alley Theater http://downtownhouston.org/district/theater/

Houston Museum of Fine Arts and Contemporary Arts Museum
Houston Museum of Natural Science – has a butterfly house!

Hermann Park – walking trails
Make sure you check out Houston's many Farmer's Markets - http://www.visithoustontexas.com/shopping/farmers-markets/

Mercer Garden http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/ (I've never been)

Rice Village – shopping / restaurants http://www.ricevillageonline.com/maps/maps.php 

Galleria Mall - http://www.simon.com/mall/the-galleria
Buffalo Bayou - place to walk around downtown - http://www.buffalobayou.org/

Fancy Grocery Stores: HEB Central Market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's (we are jealous that we don't have any here in clear lake)

Rock Climbing - http://www.texasrockgym.com/

IKEA

Ima Hogg House Tour: http://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens/bayou-bend-visitor-info/

Food Downtown:

Greek: Niko Niko’s http://www.nikonikos.com/ (we love this place!)

Ouisie's Restaurant (where we got married) http://www.ouisiestable.com/ (pronounced "weezie's"

Mexican: Chuy’s
Irish Pub Grub: McGonigel’s Mucky Duck (also has live music, but you have to pay)
Steak: Perry’s Steakhouse, Capitol Grille, Fogo de Chao (all three are expensive but delicious)
Spanish Tapas: Mi Luna (Rice Village) http://www.milunahouston.com/menu.php

Drive up and down Westheimer Road - lots of great places to eat plus there are stores like REI, etc

Breakfast or Brunch: http://www.empirecafe.com/, http://www.cocoscrepes.com/, and http://www.backstreetcafe.net/ is delish!

BBQ: Goode Company BBQ ... note, the BBQ in Texas is nowhere near as good as STL, but this one is ok http://www.goodecompany.com/bbq/

Clear Lake (30 min south of downtown)
Kemah Boardwalk – shopping/restaurants http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/
Space Center Houston http://www.spacecenter.org/
Rent jet skis in Clear Lake
Mexican: Chuy’s, Pappasito’s, there are really too many to list, most of the Mexican down here is very good, I crave it!
Thai Cottage
Italian: Frenchie’s

BBQ: Rudy's, Red River BBQ
Indian: Cuisine of India

Sushi: Masa Sushi or Tokyo Bowl
Steak: Perry’s Steakhouse, Texas Land & Cattle
Fish: Outriggers

Galveston (60 min south of downtown)
http://www.galveston.com/default.asp  
The Historic Home Tours are fun!
Elissa – the official Tall Ship of Texas (1877)

The Spot is our favorite burger place after the beach - http://www.islandfamous.com/thespot/

Olympia Grill - http://www.olympiagrill.net/

Ferry Ride (free) to Bolivar Peninsula http://www.galveston.com/galvestonferry/

Opera - http://www.thegrand.com/

Camping:

The best months are October through March.

Here are the places we have camped:

Enchanted Rock (5 hour drive)

Brazos Bend (great spot to see gators, very close to Houston)

Lake Somerville State Park 

Surrounding Areas:
Haak Winery, Santa Fe (60 minutes from downtown)
Battleship Texas State Historic Site, LaPorte
Blue Bell Factory

Fun Weekend Trips:

Austin (we go here several times a year)

Dallas/Ft Worth

San Antonio

New Orleans is only 5 hours away, we had a great time!