Downtown Houston has been stepping up its game, and it’s a great place to explore on foot. Hop off the METRORail and you’re in the middle of it all—Broadway shows at the Hobby Center, Astros or Rockets games, live music, and some seriously good food. Discovery Green is always buzzing with events, while Market Square Park has a more laid-back vibe with historic charm and cozy bars. And if the Texas heat gets to you, take a detour through the downtown tunnel system—a hidden maze of air-conditioned walkways with cafés, shops, and a steady stream of office workers on their lunch breaks.

Soak in some culture in Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma, which houses over 700 artworks created by Baleriac artists of international renown, from the late 19th century to the present.

The Waikiki Aquarium, located right on the shores and run by the nearby university, attempts to recreate diverse tropical Pacific reef habitats to function as home to a number of aquatic species, including some rare fish species from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the moon jellyfish.