Try Gourmet Cupcakes at Sprinkles

Get your sweet treats at Sprinkles in Houston. Although a chain cupcake bakery, customers rave about the fresh deliciousness of the confections. Favorite flavors include the chocolate marshmallow, red velvet, and strawberry but even boring old vanilla still tastes great at Sprinkles! You can even expect gluten free and vegan options. Check the website for today’s flavors, including seasonal specialties. Sprinkles is popular and will often sell out, so get there earlier in the day for the best selection. Although expensive at $3.75 each, these gourmet cupcakes are generously sized.

Sprinkles
4014 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 871-9929
http://www.sprinkles.com/cupcake-bakery-locations/houston
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sprinkles-cupcakes-houston

Memorial Park: Explore Thirty Miles of Trails

The convenient location of Houston’s Memorial Park in the River Oaks neighborhood makes this a popular spot for exercise enthusiasts and picnickers alike. Most come for the many trails for hiking, jogging, and biking. The three mile loop is popular for runners, but there are over thirty miles that meander through woods. The large space provides plenty of room for visitors to spread out, so you don’t feel cramped. Although it may draw a crowd, parking is hardly ever an issue.

Other facilities include sand volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, as well as baseball and soccer fields, even a municipal golf course and indoor fitness center! Pack a picnic and enjoy the fresh air. There are plenty of picnic tables throughout the park, along with restrooms and water fountains. The playground makes a great family-friendly destination, and the whole park is dog friendly.

Memorial Park
6501 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77007
http://memorialparkconservancy.org
http://www.yelp.com/biz/memorial-park-houston

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/likeaduck

Catalina Coffee: Nice Pours from Locally Roasted Beans

For quality coffee without the chain atmosphere, try Houston’s Catalina Coffee, a simple cafe that focuses on quality beverages. Customers rave about the well balanced flavors from the locally roasted beans. If you are looking for a pour over, you can find one here, along with all the espresso drink standards.

Whether you judge a coffee shop by their regular cup of joe or a latte, you’ll be impressed with Catalina’s, and they are reasonably priced at $1.95 for a cup of coffee. Fresh pastries are delivered daily. Bring a book since they don’t offer Wi-Fi. This cafe features simple rustic-modern decor with indoor and outdoor seating.

Catalina Coffee
2201 Washington Avenue
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 861-8448
http://catalinacoffeeshop.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/catalina-coffee-houston

Break a Sweat at New Heights at Texas Rock Gym

Get climbing at Texas Rock Gym, Houston’s indoor rock climbing gym. The large space features 42 rock wall stations, five with auto-belay, as well as a designated bouldering area. Whether you are an experience climber or newbie, all skill levels are welcome here. Patrons find it a fun yet challenging activity to try when the weather forces you indoors. But unlike the mall, here you’ll get in a great workout. The friendly staff puts a lot of effort into maintaining the gym; everything is kept clean and the routes are changed regularly so the climbs don’t get too easy.

Customers can get all the rental gear necessary, a class, and all day access for just $30. If you really love rock climbing, consider becoming a member and you’ll benefit from unlimited access to the rock gym as well as yoga, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi classes. The "School of Rock" program is designed just for kids with after school and school break camps. Texas Rock Gym also offers private and group lessons for those who want to hone their skills. Try to visit on a weekday as it can get crowded on Saturdays and Sundays.

Texas Rock Gym
1526 Campbell Road
Houston, TX 77055
(713) 973-7625
http://www.texasrockgym.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/texas-rock-gym-houston-2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/jeffwilcox

The Chocolate Bar: More Than Just Candies, But Everything Sweet

Indulge your inner choco-holic at The Chocolate Bar in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood. This sweet spot offers a wide variety of confections and treats including high-quality chocolates, cakes, cookies, ice cream, and more. Customers rave about the huge slices of cake, favorites include the chocolate Tres Leches and the Black Russian. If candy bars are more your style, don’t skip the Candylicious Junkyard cake made with several types of candy bars.

Unique ice cream flavors, like root beer float and toffee coffee, are generously scooped. On colder days sip on a mug of rich hot chocolate, or have it blended frozen for a summertime treat. There are plenty of high-top tables to enjoy your sweets. Customers find it great for date night, but it can be busy on weekends.

The Chocolate Bar
1835 W. Alabama Street
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 520-8599
http://theoriginalchocolatebar.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-chocolate-bar-houston

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/avlxyz

Miller Outdoor Theatre: Culture Under the Stars

Spend some time outdoors at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston’s Hermann Park. In operation over 90 years, the theatre hosts a wide variety of concerts, plays, and performances, all of which are free. If you prefer covered seating, you’ll need a ticket; otherwise, most theatre-goers spread a blanket on the grassy hill facing the stage. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy! Alcohol is permitted provided it’s not in a glass container. For those who want the convenience, a concession stand offers refreshments and picnic supplies.

Check the theatre's website often for an updated performance schedule. Plan to arrive early, as parking can be challenging and you’ll have better luck finding a spot. Or, take METRORail and the theatre is just a five minute walk. There are plenty of clean bathrooms at these family-friendly events.

Miller Outdoor Theatre
6000 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(281) 823-9103
http://milleroutdoortheatre.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/miller-outdoor-theatre-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/zaimoku_woodpile

The Houston Zoo: From Amphibians to Zebras

Plan a day at The Houston Zoo, and get up close and personal with everything from amphibians to zebras. Seemingly endless exhibits—including carnivorous cats, playful primates, and beckoning birds—will provide hours of entertainment. Exhibits are renovated to keep the animals comfortable, and the zoo is contracting new habitats for gorillas, which will return in 2015. The zookeepers are very knowledgeable, so make it a point to make it to one of their talks. Kids love the Giraffe Feeding Platform that elevates visitors to be face to face with these gentle giants. A 4-D movie experience is another family favorite.

Visitors find the zoo clean and well maintained, with a strong conservation and education mission. Admission is reasonable, especially compared to other big city zoos; adults are $14 and children are $10. (You can save a few extra bucks if you purchase the tickets at Fiesta Mart.) The Houston Zoo provides free parking, but it fills up fast on the weekends. 

The Houston Zoo
6200 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 533-6500
http://www.houstonzoo.org
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-houston-zoo-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Martin Pettitt

Burke Baker Planetarium: To The Stars

Have an interstellar experience at the Burke Baker Planetarium, located in the Museum of Natural Science. High-resolution video technology projects images of planets, stars, meteors, solar systems and galaxies on the domed surface of the theatre. Their computerized SkySkan DigitalSky Starfield projector is the most advanced in the world, providing stunning simulations of stars, planets, comets and nebulous objects. It lets you play astronaut with jaw dropping three-dimensional simulated flights through space. A state-of-the-art digital stereo sound system enhances the Dome Theatre experience with a variety of music and sound effects. Films like Stars of the Pharaohs take you back 6,000 years to ancient Egypt to see how astronomers aligned their temples and pyramids with the stars.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students.

Burke Baker Planetarium
1 Hermann Circle Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 639-4629
http://www.yelp.com/biz/burke-baker-planetarium-houston

Dionisio Winery: In Vino Veritas, Houston

Friends of the mighty grape like to congregate at Dionisio Winery. It’s a great place for date night or to meet up with friends and tip back a glass or two. Choose from a variety of wines made on site by the winery’s friendly owner. Reds include merlot, pinot noir, shiraz, zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon. If white’s your thing, sample some chardonnay, sauvignon blanc or zinfandel. Fruit wines made at the winery meld flavors for a super-sweet taste that many people love. Peach Chardonnay, Green Apple Riesling, Strawberry White Merlot and Black Cherry Pinot Noir are some of the luscious flavors to try. Want to learn more about wine or try bottling your own? Sign up for one of their fun, informative classes. Open Wednesday through Saturday.

Dionisio Winery
2110 Jefferson Street, Suite 119
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 906-2499
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dionisio-winery-houston

Station Museum of Contemporary Art: Around the Art World

The Station Museum of Contemporary Art is a small venue showcasing local, national and international artists, with a particular focus on the cultural diversity of Houston's varied neighborhoods. Past international exhibitions have included artists from Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, South Africa, Congo, Czech Republic, Austria, Palestine, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, and Russia. Solo exhibitions by Texas artists showcased the work of Mel Chin, James Drake, Dick Wray, Jesse Lott and George Smith. The museum also hosts film screenings, concerts, lectures, and fundraisers for social causes. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free.

Station Museum of Contemporary Art
1502 Alabama
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 529-6900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/station-museum-of-contemporary-art-houston

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