Dining at Captain Tom Seafood & Oyster Bar is a unique experience that you won't want to miss. This Houston restaurant is arranged like a ship, with seats surrounding a central kitchen and wall-mounted tables around the room’s edge. When you arrive, don't look for a hostess to seat you; just take your place in line and wait for a seat to open up. (Regular customers say you should be prepared to wait for a few minutes; this place is popular and it's rare that there's no line at all.) Once you're seated, don't wait for a server to take your order, either. Instead, just call it out yourself to the guys in the open kitchen.

Make no mistake, however: Despite the restaurant's quirky vibe, the staff at Captain Tom Seafood & Oyster Bar is very serious about serving only fresh, high quality seafood. The gumbo is a customer favorite, with its hearty, flavorful base, as is the breaded and fried catfish, served with crispy fries and hush puppies.

Captain Tom Seafood & Oyster Bar
9651 FM 1960 Road West
Houston, TX 77070
(281) 890-8334

www.captaintomsseafood.com
www.yelp.com/biz/captain-tom-seafood-and-oyster-bar-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/julesjulesjules m

For adventurous Houston residents looking for a workout that’s more exciting than an hour on the treadmill, try your hand at the Texas Rock Gym. This state-of-the-art facility contains sturdy climbing walls perfect for indoor rock climbing or even daring bouldering, which is similar to rock climbing but done without a rope. The routes change very often so that there’s always a new experience for frequent visitors, and if you’re a first-timer, the gym’s experienced staff of trainers are always on hand to show you the ropes—quite literally.

You’re free to bring your own climbing gear if you already own some, but if you don’t, you can also rent everything you’ll need from the pro shop at Texas Rock Gym. With its convenient location and frequent price specials on certain days of the week, everyone will feel welcome in this fun, friendly climbing gym.

Texas Rock Gym
1526 Campbell Road
Houston, TX 77055
(713) 973-7625
www.texasrockgym.com

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Charlie Brewer

Spring has sprung! What is your favorite thing about Spring?