If you’re looking for a fun, year-round activity that the whole family will enjoy, a visit to the Houston Zoo is a dependable choice. This spacious zoo is well laid out to create an enjoyable walking route through all of the various animals’ areas, and it offers a close-up look at everything from the creepy, crawly reptiles to the large elephants and giraffes. The paved paths are lined with shady trees and greenery to make a hot Texas afternoon a bit more bearable (no pun intended), and there are a number of indoor animal houses that enable you to tour the zoo even during bad weather.

If you have small children, the Houston Zoo also features a Kids’ Zoo that includes a petting zoo, animal-themed play areas, and playful sea otters that always seem to put on a show of their own.

The Houston Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Free parking is available on Hermann Park Drive, but note that these free lots fill up quickly!

Houston Zoo
6200 Hermann Park Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 533-6500
www.houstonzoo.org
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g56003-d266874-Reviews-Houston_Zoo-Houston_Texas.html

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Roger Ahlbrand

Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse serves up all the meat you can eat in the best Brazilian Churrascaria tradition. Pay a single price and flip the card at your table to the green side and the servers roaming the dining room will present you with cut after cut of various meats, sliced tableside for you to grab with the provided tongs.

Try customer favorites like picanha (prime sirloin), bacon-wrapped filet mignon, or lamb, served as sliced shank or chop. Once you’ve had your fill, or when you want a break, just flip the card to the red side and you can enjoy your meal without interruption. If you’re not a meat eater, Chama Gaucha offers an extensive salad bar that is available on its own and is also included in the main buffet.

Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse
5865 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 244-9500

www.chamagaucha.com
www.yelp.com/biz/chama-ga%C3%BAcha-brazilian-steakhouse-houston-2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/dinesarasota

After traveling through Italy during her honeymoon, the founder of SweetCup returned to the U.S. with a new purpose: to bring the authentic Italian gelato cafe experience to Houston. Her cafe, SweetCup, opened in February 2012, bringing with it authentic elements ranging from its all-natural gelato to its freshly brewed espresso that makes use of locally roasted beans.

At SweetCup, gelato is prepared in small batches on a daily basis. Flavors vary by season, but past highlights have included peanut butter stracciatella, caramelized banana, and bourbon caramel alongside everyday favorites such as bacio and zabaione. Order your gelato atop a warm brioche bun or enjoy it "affogato" style, topped with two shots of fresh espresso. Regulars note that the sorbetto here is also not to be missed, especially when the flavors highlight summertime fruits and berries.

SweetCup is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

SweetCup
3939 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 942-2226
www.sweetcupgelato.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sweetcup-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Whitney