Finding Space in Houston, Texas
Everything’s bigger in Texas, but they don’t call Houston “Space City” for its size. From Mission Control to Martian-themed saloons, this themed round-up of uniquely Houstonian attractions will prove why Texas’ biggest city is truly out of this world.
Back in the day, Houston was known as the Magnolia City. Sure, the fragrant white blooms pleasantly dot many a Houston street, but there’s something static about a shade tree that doesn’t quite match Houston’s undeniable energy. The arrival of NASA in 1961 gave Houston its modern-day identity: a place that dreams big. After all, it was here in 1963 that John F. Kennedy famously declared his intention for America to go to the moon and do other things, “not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” Thus Space City was born, where fans root for the Rockets and the Astros, where residents might grab a latte at Giant Leap Coffee or meet up with friends on the patio at Bad Astronaut Brewing, and where the city is still very much a global powerhouse in the aerospace industry.
While the Johnson Space Center is reserved for actual astronauts and rocket scientists, there are plenty of space-centered destinations across Greater Houston where you can explore to infinity and beyond.
Space Center Houston
The official visitors center for NASA blends immersive experiences — imagining a journey to Mars or life on the International Space Station — with a chance to touch moon rocks and climb inside a replica of the space shuttle. Tours offer a behind-the scenes look inside the astronaut training facilities and Mission Control at the neighboring Johnson Space Center, or book a breakfast with an astronaut to hear their mission memories firsthand.
1601 E NASA Pkwy., Houston
George Observatory
Drive south to escape Houston’s light pollution and explore the night sky at the George Observatory, located inside Brazos Bend State Park. The observatory boasts three domed telescopes including a 36-inch Gueymard Research Telescope, one of the largest in the United States. It’s open to the public every Saturday night, with amateur and staff astronomers guiding visitors with constellation laser tours and telescopes on the upper deck of the Observatory. Depending on the season, observable phenomena range from the Milky Way and meteors to Saturn’s rings and cloud belts on Jupiter.
21901 FM 762 Rd., Needville
Roswell’s Saloon
Named after the location of the most famous UFO sighting in history, Roswell’s Saloon is a two-story intergalactic cocktail lounge nestled in the heart of the vibrant Montrose neighborhood. Under trippy cosmic artwork and iridescent planets hanging from the ceiling, thoughtfully crafted cocktails are served in round, planet-like glassware and other delightfully odd shapes. The result is a neon-filled black-lit space that’s both futuristic and delightfully retro-kitsch.
1417 Westheimer Rd., Houston
Space Explorers: THE INFINITE
Embark on a breathtaking virtual reality journey into the cosmos in Space Explorers: THE INFINITE. The immersive cinematic experience features never-before-seen footage captured by astronauts for the Emmy-winning 2021 film Space Explorers: The ISS Experience alongside a mesmerizing audio-visual environment designed by artist Ryoji Ikeda. Visitors feel a sense of weighlessness on a virtual-reality spacewalk and explore the life of astronauts on the gravity-defying International Space Station, with inspiring footage from the the largest cinematic production ever captured in space.
2000 Edwards St., Houston
Hermann Park
For over a century, Hermann Park has been a vital 445-acre green space in the heart of Houston, home to the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a peaceful Japanese garden, and other popular attractions. In 2024, the redesigned southwest corner of the park opened as The Commons, offering new family-friendly features including a carousel, a water play area, a live oak terrace, and the Space Adventure, a state-of-the-art play garden for children with a 45-foot-tall rocket ship slide, and a space capsule for climbing and imaginary play.
