Now we see Houston, the clutch city of Texas.
Since this is just a 3-day, 4 night trip. We tried to make our itineraries loose but fun since we have a toddler tagging along. With no time to waste, and a few dollars to spent. We went for the easy way to go around. A City Pass.
Purchasing these passes are the quick and easy way to navigate the city. The pass itself has already hand- picked 7 of the most popular destinations in Houston. It also gives you plenty of time to explore because the admission tickets provided in their booklets are good for at least 9 days. And the best part, they're cheap. You can save more with this passes rather than paying the admission fees via gate price.
Without any time to waste, we went to one of Houston's popular destination. The NASA Johnson Space Center.
Located along NASA Road. This huge mecca of space houses a ton of space artifacts, space shuttles, modules and even space suits.
They are strategically located in the middle of the main hall, where most people are around.
These are amongst the few shuttles I've seen around. We also had the chance to see one of their museums where they recreate men at space centers.
And for sneaker heads. The real space walker behind the glasses, which still remains beautiful even after almost half a decade of life.
Memorabilia of the Apollo 11's voyage.
One of the most exciting part of the trip is the NASA Tram Tour. It gives you a chance to see the actual space laboratory where scientists does their research.
You shouldn't miss the chance to see their work tables.
And at the end of the the Tram tour, you'll reach the Independence Plaza. It houses a huge space shuttles that a visitor shouldn't miss.
We finished our day with a smile on our faces. Amazed with the wonders that Science can do.
Day 2: We had a quick breakfast at our friends place. And of course, had our second destination in mind. The Houston's Downtown Aquarium.
This special place which is included in our CityPass is an Aquatic wonderland. A home to over 200 species of aquatic life from around the globe. Has a full-service restaurant, an upscale bar, a fully equipped ballroom, aquatic & geographic exhibits, shopping and a mini amusements park which is loved by kids and kids at heart.
Right outside the main aquarium area are small kiosks and rides that you usually find in state fairs. They have this huge wheel, the big drop and a lot more for a small fee. We tried the Diving Bell Ferris Wheel.
And the Lighthouse for less than $7 per ride.
And of course, with the help of CityPass, we we're able to navigate the Aquarium for free. They have a lot of exhibits which kids and kids at heart will love.
Aside from their aquarium, they also have a collection of mammals inside.
As a whole, It is a fun place to see. Most specially if you have a kid with you. They have mini amusement par, some rides, aquarium, mini zoo and a restaurant on the side. And its not bad of a deal since it's included with the CityPass.
Day 3: Our last day in Houston, Making the most out of it. We started far south form the City Center. Going towards the beach side. We went to the Kemah Boardwalk.
Located just 20 miles from downtown Houston, Kemah Boardwalk is one of places that is a must see. It has fabulous waterfront restaurants, amusements, charming retail stores, festivals and seaside shows every day.
Lots of rides and places for sight seeing. Also feels good to be near the sea.
Some of its charm comes from its variety of rides.
Which will make you hungry, so we decided to have a hearty lunch.
We ate at Saltgrass Steak house, One of the best steaks here in the Lone Star State.
What makes the steaks here in Saltgrass Steak House special is that the food tastes as though it was made from an open campfire. Their steaks are chargrilled to perfection. After our lunch, we continued our sight seeing.
But the sun was too much for us, Said our goodbyes for now. And vowed to try Kemah's seafood the next time.
We drove back to Dallas the next day. I will always remember Houston as a living city empowered with energy and is very rich in diversity. With it's is a dynamic mix of imagination, food choices and first-class attractions, it is indeed a world-class city. Full of optimism and spirit, it's no wonder that Houston is indeed the Clutch City.
