Outdoor Recreation

Cold weather is seldom an issue for outdoor activities, as Houston averages less than one measurable snowfall every four years. Our annual average rainfall is about 50 inches per year, ensuring lush lawns, large trees, and beautiful gardens overflowing with flowers. 

Parks 

The Houston area has the largest county park in the U.S.—George Bush Park. The region also contains the third-largest municipal park in the U.S.—Cullen Park. Near Houston’s city center, Hermann Park is among the top dozen most visited parks in the U.S. according to a 2014 report by the Trust for Public Land (TPL).

The City of Houston contains 52,154 acres of parks, according to the TPL. Houston’s Parks and Recreation Department manages the city’s 366 developed municipal parks and more than 200 green spaces. Additionally, Harris County maintains 179 parks totaling 25,126 acres and 45 trails totaling 228.8 miles. 

The Houston area specifically is home to numerous bio-regions that make outdoor explorations at our local, regional, and state parks an adventure in diversity. Very few places in the world have the amount of biodiversity as can be found in the Houston region.

Shopping

The Galleria Mall is a shopping bonanza of 400 stores and restaurants and attracts an estimated 26 million visitors a year.

Arts and Culture

Houston is home to famed restaurants and cuisine and some of the nation's most celebrated chefs.

We boast a theater district that is ranked second in the country, two renowned performing arts facilities, and a bustling museum district with 20 galleries that are home to some of the finest artifacts and collections in the United States.

Sports and Recreation

The annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest event of its kind in world.

Houston has four top-of-the-line professional stadiums, and H-Town fans enjoy year round entertainment. Our city plays host to several major golf tournaments and supports a pro-team in every professional sport except hockey.

Many outdoor recreational activities and world-class venues are also available for those interested in cycling, boating, camping, fishing, and hunting.

Beach destinations are only an hour away. The Gulf Coast can also be accessed in Louisiana and Alabama, easily drivable in a day.