Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is a must-see, must-attend, state-of-the-art entertainment complex. Designed by Robert A. M. Stern, this $102 million shining star illuminates Houston's Theater District. The Hobby provides the ultimate experience for cultural-connoisseurs with two opulent, acoustically distinguished theaters - Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall, Michael Cordua's Artista restaurant and its own above-ground 800-car parking garage. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, the Hobby's sweeping architecture plays up its fabulous location. The glistening facade features 60-foot-high glass walls affording exciting vistas of Houston's skyscrapers, interspersed with the lush greenery of Tranquility Park and the distinguished deco-era City Hall. The soaring three-story Grand Lobby - open, inviting and contemporary - is topped with a majestic roof, supported by tubular steel columns which punctuate the facade, lending drama to the exterior. A block-long, second-floor terrace offers another brilliant stroke, providing a preferred spot to contemplate the panorama. Everywhere, exquisite detail abounds, from the creamy Cafe de Paris limestone employed throughout to the transcendental gold leaf that graces the Grand Lobby's ceiling. Melding texture and richness, the Hobby's masterful modernism fulfills the vision of architect Stern, who said of his new building: "There's a show before the show." As befitting the city's role as a culture capital, art has been integral from the start, with two significant works commissioned. The Hobby tapped acclaimed contemporary masters, American painter Sol LeWitt and British-born sculptor Tony Cragg, to create site-specific pieces. LeWitt's color-suffused mural Wall Drawing 2002 serves as the focal point of the Grand Lobby, while Cragg's sinuous, two-part bronze In Minds mimics human profiles as it stands guard outside at Hines Plaza. Since its opening in May 2002, this visionary venue has been wooing crowds with distinctive programming and a splendidly enlightened building

Miller Outdoor Threatre is Houston's premier outdoor theater for the performing arts. Free performances run March through October.

Discovery Green, a 12-acre park located in downtown Houston, opened on April 13, 2008. With its proximity to the George R. Brown Convention Center, Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center, Discovery Green is an ideal location for the city's newest attraction. Visitors to the park can enjoy many natural, recreational, art, dining and eco-friendly features including: - one-acre lake - children's playground - interactive water features - amphitheater stage and slope - dog runs for large and small breeds - public art works - HPL Express - spacious green lawns - great restaurants, The Grove and The Lake House In addition to surface lot and park perimeter parking, the Convention District Garage, operated by the City of Houston, lies beneath the park. Designed by Hargreaves Associates, PageSoutherlandPage and Lauren Griffith Associates, along with a team of engineers and specialists, these carefully planned features allow the park to accommodate those seeking peace at the same time as those seeking activity. Much of this was accomplished via thoughtful use of organic boundaries, such as trees and water features. The WiFi-connected site has been designed as a green environment that can accommodate many people at one time and service multiple community needs.

Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, th eHouston Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 800 species.

With its stunning architecture, exceptional store mix and distinctive style of entertainment, The Galleria has established itself as the #1 shopping and tourist destination in Houston with over 24 million annual visitors. Set beneath spectacular glass atriums, The Galleria features more than 375 fine stores and restaurants, an impressive ice rink and two Westin hotels. This world-class shopping complex showcases the best names in retailing including Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Gucci, two Macy's stores, Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Ralph Lauren Collection, Louis Vuitton and Houston's only Nordstrom. With the expansion that opened in March 2003, The Galleria became the fourth largest mall in the nation highlighted by nine types of stone, suspended glass balconies, three types of wood, glass skylights, and plush leather seating. With three office towers, two hotels, 2.4 million square feet of retail space, and a variety of restaurants, The Galleria is a city within a city. For more information please call 713-622-0663

The Children's Museum of Houston is all-new and now twice as big! Rated a 5-star nationwide children's museum by Citysearch.com, voted "Ultimate Kid-Friedly Attraction" in a Houston Chronicle readers poll and tied for nation's best children's museums No. 1 spot in Child Magazine, the Children's Museum is a Playground for Your Mind.

Uptown Park has over 50 fabulous places to shop, dine, dance, rejuvenate, sip, crave and enjoy where European elegance meets Texas style. This is a LIFESTYLE CENTER like no other – Houston's elegant Italian-style piazza. Catering to life's indulgences, Uptown Park is lined with shops, boutiques and cafes that create an intimate atmosphere with an emphasis on charm. With lush fountains, detailed architecture and lavish landscaping, the surroundings are warm and inviting.

Houston Museum District is an area of Houston, Texas south of downtown, near Rice University. The area is anchored by parks, a large zoo and many museums, including a recently expanded fine arts museum and a science museum notable for its geology and entomology exhibits.