The area south and east of downtown Houston is home to Texas Medical Center, Rice University, and Hermann Park.
Get in
Best ways to reach this part of Houston are Metro light rail trains, Metro city buses, and by car.
Train
Houston's Metro light rail system is an easy, comfortable way to get to the Medical Center, Rice University, and Museum District. Trains run down the center of Main Street beginning as early as 4:30am and running as late as 2:15am. Schedules and prices are on the Houston Metro web site. [http://www.ridemetro.org/]
Bus
Several Houston Metrobus routes run through this part of the city. Use bus lines 1, 8, 34, 65, 87, 292, and 298. There is also a local trolley service for the Medical Center. Bus lines for this area connect to the Metro light rail train line at the TMC Transit Center at Fannin and Pressler. Bus stop locations and schedules are on the Houston Metro web site.
Car
Houston is a sprawling city in which everyone drives everywhere. The Medical Center/Rice/Museum District area lies in between the Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59) and the South Freeway (TX 288).
From U.S. 59 southbound, exit Fannin, then head left
From U.S. 59 northbound, exit Greenbrier, then head right
From TX 288 either direction, exit McGregor
From I-610, exit Fannin and either head north, or use the Park and Ride lot and ride Metro
Street parking is available in much of this area, and there are public parking lots at the major museums, in Hermann Park, and around the Medical Center (the latter are most expensive).
See
The Menil Collection. 515 Sul Ross. 13-525-9400. ttp://www.menil.org/. ed-Sun 11-7. REE. Eclectic museum featuring the collection of John and Dominique de Menil, French ex-pats who collected works through the 1980s. Although most of the collection features antiquities from the paleolithic era, there are some surprising masterpieces from the 20th century, including works by Picasso, Matisse, and Magritte.
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. 216 Montrose Blvd.. 13-284-8250. ttp://www.camh.org/. WFSa, 10-5, Th 10-9, Su 12-5. Non-collecting museum with rotating exhibits focusing on the ever-changing landscape of today's visual arts.
The Health Museum. 515 Hermann Drive. 13-521-1515. ttp://www.mhms.org. 6 adults, $5 kids and seniors. Formerly known as the "Museum of Health and Medical Sciences", this museum is affiliated with the Texas Medical Center. Explore human anatomy, the life of a germ, the human genome, and more.
Childrens Museum of Houston. 500 Binz St.. 13-522-1138. ttp://www.cmhouston.org. am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12-5 Sun. 5, $3 after 3pm. Fun, educational, hands-on museum featuring a whimsical courtyard with a rail caboose and a bayou river, and indoor exhibits with both a cultural and a scientific element.
Hermann Park. 13-524-5876. 13-524-5887. ttp://www.hermannpark.org/. Approximately 455 acres (about half the size of Central Park in New York City). George Hermann gave the parkland to the City of Houston in 1914. It is accessible via the MetroRail. Encompasses the Miller Outdoor Theater, the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Hermann Park Golf Course.
Houston Museum of Natural Science. ne Hermann Circle Drive. 13-639-4629. ebmaster@hmns.org. dult $9, Child $7, other venues vary. ttp://www.hmns.org/. Permanent venues include the butterfly center, exhibit halls, planetarium, and IMAX theater, others vary by availability.
Houston Zoo. 513 N. MacGregor. 13-533-6500. ooinfo@houstonzoo.org. -6. dult $8.50, Child $4, free on some holidays. ttp://www.houstonzoo.org/.
Hermann Park Golf Course. 155 N. MacGregor. 13-526-0077. 31 FR-SU, other times less. ttp://www.houstontx.gov/municipalgolf/hermann/index.html.
Japanese Garden. ain St & Sunset Blvd, Hermann Park. 13-284-8300. 0 - 6, summer. ttp://www.houstontx.gov/parks/japanesegarden.html. Designed by world-renowned Japanese landscape architect, Ken Nakajima, the garden was built to symbolize the friendship between the United States and Japan, and to recognize Houston's thriving Japanese community.
Miller Outdoor Theater. 00 Concert Drive, in Hermann Park. 81-373-3386. 13-942-0863. ary. illside (lawn) seating is always free, some shows have ticket seating under the pavillion, varies by show.. ttp://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/. Free professional theater offering a wide variety of shows in warmer months (which in Houston, span April through November).
Museum of Fine Arts Houston. 001 Bissonnet Street. 13-639-7300. 0-5 Tu-We, 10-9 Th, 10-7 Fr-Sa, 12:15-7 Su, closed Mo, except holidays.. dult $7, Senior/Child $3.50, Thursdays free courtesy of Shell Oil. ttp://www.mfah.org.
'''Texas Medical Center''', [http://www.tmc.edu/]. A sprawling medical complex which is home to some of the world's best hospitals.
Do
rent a paddleboat in Hermann Park's lake
bring a blanket or folding chair and a bottle of wine while you listen to a free summer concert at the Miller Outdoor Theatre
bring the kids, there's a lot of family activities in this part of the city
Buy
Some of Houston's most eclectic shopping is in the small businesses of Rice Village, roughly between Kirby and Greenbrier and around Rice Blvd. and University Blvd.
Eat
El Meson. 525 University Blvd.. 13-522-9306. Great choice when you're hungry for ropa vieja or any classic Cuban dish.
Croissant Brioche. 435 Rice Blvd.. 13-526-9188. French bakery.
Patu's. 420 Rice Blvd.. 13-528-6998. Inexpensive thai cuisine. Small family restaurant. Has a buffet.
Bombay Brasserie. 414 University Blvd.. 13-355-2000. Indian cuisine.
Drink
Kelvin Arms. 424 Dunstan. 13-528-5002. ttp://www.kelvinarms.com. Traditional Scottish pub atmosphere. Good variety of draft beers (including Belhaven), though their strong point is their outstanding selection of fine single-malt Scotch whisky.
The Ginger Man. 607 Morningside. ttp://www.gingermanpub.com. pm-2am. Fun, casual pub atmosphere with an outstanding selection of microbrewed, regional, and import beers. Where else are you likely to find Youngs ales on tap alongside a Belgian kriek? Nothing beats relaxing out in the Ginger Man's courtyard with a chilly beverage on a warm Houston evening.
Two Rows Restaurant and Brewery. 400 University Blvd.. 13-529-2739. ttp://www.tworows.com/. Casual sports-bar type atmosphere but with decent sandwiches and pizza and a variety of fresh beers brewed on premise. Many of the beers are innocuously light, but their Route 66 Amber is often quite good, they do seasonal beers, plus they have homemade root beer, which is a winner for the non-drinkers.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
'''Holiday Inn - Medical Center''', 6800 S. Main St, 713-528-7744, [http://hi-medcenter.com/]. Great location close to the Texas Medical Center, the world-class hospital complex 4 miles south-west of downtown Houston, 13 miles from Houston Hobby Airport and 25 miles from Houston Intercontinental Airport. The hotel provides complimentary transportation across the Center and further into Houston.
'''Hilton Houston Plaza / Medical Center''', 6633 Travis St., 713-313-4000. Location in the midst of the Texas Medical Center. 80% suites. 100% non-smoking.
'''Marriott Houston Medical Center''', 6580 Fannin St. Adjacent to several hospitals of the Texas Medical Center and connected to Methodist Hospital via the skywalk.
Splurge
'''Hotel ZaZa''', 5701 Main St., 713-526-1991, [http://www.hotelzaza.com]. Upscale boutique hotel with an outstanding location next to Hermann Park and the Museum of Fina Arts Houston, with easy Metro access, elegantly appointed rooms, and an atmopshere of pampered luxury.
'''La Colombe d'Or''', 3410 Montrose Blvd., 713-524-8923, [http://www.lacolombedor.com]. Intimately small luxury hotel in a 1920s era mansion. For the discriminating traveler without budgetary constraints.
Contact