What’s new in Houston

The fourth-largest US city Houston presented several projects during IPW 2021 in Las Vegas, cementing its position as a favoured leisure destination.

Key projects in the last 20 months include hotels, attractions, restaurants, theatres and parks, among others.

This year Houston is seeing the reopening of attractions and the return of big events like Comicpalooza, the largest pop culture festival in Texas, Houston Restaurant Weeks, sports games, concerts and free shows at the Miller Outdoor Theater.

What’s New

Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) showcases Ramses the Great. Considered one of the most celebrated builders of Egypt, the relics that carry his name will inspire through an all-new touring collection. Cityneon, in partnership with World Heritage Exhibitions, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Supreme Council of Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt, has announced a brand-new, state-of-the-art museum experience exploring the life of Ramses.

POST Houston: opening late 2021 – POST Houston, the new mixed-use development is already taking shape in the former Barbara Jordan Post Office Building, at 401 Franklin Street in Downtown. POST Houston will feature a large international market hall (with 30 participating restaurants from locations such as Houston, Austin, California, Norway, and Spain), one of the country’s largest rooftop parks and farms, co-working spaces, retail stores, and 713 Music Hall, a live music venue with capacity for 5,000 people.

Attractions

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) – The Museum District in Houston celebrated the opening of the new Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, inaugurated on November 21, 2020. The Kinder Building is the third gallery building of the MFAH and is devoted to the display of the museum’s international collections of modern and contemporary art.

Houston Zoo Centennial – 2022 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Houston Zoo, the second most visited zoo in the US.  Approaching this milestone, the Houston Zoo is creating a series of transformative exhibits, new public amenities, and enhanced public spaces. These projects are being completed in a six-year, multi-phase plan across the Zoo’s 55-acre site. South America’s Pantanal exhibit, a habitat where visitors can explore the tropical wetlands of Brazil right here at the Houston Zoo, opened in 2020. The largest initiative in the campaign, opening in the fall of 2022, is the Galpagos Islands.

Houston Botanic Garden – The new Houston Botanic Garden, located on Park Place Boulevard just minutes from Downtown, was inaugurated on September 18, 2020. The Houston Botanic Garden features a collection of themed gardens including Global, Culinary, Stormwater Wetlands and the Coastal Prairie. Each garden provides a unique opportunity for visitors to explore hundreds of species related to a specific environment.

SEISMIQUE – The 40,000-square-feet art-fueled experiential museum, opened December of 2020, is built to capture dazzling displays of light generated by nine million LEDs, colour, sound, and natural elements.  The first-to-market arts and entertainment space features works by over two dozen established and emerging artists – many of whom are Texas-based.

Around Houston

To increase the visitor experiences, Visit Houston is working with 15 regional partners of the program Around Houston. Discover the history, ranching, nature trails, deep-sea fishing and much more around Houston. It includes historic sites like the San Jacinto Monument, Bishop’s Palace and Spindletop, or plan a family trip to attractions like the Kemah Boardwalk and the Pirates Bay Waterpark. Travelers looking for a Texas ranch experience have options to choose Cowboy Solution in Conroe, Horseback Trail Raiders in Beaumont or even Horse & Pony Rides in Galveston Island. Enjoy water fun on the coastline beaches of Galveston, the surf-friendly waves in the Brazosport area and all of the fun activities available at Lake Conroe.

About Houston

Houston, with more than seven million residents in its Metro area, is one of the most diverse cities in the United States.  The city is home to an amazing museum district with 18 museums and the Houston Zoo, Space Center Houston, award-winning performing arts groups, professional sports teams and a vast offering of international cuisine..

More information on Houston’s attractions, events, hotels, restaurants and to find everything you need to plan your next visit is available at: VisitHouston.com.