We have recently visited Costa Rica. Our flights involved some lengthy stopovers in the US while awaiting connecting flights. On our outward journey we spent 5 hours in Houston, Texas. Unfortunately, this wasn’t quite long enough for us to leave the airport and explore. I wish it had been, because there’s a few things I’d really like to see there! Places like these …
Space Center Houston
Think Houston and you think about space, and the famous Control Centre … “This is Houston, do you read me?” The Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, also known by its radio call sign, Houston, is that very facility at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Space Center is open 10-5pm every day and 9-5pm every weekend. Tickets are $29.95 for adults and $24.95 for children. And for $69.95 you can have lunch with an astronaut! There are lots of things to see, including the space shuttle, a tour of mission control, tours of the training center and even special VIP tours.
The Space Center always has special exhibitions such as its Mars, shuttle, Apollo, Mercury and Gemini exhibits. It needs to be on any ‘must do’ list when visiting Houston. There is also a tram tour if you get tired of walking.
Houston Zoo
Houston Zoo is a 55-acre zoological park located within Hermann Park in Houston, Texas. The zoo shows over 6,000 animals from 900 species. The zoo is huge with all the expected animals such as tigers, lions, Asian elephants and bears. There are several areas of note including the wetlands area, the African forest and the children’s zoo. There are piranhas, ocelots, and giraffe feeding. Open every day – it is a must visit attraction.
Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Cockrell Butterfly Center
The Cockrell Butterfly Center and Brown Hall of Entomology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science provides a range of entertainment and education for the whole family. At the Butterfly Center you can walk through a huge living butterfly habitat and take in the whole scene. The environment is a glass-enclosed butterfly habitat and this is amazing as it includes a simulated rainforest with hundreds of exotic plants and thousands of colourful butterflies. There is also a dramatic 50-foot waterfall.
If that is not enough the Natural Science Museum has the largest dinosaur hall in North America!
Downtown Aquarium
In Houston, the Downtown Aquarium is advertised as ‘An Underwater Adventure’. The Adventure includes the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit, Stingray Reef and unlimited amusement rides. The Aquarium Exhibit has eight exciting areas including the Louisiana Swamp, an underwater Shipwreck, Tropical Rainforest, Sunken Temple, an offshore rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the Education Room and the Maharaja’s Temple.
Stingray Reef is an area where the visitors can touch and feed live stingrays. The rides include the Shark Voyage, a train ride through the center of a 200,000-gallon shark tank. There is a Diving Bell Ferris Wheel Ride, which is a 100 ft big wheel ride. The Aquatic Carousel Ride is an aquatic-themed carousel. A Lighthouse Dive Tower is a 65-feet drop ride. Finally, there are the Frog Hopper Ride and the mini ferris wheel called Aqua Wheel Ride.
Children’s Museum of Houston
The Children’s Museum of Houston is a fabulous institution. It has lots of exhibits for kids, both big and small. There are invention and ‘how does it work’ workshops, and eco exhibits, soft play areas, ‘constructioneering’ courses, kidtropolis (kid’s jobs and work), flow area (water area). In effect, whatever children like to do to learn and have fun at they can do here. There are spy games, exploration areas and maker areas. There are also ‘tot spot’ game play areas for the younger children. The ‘Fresh café’ offers nutritious food all day.
The Chocolate Bar
The Chocolate Bar is an ice-cream and chocolate shop that was founded in Houston about twenty years ago. It provides the city with wonderful handmade chocolates, and scrumptious ice cream and baked goods unique to the city. The Chocolate Bar is Houston’s chocoholics paradise. Even if you do have dietary restrictions, the Chocolate Bar will have something delicious for you to enjoy.
Travelling to the US
We recently landed in the US on route to Costa Rica. It’s important to realise that there’s no such thing as being ‘in transit’ when travelling through the US. If your plane lands at a US airport, you will have to go through US immigration before moving to your next departure gate for your onward journey.
Every UK passport holder needs an ESTA before they can be accepted into the US. This Electronic System for Travel Authorization determines the eligibility of visitors to pass into the US under the Visa Waiver Program; it is used to check whether the individual poses any law enforcement or security risk. Applying for the ESTA visa is easy. It is inexpensive and is valid for two years. But you must arrange one – else you’ll be on the next plane back to the UK.
Leave a comment