Houston Layover Tips For Flight Attendants | WOC
During the day, chill out in your flip-flops, take in museums and go shopping, then hit happy hour on a leaf-shaded deck. At night, revel in culinary or cultural bliss – the restaurant and entertainment scene are renowned across the region. Here starched jeans are de rigeur in all. Where residents of other cities talk about the weather, Houstonians talk about parking. Wealth from oil and energy companies supports luxurious shopping enclaves but you can also enjoy downhome fun, although don’t underestimate the sauna-like summers.
What to do in Houston for 24h to 48h?
Places of Interest
Take a Tour at Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is a must-see attraction in Houston. This is a huge complex, where you can walk through the space shuttle replica Independence and the enormous shuttle carrier aircraft it’s mounted on. In the visitor center, you can wander inside a replica of America’s first space station, Skylab, and touch a rock from the moon. If you are here on a Friday, you can even meet an astronaut when they do presentations at 11:00am and 1:00pm.
Stroll through the Museum District
The Museum District is one of Houston’s greatest cultural attractions, with 19 museums residing in this beautiful area. Eleven of these are free to the public. Some of the highlights include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Children’s Museum, the Menil Collection, the Holocaust Museum, and the Contemporary Arts Museum, to name just a few. Also in this area is the lovely Hermann Park, with the Houston Zoo and the Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Visit the Houston Zoo
Set on 55 acres in Hermann Park, the zoo is home to more than 6,000 exotic and indigenous animals and contains an education center and children’s zoo. Some of the highlights include feeding the giraffes, seeing marine life up close in the aquarium, and watching sea lions and otters frolicking about.
Experience the Tastes of Houston on a Culinary Tour
Houston’s cuisine is one of the city’s true highlights, with possibilities that range from traditional southern dishes to Latin American, Asian, Mexican, and countless other cultural specialties. Chefs in Houston have put the city on the culinary map of America, and dining in this city is a treat. One way to taste some of the best that Houston has to offer is on a culinary tour. Both walking food tours and chef-led culinary tours are available, although they do not run daily, and it’s advisable to book in advance.
Walk, Bike or Paddle through Buffalo Bayou Park
One of Houston’s natural gems, Buffalo Bayou Park is a beautiful 160-acre green space running through the city, with the slow moving waters of Buffalo Bayou as its centerpiece. This urban park is home to walking and biking trails, a dog park, sculptures, and plenty of shady areas to relax. If you want to get active and enjoy some of the great outdoors from the water, rent a kayak, canoe, or stand up paddleboard and enjoy a paddle along the bayou. Rentals are available at the park, and various tours are offered, ranging from one to three hours in length.
Explore Houston’s Street Art
While it is often overlooked by tourists, Houston’s street art, or what many people know as graffiti, is outstanding, with installations by some of the top names in street art throughout the US and around the world, including COPE2 and Houston’s own Gonzo247. These colorful murals adorn the walls of establishments in various locations throughout the city and are well worth taking the time to drive around and see.
Attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Houston’s biggest annual event, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, is a fun-filled, 19-day event that brings the whole city out to celebrate in February or March. If you are going to be here during this time, you are in luck!
Experience the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
The Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park showcases an impressive multi-story sculptural fountain that sees sheets of water cascading over large concrete walls and sculptures.
Where to Eat ?
Aladdin’s Mediterranean Cuisine
An ideal spot for lunch, the buffet at Aladdin’s is piled high with healthy fare and plenty of seating in which to enjoy it. Keep it healthy with plenty of hummus, fresh salads, and tabbouleh, and wash it all down with a freshly-pressed juice at the counter.
B & B Butchers
This steakhouse is obsessed with dry-aged meats, and the results are delicious. Treat yourself to a flight of lamb, pork, and beef bacon before splitting the massive Gearhart Ranch wagyu cowboy cut steak with your dinner date, or splurge on the restaurant’s certified authentic Kobe beef — it’s one of only nine restaurants in the country to boast such credentials.
Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
This Houston institution is known for its kifto (ground beef tossed with a spicy, buttery sauce) and other authentic Ethiopian dishes. Grab a freshly-made injera to scoop up the savory sauces here, and save room for a glass of tej, a sweet honey-based wine made in-house.
Where to Shop?
The Galleria
Multi-taskers and shopaholics rejoice in the glory of the Galleria and its 375-plus stores and grand ice rink, flanked by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Macy’s.
Uptown Park
Snag a space in front of your favorite hot spot and walk anywhere you want to go in this convenient arrangement of boutiques, restaurants, spas and wine and sports bars.
Houston Premium Outlets
One of the newest additions to the city’s retail spectrum is a designer discount haven in the Cypress suburb, just off Highway 290. Minutes outside of Houston, 120 big-name outlet stores await. Highlights include Burberry, Brooks Brothers, Harry & David, Michael Kors, Johnston & Murphy, Waterford and Puma.
Shop the Vintage Stores on 19th Street in The Heights
For vintage clothing, retro décor, and old collectibles, 19th Street in The Heights is the place to go. This funky area has all kinds of quirky shops selling everything from evening gowns to casual clothing, as well as jewelry, footwear, household gadgets, and all kinds of unique items.
Spa’s in Houston
Fiori
The free-standing Tuscan-inspired villa was built by spa owners to capture the esthetic charm and tranquility of the Italian countryside. Fourteen treatment rooms for massages and facials are complemented by an underground grotto where dips in the mineral pool and whirlpool are truly other-worldly.
Mokara Spa
Another hotel spa pleasantly removed from the check-in/check-out cacophony is Mokara, a sleek and sophisticated oasis in the hotel’s new wing. A serene Asian vibe, thanks in part to the satiny bamboo flooring throughout, permeates the 7,000 square foot retreat. Whirlpools, saunas and meditation lounge are among the soothing options.
Flight Attendants Discounts in US
World Of Crew gets you a few awesome deals only for cabin crews in US. Have a look into these and let us know if you manage to visit them during your layover!
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Any Cool Experience to share in Houston?
How was your layover in Houston? Did you discover any new places? If so, please do share these useful tips with your fellow cabin crew, by commenting below!
Have a great layover !