Houston off the Beaten Path
Houston, the biggest city in the South, is a great destination for a quick getaway or a long family vacation for a number of reasons. It’s close to the coast, making a beach getaway easy. It has several major sports teams you can cheer on when in season (the Houston Texans, the Houston Rockets and the Houston Astros, to name a few). It as a plethora of museums and universities and exciting tourist attractions that make it a great destination at any point during the year.
The saying in Texas may be “Keep Austin Weird,” but do you know about Houston’s weird side? About the sites and destinations within this metro area that will take you off the beaten path and let you experience Houston in a whole new way? If you are looking for sites and activities that will enable you to experience Houston like never before, add this quirky destinations to your Things to Do in Houston list.
Five quirky spots for all ages in Houston
- Art Car Museum– Not to over simplify things, but the Art Car Museum is exactly what it sounds like- art on cars! The museum is free to visit and quirkily dubbed the “Garage Mahal” because of all of the cars and interesting art you can study within. The museum features vehicles of all types that can cart humans and other cargo from point a to point b and is simply a fun spot to visit and enjoy art that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
- The Beer Can House– Located at 222 Malone Street, the Beer Can House was initially transformed in the late 1960s by owner (and beer enthusiast) John Milkovisch. It is estimated that the house encompasses more than 50,000 flattened beer cans that double as décor around the property. Today it is one of the most recognized folk art pieces in Houston and a neat spot to visit and take photos during your trip.
- The Orange Show Monument- Another funky folk art destination in Houston is The Orange Show Monument, a 3,000 square foot maze of art that was constructed by a single man, a Houston postal worker, between 1956 and 1979 and named after his favorite fruit. Located in Houston’s East End, it costs only $5 per person to visit this eclectic spot and marvel at the treasures lost and found within.
- The National Museum of Funeral History– Slightly macabre? Yep! Slightly fascinating? Maybe… Pay homage to final send-offs at this one-of-a-kind museum. Learn about the funerals of many different people from around the world, let your eyes roam over all types and styles of hearses through the years and marvel at the full-scale replica of Abraham Lincoln lying the repose, complete with a lock of his hair. This place is maybe not for the faint of heart!
- The Big Bubble– Have you ever stumbled upon an obscure button in a place you least expected it, and you needed to use every ounce of willpower you possess to not press the button? Well, at The Big Bubble, you don’t have to practice your self-restraint! At Houston’s Preston Street Bridge, you’ll come across an unmarked red button. Go ahead, press it. The button releases oxygen under the water the bridge passes over and makes the bayou below the bridge bubble. The point of the bubbling is to keep the air around the water from becoming too smelly from stagnation. The gas bubbles release regularly throughout the day to keep the bayou from stagnating, but curious tourists can press the button, too, for more frequent bubbling that is actually good for everyone! Go hog will with pressing this obscure red button.
Houston lodging
After you finish checking out Houston’s quirkier side for the day, you’ll want a great place to rest up for more adventures. Summer Breeze USA RV Resort is the premiere destination in Houston for comfortable lodging and endless fun for all sizes of travel groups. The on-site waterpark means you have fun for the kids at your fingertips and the new pickleball courts encourage friendly competition for all ages. You’ll love the jumping pillow for kids and the new horseshoe games for adults, as well as all of the amenities provided at this fantastic Houston-area RV resort. Book at Summer Breeze today before they fill up for the summer season!
