Houston Travel Guide

Houston, Texas. The city where Beyonce is from, where Lizzo grew up, where a majority of BROCKHAMPTON is from, where Travis Scott is from and had a music festival here, and the 4th largest city in the US based on population. I have lived here for over 10 years, making me a local, which means that I have all of the insider information for your trip to Houston.

Maybe you live in Houston just like me and need some recommendations, maybe you're in Houston for a business trip, or maybe you are actually interested in Houston and want to visit this lovely city. Here are some recommendations for some places to check out :)

What to see:

Go see an old (or new) movie at the retro River Oaks Movie Theater:

2009 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019

Located in the middle of a pretty chill shopping center, this movie theater shows movies that are new and old! It has a retro ambiance that gets you excited to see the movie. The place is rather small, and depending on what movie you are seeing, it is usually quiet. This place also has a pretty sweet snack shop and a bar for those who can legally drink. Be sure to take pictures in front of the iconic neon sign!

McGovern Centennial Gardens:

In the heart of the museum district, the McGovern Centennial Gardens are a great place to go on a run, have a picnic, and stop by while exploring Houston. There is a huge hill with a water fountain that you can walk up and get a great view of all of the gardens. It is a great place for kids to run around and let out their energy while moms go take pictures in the rose garden. Speaking of the rose garden, this place is beautiful in the spring with blooming rose arches over your head. 

Montrose Area and Murals:

Montrose is an area in Houston near downtown that has lots of restaurants, cafes, thrift shops, and boutiques that makes the artist's heart soar. This is one of the
few areas in Houston where there are murals and art EVERYWHERE. Lots of places to take pictures and lots of parks to hang out and run around with friends, pets, or kids. Some of the houses in the area are also really cool because they were recently remodeled and have beautiful gardens.

Check out the Museums in the Museum District:

Seeing different museums in different cities makes you admire them in different ways. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) has had several incredible
exhibits recently, including a collection of Oscar De La Renta's dresses, The
Royal Portraits of the British Royal Family, and most recently a Vincent Van Gogh Exhibit that was BEAUTIFUL! Even if you don't want to see an exhibit, the museum has fun permanent collections that are amazing to see. The Natural Science museum has a Butterfly room where you can stand in the middle of a greenhouse and marvel at all of the butterflies around you. 

Where to eat:

Lua Viet

1540 W Alabama St #300, Houston, TX 77006

Houston is home to a diverse population from around the world. This means that we definitely have some of the best food in the country (I am willing to have a 5+ hour debate on that) I love me some Vietnamese food and this is one of my
favorite places. Literally, anything you order is Instagram worthy and you will drool over it. The inside of the restaurant is filled with natural and unique lighting that makes you want to stay in the cozy glow for the whole day while slurping up rice noodles :)

Bebidas

2606 Edloe St, Houston, TX 77027

I recommend this place to start off your day. This is a cute little cafe that has wonderful outside seating where you can enjoy your cup of coffee in the
morning. They also offer yummy juices and smoothies if you are on a caffeine detox, or if you just prefer some fresh drinks in the morning! The interior of this cafe is small, but it is filled with flowers and it is so aesthetically pleasing that I was shocked when I walked in. Bebidas also hosts a lot of events that you can visit, food trucks come and it is just one big party!

The Orginal Lupe Tortilla

318 Stafford St, Houston, TX 77079

Lupe Tortilla is a Mexican restaurant chain around Houston, but the ORIGINAL Lupes is the best. It is still owned by the same family and is still in the original house, plus they use the same recipes that are delish. There are plenty of good
Mexican restaurants around town, but I recommend this place for the food and the low light surroundings. I think its kinda cool that they kept the same framework of the original house that it started in. In addition, they have a huge sandbox pit that kids are more than welcome to go play in while family members catch up.

Fellini's 

794 Sorella Ct, Houston, TX 77024

Need an afternoon coffee break, or a sweet treat? I recommend Fellini's an Italian cafe that has delicious gelato and pastries that are always a joy to try. This place is perfect for spending a nice afternoon and depending on the weather, you can sit outside or inside, whatever floats your boat. Some of the favorites that I recommend are the almond croissant, Chai Latte, and the Roasted Almond Gelato, mmmm yummy!

Milk and Sugar

1848 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098

Yes, I did include two dessert places because you can never have enough ice cream. Anyways, Milk and Sugar is a cute little establishment that has some of the most unique ice creams out there. It is not like one of those ice cream parlors where you're like "Ayo, let me get chocolate on a vanilla cone." NO! The first time I came here I was so confused yet so excited. Each of the flavors is a combination of flavors with a unique name. For example, they have one flavor called "city that never sleeps" that is a coffee-pretzel base with chocolate chunks. My personal favorite is "rain or shine", which is a combo of earl grey, lemon, and a lavender base.

Recommendations/Tips:

Plan accordingly: 

Houston is a big city, sorry. Some of the things recommended in this blog post are all in the same relative area, but if you plan on going to the Space Center and want to go somewhere in Katy or the Woodlands on the same day, you going to wear yourself out. Map out your day to make sure that the things you want to check out are in the same relative area.

Always bring an umbrella:

The weather in Texas can change every five seconds, so check your weather app and pack your trusty umbrella. Speaking of other weather changes, it is HUMID here, just warning you.

At least once in your life...

Go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It happens every March for 2-3 weeks and people travel from across the country to come and see what crazy BBQ you can try, see some live music of your favorite artist, and just have a jolly good time. So if you can't make it on your trip due to wrong timing, just keep it on your bucket list for the future ;)




Well, those are all the secrets that I am sharing today. I most definitely have more to share, just let me know if you would like a part 2 of this blog post!

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you now have some new places to check out if you are a local, or that you enjoy your trip to Houston!
love,
yo girl emilia

Follow me on Instagram: @yogirlemilia