Things to do in Center

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston is located in Houston, Texas, USA, and is the official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center. From the Apollo moon landings to the Space Shuttle era, most American crewed spacecraft launched from Florida, while flight control after liftoff came primarily from the adjacent Johnson Space Center: after the Apollo 11 lunar module landed on the Moon in 1969, the phrase transmitted back to the ground, "Houston, Tranquility Base here," was calling precisely the control team here; the film Apollo 13 made "Houston, we have a problem" a popular catchphrase, and its prototype was also a real space emergency handled by the Houston ground team. Most of the highlights in the museum are real objects that have "been to space": Starship Gallery displays the Apollo 17 command module that carried out a lunar landing mission, the return capsules from the Mercury and Gemini programs, the training module astronauts used to prepare for the Skylab space station, and a moon rock you can touch with your own hands—only a handful of moon rocks worldwide are available for the public to touch; the spacesuit exhibition area brings together a large number of actual flight suits and extravehicular suits that were worn, including the lunar suit Pete Conrad wore while walking on the moon during Apollo 12. Outdoors, Independence Plaza stacks the real Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft and the space shuttle replica Independence one above the other, and visitors can go inside both; beside it lies a Falcon 9 rocket booster that flew a cargo mission to the International Space Station. The signature experience is the NASA tram tour, with multiple routes leading to different areas of Johnson Space Center: you can overlook full-scale spacecraft and space station mockups from the elevated walkway at the astronaut training facility, visit the historic mission control room restored to its Apollo-era appearance where the moon landing was commanded, and get a close look at the Saturn V giant rocket—over 100 m long and displayed horizontally—in Rocket Park; only a handful of complete Saturn V rockets survive worldwide. Allow most of a day for the visit; tram departure time slots are limited and spots on popular routes are tight, and queues are common at Independence Plaza during peak boarding hours, so it is best to make arrangements early after entering. The exhibit where you can touch a moon rock is inside Starship Gallery and is easy to miss inadvertently; meeting astronauts and hearing them recount their space experiences is a long-standing signature activity here, so keep an eye on the day's time slot schedule.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Houston

Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HoustonMuseumofNaturalScience) is the largest museum in Houston. It is located in the northeast corner of Herman Park, next to the bronze statue of SamHouston and the fountain at the intersection of Main Street and Montrose. The themes of the museum shine, such as the Tsar's treasure and Afghan gold, where dinosaurs, fossils, jewelry, minerals, chemicals and tactile samples are permanent exhibits. The "Cockrell Butterfly Center" inside is a three-story circular building. Here, you can see thousands of live specimens of butterflies.

Windham Civic Center

Center Country Club

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex

Reunion Tower

Reunion Tower is located in downtown Dallas, USA, standing as an iconic landmark at 156 meters tall with 360-degree panoramic views. Visitors can take a high-speed elevator directly to the observation deck to overlook the cityscape of Dallas, experiencing both its vibrant energy and serene charm. Inside Reunion Tower, interactive exhibition areas showcase Dallas's history, culture, and urban development through multimedia technology. Additionally, the tower regularly hosts cultural events such as concerts and art exhibitions, offering visitors a rich cultural experience. At night, the tower's dazzling light show is a must-see, with colorful lights harmonizing against the city's nightscape, creating a romantic and enchanting atmosphere.

Center First Pentecostal Church

Perry Sampson Park

Fannie Brown Booth Memorial

Hawkeye Hunting Club

Hermann Park

Hermann Parkcovers a vast area and has become an urban oasis that integrates natural views, leisure, entertainment, and cultural facilities. Upon entering the main entrance area at the north end of the park, the first thing you see is the famous Sam Houston equestrian statue. The towering statue complements the surrounding open lawns, making it not only an important park landmark but also a popular spot for visitors to take photos. Extending from here into the park, you can feel its spacious and comfortable layout. This long, narrow pool is surrounded by trees, and its calm surface reflects the sky, buildings, and surrounding views, creating a quiet and elegant atmosphere. The paths along the pool are spacious and flat, making them perfect for walking, jogging, or casual photography. Visitors can rent pedal boats to leisurely cruise the lake and enjoy the surrounding views from the water.