The Most Beautiful Parks In Houston Texas

There are vast, beautiful parks all over Houston. There’s a park for everything, from bat watching, to gardens, to historical architecture. Here are the top five parks to visit during your next trip to Houston, Texas.

Sam Houston Park

Sam Houston is downtown Houston’s park. It’s close to the buildings that shape the city’s beloved skyline, but distant enough so it feels like you’ve arrived somewhere else. Part of this effect is due to its wonderfully restored buildings, which make the park feel like an architectural encyclopedia of Houston. There’s the Kellum-Noble House, which is the city’s oldest surviving edification, and the site for Houston’s first zoo. The Old Place is a recreation of the cabins that Texas’ initial settlers would have lived in, while St. John’s Church shows the city’s German and Swiss influences. Photography and history buffs will appreciate the park’s tranquility and educational opportunities.

Address & telephone number: 1100 Bagby Street, Houston, TX +1 713 655 1912

Buffalo Bayou Park

Into bats? Come check out Houston’s largest bat colony at Buffalo Bayou, a park known for its interesting and diverse wildlife. Groups meet at the riverbanks near Waugh Bridge at sunset to witness impressive flights of more than 200,000 bats, or you can choose to take a boat that goes right under the bridge. The park also features a skate park, many bridges, fountains, and biking and jogging trails that run alongside the bayou for miles. This extension, coupled with the sloping terrain of the park, provide some of the most beautiful views of the downtown Houston skyline. Watch out for interesting art pieces that show up around the grounds.

Address & telephone number: 1800-3600 Allen Parkway/Memorial Drive, Houston, TX +1 832 395 7000

Memorial Park

If you’ve ever come across a multitude of runners while driving through Houston, then you’ve probably driven past Memorial Park. Put this park on your weekend activity list if you’re into running, but know that’s not the only activity this park offers. There are amenities for pretty much every sport: croquet, golf, swimming, sand volleyball, flag football, mountain biking, and even costumed medieval fighting teams meet here. Picnic tables are available for rent all year long. The park is currently attempting to catalogue and conserve the area’s ecological diversity, an effort that you can take part in by downloading the iNaturalist app and watching out for fun critters.

Address and telephone number: 6501 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX +1 713 863 8403

Mason Park

Mason Park is a great community park with many useful amenities. Baseball and football fields, six tennis courts, a swimming pool and a disc golf course make this park a favorite for active Houstonians, while those who are out for a stroll will enjoy the views of Brays Bayou, which runs straight through the park. The bayou is also the site of a flood control project composed of wetlands and ponds devised to hold back storm water and prevent property damage to the surrounding areas. A community center offers after-school activity programs, a gym, classes and meeting space for events.

Address & telephone number: 541 South 75th Street, Houston, TX +1 713 928 7055

Hermann Park

This park has what is possibly the most recognized statue in the city – the Sam Houston monument. Hermann Park has a wealth of attractions spread over 400 acres of land, so there’s something for everyone. There are many gardens that make up the McGovern Centennial Gardens, eight acres of custom-made gardens in different styles. The Japanese Gardens are a local favorite for relaxing afternoons, while the Arid Garden offers an interesting look into desert flora. The park has a historic railroad, which you can ride all day for $7. Paddleboat and bike rentals are available as well. Watch out for interesting animals like nutrias swimming in McGovern Lake and blue jays singing in the trees.

Address & telephone number: 6201 Hermann Park Drive, 713 524 5876

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.