The acclaimed Houston Ballet, the world's fourth largest dance company, offers lavish productions, also at the Wortham. The Houston Symphony, performing at Jones Hall, has emerged as a world-class orchestra. The Alley Theatre, which began in an alley in 1947, performs in an award-winning, postmodernist structure housing two stages. Visitors can view spacecraft, including Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules, try on space helmets, touch a moon rock and participate in demonstrations of how astronauts function in space. Plan to spend at least five hours viewing the huge display of space-flight hardware and astronaut memorabilia.
Chow time is just about anytime in Houston, and the choices are mind-boggling.
Options include everything from South Texas antelope with dried cherries at Cafe Annie, to a huge salad bar and rotisserie-grilled meats carved tableside by waiters dressed as Brazilian gauchos at Rodizio Grill. San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Park Complex - Head east from downtown for about 20 miles to the actual spot where Texas gained its independence from Mexico. This complex houses the towering San Jacinto Monument, the San Jacinto Museum of History and the battleship Texas , commissioned in 1914 and the only ship to see action in both World Wars. George Ranch Historical Park - Texas history is interpreted through 100 years of a family's ranch life. The Galleria - One of the city's most popular visitor attractions, the mall is a wonderland of more than 300 shops and restaurants.