AQU A TIC Life
MOODY GARDENS The 1.5-million-gallon aquarium in the Aquarium Pyramid explores ocean life. See penguins, seals, stingrays and sharks. Visitors can participate in seal and penguin experiences.
www.moodygardens.com
DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM HOUSTON
The Houston complex is home to 200 species of aquatic life from around the world. Exhibits feature the Louisiana swamp, a shipwreck, sunken temple and more. The Kemah location has a 50,000-gallon tank. Both locations have a stingray reef where visitors can touch live stingrays.
www.aquariumrestaurants.com
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND DOLPHIN AND NATURE RESEARCH CENTER
The aquariums showcase marine animals native to the area, including starfish, crabs and octopus. Touch tanks and dolphin tours are available. 956/299-1957.
www.spinaturecenter.com
SEA CENTER TEXAS This marine aquarium, fish hatchery and nature center—operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Lake Jackson—has a touch tank and aquariums depicting native Texas hab- itats.
www.tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/ visitorcenters/seacenter
SEA TURTLE INC. On South Padre Island, visitors will find tanks of adorable, recuperating sea turtles, part of the organization’s mis- sion to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured sea turtles. The facility also seeks to educate the public about sea turtles and offers “Turtle Talks.”
www.seaturtleinc.org
TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM This aquarium’s mission is “to connect people with nature and inspire conser- vation of the Gulf of Mexico.” Daily presentations let visitors watch train- ers work with the animals. The facility has touch pools that allow visitors to interact with sea creatures.
www.texasstateaquarium.org
46 The Texas coast offers some of the best birding opportunities in the United States. ★
TOUCHDOWN IN HOUSTON Te largest city along the Gulf Coast—
Houston—also is the fourth-largest city in the nation. Tis cosmopolitan destination has world-class restaurants, museums, theaters, sporting events, shopping and nightlife. With so much to do, a week in Houston isn’t long enough to experience everything. Te 17-block theater district is home to
nine renowned performing arts organiza- tions (including Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, Alley Teatre and the Society for the Performing Arts) plus a few smaller ones that perform in four venues. Travelers can see what musicals, family shows, comedy, concerts, dance or bal- let, or classical and opera performances will be taking place during their visit or plan a trip around a specific show. Just a short walk from each theater, visitors will find a variety of restaurants for a bite to eat. Te Houston Museum District comprises
20 museums within a 1.5-mile radius of the Mecom Fountain. Te district’s Museum Ex- perience groups the facilities into four walk- able zones and showcases a different one each quarter. Zone 1 features the area around Te Menil Collection, Zone 2 highlights cultural museums and Zone 3 highlights the Jung Center and arts museums. Zone 4 (Children’s Museum of Houston, Te Health Museum,
Houston Museum of Natural Science, Hous- ton Zoo and Rice University Art Gallery) is a great area for families to explore. As a port city, Houston also has opportu-
nities to get out on the water. An interesting option is the free 90-minute Sam Houston Boat Tour (reservations required) that leaves from the Port of Houston Sam Houston Pa- vilion. Te M/V Sam Houston cruises along the Houston Ship Channel providing infor- mation about the port and giving passengers a view of operations at the Turning Basin Terminal. Back inland, Space Center Houston is one
of the most popular area destinations. As the official visitors center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston tells the story of NASA’s manned space-flight pro- gram and provides visitors an opportunity to watch astronauts train for missions, see what it would be like to live at the International Space Station and feel the sensation of a blast off into the atmosphere. Te facility provides an out-of-this-world experience. Tose who aren’t sure where to start might
consider picking up a Houston CityPass. Te CityPass gives a discounted admission to five must-see attractions—Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo or Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Kemah Boardwalk, or Te Children’s Museum of Houston.
PHOTOS ON THIS SPREAD: WILL VAN OVERBEEK/TXDOT
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