10 Things to Do in Houston When it Rains
What to Do on a Rainy Day in Houston
Rainy days in Houston aren’t that common, but when they happen, there’s still plenty you can enjoy, like science and art museums, indoor skydiving, outer space adventures, and animal experiences.
When you’ve planned your entire vacation around great weather and the weather decides not to cooperate, you need to quickly revise your plans. The good news is, that’s easy in Houston because the city is home to an abundance of indoor fun and adventure. Check out some of the best things to do in Houston when the weather isn’t on your side.
1. Museum of Fine Arts
Explore 6,000 years of history, art, and culture
Good for: Couples, Families, History
The Museum of Fine Arts offers collections covering more than 6,000 years and encompassing over 64,000 artworks from all over the world. The exhibits highlight some of the most notable fine artists from throughout history spread among one of the largest and most important fine arts museums in Texas. Among the collections here, you’ll find Memling’s “Portrait of an Old Woman,” Gleizes’ “La Femme aux Phlox,” Monet’s “Water Lilies,” and a vast collection of Roman sculptures.
The artwork here covers a variety of styles, from classic to Romanesque to abstract, modern art, and others. You’ll see drawings, paintings, sculptures, carvings, and multimedia pieces. It’s a family-friendly attraction in the heart of downtown Houston. Read more
Location: 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, USA
Open: Wednesday–Thursday from 11 am to 5 pm, Friday–Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 12.30 pm to 6 pm (closed Monday–Tuesday)
Museum of Fine Arts
2. Houston Museum of Natural Science
Visit space, ancient cultures, and dinosaurs
Good for: Couples, Families, History
The Houston Museum of Natural Science offers gemstones, a planetarium, artifacts covering millions of years of history, a live butterfly dome, and, of course, dinosaurs. Here, you can view exhibits covering the entire history of the world, including archeological exhibitions outlining the way ancient peoples lived in societies from every continent. You can see gigantic prehistoric animals towering over you, as well as art and paintings from many cultures.
The museum features both permanent and special rotating exhibitions and offers thousands of photos, artifacts, and sights. The butterfly dome is filled with live, colorful butterflies fluttering around and is a great way to end your day here. The museum is in the heart of downtown Houston. Read more
Location: 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Open: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm
Houston Museum of Natural Science
3. K1 Speed
Rocket around the track at 45 mph
Good for: Couples, Families, Adventure, Unusual
K1 Speed lets you race your family and friends around an indoor track at breakneck speeds and enjoy great food, tons of fun, and memories to match. If you think go-karting is only for the outdoors, think again. At K1, you can strap into a go-kart with a 20-horsepower electric motor that’s capable of racing at speeds up to 45 mph.
The venue is family friendly and also offers meeting rooms you can book for special events and birthday parties with free Wi-Fi, projector screens, and HD televisions so you can have all the entertainment you like between races. If you’ve never raced before, they even offer 1-on-1 lessons. It’s all just 17 minutes northwest of downtown.
Location: 14900 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77040, USA
Open: Monday–Thursday from noon to 10 pm, Friday from noon to midnight, Saturday from 10 am to midnight, Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm
K1 Speed
4. Children’s Museum
Get hands-on with science and technology
Good for: Families, History, Adventure
The Children’s Museum is dedicated to early child development in the community and offers hundreds of hands-on exhibits that are every bit as fun as they are educational. The museum is located in the heart of downtown Houston and is a fantastic place for kids and adults alike to explore an entire world of science, technology, history, and culture.
Many of the exhibits are interactive and hands-on, and kids will learn all about everything from robotics and computers to arts and culture. They can take part in workshops and explore an entire world of development, learning how science and technology have influenced us as a species and a culture.
Location: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm (closed Sunday–Monday)
Children’s Museum
5. iFLY
Go skydiving without a plane
Good for: Couples, Families, Adventure, Unusual
iFLY offers the opportunity to explore what it’s like to go skydiving in a completely safe and secure indoor environment. If you’ve always wondered what skydiving was like, but the idea of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane seems problematic to you, this is the way to do it. You’ll gear up with high-tech equipment and simply float through the air in a wind tunnel that simulates exactly what skydiving is like—without the danger.
If you’re looking to get your outdoor adventure on, but it’s raining and you have to stay under the roof, iFLY may well be a great way to go. It’s located just about 15 minutes west of downtown Houston.
Location: 9540 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77055, USA
Open: Tuesday–Thursday from noon to 7 pm, Friday–Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays)
iFLY
6. Space Center Houston
See a real space shuttle up close
Good for: Couples, Families, History
Space Center Houston is arguably the city’s most iconic attraction, offering over 400 artifacts and historic exhibits related to space programs in the U.S. and all over the world. The exhibits range from a vast collection of permanent artifacts to constantly shifting rotating exhibits. When you come here, you’ll learn about how the space program developed and evolved, how it works, and everything from the first orbiting astronauts to current International Space Station missions.
On a trip here, you can take a tour of the mission control room and even get up close to real rockets and a space shuttle. It’s a stunning experience for the whole family, and it’s located about a half-hour south of downtown. Read more
Location: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Space Center Houston
7. The Galleria
Explore 400 shops, restaurants, and services
Good for: Couples, Families, Shoppers, Food
The Galleria is a mega-mall that’s among the largest in the United States and boasts more than 400 shops and stores as well as restaurants, entertainment, and an ice-skating rink. It’s easy to spend a whole day here rediscovering why people once loved to crowd shopping malls. You can explore smaller shops and your favorite big brands, from high-end boutiques to mid-range outlets.
Shopping can be a great option for a rainy day, and this mall offers plenty to do between stores, like a vast food court and even sit-down restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory and Chili’s. It’s easy to get to, as it’s just about 15 minutes west of downtown by car. Read more
Location: 5085 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056, USA
Open: Monday–Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Friday–Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm
The Galleria
8. Houston Grand Opera
Take in a classic opera with free lectures
Good for: Couples, Families, Nightlife
The Houston Grand Opera is a traditional opera house offering full performances with lavish stage productions and even Opera Insights lectures before each show. Pre-performance meals, snacks, and desserts are offered at the Wortham Theater Center Grand Foyer and the Encore Café. You can even preorder your intermission food before the show and just pick it up with no wait.
In addition to the preshow Opera Insights lectures, every Series B subscription matinee performance is followed by a Behind the Music conversation about the show, featuring cast and creative team guests.</p
Location: 510 Preston St UNIT 1504, Houston, TX 77002, USA
Houston Grand Opera
9. Brewery tour
Find your new favorite craft brew
Good for: Food, Nightlife, Adventure, Unusual
A brewery tour in Houston allows you to visit all of the latest and greatest craft breweries across the city, often including samples and a look behind the scenes. Houston has a thriving craft beer scene with a history that stretches back hundreds of years, and many different companies offer tours that let you explore the scene and discover your next favorite beer.
The tours can begin in the heart of downtown but may extend to surrounding communities, so it’s best to plan a full day of exploration. Whether you’re into stouts, lagers, IPAs, porters, pilsners, bocks, or any other type of beer, you’re sure to have a great time viewing the brewing process and sampling new flavors.
10. Downtown Aquarium
See sharks, rays, and exotic sea life
Good for: Couples, Families, Food
The Downtown Aquarium, with more than 200 species of exotic aquatic animals over 6 acres of land, lets you have an animal experience even in the rain. This experience is like an underwater wonderland where you get to explore an entirely alien world. Inside, you can also ride thrill rides like the Frog Hopper and Shark Voyage, go shopping in the gift shops, and even grab lunch at a full-service restaurant and bar.
It’s easy to spend an entire day here learning about underwater life all over the world and enjoying hours’ worth of entertainment on a rainy day in Houston. It’s located in the heart of downtown, so you won’t even have to go far.
Location: 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 9 pm
Downtown Aquarium
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