What To Do In Houston When You're Bored

First of all, I’ve realized since becoming a Texas again, that Houstonians don’t really like leaving their homes. Most people prefer to stay in and host a bbq or invite friends over to watch a baseball game. Whereas New Yorkers like to picnic in Central Park or stroll around Soho for fun. With my personality, I just couldn’t endure staying indoors all the time with no end in sight. So I started researching activities in Houston and there is a decent amount of interesting things to do! Its not great that everything is far apart and requires a drive, but I guess that’s the price to be paid for a lower cost of living. Something I have to tell myself every week when the weekend hits and I want to leave my house and be active, but feel like there is nothing to do except go to the mall or watch a movie (typical suburban life stuff). Coming from the exciting New York City and moving back to the suburbs has been a serious adjustment for me. Instead of simply walking outside my apartment and being bombarded with so many things to do, I had to actually research online through publications and social media to discover what Houston had going on. And I discovered that there is a lot!

Houston Museum of Natural Science

I recently joined the young professionals membership at the Science Museum and I have to say, I’m pretty excited for all the discounts and events yet to come. Every summer the Museum hosts 3 young professionals events called Mixers and Elixirs and its a great way to dance the night away under the gaze of giant dinosaurs while sipping wine and snacking on food truck food. The parties usually sell out and are filled with people mingling and just plain having fun. The Museum’s Halloween party, Spirits and Skeletons, is another extremely popular event that usually maxes out as well. As for exhibits, the Museum has really stepped up its game from the normal dull exhibits I remember from childhood. My sister and I recently went to one called Art of Brick which showcased different famous art pieces and statues made from Legos.

Color Factory/ Candytopia/ Fomo Factory

Similar to other cities, Houston has been overrun by “Instagram popups” and selfie taking opportunities. Most, in my opinion, are a waste of money because they charge $20+ just to take photos in a few rooms, which aren’t always designed well either (um hello Museum of Pizza in Brooklyn…). However, Color Factory and Candytopia are actually good quality popup exhibits. I brought my little sister to Candytopia and we had fun collecting candy from all the different colorful rooms while seeing the various candy made sculptures that had been created by talented artists. Its amazing to see what thousands of Swedish Fish can make. Color Factory doubles as an educational visit because it provides knowledge on colors and how they shape our lives.

Brunch in Rice Village

Rice Village has become one of my favorite places in hang out in Houston. Not only is it located in the adorable West University neighborhood, which is filled with families and Rice University students, but its also loaded with tons of great stores and a bunch of delicious restaurants. A perfect Houston Saturday for me would include brunching and grabbing coffee at one of the hundreds of cafes and restaurants that line the streets and then walking around the neighborhood window shopping. My favorite Rice Village restaurant is Benjys- its a farm to table menu that rotates based on the reason. Benjy’s menus also have themes like Cajun or American. Currently, the menu has a Japanese fusion twist to it and the food is amazing! I also adore Coco’s Crepes (they have a variety of sweet and savory cakes and a layout great for solo dining or studying), Celebrity Cupcakes (these cupcakes are better than Sprinkles!), Purple Kow (for my bubble tea cravings of course), and the sandwhiches at Mendocino Farms (there’s a big outdoor patio perfect for eating sandwiches and people watching).

Workout Classes

One of my favorite pastimes in New York was exploring the many unique workout studios the big city had to offer. From cardio dance to hot yoga to kickboxing NYC had it all. While Houston doesn’t offer as many outstanding studios, there are still a few I’ve come to like. Working out is a great way to past the time when you have nothing to do, while keeping healthy and losing calories! Never having been a huge fan of spinning classes (its hard on my left knee), I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Ride Indoor Cycling. The bikes are top notch and make my body feel very supported, which so far has alleviated me from having knee pain at the end of the class. Plus, the music here is amazing. All their instructors have such good sense of music that I’m sure creating the perfect workout playlists must have been part of their interview process. The spinning classes are a mix of upper body movements, weights, and cycling so it gives you an full body workout. The first class is free and every class after that is $22. Make sure to look out for those fun themed classes as well (I loved the Lizzo vs. Rihanna class)! Another workout studio that has proven its worth to me is Define Body. Define has a mix of barre, yoga, cycling, dance, and trampoline classes. Being the only studio in Houston that offers trampoline classes, I knew I had to try it. I loved trampoline cardio classes when I lived in New York. I mean what’s not to love? You get to work out and have fun bouncing around! Define’s classes are $24 each, but look out for deals because there’s always something going on- I bought 10 classes for $100 in November.

Rooftop Cinema

Quite possibly my most favorite thing about Houston! When I lived in New York, Rooftop Cinema only operated during the summer months (due to weather restrictions) and almost always sold out in minutes after its movie lineups were released. In Houston, however, Rooftop Cinema is year round (its heated in the winter time!) and sells out a lot slower. Don’t get me wrong- the movies still sell out, especially around the holidays when the Cinema usually shows themed movies, like Halloweentown or Home Alone. I love the concept of watching a film outside under the stars on comfy lawn chairs. Plus, there are no sound disturbances because every moviegoer has their own pair of headphones! Bonus- If you have a Visa signature credit card, there are additional discounts and free unlimited popcorn. Its a great place to spend a Friday night- Rooftop Cinema is located on top of Whole Foods and Ninfa’s so there’s dinner options available before and after the movie. Rooftop Cinema is currently closed for the season (The last day of movies was 12/31), but it will reopen again in the spring!

I’m still exploring my new hometown so I’ll keep Toast and Travel updated with anything else great I find!