The Best Neighborhoods in Houston for Doing Free Things

There’s plenty of free, fun things to do in Houston. Head to these neighborhoods to get the most bang for your buck (or lack thereof) at the many free museums, greenspaces, and other attractions. The Museum District Photo courtesy of Lawndale Art Center

Museum District contains many of the best free attractions in the city. Art lovers should head to the Lawndale Art Center. This center helps train artists, and regularly rotating exhibits keep the material fresh. Right next door to the Art Center is the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, another free museum where visitors can see works featuring glass, fiber, clay, metal, and wood. There’s also the Contemporary Arts Museum, which features artwork from international, national, and regional artists. Visitors can attend lectures and programs that dive into the art world. If you do want to shell out some money though, browse The Museum Shop for a keepsake of your visit. Montrose Photo courtesy of Menil Collection

Montrose has a reputation as a home for the artistic and creative, so it should be no surprise that it’s home to the Menil Collection. The collection features not only outstanding works of art but invaluable archaeological pieces from the distant past. Visitors can find Medieval pieces and Tribal work as well as pieces from Antiquity, the Byzantine era, and the 20th century.

While in Montrose you can also visit the Rothko Chapel. Serving as a chapel, museum, and forum, the Rothko Chapel represents an intersection of the spirit and art world. Visitors will see 14 murals by the artist Mark Rothko, and visitors can also use the chapel as a meditation space. Memorial Park and Rice Military Photo courtesy of Art Car Museum

The adjacent neighborhoods of Memorial Park and Rice Military are joined by Highway 90 and intersected by Memorial Drive. This stretch runs along some of the most popular greenspaces in the city, such as Memorial Park itself to the west and Buffalo Bayou Park to the east. These two parks sit along the winding Buffalo Bayou, and visitors to the area can take advantage of the many walking trails that exist. However, there’s more to do than stay outdoors. Memorial Park is home to the unique Art Car Museum, a quirky placewhere elaborate and creative twists turn cars and motorcycles into entirely new pieces of art.

Those who would rather celebrate Houston’s history can head to Glenwood Cemetery. It may sound like a macabre idea, but the museum is the resting ground for some of Houston’s most historically significant residents. In addition to the iconic figures buried at the cemetery, guests can also walk among impressive pathways created by European landscape artist Alfred Whitaker.

Finally, nature lovers can head to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Consisting of 155 acres, this nature sanctuary was designed to educate guests about Houston’s natural environment. Five miles of trails exist around the property, and visitors can drop in on the Nature Center to learn even more about the butterflies, hummingbirds and other animals that make the area home. Downtown Houston Photo courtesy of Heritage Society Museum Gallery

Downtown Houston is full of things to do for free. Those who enjoy Houston’s history can go visit locations maintained by The Heritage Society. Since the 1950s, the society has called Sam Houston Park its home. The area has been designated a Protected Landmark. Visitors can go tour the Heritage Society Museum Gallery as well.

Another place to visit while you’re in the area is Discovery Green. A 12-acre park in the heart of Downtown Houston, Discovery Green is full of open spaces to walk and ponds to rest by. The park also hosts live music events on a regular basis, making it a popular destination for music lovers.

Finally, you can visit Market Square Park. Situated on the site of the city’s original City Hall, today it’s a public park that heavily emphasizes the preservation of public art. Old and new art pieces have been moved onto the grounds, helping to create the park’s overall aesthetic.