8 Ways To Spend A Day Off In Houston

In the spirit of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, here’s some great ways to play hooky in Houston. Abner Fletcher | Posted on February 8, 2019, 2:15 PM

Houston Matters Day Off Michael Hagerty/Houston Public Media Listen 00:00 /11:56

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Remember Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? That suburban Chicago high-schooler sure packed a lot into one day.

That got us wondering – if you took a day off from work, school, or some other necessary but occasionally soul-sucking drudgery, how would you spend it in Greater Houston? One perfect Houston day off. Where would you go? What would you see, hear, eat, or do?

In the audio above, we listen to your suggestions along with some ideas from the Houston Chronicle’s Maggie Gordon (our idea for this segment came from an article she wrote in 2018).

Here’s just a few suggestions from our listeners: Florian Martin/Houston Public Media The replica space shuttle Independence outside Space Center Houston.

1. Get lost in space. Spend the day at NASA — Space Center Houston and the Johnson Space Center — have dinner at the original Ninfa’s on Navigation, and then take their free shuttle over to an Astros game. — Jennifer

2. Go underground. Get lost in the downtown tunnel system and snack on the food at the various restaurants there. — Rebecca

3. Learn and eat. Alternate between museums and amazing Ethiopian restaurants all day. – Marc Battleship Texas - Guns on Deck Michael Hagerty/Houston Public Media A view of the guns on the deck of the Battleship Texas.

4. Experience local history. Visit the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship Texas (they’re right next to each other). – Buster

5. Do grownup things. Wander around the downtown Spec’s. It’s Disneyland for grownups. — Annapoorni Houston's Beer Can House Michael Hagerty/Houston Public Media Houston’s Beer Can House, a home adorned with more than 50,000 beer cans.

6. Appreciate local beer, beer cans, and art. Visit the Orange Show and the Beer Can House. Then hang out in the park outside the Menil Collection if it’s nice. And then tour a local brewery. – Christen

7. Explore public art. Tour local statuary – such as the numerous pieces along Buffalo Bayou Park and Mount Rush Hour – and the city’s many murals along the way. – Teresa Rothko Chapel Interior Michael Hagerty/Houston Public Media Paintings by artist Mark Rothko are the focal point of the meditative space inside the Rothko Chapel.

8. Spend a night (or a day) at the museum. Visit the city’s Museum District and its numerous institutions, like the Rothko Chapel, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the Station Museum of Contemporary Art, and the James Turrell Skyspace at Rice University – Jesse