50 Of The Best Things To Do This Summer In Houston

From waterside restaurants, poolside cocktails, jaw-dropping exhibitions, and more: here is your summer bucket list in Houston.

Colby Smith • June 4, 2023

When life hands triple-digit temperatures, make lemonade. Summer is just about here, Houston. Be sure to stay cool with frosty drinks, epic water slides, and museum-grade air conditioning. Read on to discover the 50 bucket list summer experiences in Houston!

Plunge down towering slide, traverse terrain, and refresh yourselves with arm-length libations at the most wonderful waterparks in Houston.

Experience the utter bliss of floating in the heat of the Texas sun with a cold drink in hand. While there might not be many lazy rivers in Houston, you can find the most unique river in Texas on the rooftop of the Marriot Marquis in Downtown, Houston.

Concerts under the stars allows music lovers the unique opportunity to enjoy enchanting renditions of the most iconic artists’ work over the past several decades.

Now open, Dino's Alive brings you face-to-face with the fearsome and spectacular dinosaurs that dominated the animal world for 140 million years. From Velociraptors to T-rex, interact with life-sized, moving animatronics of a large variety of species, and see these magnificent creatures in their natural Jurassic habitat. Step into another world and learn something new in an experience that's fun for the whole family!

Experience a magical summer here in Houston thanks to the amazing venues the city has to offer. Luckily, Fever Originals has brought its popular Candlelight concert series to beautiful venues for the season with concerts. Highlights include:

The Meg, The Monsters, & The Myths is now open! Come face-to-face with the notorious apex predator at the immersive new exhibition, featuring a 7,000-gallon touch tank, floor-to-ceiling animations, mega models, and more!

Roswell's Saloon is a far-out new hang out in Space City. Glowing with dazzling neon lights, stellar cocktails, and galactic vibes, the galactic new bar offers a worlds of entertainment in Houston.

With temps teetering on triple digits, Houstonians are faced with two choices: escape it, or embrace it. Apply some sun screen, grab your beach towel, and get yourself a cocktail at these eight poolside bars in Houston to beat the heat this summer!

While there are plenty of fine patios in the city, there are just a few with a waterfront view.

Nothing quite says "living the highlife" like clinking glasses on a city rooftop. Touch the sky this season with a brunch, evening, or nightcap on the most jaw-dropping rooftops in Houston.

It's the season for summer blockbusters. Catch cinema's latest hits at the most unique theaters in Houston.

Dinner and a movie is one thing, but how about dinner and a horseback riding? Nestled in the area of Rosharon just south of Houston, Water Stone Turkish Ranch is a one-of-a-kind dining destination that offers exquisite farm-to-table Turkish cuisine, overnight cabins, horseback riding, and much more.

Located in the historic East End District, Old Town Harrisburg is a flourishing community that wears its Mexican influence on its sleeve in the best way possible!

With the sun here to stay for the next few months, it helps to wear as minimal – as decency allows – clothing as possible. In no place outside of the beach is it more acceptable to wear bikinis and tank tops than on a volleyball court. Here in Houston, you can do just that at Wakefield Crowbar.

Wade into a sea of sunflowers this season at P-6 Farms. Recently, the farm in Montgomery has opened their gorgeous field to the public with sunflowers as far as the eye can see!

The Galveston Island State Park is reopening just in time for summer fun. Beginning on June 27, organizers are reopening the beachside front to the public.

Open 365 days of the year, the Azteca Farmers Market is one of Houston's premier farmers market. With stellar street eats, fresh produce, and over 50 vendors, Azteca gives visitors 13 acres of vibrant market space.

One surefire way to capitalize on the weekend, weekday, weeknight – really just any time – is to have a couple drinks amongst friends in the open air of a patio. Get out and about this season at some of our favorite watering holes in town

As a landlocked city (Galveston doesn't count) Houston is in desperate need of some water-based activities. With summer here, the urge to hit the open seas (metaphorically speaking) is at an all-time high. Still speaking metaphorically, if you want to dip your toes in the water, we humbly suggest a boat trip around the waters of Hermann Park.

From classic margaritas to summer-fried Bloody Marys, tropical ‘tinis, and everything in between, you’ll find your preferred elixir in Houston.

If you haven't already, check out Houston's best new restaurants.

Hot, cold, rain, or shine, ice cream is a good call on any day. Here's the scoop on where to find the best ice cream in Houston.

Let the mimosas flow this summer at one of our top 10 favorite brunch spots in Houston!

It's summer. In Texas it's the time of year when you worship air conditioning, opt for frozen margaritas, and gently hint to your one friend with a lake house that you want to go on their boat. It's also the time of year for tubing in Texas. Throughout the Lone Star State wind a variety of meandering lazy rivers, ideal for leisurely floating.

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