While some locals roll their eyes at the reputation of elite Rice University as ‘the Harvard of Texas,’ as more than one Texan told us, ‘It ain’t braggin’ if it’s true.’ The 6700-student campus does have a certain genteel, collegiate charm.
Rice University
Houston
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.43 MILES
Commissioned by Dominique and John de Menil (also founders of the Menil Collection) in 1964 to create a nondenominational chapel, American abstract…
0.92 MILES
This 445-acre park is home to playgrounds, a lake with paddleboats, a picturesque Japanese Garden, the Hermann Park Miniature Train and the Houston Zoo…
1.38 MILES
The Menil Collection is considered one of the most important privately assembled art collections of the twentieth century and is a Houston highlight…
3.47 MILES
This sinuous 160-acre city park follows Buffalo Bayou west from downtown, with easy pedestrian access and plentiful parking en route. Sweeping views…
Houston Museum of Natural Science
0.99 MILES
Don’t even dream you’ll see the whole of this colossal and absolutely stellar museum – the most popular in Texas – in a single visit. The permanent…
21.73 MILES
Dream of landing on the moon? You can’t get closer than the visitor center/museum alongside NASA's Johnson Space Center, where interactive displays…
27.8 MILES
Alligators. Alligators everywhere. You'll surely enjoy the diversity of wetland and forest landscapes, bird-watching, maybe even get some use out of the…
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
19.64 MILES
A hallowed site for some Texans, this 1100-acre park is where Texas fought for – and won – its independence in 1836. You can learn about the battle by…
Nearby Houston attractions
0.92 MILES
This 445-acre park is home to playgrounds, a lake with paddleboats, a picturesque Japanese Garden, the Hermann Park Miniature Train and the Houston Zoo…
0.98 MILES
Gorillas, elephants and moon jellyfish are a few of the 6000 residents of the 55-acre Houston Zoo. Activities include wildlife talks catering to different…
3. Houston Museum of Natural Science
0.99 MILES
Don’t even dream you’ll see the whole of this colossal and absolutely stellar museum – the most popular in Texas – in a single visit. The permanent…
4. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
1 MILES
One of Houston's epicenters of what's cool, new and cutting edge. Immerse yourself in ongoing special exhibitions at a museum whose strength is its lack…
5. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
1.02 MILES
This nationally renowned palace of art starts its displays with ‘Splendors of the Ancient World’, and has a fine collection of pre-Columbian golden…
6. Lillie & Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden
1.03 MILES
Admire the talents of luminaries such as Rodin and Matisse in this tranquil sculpture garden, on the north side of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
7. McGovern Centennial Gardens
1.05 MILES
These recently opened gardens have a spiral climbing hill that affords views of the construction cranes poking up through the skyline. It also has…
1.17 MILES
Future surgeons will like checking out the huge organs on display in this very interactive museum. Other exhibits explain DNA and more.