We visited Houston in Texas during rodeo season, where a mix of cowboy culture, space exploration, baseball, and delicious food made for an unforgettable trip. Here is why you need to plan a visit to the Lone Star State.
Rip-Roaring Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest in the world, runs for 21 days each March. The event features a carnival atmosphere, live music, and thrilling rodeo competitions inside NRG Stadium, including bull riding, barrel racing, saddle-bronc riding, and roping. Outside, visitors can explore livestock shows and exhibitions. The fried food offerings are endless, from funnel cakes and jumbo corn dogs to deep-fried Oreos. We even tried deep-fried cheesecake—and surprisingly enjoyed it. Each night, a musical superstar performs; we saw Texas native Kelly Clarkson, who energized the 70,000-strong crowd with hits like Since U Been Gone.
Cowboy Cool
To dress like a local, we visited Republic Boot Co., a shop frequented by celebrities like Drake. The store offers rows of cowboy boots and a Hat Bar where you can customize your hat with leather trims, feathers, charms, and badges. I left with my initials branded on and a playing card tucked behind a giant feather.
Baseball & Beers
We headed to Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros, to watch a quarter-final of the World Baseball Classic. The US beat Canada in a thrilling game. Even as a first-time spectator, the excitement was infectious. We ordered the stadium's signature Crawford Dog and enjoyed giant beers while cheering for a home run, which triggers the Home Run Train to chuff around the track.
Out of This World
Houston, known as Space City, is home to Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA. We toured the Astronaut Training Facility and Rocket Park, seeing actual rocket parts up close. The visit was especially exciting following the Artemis II moon mission, and the center captures the thrill of space exploration.
Taste of Texas
Texas is a food lover's paradise. Our first dinner at Agnes and Sherman featured incredible cheeseburger fried rice. For breakfast, Dandelion Cafe's chicken waffles have been voted best in the US by Good Morning America. We also tried Viet-Cajun crawfish at Crawfish & Noodles in Chinatown. In Galveston, Gaido's Seafood Restaurant, open since 1911, served stuffed shrimp, gumbo, and pecan pie. The most magical meal was at Ishtia, an indigenous restaurant where Choctaw chef David Skinner shares stories behind each dish.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Hotel Daphne, a boutique hotel in historic Houston Heights, featuring quirky decor and striped purple and blue bathrobes. The neighborhood offers cool shops and grand houses. The hotel's restaurant and bar, Hypsi, has a sun-filled courtyard perfect for relaxing after a day of adventures.
British Airways and United Airlines offer direct flights from London Heathrow to Houston. Rooms at Hotel Daphne start from £272 per night. Plan your trip at visithouston.com.
