Rebecca Deurlein

Why is everyone vacationing in the same place? I often wonder this during travel spikes, scrolling social media to see people with nothing in common having the same experiences. Are we all spring skiers now? Is everyone actually having fun, or are we just yielding to a trend? It’s time we all dig a little deeper, skip the cookie-cutter trip and set off somewhere different. Forget what everyone else is doing! Let’s explore our own interests—and while we’re at it, do it where it’s not so crowded. To help you find the perfect underrated summer travel destination, we tapped our network of writers with plenty of experience discovering cool places. We’re showing new sides to cities and regions you already know and sharing choice spots that might be new to you. From wine tasting your way through Boise, Idaho, and encountering wildlife in Oakland, California, to ferry hopping in Southeast Alaska, these aren’t your typical summer escapes. A little less popular and still very exciting, these underrated U.S. destinations are calling your name this summer.

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, and it celebrates its melting pot reputation while staying true to its Texan roots. That means that yes, everything is bigger here, but you’ll also be met with small-town warmth and hospitality. Whether stepping into quirky museums or stepping it up to award-winning, fine dining restaurants, you’ll get the same, downhome Texan welcome Houston is known for. With 25 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality, you could spend a year exploring and still not see everything Houston has to offer. So take our advice and check out the best things to do in Houston on your journey through Space City (more on that below!). This guide was updated by Houston-based writer Rebecca Deurlein. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  RECOMMENDED:  🍴The best restaurants in Houston🏠The best Houston Airbnbs🇺🇸The best hotels in Houston

What is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston? The Museum of Fine Arts is a cornucopia of visual arts ranging from prints and drawings to photography and decorative arts, crafts, and design. One of the top 10 largest museums in the nation and home to over 70,000 works of art from all over the world that span eras, cultures, and genres, the museum’s list of offerings is exhaustive. See Jackson Pollock’s “Carved Bone” sculpture, an Egyptian coffin, and Edvard Munch’s 1895 Self Portrait as you peruse the many galleries. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is unique in that it occupies three gallery buildings that sit on a campus filled with treasures, including a sculpture garden that is definitely worth a stroll. Is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston worth visiting? As one of the most “major” museums in the Museum District of Houston, this one is usually at the top of visitors’ bucket lists. What makes it more special is its layout—an entire complex versus just a museum building. In addition to the three gallery buildings and the sculpture garden, you’ll cross paths with students from two on-site art schools while making your way to a library, gift shop, visitor’s center, two movie theaters, and two house museums, all just steps away. What’s the best way to see the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston? The museum is open seven days a week and the permanent collections are free to all visitors on Thursdays. If you purchase a CityPASS to access Houston’s most popular attractions, you’ll save 50 p

What is Space Center Houston? This number-one attraction for international visitors is also a favorite of Houstonians. It is the official visitor’s center of NASA Johnson Space Center, and its 250,000 square feet will keep you enthralled at every turn. Gaze up at a towering SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, imagine yourself wearing one of the famous astronaut flight suits on display in the Starship Gallery, and stand at the lectern where John F. Kennedy delivered his “Moonshot” speech. You can even climb into the shuttle replica Independence atop an original NASA 905 shuttle aircraft carrier—it’s the world’s only shuttle and carrier open to the public. Is Space Center Houston worth visiting? With virtual reality simulator experiences, simulator rides, and a replica of the shuttle Independence, Space Center Houston is fun for people of all ages. It’s educational and awe-inspiring, and everyone from space enthusiasts to the merely curious will find something to love here. From the moment “Houston, we have a problem” was uttered by Apollo 12 astronaut and commander James Lovell, this city has become synonymous with space, so don’t miss the opportunity to discover why. What’s the best way to see Space Center Houston? Parking is easy and free, and even bus and camper parking is available. Once you enter the facility, you’ll want to purchase a boarding pass for the Historic Mission Control tram tour. You’ll visit the actual mission control facility behind both the Gemini and Apollo missions,

What is the Houston Museum of Natural Science? One of the most popular museums in Houston, the Museum of Natural Science, covers so much territory that if one exhibit doesn’t appeal, you can take a few steps and find one that does. What can you expect? Permanent exhibits give you a sense of the variety: over 425 of Texas’ flora and fauna species displayed in natural dioramas, hundreds of ancient Egyptian artifacts dating back 5,000 years, 30,000 square feet of immersive energy experiences, and some of the world’s most impressive gems and minerals are just the beginning. Is the Houston Museum of Natural Science worth visiting? The dinosaurs in the Morian Hall of Paleontology are showstoppers all on their own, but there’s so much to see here, you won’t want to miss any of it. From the Cockrell Butterfly Center, a three-story rainforest where butterflies alight all around you and dip their wings in the 50-foot waterfall, to the Burke Baker Planetarium where constellations and asteroids engulf you, you’ll travel from the earth into space all in one day. What’s the best way to see the Houston Museum of Natural Science? The museum is open every day of the week, and every Tuesday is free from 5 to 8pm. The least crowded times to visit are Monday mornings when the museum opens at 9am. Convenient, flat-rate parking is available at the museum’s attached parking garage, and free parking is available at surrounding lots if you don’t mind a short walk. If you need accessibility accommod