The fourth-largest city in the United States, Houston is a vast cultural oasis with a lot to offer---and much of it is free. Houston's humid subtropical climate makes it ideal as host of many outdoor activities, garden exhibits, evening film screenings and walking tours. The city has an average of 99 days per year above 90 degrees F---with the only downside being that summer weather also brings 90 percent relative humidity. Fortunately, if hiking or visiting a sculpture park is too hot to handle, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy air-conditioned tours of local museums and botanical gardens.
Arts & Culture at Miller Outdoor Theatre
A popular local gathering spot for free arts and culture, Houston's Miller Outdoor Theatre offers concerts, movies, live theater and dance performances from March through November. The venue is a serene, comfortable oasis located in Hermann Park, whose lush green surroundings also include an ever-changing roster of free outdoor sculpture exhibits scattered throughout the area. Guests of the Miller Outdoor Theatre are encouraged to enhance their theater-going experience by bringing along a picnic to enjoy under the twinkling Texas stars while taking in Shakespeare in the park or a complimentary concert by the Houston Symphony.
Shredding at Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark
Grab a skateboard and cruise over to the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark in Eleanor Tinsley Park near downtown Houston for an afternoon of shredding the 30,000 square-foot skaters' paradise that includes one of the largest concrete cradles in the world. Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., the $2.2 million state-of-the-art complex debuted in 2008 to offer skateboard enthusiasts of all skill levels a safe, legal local spot to enjoy the sport. Admission to this urban treasure is always free, and helmets are required. Additionally, the venue offers free skateboarding classes and contests.
Customizable Houston Greeter Guided City Tours
There really is no better way for a visitor to get the most out of a trip to Houston than to sign up for a free guided city tour hosted by an enthusiastic local. Established in 2005, the Houston Greeter non-profit program offers two-to-four-hour tours conducted by local volunteers, covering Houston's tourist attractions and hipster hot spots. Not only is the service free, visitors can also completely customize a guided tour to their personal interests--from a stroll through a historic neighborhood or the Woodlands Market Square to canoeing along the bayou or visiting a Hindu temple--and a Houston Greeter will provide an accompanying audio history. The Houston Greeter program works in conjunction with the city's public transportation service, MetroRail, which provides free passes to visitors and greeters to help make tour travel safe and comfortable without costing you a cent.
Project Row Houses Artist Community
Project Row Houses got its name from the cottages that make up the group of galleries. They host a revolving roster of free art exhibits highlighting the history and cultural influences of the African-American community. The historic row houses at 2500 Holman were renovated by volunteers and with the financial assistance of local corporations and foundations in 1993. The neighborhood-based nonprofit cultural organization is located in Houston's Northern Third Ward, one of the city's oldest African-American communities.
Since opening its doors, the arts organization has grown from its original block and a half to six city blocks, and from 22 cottages to 40 properties housing everything from community galleries to residency spaces. Nearly half of the original homes showcase art and photography exhibits and literary events that change every six months. The Project Row Houses arts community also reserves seven of the houses for clients of its Young Mothers Residential Program. Project Row Houses is open to the public for tours Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Port of Houston Authority Boat Tour
The Port of Houston Authority offers a wonderful way to see the Houston Ship Channel on a free 90-minute round-trip public tour aboard the 95-foot M/V Sam Houston vessel. See one of the busiest ports in the world in action along the man-made channel by boarding at the port's Sam Houston Pavilion and enjoying an air-conditioned cruise that even includes a free on-board beverage. The tour is free, but reservations are required a day in advance.
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