Seven reasons to 'do' Houston this year

Oh you haven’t been to Houston yet? Oh dear…

Here are the reasons you’ll want to discover one of America’s greatest cities, Houston, this year – home not only to NASA’s iconic Space Center, but also to theatre, exquisite museums and hearty dining options.

1. The award-winning restaurant scene is going off

There’s more to food in Houston than just its hearty barbecue fare, although it has to be said that it is pretty darn good; check out Jackson Street BBQ in Downtown Houston, Killen’s Barbecue in South Houston or Gatlin’s BBQ to name but a few.

The restaurant scene here is booming, with a list of award-winning eateries that stretches on forever, from Hall of Fame chefs to Restaurant of the Year recipients to those serving up some of the 100 Things You Simply Must Eat Before You Die (Garden & Gun magazine). You will literally be spoilt for choice: there are currently around 10,000 restaurants to choose from!

2. Everywhere you look there’s great art (literally)

Houston has hundreds of museums and galleries scattered around the city bursting at the seams with world-class art: visit The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for old masters, G Gallery and Redbud Gallery for hip local up-and-comers, Rothko Chapel for Mark Rothko’s murals, and the Menil Collection’s arresting Dan Flavin Installation at Richmond Hall.

There’s so much art in fact that all you have to do is walk down the street to see it, with large scale murals adorning walls all over the city.

3. It has its own rodeo, and it’s huge

In addition to the obligatory cowboys, bulls and bucking broncos, the three-week Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (this year from March 7-26) ropes in some serious superstar entertainment; this year’s roster includes Alicia Keys, Chainsmokers, Willie Nelson and ZZ Top.

4. The theatre scene here rivals New York City’s

Houston’s theatre district is second only to New York’s in the entire country, with everything from ballet to opera to music to plays to touring Broadway and West End productions on offer.

5. It’s totally kid (and budget) friendly

Where to start? Crazy-fun museums like the Children’s Museum of Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science and The Health Museum; the awesome attractions of Space Center Houston; or ‘nose-to-nose’ with the locals at Houston Zoo.

You can make the fun budget friendly as well: consider buying a Houston CityPASS for big savings on entry prices. And if you are in town in May, check out Comicpalooza, the biggest pop culture festival in the state.

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6. You can shop just about non-stop

From chic designer brands to local artisan wares to funky vintage to cowboy boots, it’s all here for the taking (or the buying). For easy access stay Downtown or near Galleria, with its 400-plus shops, ice rink and headliner department stores.

7. There’s more green space than you might think

Houstonians love the outdoors, and there is lots of it to love here, from the 180-hectare Hermann Park right in the middle of the city to loads of downtown green spaces to the sprawling Armand Bayou Nature Center reserve, complete with alligators, deer and bison!

More information: Get planning at Visit Houston

EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO DO IN HOUSTON…

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Seven reasons to ‘do’ Houston this year