Houston is known as the world capital for space exploration and the world capital for petroleum exploration. These might seem like boring facts, but hold on, this article mainly shows you a side of Houston that you have never seen.
Get ready to see Houston, TX, from a new angle! Many may not know that it has several spots that would make for perfect dates with your loved ones.
Houston offers many date ideas, whether it is for a first date, with the butterflies dancing, or a date night with a longtime partner. There is little you can’t do in Houston, ranging from places to grab drinks to throwing literal axes to outdoor movies.
If you’re looking for a fun date idea, or you’ve got a more romantic vibe planned, we’ve got you covered! This article is a comprehensive, up-to-date list full of fun date ideas, ranging from art galleries, and delicious food to the very well-known space center. Check this list out for all date ideas, Houston.
Take a look and see if you can find a cool place for your next date to spend some quality time with that special someone.
1. Date Ideas For Foodies
Taco Spots
El Taconazo is a famous food truck that is supposed to have delicious tacos. Tacos are considered a staple if you ever visit Houston, TX, and El Taconazo does not disappoint.
Even with the option to pay only in cash, this food truck still attracts hordes of foodies every day with only one intention- to eat delicious tacos.
Even though there is no seating space, it is a must-have!
Tacos a Go-Go is another great spot known mainly for its breakfast tacos available all day.
Many visitors and locals describe it as a go-to spot. When in Texas, you must try out tacos, and these two places are only the beginning of a pervasive list that you and your date will hopefully discover in the future!
Cafés
Well, who doesn’t love a good cafe on their first date?
Retrospect Coffee Bar is a spot that serves excellent coffee and holds historical significance. It is situated in the building that once was Houston’s first-ever gas station, one with a similar history of selling cold drinks.
What’s better than good drinks mixed with a bit of nostalgia about the past, am I right?
Shipley’s Do-Nuts is another excellent place for your date to happen in. Their specialty is hot glazed donuts, cooked fresh and served, and they come at a surprisingly reasonable cost of $6.50 for 12 donuts!
Texas is a place known to fill your heart as well as your stomach. So make sure to eat your fill there!
Wine and Beer
No romantic date is complete without some good cocktails, right?
Goodnight Charlie’s is a venue that serves various cocktails. If you are a fan of Bourbon, Goodnight Charlie’s is the place to be.
They also offer varieties of the regular Tex-Mex, so it is a treat in terms of drinking and eating.
Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail is also an amazing place if your date and you are looking for a good time accompanied by some wine.
All visitors would discover many local wineries spread out in the same locality.
It is also a scenic place filled with wildflowers which in itself is a sight not to miss out on. What are you waiting for?
You get a date among some of the best views the city has to offer, along with wines that have won awards!
Food tour
What better way for a foodie and another foodie to go on a date than on a food tour? This Culinary Food Tour, complete with tunnel access, is a guaranteed three-hour winner in the dating book.
You both get to sample delicious food from all around the globe, including Mexican and Italian cuisines, and not to mention that you get to do it by going through an underground tunnel. Score!
2. Museums and Other Exciting Date Ideas
Houston’s major attractions
What’s better on a first date than exploring all the must-see attractions of a city together?
The Houston CityPass lets you see five of Houston’s attractions, including the Houston Zoo, The Downtown Aquarium, and the Kemah boardwalk, to name a few.
The trip is over the course of a weekend, so it will be a fantastic bonding experience where you can enjoy not only the historical significance of the city but also your date can also be awed by the visual appeal of the places you go to.
Not to mention, the pass lets you enjoy the trip for almost half of the price it usually takes.
Space Center Houston
Arguably an essential landmark in Houston, the Space Center is a must-visit on your date, whether it be romantic or otherwise.
If you ever want to get in touch with your inner child, the Space Center is where you need to be. It is filled with interactive exhibits that are guaranteed to make you curious and entertain you and your date to no end.
A flown SpaceX 9 rocket is now up for exhibit at the center. Apart from this, a famous Astronaut Gallery exhibition shows all the famous men and women of space who are spoken about in textbooks. One can even see the real-life uniforms of some famous astronauts.
Finally, there are always live presentations at the Mission Briefing Center, which show NASA’s history, among other things. Make sure to visit the Space Center next time!
Houston Museum(s)
The Houston Museum District houses several significant museums(19 to be exact), including:
The Houston Center For Contemporary Craft
The Houston Center For Contemporary Craft answers all the questions about crafts made from various materials: how an object was made to why it is in that particular shape and form. It holds a rich cultural significance.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is home to the famous Cockrell Butterfly Exhibit. It also houses two satellite facilities.
It also contains the George Observatory, which provides stunning real-time telescope views straight from their camera feed. They also promise a laser tour that enlightens the viewer about the sky at night. Romantic, isn’t it?
Encompassing four walkable zones, the Museum District is bound to keep you occupied on the most informative date of your life.
3. Date Ideas For the Outdoorsy Ones
Parks
Discovery Green Park
Another gem located in Downtown Houston is the Discovery Green Park. Spanning 12 acres of land, it offers much to see and experience.
There is Kinder Lake situated in the park, which covers an acre of area. It is a showstopper with interactive water features, water gardens, and a pool specifically made for the public to access a watercraft placed in it.
You can fill your tummies at The Lake House, which, you guessed it, is an establishment right next to Kinder Pool where one can enjoy fast food with a view of the lake.
There are always some or other fun events planned at Discovery Green- music for some live music, theatre, or exercises. One can also reserve the park for events. Think about that; the green spaces all for yourself for a while.
It is a must-visit place, especially in the winter, as it opens up into an outdoor ice-skating rink which makes it look straight out of the Frozen movie franchise.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Located in downtown Houston, the Buffalo Bayou Park is a favorite for locals and tourists as it offers an incredible skyline.
Not to mention that it also has through it a Bayou! That’s what gives the park its name. Kayaking is just one of the fun things you can do here; costing $30 an hour, it’s none too shabby for a date activity!
This park also houses The Cistern, which holds significance for having been a water reservoir-turned-art installation house. Take a tour of it! It’s bound to be a lot of fun. So make sure to consider Buffalo Bayou Park when planning a date.
Houston Zoo
Are you up for a cute and exciting date filled with adorable (and sometimes frightening) animals? Located on Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo is arguably one of the best places to visit in Houston, TX.
It houses around six thousand animals, including exotic ones like gorillas. It is guaranteed to be a highlighted part of your date. Not to mention, if you have kids, the zoo is a beautiful distraction for the little ones. They’ll barely bother you once they catch sight of the animals.
There is also an aquarium present where you can observe their aquatic counterparts. Overall, the Houston Zoo is sure to entertain you for a few hours on a fun date.
4. Romantic Date Ideas (Romantic Spots)
Drive-in theater
The showboat drive-in theater is a valiant attempt to bring back the good old movie night with your loved one.
Offering two movies for one price, this drive-in theatre sweetens the deal because they also provide food! Their fried mini banana foster is said to be a big hit, so make sure to try those.
Cuddle up to your loved one on your next date night- the showboat drive-in theatre’s got you covered! Just make sure to bring a warm blanket to cuddle under, as it tends to become quite windy.
And just as a precaution, bring jump cables for your car if the engine needs to be restarted.
Japanese Gardens
The Japanese gardens are a scenic location that would be ideal for a date. It is complete with long and winding paths that circle the entire garden.
Cherry trees, Japanese maples, and azaleas are just a few of the magnificent trees one can see over here. Located in Hermann Park, the gardens have stone paths that surround them and in which visitors can take a calming stroll.
It is straightforward even to spend a few hours in this place and not feel the tiniest bit bored- it’s so picturesque that one wants to keep admiring its beauty.
It is undoubtedly going to be hard to pay attention to your date and the magnificent garden at the same time.
The best part is that visiting the garden is free of cost! It is open every day, so you and your significant other never have to worry if it will be available.
Houston Symphony
The Houston Symphony is an orchestra for performing arts guaranteed to blow your date’s mind.
There is always a performance- and it is even better to visit in times of festivity like Christmas, where there are guaranteed new shows that entertain you like no other.
Miller Outdoor Theatre
If you are on the lookout for a date night that involves local artists giving concerts in an open park, seated on a cozy blanket next to your loved one, look no further than Miller Outdoor Theatre.
The best part is that it is of minimal cost, but still offers a complete experience, complete with cuddling next to that particular person while listening to some good music as well!
Romantic Restaurants
If you are looking for the classic date experience; with candles lit and the perfect ambiance, do not fret; Houston, TX has some great places to offer for that too!
Turner’s
This restaurant is another name for luxury, with indulgent dishes like Beef Carpaccio and vegetarian Bolognese. Treat your date with the luxurious service offered at Turner’s.
Paulie’s
Another indulgent establishment, but this time with Italian cuisine. Their specialties include some wonderful baked goodies like Paulie’s famous shortbread cookies. Don’t miss it!
The Pit Room
Finally, we arrive at a staple of Texas cuisine- the barbeque. The Pit Room promises meat smoked and served in the house, and it delivers! Not to mention their one-of-a-kind sides that are bound to make mouths water.
These are just a few of the many establishments in Houston that will make our mouths water. So don’t forget to try them out on date night!
5. Adventurous and Fun Date Ideas
Axe-throwing
This is an interesting one.
It is guaranteed that your date would have experienced many things in their lifetime- but an ax-throwing date would never have been in their wildest dreams!
Houston ax-throwing is an indoor facility wherein you do just what the name suggests- throw axes!
It does not matter if you nor your date have done this previously, as the instructors are more than capable of teaching you and preventing any harm.
The overall experience is sure to be exhilarating, as this is a high-speed, fun-filled activity that will also arise in you a healthy competitive spirit.
Now that’s a Houston date idea!
Downtown aquarium
An aquarium seems like a fun place to hang out with your significant other. It is a 500,000-gallon complex that would be a fantastic spot to go on a date!
It has many famous exhibits, including the Rainforest exhibit, which showcases a typical tropical rainforest. One can view poison dart frogs amidst freshwater stingrays.
Another famous exhibit is the White Tiger exhibit; it teaches the history of the magnificent animal first sighted in India’s beautiful subcontinent. The exhibit houses four of these beautiful beasts
It doubles as a restaurant as well, its specialties being the Gulf Red Snapper and, for the little ones out there, the “Captain’s Grilled Cheese” is said to be a hit.
The aquarium never fails to entertain you- even while eating, one can be amused by the sight of scuba divers going in to feed the fish.
Bike Trail
Also known as the MKT/SP- Rails to Trails, the Heights Bike Trail is a five-mile bike ride from the Heights until downtown Houston. If you and your date are bike enthusiasts and are enthusiastic about each other, this bike trail seems like a perfect way to start or end your day.
One can pass by other places of significance like the free Art Car Museum along the way.
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
The hobby center is a theater open to the public to view various fine arts performed there. It is a great date night spot to impress that special someone.
It is located downtown, right at the edge of the Houston Theater District.
It is a surprise right from the moment one sets their eyes on it. The ceiling is decorated with beautifully crafted golden leaves, not to mention that there is a terrace that provides the viewer with a fantastic view of Tranquility Park.
If this great date idea does not impress your date, the two venues where critically praised performances happen right in front of your eyes are certainly bound to.
Closing Thoughts
If you want to spend some more quality time with your date, you can sign up for cooking classes in Houston together. When speaking of Houston date ideas, the list can go really long, because the place is filled with love and magic in the air.
And the River Oaks District is like the cherry on the cake for lovers. You can have amazing date nights doing different things in Houston.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your partner and take them on an unforgettable date in Houston!
I hope you enjoy the ideas we provided you with.
Whether you are looking for cute date ideas for celebrations, cheap date ideas to survive the crunch, or fun date night ideas for those special nights, these top 5 excellent categories help you out with anything.
Last Updated on by ritukhare
