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All United States Texas Houston

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Houston

23 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Houston, Texas

Updated April 27, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Houston

Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern

Houston, Texas

Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern

A 90-year-old underground water reservoir offers a more industrial kind of tranquility.
It's a hidden gem of one of the busiest streets in Houston.

Houston, Texas

The Hobbit Café

A taste of Middle Earth, in the middle of the Bayou City.

Houston, Texas

National Museum of Funeral History

Fantastic collection celebrating the final send-off.

Houston, Texas

Art Car Museum

At the "Garage Mahal" in Houston, car culture is about more than just driving.
The Big Bubble

Houston, Texas

The Big Bubble

There is an unmarked red button hidden over Houston's Buffalo Bayou that is just begging to pushed...

Houston, Texas

Eclectic Menagerie Park

A private collection of massive steel monsters guarding a Texas pipe works.

Houston, Texas

Museum of Health and Medical Science

A health museum containing a 27’’½-foot intestine.

Houston, Texas

The Orange Show

One man's homage to the orange as realized through a long-term folk art labor of love.
See All 23 Things To Do in Houston

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Houston

It's a hidden gem of one of the busiest streets in Houston.

Houston, Texas

The Hobbit Café

A taste of Middle Earth, in the middle of the Bayou City.
In partnership with KAYAK

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

8 Out-There Art Destinations in Texas

A surplus of space always means a surplus of creative possibility. Texas, with its never-ending skies, wide deserts, and even bigger imaginations, takes this idea to thrilling conclusions. If you’re interested in planning an art-focused road trip, you won’t find a better destination than Texas, where one day you’ll be browsing an obsessive collection of outsider art, and the next day you’ll be walking through a hidden alley covered in umbrellas or beneath a neon skyscape. Here are eight of the most exciting art destinations in the state to inspire your mind and thrill your eyes.

View Itinerary

Explore Houston, Texas

Art 6
Collections 3
Museums And Collections 3
Architectural Oddities 3
Sacred Spaces 3

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Stories About Houston

A brisket bento box at Kemuri Tatsu-Ya reconsiders barbecue’s most iconic cut of meat.

In Texas, Barbecue Has Gone Global

Across Texas, chefs and BBQ obsessives are stretching the limits of brisket, smoke, and sauce.
Sponsored by Travel Texas

Podcast: Beer Can House

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
January 5, 2022
Lucille Bishop Smith, shown here in her kitchen, was especially renowned for her hot rolls.

Sold: A Black Texan Trailblazer's 'Treasure Chest' of Recipes

Lucille Bishop Smith's famous recipe boxes are still sought after.
by Rebecca Rego Barry
June 19, 2020
Someday, succulents might keep spacefarers company.

When We All Move to Space, We'll Have to Be Picky About Houseplants

Which are best suited for a life among the stars?
by Jessica Leigh Hester
April 11, 2019

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