Houston, Texas visit #2

We had a nice visit with our son in Houston.  He and his girlfriend Kristina did a fine job entertaining us while we were there.

Photo Credit: CK Worley

First stop - Hermann Park.
It is named after George H. Hermann who in 1914 donated 285 acres for the creation of a park.  A year later Houston Mayor Ben Campbell added 122 acres of city land to the park.

Located between the Texas Medical Center, Rice University and the Museum District the park has a golf course, outdoor theater, jogging track, Zoo (which cares for over 45 hundred animals) , Museum of Natural Science (includes a planetarium, a 3D I-max, and a butterfly exhibit). playgrounds, paddle boats, a mini train and a community center.  I hear the fishing is great at the lake.

Photo Credit: R.S. Worley

McGovern Centennial Garden has a 30 foot high garden mount that has a spiral trail that takes you to the top with a view.  It also has rose gardens, an interactive family garden and a pine walk garden.

Photo Credit: CK Worley

The Japanese Garden is build on 5 acres and is designed with the Zen philosophy in mind.  This garden was built to represent the friendship between the U.S. and Japan.

Photo Credit: CK Worley

At the north end of the park you’ll find a refection pool and gardens that lead to a statue of Sam Houston.  The kids (and some dogs)  love to play in the interactive fountains.

Photo Credit: CK Worley

We even caught an Astros game.  My husband was at the first game in the Astrodome on April 9, 1965 when he was a little kid.  It was the first time that baseball could be enjoyed under an air conditioned roof.  Now they play at Minute Maid Park which has a retractable roof.

Photo Credit: CK Worley

We also visited Kung Fu tea in Midtown to enjoy a bubble tea.  It's a mixture of tea, dried skim milk and tapioca.  The tapioca is brown in color and is about the size of the tip of your little finger.  You get an extra wide straw to suck up the tapioca and tea all at once.  The tapioca is chewy and fun to eat.

Photo Credit: Kung Fu Tea

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to visit Houston again very soon.