Exploring Houston: Houston’s 5 Best-Kept Secrets

Even though it’s challenging to conceal secrets in a metropolis with millions of citizens, a large city like Houston is certain to have some secrets. One of the most fun things to do in Houston is to explore.  Here are some of Houston’s best-kept secrets if you enjoy discovering obscure, unusual, hidden gems.

1. The Cistern in Buffalo Bayou Park

The 15 million gallon reservoir in downtown Houston, which was built in 1926, was decommissioned in the 1970s and mostly forgotten. Then, during park renovations in 2012, workers opened one of the hatches to get access to the area and found a stunning cistern with rows and rows of columns rising to the ceiling. The area has been renovated and is now accessible to the public for tours. Visitors may take a 30-minute tour of the location for for $5 during which they can learn about its history and even hear the 17-second echo that causes the enclosed cistern. A video art work named “Rain: Magdalena Fernandez” that projected light throughout the cistern was housed there from December 2016 to June 2017.

1. The Burp Button on the Bayou

Find the hidden button that makes a bubble “burp” in Buffalo Bayou when you’re visiting the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern close to downtown. I won’t reveal the specific position, but the unassuming red button is near to Sesquicentennial Park on the outskirts of downtown. The button launches a huge bubble out of the bayou, which is entertaining for both adults and children. Even while it might not be welcomed, try timing the bubble to catch some bayou kayakers off guard!

1. Lucky Land

Lucky Land is located in north Houston, south of Aldine, sandwiched between I-45 and the Hardy Toll Road. Lucky Land is a tranquil setting devoted to Asian culture and history that spans more than two acres. Lucky Land offers a sizable Terracotta Army model that occupies multiple trenches, precisely like the army excavated in the Chinese province of Shaanxi, at a reasonable adult entry charge of $10. Your time at Lucky Land can also be filled with the Panda Village, several kung fu sculptures, miniature Chinese towns, smiling Buddha statues, and a sizable koi pond.

1. The Hotel ZaZa’s Dungeon Room

Locals who want to spend the afternoon by a lovely pool frequently choose the posh Hotel ZaZa in the Museum District. But ZaZa could be the spot for you if you’re looking to spend a staycation in one of the city’s most unusual hotel suites. The hotel’s third level contains a space that is sometimes referred to as the “Dungeon Room.” Although it has the official name “Hard Times” and is listed by the hotel as one of its themed rooms, “Hard Times” is neither advertised or made readily apparent when attempting to make a reservation. This room, which is about one-third the size of a typical hotel room, has a brick wall façade, odd artwork, and a bed that is chained to the walls. While the room itself is strange, those who stay in the “Hard Times” room get to enjoy one of the hotel’s biggest balconies.

1. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

This stunning Hindu temple, located in Stafford on the southwest side of the city, was constructed in Houston using more than 33,000 different pieces of Turkish limestone and Italian marble that were sculpted in India. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a center of worship and prayer for practicing Hindus, is accessible to the general public and has an exhibition to help people better understand Hinduism. The mandir and its 22 acres offer tourists lovely gardens, a charming structure, and the chance to engage with and learn about Hinduism.

What secrets have you discovered in Houston? Let us know in the comments!