From sports to sun to style
Sunday Funday: Five Houston scenes to explore on your basketball break
See the new baby giraffe at the Houston Zoo
Galveston Beach
Pin Oak Charity Horse Show
Valhalla at Rice University
Heights Home TourPhoto by Christine Tremoulet
Catch Phil Mickelson at the Shell Houston OpenPhoto by Ken Carter
Even the most ardent hoops fan is going to have to take a basketball breather on Sunday while the top two ready for their championship face-off on Monday. While you can still hang out at Bracket Town or get your country on at The Big Dance, it's a great opportunity to explore a little more of the city. Don't know where to begin? We've got an option for every interest.
1. Stick with Sports
There might not be any basketball, but golf fans can drive north to watch the final day of the Shell Houston Open at Redstone Golf Club in Humble. Phil Mickelson and Scott Verplank are tied for the lead. Or check out a different kind of sport at the final day of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show.
2. The Great Outdoors
Houston has about a three week period in the spring and fall between "Why is so cold and gross outside?" and "How can it already be this disgustingly hot?" Luckily we are smack in the middle of it. Take advantage of the weather at Memorial Park, the largest urban park in the country with courses for every sport under the sun, or at Hermann Park, which features a Japanese garden, paddle boats, a train for kids, the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
3. Sunning by the Sea Shore
Galveston is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico with history even older than Houston's, smattering of grand Victorian architecture and a fiercely local culture. About 45 minutes from Houston, to get there start on I-45 and head south until the freeway turns into road and the road runs into the beach. If you get hungry you can sample island eats from Mosquito Cafe, Gaido's or Sonny's Place.
4. Explore Architecture
Homes are the heart of any city, and while Houston doesn't have the long history of a Boston or Philadelphia, we do all right. For architecture and design buffs, there's the historic charm of the Houston Heights Association Home & Garden Tour featuring beautifully preserved and updated examples of the neighborhood's Victorian and arts and crafts style — you can either walk the streets between the six homes or take advantage of the air conditioned shuttle buses. Or for something a little more modern, join the Rice Design Alliance Home Tour (in your own transport) featuring Houston houses with unique modern style.
5. Get Smart
It's all about college this weekend, so what better place to explore than the campus of Rice University? The walkable campus is tucked in a residential neighborhood and full of stately oaks and pretty pink azaleas at this time of year, and there are plenty of lovely courtyards and public art works to make it interesting. The new Brochstein Pavilion serves up coffee and a place to relax, or get directions to Valhalla, the tiny bar found under the chemistry lecture hall known for high-minded conversation and incredibly cheap beer.
Of course, there's also the Museum District offerings and more cultural events to take in, plus plenty of restaurants to enjoy. So really, it's not how to spend your free time, but how to fit everything in.
