Hotel at a Glance: Omni Houston Hotel

Texas knows better than anywhere that bigger is better, a lesson the Omni Houston Hotel’s onsite spa takes to heart. At a sprawling 7,100 square feet, guests can pamper themselves to their hearts’ desire with facials and body treatments galore. Similarly, NOE GRILL and NOE BAR go big with bold pan-asian flavors and a romantic ambiance perfect for date night.

• Optional perks: select options include self-parking or daily breakfast
• Two outdoor pools means there’s plenty of room for swimming and sunning.
• Black Swan: chic night club featuring all-night dance parties with local DJs, open Friday and Saturday only.
• In-room amenities: marble bathrooms, coffeemakers, hairdryers
• Stay fit: choose from the fitness center, the property’s jogging and biking trails, and the in-room fitness kits for a hearty workout

Houston, Texas: Space History, Museums, and World-Class Dining in Nation’s Fourth-Largest City

As the nation’s fourth-largest city by population, Houston has established itself as one of the Gulf Coast’s most thriving cultural hubs. The city has 19 museums covering everything from history to art to science. For art lovers, the Menil Collection—which Frommer’s calls “one of the world’s great private collections”—is a must-see. Here, you’ll browse a wide array of 20th-century art from Jasper Johns, René Magritte, and Andy Warhol, as well as artifacts from Africa and the Pacific Islands.

You could also spend an entire day exploring Houston’s science institutions. When Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell famously stated, “Houston, we have a problem,” he was talking to mission control at Space Center Houston. Here, visitors can tour the historic mission-control room and get a behind-the-scenes look at astronauts training for the International Space Station. Along Houston’s Hermann Park, The Health Museum exhibits a large-scale human body that you can enter to learn about how your organs operate.

For shopping, visit Uptown Park, an outdoor mall that brings to mind an Italian piazza through Romanesque columns, stone fountains, and open-air bistros with strings of twinkling lights. According to a Zagat survey, Houstonians dine out more than anyone else in the country, and this mall offers some of the city’s best eats, from sushi to Spanish tapas to creamy cupcakes.

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