Hotel at a Glance: The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

Set on 18 acres of forested land, The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa feels like a secluded health retreat. The high-end spa’s treatments smooth skin with diamond dust and vitamin-infused citrus oils, and its indoor float pool and rainfall shower soak stress away. Guests who want to stay active can swim in the three outdoor pools and hit the athletic club’s tennis and racquetball courts.

• Dine in style: Savor garlic-herb grilled shrimp at the alfresco Arbor Grill and rack of lamb at Olivette.
• Home away from home: The luxurious guest rooms feature 42-inch TVs and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the landscaped grounds.
• Concierge-level perks: in-room fireplace and complimentary continental breakfast, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails
• Make a splash: Glide down a water slide into the main resort pool, or do laps in the larger sports pool.
• Recent awards: 2014 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and four-star rating in 2015 Forbes Travel Guide
• Shop till you drop: The massive Galleria mall is just a short drive from the resort.

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.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.