Weekend Warrior 3-Day Trip

As a working professional in the U.S., I flew from ATL to Houston for a David Tao concert over a long weekend. Three days and two nights packed with fun — here’s my compact yet fulfilling itinerary! Houston is a sprawling city, so renting a car is highly recommended. We used: 🚗 ALAMO Great overall experience — wide selection of late-model cars, easy pickup (they even let you choose your own from a lineup if you don’t go for the basic “they pick” option), and no surprise charges at drop-off. 👍 Day 1 📍 Hermann Park A lovely park perfect for a daytime stroll. The Japanese Garden is especially photogenic 🌿📸. The Houston Zoo is right next door — great to combine if time allows. 🍖 The Pit Room You can’t visit Texas without trying Texas BBQ! This spot is close to the park with plenty of parking. High-quality meat, great value — about $30 per person. 🍪 Tiny’s Milk & Cookies Must-tries: chocolate croissants and chocolate chip cookies 🍫🥐. Their latte is also on point. We kept the day relaxed since we had a concert at night. In between, we hit up The Galleria — Houston’s massive mall 🛍️. HeyTea is tucked away on the lower level — took a few laps to find it! 🎤 Concert at Smart Financial Center Intimate venue, completely packed. David Tao delivered a full 3-hour performance with incredible energy — no shortcuts, pure professionalism 👏. Day 2 🏡 Stay: We booked a friend’s Airbnb with an amazing view — woke up to lush woods right outside, plus a pool, coffee machine, and bathtub. A+ setup! 🥩 Xiao Shenyang Restaurant The guobaorou (sweet & sour pork) and stewed pork ribs with beans were standout dishes — even our Northeastern Chinese friends gave their stamp of approval 😋. 📍 Museum of Fine Arts, Houston A Houston must-see 🖼️. Located near the Natural Science Museum, too. 💰 Tip: On the first weekend of every month, Bank of America cardholders get free admission! 📍 Eleanor Tinsley Park Stunning night views and super photogenic 📸. We even caught a surprise fireworks show over the skyline 🎆. Day 3 🍜 AFURI Ramen Tried the famous yuzu ramen — decent but not mind-blowing. The vibe inside was nice though. 📍 NASA Space Center Houston Do your research beforehand! Pick which tram tours you want to take and budget your time wisely. The only paid add-on — Mission Control Tour — lets you see the actual room where the Apollo missions were guided 🚀. ⏳ To fully explore all tours, allow 4–5 hours. ✅ Final Takeaway Houston blends city energy, green spaces, cultural spots, and space-age wonders — all doable in a well-planned weekend. Rent wheels, wear comfy shoes, and come hungry! Have a blast in H-Town! 🌃🤠✨ #US #Texas #Houston