The first word spoken on the moon was "Houston," so it’s fitting that the city is home to one of the finest interstellar museums on planet Earth. NASA’s Space Center Houston boasts a mammoth amount of permanent displays and attractions, including a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that is over 156 feet long. Plus: an extensive artifact collection, live shows and the NASA Tram Tour, which will take you behind the scenes at Johnson Space Center.

Reaching northwest from Galveston Bay, Buffalo Bayou is 160 acres of parkland and running trails. Founded in 1986, the partnership has raised millions of dollars for waterfront redevelopment and spearheaded various park protection projects. One of the finest ways to enjoy the bayou’s beauty is from the water itself, starting downtown at Allen’s Landing and working your way west.

The oldest haunt in Houston, La Carafe is an intimate candlelit tavern that has been serving locals for more than 125 years. Enjoy a string of immortal jukebox tunes (think Django Reinhart, Edith Piaf and Hank Williams) while sipping wine or beer in this venue, which has been listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Keep an eye out for the resident ghost: an old bartender called "Carl" is allegedly still around, possibly waiting for one final tip (he doesn’t accept credit cards).

The historic beach town of Galveston is less than an hour’s drive from Houston and is considered by many to be an extension of the city itself. There’s plenty to do here too, from 32-miles of beaches (chilled-out Jamaica Beach is the locals' favorite) to an evocative historic district, full of Victorian architecture and old seafaring inns. Check out the chateau-like Bishop’s Palace before pedaling a beach cruiser bike along the seawall at sunset.

Towering over the Houston Ship Channel, the San Jacinto Monument is the tallest war memorial in the nation, standing 15 feet higher than the Washington Monument. The 570-foot obelisk—topped by a massive 220-ton Lone Star of Texas—pays tribute to those who fought for Texas' independence from Mexico in 1836.

"Inspired, hip, tasty, funky, savvy" shouts the famous mural at 520 Travis Street, which has become something of a photographic flag-bearer for the city. This wonderfully vibrant, colorful image isn't just Instagram bait: It aims to boost local pride by drawing attention to the city’s more celebrated characteristics, right here in the heart of the Market Square District. Its message is clear: Houston, we don’t have a problem.

Formerly the Williams Waterwall, the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall is one of Houston’s most popular spots to relax—and the city’s most photographed site. It became fully operational in 1985. A dramatic 64-foot semicircular fountain, it recycles a ferocious 11,000 gallons of water-per-minute in what has become liquid Instagram gold.

Visitors can discover everything from the mysterious traditions surrounding the burial of a Pope to a recreation of Abraham Lincoln’s state funeral at this awesome museum. The real must-see here is arguably the enormous 1916 Packard graveyard bus, created to "eliminate funeral processions." It could carry a coffin, pallbearers and 20 mourners, but was hastily retired after the sheer weight in the back caused it to tip over on a San Francisco hill.

As one of the largest museums in the United States, expect exhibitions and installations galore. Check out everything from Renaissance art to rare African sculptures, before enjoying the resident DJ usually on premise during special events and grabbing a bite to eat from one of the curated food trucks usually parked outside.