Fastlane Performance

Dive into the wonders of the underwater world at the unique Downtown Aquarium, where you can interact with the ancient legends of El Dorado in the Sunken Temple, sink to the bottom of the neighboring sea, and catch glimpses of offshore rig divers in the Underwater Rig. Tour the marsh and bayous of the Gulf Coast and encounter the alligators, turtles, bullfrogs, and more in the Texas Bayou. Step inside the sunken hull of a 17th-century Spanish Galleon and see the giant octopus, a moray eel, clownfish, and the diversity of species the ocean world has to offer at the Shipwreck. Explore the lush environment of the dangerous tropical life of the red-bellied piranhas and venomous freshwater stingrays in the Rainforest. Step into Discovery Zone and come face-to-face with electric eels, seahorses, and a dazzling array of colorful fish. Interactive monitors let you further explore coral reefs, the arctic seas, and the mysteries of the deep ocean. You may even meet one of our Ambassador Animals up close during the daily Animal Encounters.

Explore the origins of earth and man at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where more than a dozen permanent exhibits explore the worlds of astronomy, space science, Native Americans, chemistry, energy, paleontology, and Texas wildlife. There are also several displays of dinosaur skeletons, natural gems, and other attractions that will keep you occupied for hours. Special sections of the museum include the Wortham IMAX Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium, and the George Observatory.

What began as a hobby has bloomed into one of Houston's most popular tourist attractions, The Beer Can House. Over 18 years, the house disappeared under 50,000 flattened beer cans of different varieties for practical and decorative reasons. The can motif was only one aspect of the now-iconic visionary art environment. The yard is filled with plants and flowers that hang from the trees, occupy ceramic vessels, and grow in raised beds. As the neighborhood has changed, the property remains a time capsule of Houston’s vernacular architecture from the early 20th century, with a surprise around every corner.

Grab your tankard of ale, your favorite Lord and Lady, and spirit your way to The Texas Renaissance Festival, named #1 Best Cultural Festival by USA Today. Take a step back in time to the nation's largest Renaissance-themed event, where you will experience a 60-acre 16th-century European village filled with kings, queens, knights, nobles, peasants, and all manner of fantasy creatures. The festival has 21 stages of continuous entertainment by clowns, acrobats, musicians, dancers, magicians, award-winning food and drink, wine and beer, and over 500 shops that showcase the work of master artists and craftspeople from around the world.