General Recon

Join Alley Theatre, the crown jewel, where actors, designers, composers, and playwrights thrive using arts scenes on stage and produce up to 16 plays yearly, ranging from the best current work to re-invigorated classic plays. The talented cast, crew, and producers challenge themselves with different shows each season. In addition to the educational and outreach efforts each year, they encourage young playwrights, performers, and future patrons to participate and explore programs like Stage to Page, HYPE, and the Young Performers Studio.

Go on a discovery tour at the Children's Museum of Houston, which has a 5-star rating on social network sites, was voted Ultimate Kid-Friendly Attraction in a Houston Chronicle readers' poll, and tied for the number one spot as the nation's best children's museum in Child Magazine. The Children's Museum was built specifically for youngsters so that the kids can learn while having fun with tons of interactive and bilingual exhibits. Check out the EcoStation, which will teach kids to understand how our actions impact the environment and what we can do about it. Stop by FlowWorks, which unleashes the power of water for children to explore and research the concept of energy flow, and try out The Invention Convention, where gadgets and gizmos galore are laid out for kids to connect, create and construct anything their heart desires.

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.