Mandie’s Drive In

Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, where you can enjoy five miles of nature trails winding through native prairie, savanna, wetland, woodland, riparian habitats, and have ample opportunities for exciting wildlife sightings. Explore The Nature Center building, which features a Nature Shop filled with items for nature lovers of all ages, an interactive Discovery Room, Educational Exhibits, hands-on activities, live ambassador animals, biofacts, and a weekly botany display.

The Houston Zoo is home to more than 4,500 animals, with more than 900 species representing the seventh most-visited zoo in the nation. Explore the featured attractions, which include the Kipp Aquarium, The Fischer Bird Gardens, the Tropical Bird House, a Children's Zoo with a petting zoo and water playground, the World of Primates, the Wildlife Carousel, the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, and the Reptile & Amphibian Building.

Explore the remnants of the Old Market Square at La Carafe, where they have a reasonably priced wine bar where anyone can enjoy a mellow atmosphere, a nice wine selection, and good company with interesting people. The dim lights are coupled with arguably the best jukebox in town, ringing tunes from jazz and oldies to the cool sounds of Bob Marley. The bar takes as much space as the area for customers, but that doesn’t stop those wanting to come in and relax a bit, even if it means cozying up to a stranger on a crowded Saturday night.

Catch one of your favorite musicians or bands at the Arena Theater, a legend in Houston's music scene. As one of Houston's oldest concert venues, the Arena Theatre is notable for its arena-in-the-round style and excellent acoustics that have showcased such legendary and notable performers as Willie Nelson, BB King, Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Clint Black, and Huey Lewis and the News. The intimate setting feels more like a private event than a concert venue. All seats are less than 60 feet from the stage, giving you the feeling that you are part of the show, not just a spectator. The stage revolves, too, so every seat in the house is an excellent one.