Palazzo's

Grab some cold water, ice cream, and milk and get ready as you boldly go where many have dared to go, the Hops N Hot Sauce Festival, where hot sauces, salsas, peppers, spices, chili mixes, wing sauces, and all things hot and mild are waiting for you to taste. Participate in the Hot Pepper Eating Contest, enjoy the free photo booth, taste samples of spicy foods, drink fresh craft beer, enter the Pickle Eating Contest, and enjoy free giveaways and free face painting fun.

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.

Admire ​all the vibrant works of art that provide a unique opportunity to see artists in action and the evolution of an arts destination come to life at Smither Park, where the creative urban space developed with the help of an entire community. ​Smither Park is an outrageous, fanciful, functional playland featuring different, exciting, and interactive features. Their commitment to sustainability and recycling inspires decorative elements by exploring the reuse and repurposing of materials like broken ceramic, bottle caps, tiles, and sea shells.

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.