The Beer Can House in Houston is one of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests because it's…read moreso unique to the city. This folk art style house, located in the Rice Military neighborhood, is covered in beer cans, bottles, and pull tabs, making it kind of a Houston landmark. The project was started by John Milkovisch, who, along with his wife Mary, saved empty beer cans for 17 years. While it may not have started as an artistic endeavor, it definitely became one. Ripley's Believe It or Not estimated that over 50,000 beer cans were used, though a more detailed count by a restoration team puts it closer to 30,000. Honestly, I don't know how many cans there are--but the sheer scale and creativity of it make the place undeniably unique and interesting. The Beer Can House is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and admission is free, which makes it an easy and fun stop. Walking around, you can see how every detail is covered in some form of recycled beer material. It's whimsical, creative, and just so quirky. If you're looking for something different to do in Houston, this is a must-see. It's a great mix of folk art, local culture, and a testament to how even the most ordinary materials can be transformed into something extraordinary. Love it!

"I was here" that's basically it, I love these Roadside Oddities and Attractions just as people…read morehave done since the invention of the automobile so when I'm close to one of them and have the time I usually check them out. There's no need to rehash the history of this one it's been been done a number of times and seems accurate and if the stories are embellished who cares. I was in Houston on business and I finally took the time to check out a few of these attractions, unfortunately this one is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays so I did my viewing from the sidewalk. This house is located in a residential neighborhood so if you choose to visit respect the very restricted side of the road parking and the speed limit - the City of Houston has provided a few speed bumps as a reminder if you're not paying attention. I thought it was worth the short detour and my time, I was able to view the front and side of the property without very much effort and of course respected the limited access without trespassing. There's no doubt this guy loved his beer and had a aberrant talent, I can imagine that most of his creativity came after drinking a twelve pack sitting in a lawn chair in the front yard, it was definitely a labor of love (a love of drinking beer) and he was likely a pioneer in recycling...

Pretty cool new art piece in 5th ward. In October 2011, the Fifth Ward Jam was completed and became…read morea fixture in a small public park. Dan Havel and Dean Ruck created a similar piece that I saw years ago on Montrose called Inversion. Now, they've got another, but this one adds a little something extra to the neighborhood, a performance venue. Fifth Ward Jam is an old building, twisted as if it has been in a crazy tornado, but with a stage in the front for local music and other performances. I love that this is art but not static art... it will add to the neighborhood and hopefully be embraced as a place to gather. It's a pretty cool structure, but the park is front of it needs a little TLC. I hope to see the community embrace the space and help spruce up the green space. As we were leaving, another car pulled up and it was an older woman with 4 young children. They all got out and ran over to the structure. I guess everyone wants a little look at it. You should head on over (during daylight hours) and see it for yourself. You may even be lucky enough to catch a performance.

I stumbled upon this little park and art piece after being diverted on a detour when I-10 was…read moreclosed at 59. As I drove by, I had to make a split second decision - risk getting mugged and check out this intricate art piece or keep on driving. I took a chance, parked my car, and walked towards the wooden structure. Very cool to look at and take a picture of. It reminds me of the Montrose Funnel Tunnel (Google it if you haven't seen it!). The park itself isn't a place I would take my little cousin to play at. It's very small and the area itself still feels a bit sketchy, even though it's probably perfectly fine. I'll have to give it some time though since I have been scammed around this area years before. Overall, if you are around the area, check out this cool piece of art!

Finally made it to Houston, explored with my family and this had been on my list of places to check…read moreout. I love me a good mural with the city/place I'm exploring, so this was a MUST! We parked at the POST and walked around u til we made it to here, overall it wasn't a bad walk and it was fairly empty, two other groups taking pictures, waited a bit but not a whole lot. Definitely a place to check out if you're in Houston, TX

Drove downtown and saw this mural and thought we'd take a few pix with the car…read more We didn't realize there were a few murals around town and this one is one of the colourful murals and glad we were able to snap a few pix. Thanks and credit to the artist who worked on this project. Well done mate!

Although I've never experienced a musical performance, wedding or even the light sequence at…read moreTwilight Epiphany, it's still a 5-star experience. As an art head and aesthetic enthusiast I've always wanted a Claes Oldenburg installation or architectural wonder open to the public in my city. Around 2012 my wish was granted! Located on the Rice campus, this spot has provided many a memory. Highlighting art, space and nature, this beautifully constructed, sparsely attended, and (imo) under appreciated spot is truly a standout in the community. I understand how this spot may feel ordinary to some, but between this, Rothko chapel, and Menil, all my aesthetic dreams are answered. Pro tip: This installation requires parking at the Rice Campus, and a short walk so be prepared! If you're visiting someone at Rice, St.Thomas TIRR, or the nearby hospital, it's def worth the stop in.

See the sky through a different light at sunrise and sunset…read more Twilight Epiphany Skyspace by James Turrell is part of the Skyspace series of monumental, interactive sculptures that can be found throughout the world. These works of immersive art are meant to have the viewer experience the sky and the surroundings. Twilight Epiphany Skyscape is located on a pyramid mound of earth. It is interesting to see the light sequence projected on the concrete "roof." The 40 minute light sequence starts 40 minutes before sunrise and 10 minutes before sunset. Climb the stairs to the second level seats or sit inside the pyramid. Or view the show from outside the pyramid. I think that is the better view. Look at the Moody Center for the Arts calendar to take a guided tour to learn more.

This is a cool hidden gem of a park. I love the mosaic art and it looks like Dia de los Muertos…read morecouple, a flower Man, a mermaid, a dog, a snowman, and many more. It's so cool!! While I was here I kept thinking about how much stuff was purchased at the thrift broken up and made to create beautiful unique art. I love it!! The weather was great viewing everything. I love that they placed a willow tree here since they it provides shade. The path is smooth. There are plenty of benches to sit and enjoy. I didn't see a designated parking area and so I parked on the right side, it's located on a packed street with houses on the left side. I had fun at this place!

WOW! Walking through those gates I was not expecting this beacon of mosaic magic! There was SO much…read moreto take in and the mid-November breezy, sunny skies only illuminated the beautiful details lining every inch fo the park even more. I loved most that there were so many folks there: having picnics, learning how to perfect their roller skating skills, and simply gawking at all of the gates covered in artistic, glass, and beaded masterpieces. The live music was a nice surprise, as well as the arena covered in Houston street signs. Every head turn greeted me with original and unique art ond display: speedometers, affirmations of the power of love, and even dancing mermaids and skeletons engaged in intense conversations. I loved it all! Glad that the winters are mild enough to enjoy this park all year long.

Color Factory was just ok to me. It is a bit over rated and over priced for adults; however. the…read morekids loved it but they were looking for more. It is one of those places that can easily be a one and done. There is discounted weekday price starting at $19 for kids 3-12. Something tells me the $19 is if you buy it in advance. Meaning, not the day of. I paid $25 for the kids and $29 for myself online. The photo opps are what you make of it. Like for instance I've been to places where you press a button and the confetti drops down. For this, you have to actually throw the confetti up yourself. Good luck trying to figure this out with kids if you're looking for a good photo. They were also a bit underwhelmed with it. They loved the music room, the light bright room, and the balloon room. The goodies. It was cute. I'm trying bit to give the whole experience away if you are interested in going. It is best to pay for the ice cream online as it is a bit cheaper but not by much. Those cones were cute and delicious. I purchased the photo package. It really isn't necessary as you get to download the photos from a QR code you use when snapping the pics. There is a small parking lot near to it. If you wait for the group before you to leave then you can get a spot without an issue.

Wasn't sure what to expect from Color Factory but this was a really cute experience. It was very…read morecolorful and I loved that you could interact with the items in all the rooms. It had a really good flow and the staff were super friendly and made sure that things stayed clean. This is a nice activity for both children and adultsm

Not to be confused with the Ride Wall (where you can get laid, on a wall), the Bride Wall (where…read moreyou can marry the person you get laid with), or the Crimson Tide Wall (where you can turn someone down when they want to get laid with you and cite "that time of the month"). This is a beautiful wall with rainbow colours to show you that you're in a neighbourhood that welcomes all, and discriminates against none. Homophobia is an enormous problem in the US and around the world, and we should be the pioneers of stopping it. This sort of public art is part of a big ongoing project to shut the hateful people up and put everyone in the "equal" zone that they should always have been in. Montrose is great. There are a lot of beautiful things here. I absolutely love this pride wall.

Nicely done #PrideWallHTX. Not to mention it's for a great cause, but also attracted many onlookers…read moreto this spot. Here is the story I found through David N's photo caption. http://about-online.com/featured/pride-wall-goes-up-in-montrose/ and Instagram posts https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/pridewallhtx/. I'm glad City of Houston has so many artist displays in public spaces. Oh, one more thing - no parking. I walked from a nearby business to see this wall.

I really love downtown Houston and its mix of modern and old architecture, street & mural art, open…read moregreen spaces, hip eateries, bars, hotels, and more. It's a vibrant city full of life, character, and inspiration. Always have a great time when visiting.

Downtown Houston is so magical. People walking, people talking, people laughing and having a good…read moretime. Downtown Houston is full of fun places. Fun murals and fun buildings to look at. Downtown Houston has beautiful murals with beautiful buildings and beautiful views.

Very awesome collection of graffiti / street art and also mural art, and additionally an amazing…read moreplace for IG photos. Recommended as a place to check out if you are in Houston!

I was browsing for a sunrise area in Houston and found this place on Tour advisor sort of a site,…read moreso decided to explore it. Graffiti on the wall, great! But the area is so so. I read that the graffiti keeps changing with artists using it as an open gallery and lots of walls in and around have art on them, but the area needs to become something more clean ( a lottt more clean and inviting) and more... how do I put it, lets just say I would not venture there alone. The rising sun does make a great lighting for some interesting pics though.

If you're looking for something truly unique in Houston, this is it! The bat emergence at sunset is…read morehands‑down one of the coolest natural shows I've ever seen in the city. Hundreds of thousands of Mexican free‑tailed bats come streaming out from under the bridge as dusk hits -- it's mesmerizing watching them swirl up over the bayou and head out to hunt insects. Reminded me of Austin which has a similar spot.

Watching more than 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from under the bridge is an awesome…read moresight. This is one of my favorite places to take friends and family visiting from out of town--it's such a cool experience! The best time to see them is about 30 minutes before sunset. You may have a wait a while, but be patient- it's worth it! As the bats get ready for their nightly flight, you can hear them becoming more active. They will begin dropping from the crevices under the bridge and sometimes gather in small groups. Sometimes they leave in small groups and sometimes en masse. My favorite is when they emerge as a giant swirling bat tornado! You can bring a blanket to sit on the steep hill, stand on the pathway below, or watch from the bridge above. Just watch out for cyclists--they don't always slow down for pedestrians and can be a bit hazardous. Frown. The guano smell is strong, but hey, it's all part of the experience. Parking is tricky. Do NOT park in the shopping center across the street where Subway is, even if the lot is empty. They tow cars--I found out the hard way. $350! If you can't snag one of the limited parking spots nearby, I'd suggest taking an Uber or Lyft instead. This is such a unique and fun experience, and I can't recommend it enough!