Although James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyspace at Rice University is viewable any time of the day, the best time to stop by is at either sunrise or sunset when the ceiling is lit up by LED lights in a 40-minute light show. We’re morning people, so you can guess which we prefer. The installation opens daily at 6am but the light sequence begins 40 minutes before sunrise, so plan accordingly.

Located just 20 minutes southeast of downtown Houston is one of the city’s youngest gardens. The Houston Botanic Garden, which opened to the public in 2020, is a 132-acre outdoor paradise ripe for exploration. The garden includes over 2.5 miles of walking trails and a collection of themed gardens. Since it opens at 9am daily, it’s a great option if you’re looking to get your morning started with some outdoor exploration.

While many antique stores open late on the weekend, you can satiate your inner antique junky earlier in the day by attending local estate sales. Many of them open by 8am, meaning you can start shopping as soon as you finish your morning coffee. Part of the thrill? You never know what treasures you’re going to uncover as you do your rummaging. Prices at estate sales are also usually pretty low, which is why most owners of local antique stores and vintage clothing shops do the majority of their sourcing at them.

Did you know there is an interactive experience in Houston dedicated to all things slime? Sloomoo Institute, located in Spring Branch, is Houston’s temple to everyone’s favorite goo. The ASMR-friendly experience includes over 25 vats of slime to play with as well as a DIY slime-making bar, and what the museum calls “Lake Sloomoo,” a lake made up of over 350 gallons of slime that visitors can walk in. Sloomoo is the place for those wanting to start their day with a tactile experience.

Wandering aimlessly around specialty grocery stores is one of our absolute favorite past times, and the best time to do so is on weekend mornings when the crowds are thin and the food is super fresh. Houston is home to a wide variety of specialty grocery stores, meaning you can switch up your shopping excursions on a regular basis.

Great Wall Supermarket (8am) in Dun Huang Plaza in Asiatown is your best bet to stock your pantry with a variety of Asian snacks and drinks. Hong Kong Food Market (8am) in Hong Kong City Mall is another great option for snack fiends, and the produce here is stellar. You also can’t go wrong with H Mart (9am daily), especially if you’re craving some traditional Korean fare. Fans of Japanese cuisine will enjoy Seiwa Market (9am), a small Japanese grocery store stocked full with everything from teas, crackers, and candies to bento boxes and desserts. If you’re in the mood for a truly international shopping experience, head to Phoenicia Market (9am daily), which offers goods from over 50 countries, with a particular focus on Middle Eastern products.

Start your morning doing minimal fitness and breaking a very leisurely sweat at Home Run Dugout in Katy, which opens at 9am Saturday and Sunday. The sports bar, restaurant, and entertainment venue features indoor soft-toss baseball in simulated batting bays, meaning you can discover the magic of baseball without having to dirty your clothing or deal with any fastballs. Although Home Run Dugout can be experienced solo, it’s best with a group of friends, so gather your fellow early risers and make a morning of it.

Want to sneak a bit of learning into your morning? Head to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which opens bright and early at 9am every Saturday and Sunday, well before Houston’s other museums do. Weekend mornings are a great way to check out new exhibits without having to deal with any of the crowds or overstimulated children.

Although Houston is home to plenty of parks and public green spaces, there are only a handful where the foliage is so lush and expansive that you forget you’re still in a city. At the top of that list is the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, a wooded, 155-acre nonprofit urban sanctuary filled with over five miles of pristine trails and habitats that range from native prairie to savanna, wetland, and woodland. Located on the western edge of Memorial Park, the arboretum opens at 7am on weekends, ideal for early birds on the hunt for a hiking destination that isn’t overflowing with joggers and cyclists.

The best way to start any day of the week is with a short meditation session. If you’re wanting to do that but also be in good company, then take advantage of the Houston Zen Center. Located in a historic home in the Heights, the organization offers services every Sunday starting at around 8am. Come for chanting and bows at 8:20am, then stay for group meditation at 8:50am. There’s also a newcomers introduction at 9:20am and a Dharma talk at 9:45am that all are welcome to attend.

Do you know who are also early risers? Most of the animals at the Houston Zoo, which opens at 9am on Saturday and Sunday, making early mornings the best time to start your wild journey. There are usually fewer people (especially children) when the zoo first opens, and the weather is generally more bearable, especially during the summer months. Oh, and parking is also rarely an issue that early in the morning.

If you’re on the hunt for some succulents and cacti to add to your garden, the absolute best spot in Houston to do your shopping is at the Cactus King in Northside. The nursery, which opens at 9am on Saturdays (and is unfortunately closed on Sundays), has the largest selection of our favorite prickly plant babies in town, including extremely rare varieties. The nursery only takes cash and checks, so come with a pre-loaded wallet.

Are you a very, very early riser? If so, you can get your day started at the Houston Farmers Market on Airline in the Heights. The market opens at 6am daily, and if you head there that early, you can do your shopping without having to worry about any kinds of crowds. Several other local farmers markets also open by 9am, including Urban Harvest Farmers Market (every Saturday, 8am–noon), Braeswood Farmers Market (Saturday, 9am–1pm), Heights Mercantile Farmers Market (second and fourth Sunday of every month, 9am–1pm), Memorial Villages Farmers Market (Saturday, 9am–1pm), Rice Village Farmers Market (first and third Sunday of every month, 9am–1pm), and Tomball Farmers Market (every Saturday, 9am–1pm).