Beautiful Houston

Hidden Beauty: 25 Scenic Spots, Nature Hikes, Historic Landmarks, and More. Plus: The challenges of urban farming, getaways to Hill Country and Las Vegas, Houston's most Instagrammable food, and our annual list of the city's top doctors.

In this issue:

Arts & Culture

Urban Beauty

Houston’s Mini Murals Turn Mundane Objects into Art

As much-needed city beautification projects flourish, the UP Art Studio initiative has grown to 400 traffic control cabinets in the past decade.

09/03/2024 By Meredith Nudo

World Famous

An Exploration of Houston’s Most Important Pieces of Art

The city is home to some great artwork, but does anything here reach Mona Lisa status?

08/29/2024 By Daniel Renfrow

Eat & Drink

Camera Eats First

These Houston Dishes and Cocktails Do It for the ’Gram

Social media has transformed the way restaurants craft their menus. Here’s the prettiest food in town that actually tastes good, too.

08/21/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

Milestones

Cheers to 30 Years of Houston’s Saint Arnold Brewing

Brock Wagner, owner of the oldest craft brewery in Texas, reflects on three decades of success.

06/06/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

Bringing Mexico Home

There’s So Much to Love about Ema’s New Heights Cafe

The bakery has leveled up from a popular pop-up and farmers market vendor to an exciting brick-and-mortar cafe.

04/18/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

Health & Wellness

Best in Care

Houston’s Top Doctors

In need of a medical specialist? Here are Houston's best cardiologists, pediatricians, gynecologists, and more, as chosen by their peers.

09/24/2025 By Houstonia Staff

News & City Life

Vanities Issue

Beautiful Houston

Whoever said our city is ugly simply isn't looking.

09/25/2024 Edited by Emma Balter

Yes Ma’am, No Ma’am

We Ranked Fall Activities We Love or Hate

From pumpkin spice anything to corn mazes, we’re giving our spicy opinions.

09/23/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

Small Ag

Urban Farmers Want to Stay in Houston. All They Need Is Land.

Developers opt for ventures that turn a profit, leaving farmers to rely on public and private benefactors to donate land.

09/09/2024 By Meredith Nudo

Green Space

Buffalo Bayou’s Transformation Will Soon Connect to the East End

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership has been working to revitalize Houston’s natural resource since 1986, but there is so much more to come.

09/06/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

Fleeting Beauty

Houston Views We Love to Admire while Driving

These roadside vistas make navigating the city by car more bearable.

09/04/2024 By Emma Balter

Guardians of History

Meet the Houstonians Preserving the Past to Serve the Future

Multiple local groups are protecting historic landmarks despite the city’s penchant to tear down the old and build the new.

08/26/2024 By Uvie Bikomo

Sacred Spaces

Stunning Sacred Spaces in Houston to Channel Your Spirituality

From temples to cathedrals, the city’s religious institutions add grace and charm to our urban landscape.

08/20/2024 By Uvie Bikomo

Beneath the Canopy

There’s Always a Photo Shoot at Houston’s Broadacres

The beautiful oak-lined boulevard is a go-to for engagement, quinceañera, and graduation photos.

08/20/2024 By Meredith Nudo

The Scenic Route

We’re Begging You to Get Off the Highway

Driving on “avoid highways” mode is the only way to truly appreciate all of Houston’s beauty.

08/19/2024 By Emma Balter

Growth Mindset

Texas Medical Center’s Venture Fund Is Opening Doors

Thanks to this Houston-based initiative, health care startups have support to test-run their innovative ideas.

08/13/2024 By Mellanie Perez

Clean and Green

Meet the Little Vacuum Boat Keeping Buffalo Bayou Clean

The Bayou-Vac, a vacuum cleaner–enhanced boat, helps remove 160 dump trucks of trash from the bayou every year.

07/17/2024 By Daniel Renfrow

Houstorian

Houston’s Most Utopian Shopping Mall Is Now Its Biggest Eyesore

Westbury Square was a walkable European-style development with a quaint collection of shops. How did it fall to such disrepair?

05/10/2024 By James Glassman Photography by Shannon O'Hara

Still in It

So What Is Beto O’Rourke up to Now, Anyway?

After running (unsuccessfully) to be senator, president, and governor, the Texas politico is not done with advocacy or campaigning.

05/08/2024 By Meredith Nudo

Political Contender

Can Colin Allred Ride a Bipartisan Wave to Defeat Ted Cruz?

The Dallas politician thinks he can appeal to Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters in barely-teetering-on-purple Texas.

05/01/2024 By Uvie Bikomo

Style & Shopping

Bayougraphy

Danny Nguyen Is Taking Houston Fashion Global

The local designer’s creations are already putting the city on the map.

06/20/2024 By Uvie Bikomo

Travel & Outdoors

Secret Beauty

The Hidden Natural Beauty of Houston

The city is so much more than a concrete jungle of highways—you just have to know where to look.

09/13/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

Secret Spot

Shining a Light on Armand Bayou Nature Center on 50th Anniversary

The 2,500-acre nature preserve showcases what Houston would’ve looked like if humans never settled here. Why do so few people know it exists?

08/30/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez

Wine and Vistas

The Quiet Charm of Texas Hill Country’s Small Towns

Skip Fredericksburg on your next country escape and discover what these underrated destinations have to offer.

08/23/2024 By Amanda Albee

Sin City

The Las Vegas Tourist Attractions Actually Worth Your Time and Money

Vegas is much more than drinking and gambling—you just have to know where to look.

07/19/2024 By Sofia Gonzalez