As the country’s fourth-largest city, Houston is always bustling. Over 2.3 million people are constantly running around, going from work to home or heading out on the town. However, it’s not always as exciting as it sounds. Sometimes you want to get away from it all so you can reflect, think, or contemplate your life. You may not completely escape your fellow residents, but at least you can zone them out. Here are the best places to take a solitary and scenic walk in the Space City.
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
Located on almost three acres in Houston’s Uptown neighborhood, Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is the perfect place to get away from it all. Surrounded by massive, modernized skyscrapers and 186 live oak trees, the park is an eclectic blend of natural and manmade structures. The centerpiece is a 64-foot semi-circular fountain that pumps 11,000 gallons of water per minute, allowing it to cascade down the structure’s walls. There’s something serene about watching the fountains here that puts you at ease.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Covering over 160 acres west of downtown and north of the Fourth Ward, Buffalo Bayou Park is one of the country’s most majestic urban green spaces. It’s open from dusk until dawn, and you can always find a spot all to yourself somewhere in its vast expanses. If you want a more fitness-based approach to your solitude, biking and hiking are two popular choices, but you can always walk along the miles of trails that run throughout the park.
If you find a comfortable spot to relax or a park bench for a seat, you’ll have spectacular views of the Houston skyline, or you can watch the local bats fly around through the sky as they find their dinner. No matter what you do, you’ll find something to please and relax you at Buffalo Bayou.
Neartown-Montrose
If you want to soak up some of Houston’s unique charm, take a stroll in the Neartown-Montrose neighborhood. Unlike some of the more modern areas in the city, Neartown-Montrose doesn’t have any cookie-cutter buildings or architecture, providing you with constantly different scenery. Even if you’re wandering aimlessly, you’ll always find something that’s worth a look. Plus, the population density isn’t nearly as high, giving you a bit more solitude than in other areas of the city.
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Situated right next to the Galleria, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is one of the most beautiful natural places in the city. Take one of the many nature trails through the park, especially if you love animals, as you’ll see frogs, turtles, and more along the way. If that’s not enough time to yourself, you can also stroll along and feast your eyes on the natural greenery.
Before you lose your sanity, remember that Houston has plenty of places to get some fresh air, enjoy the scenery, and forget all your worries and troubles. Even if it’s only for an hour or so, you’ll see how therapeutic it can be.
This photo, “Metropolis,” by eflon, used under CC BY 2.o. “Metropolis” is licensed under CC BY 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.
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