Houston Bound

One hallmark of this trip, and an important part of driving across Texas, is stopping at Buc-ee's. It's so much more than a gas station. It advertises the cleanest (and most numerous) restrooms on the highway, it has a massive amount of snacks and drinks, and it's an excellent place to pick up a Texas-themed souvenir.

Grab a table outside if the weather is nice and sit down to a plate of barbecue after your long ride. A classic order is either a beef brisket plate or a sausage plate. Cauliflower au gratin is a bit out of the ordinary as a side, but it's great here.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. Closed Mondays.

One of the most underrated and stunning places to go in Houston is this center. You can walk through a butterfly habitat while learning about the various type of butterflies and learn about the pollinator plants that attract them.
Get tickets in advance..

The exterior of this museum is worth visiting all on its own, but the permanent collection and interestingly curated visiting exhibitions are always interesting. Make a stop at its sculpture garden while you're there. Diversity is part of its mission, so expect to see a lot of art outside of the European tradition.
Open Wednesday from 11am to 5pm; Thursday from 11am to 9pm; Friday and Saturday from 11am to 6pm; and Sunday from 12:30 to 6pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

When locals think Houston, they think Hermann Park. This huge green area includes a Japanese Garden, pedal boats, and 445 acres of open park area. Amble around admire the art in the park or point yourself towards numerous points of interest around the park.

Houston has one of the largest populations of Vietnamese immigrants in the U.S. Xin Cháo, Vietnamese cuisine is combined with Gulf Coast food with a kitchen helmed by "Master Chef" winner Christine Ha. Try the Viet-Cajun oysters with the flat iron steak and finish your meal off with an order of coconut bread pudding.

You wouldn't really experience Houston without finishing the evening with a cocktail in the city's Montrose district. Present Company has a cute patio surrounded with stained glass and a patio to look down on the famous Westheimer Road. You're in Space City, so order up a "Are Those Space Pants?" cocktail or select something from their nicely curated beer and wine list.

Enjoy a five-star night of sleep back at your hotel.