5 Must Do Things in the Clear Lake Area

In our series of Must Do Things Around Greater Houston, we take a look at Houston’s vast array of neighborhoods to bring you five fun, tasty, and enticing reasons you should give each a visit. 

Just 20 or so miles from Downtown, this oft-overlooked area is booming with fun. And with water, as the region is surrounded by bodies of water like Clear Lake, Clear Creek, and Galveston Bay. While you should definitely consider renting a boat or jet ski and get out on Clear Lake itself, that’s not all it has to offer. Here are 5 other awesome things to do in the ‘hood.

Note: For the purposes of this list, the Clear Lake is the area in and surrounding the neighborhoods of Clear Lake, Webster, and Nassau Bay.

5 Must Do Things in the Clear Lake Area

1. Explore the Johnson Space Center – Fun fact: Did you know the line “Houston, we have a problem” quoted in Apollo 13 isn’t exactly right. The words were actually “Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” Not as catchy, but we digress. This being Space City and all, you really can’t consider yourself a true Houstonian until you’ve checked out all of the awesomeness NASA has to offer. Hit the Space Center to marvel at a full-scale, 122.7-foot long and 54-foot high replica of the Space Shuttle; get up close and personal with the colossal, 36-story tall Saturn V, the most powerful rocket ever built and operated, in Rocket Park; take a glimpse into life on the International Space Station; embark on a tram tour of the facilities and see the historic Mission Control; and check out a plethora of other attractions and special exhibitions. Click here for directions.
2. Eat around the world – After exploring all things out-of-this-world at the Space Center, it’s only fair to explore this world’s delights. And what better way to do that than through food? Slurp tonkotsu ramen with scratchmade noodles at Jinya Ramen Bar; taste the aromas and spices of India at Cuisine of India; go full Cajun/Creole with boudin and crawfish etouffee at Abe’s Cajun Market; feast on red sauce Italian classics at Frenchie’s Italian Restaurant and Grazia Italian Kitchen; tempt your taste buds with fiery foods at Thai Spice Rice & Noodle House; get fresh falafel, souvlaki and moussaka at Mediterraneo Market and Cafe; and devour Filipino barbecue at FBQ Filipino Barbecue or go for all-American smokehouse style at Pappas Deltas Blues.
3. Go fishing, hiking, or wildlife-watching on Nassau Bay – It may be on the smaller side, but Nassau Bay has no shortage of picturesque parks and green spaces at which to get your nature on. The peninsula boasts a natural wetland area complete with a newly installed nature trail, Lake Nassau Park and Founders Park are perfect for fishing, and you’ll find a walking trail and flower gardens at Howard L. Park. Click here for directions.
4. Scout out new music at Scout Bar – Some of the coolest local and national acts make their way to this grungy music bar, from well-known heavy metal bands to up-and-coming punk rock acts that may just be the next big thing. Grab a cold one and get ready for a night of rock. Click here for directions.
5. See what happens when craft beer meets Vietnamese eats at Nobi Public House – One of Houston’s finest craft beer pubs lies in an unassuming strip mall in Webster. Even better? Not only does Nobi Public House play host to a killer 200+ bottle and draft beer program that rivals any in the loop, they also raise the bar with fantastic Vietnamese-fusion pub grub. That means you can sip your suds with char-grilled pork fries, sweet chili wings and a fragrant bowl of Sunday only pho. If the amalgamation of craft beer and Vietnamese-inspired food doesn’t define Houston, we don’t know what does. Click here for directions.