5 Must Do Things in the Energy Corridor

Two people recline on a picnic under the shade of trees
Spend some leisure time in Energy Corridor green space, like Terry Hershey Park | Courtesy of Harris County Precinct 4

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

Houston’s Energy Corridor may play home to the world’s largest energy companies, but there’s way more to this business district than straight business.

There’s the Houston Greek Fest at the St. Basil The Great Greek Orthodox Church, for starters. Plus, these playful, tasty, and invigorating activities.

Note: For the purposes of this list, the Energy Corridor is defined by this map.

5 Must Do Things in the Energy Corridor

Two hands reaching for a slice of pizza
Sample a slice of brick-oven scorched pies at Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana | Courtesy of Pizaro’s Pizza

Share pies at the original Pizaro’s Pizza

Houston’s first Vera Pizza Napoletana-certified pizzeria slings out what are easily some of the best pies in town.

The thin and chewy, Neapolitan-style pies cook for about 90 seconds in a 900-degree Italian brick oven before coming out hot and beautifully scorched.

You’ll want to come with a crew so you can share a few varieties, which include but are not limited to a caramelized onion and bell pepper Sweetpea Pizza, classic Calabrese pizza with spicy soppressata and pepperoni, and Margherita pie jazzed up with a spinach and ricotta-stuffed crust.

Finish the meal with a piece of tiramisu or shareable Nutella flatbread.

A view from a golf practice bay at Top Golf
Swing your way through Energy Corridor with a stop at TopGolf | Courtesy of TopGolf

Practice your swing at Top Golf

This interactive driving range is the coolest way to hit the green.

Perfect for an after-work happy hour, a leisurely weekend, or when you have guests in town and want to play hooky from work, head here to grab some drinks and above-par pub grub while you do your best to hit golf balls at targets in the outfield.

Don’t worry, there are microchips to keep score so you don’t have to.

Three bicyclists pedaling a trail on a sunny day
Take to the bike trails of Terry Hershey Park in Energy Corridor | Courtesy of Harris County Precinct 4

Explore nature at Energy Corridor parks

Stretched over 7,800 acres, you can spend the entire day exploring George Bush Park. The public park boasts jogging and biking trails lined by swamps, ponds, and forests, plus soccer and baseball fields, playgrounds and pavilions, and a shooting range.

If you’d like to keep things easier, try the 500-acre Terry Hershey Park, where you’ll find over 10 miles of hike and bike trails, dubbed “The Anthills.”

An empty roller rink with bright neon lights shining throughout
Strap on a pair of skates and get rollin’ at this 50-year old roller rink | Courtesy of Dairy Ashford Roller Rink

Get your skate on at Dairy Ashford Roller Rink

Break out the tube socks and head back in time at this old school roller skating rink, which has kept the party going since 1974.

Today, the throwback is the perfect place to get nostalgic, whether it be at a birthday party, cheap public skates, or adult skate nights complete with DJs.

There are roller skates and inline blades available, so all you need to do is lace up and get rollin’.

A plate of salmon with oysters and a creamy sauce
Pull up a seat at French dining restaurant, Bistro 555 | Courtesy of Bistro 555

Go French at Bistro 555

You can visit Paris without ever leaving the city by taking a short trip to the charming Bistro 555, from the former owners of Le Mistral and current owners of Rice Village’s Cafe Rabelais.

Start with sizzling escargot, foie gras tartelette with roasted mango, duck confit and blackberry sauce, or a wood-fired French onion soup finished with melty Gruyère; then indulge in bistro plates from moules frites to duck l’orange before treating yourself to a tarte tatin or creme brulee for dessert.


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Brooke Viggiano is a food and lifestyle writer residing in Houston. When she's not contributing to publications like 365 Things to Do in Houston, Thrillist Houston and the Houston Press, she's on the hunt for the coolest happenings in the city. You can follow her musings on Twitter @BrookeViggiano .