5 Must Do Things in Washington Corridor & Memorial Park

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.

The strip along Washington Avenue stretching from Downtown through Memorial Park has seen a revival in recent years.

Now a jungle of bars and restaurants, mixed-use developments, art studios, theaters, and a stock of fresh townhomes and apartment complexes, the district is a playground for the young and the young at heart.

That’s not to say the area has lost its original charm, as a few favorite stalwarts remain.

Here’s a look at where to eat, drink, and play in this vibrant ‘hood.

Note: For purposes of this list, Washington Corridor and Memorial Park are defined by this map.

5 Must Do Things in Washington Corridor & Memorial Park

Escape urban life at Memorial Park

Even in Houston’s hottest months, you’ll find dedicated locals making their rounds around Memorial Park’s three-mile loop. Lace up and hit the track for a jog or a nice walk, and look out for running clubs if you need some extra motivation.

The park also boasts 30 miles of hiking trails, the new natural land bridges that cross Memorial Drive, the gorgeous Clay Family Eastern Glades, ample free space for a pick-up flag football or soccer game, plus softball fields, sand volleyball, tennis and croquet courts, and a driving range where you can get your practice swing on.

Golf lovers can book tee times for the 18-hole Memorial Park Golf Course, swimmers can hit the lanes at the Memorial Park Fitness Center (daily or monthly memberships are available), cyclists can hit the awesome trails of the southwest section, and locals can check out a lineup of scheduled events, from food truck visits to trail days.

After working up a sweat, treat yourself to a burger at the onsite Becks Prime… you’ve earned it.

Eat & drink your way down Washington Ave

Start at cult classic Stanton City Bites. Just a few blocks north of Washington on the hood’s east end, the burger joint has been keeping locals well fed since it was first established as a grocery store in 1961.

Make your way to B&B Butchers & Restaurant, where you’ll find a bespoke butchery pumping out standout deli sandwiches and a steakhouse with some serious chops; and its sibling establishment B.B. Lemon, where you’ll find burgers, oysters, and French onion soup, just down the way.

Tacodeli is where you’ll find stellar Mexican-inspired tacos and a friendly vibe; and at Platypus Brewing, get brews crafted with Tex heart and Australian soul.

Stop for a mint julep at one of Houston’s hottest (and appropriately named) bars, the Southern cocktailery Julep.

Near Sawyer, celebrity chef Christine Ha and crawfish master Tony J. Nguyen teamed up to open hit Vietnamese spot Xin Chao over in the old Beaver’s space on Sawyer.

If you’re still feeling unquenched, chill spots like Liberty Station, Porch Swing, and Underdogs Pub should do the trick.

As you make your way west, you’ll hit one of the best bbq joints in all of Texas, Truth BBQ; 24-hour doughnut darling Voodoo Doughnut; funky noodle joint Ninja Ramen; fried chicken and champagne purveyors Max’s Wine Dive; taco hotspots Laredo Taqueria, El Rey and Velvet Taco; and a whole lot more bars and restaurants up and down the street (including all the tasty spots in Arts District Houston).

Experience the arts

As with any thriving section of town, this neighborhood is rich in arts and theater.

There’s the Art Car Museum—dubbed the “Garage Mahal”—which houses an awesome collection of art cars emphasizing personal expression and pop culture; and the Beer Can House, a house and yard plastered with beer cans that started as a project for a retired upholsterer and turned into a beloved folk art installation.

The Arts District‘s Sawyer Yards offers a creative campus spanning over 55 acres of industrial warehouses, with highlights including Silver Street Studios and The Silos at Sawyer Yard, both of which play home to a lineup of pop-up art galleries, boutique markets, and other creative events.

You can also catch live improv and sketch comedy at Station Theater and cutting-edge, theatrical performances from the 4th Wall Theatre Co.

Stroll through a 19th-century cemetery

Established as a private cemetery in 1871 and built on a site with a distinctive natural feature, Glenwood Cemetery is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the city (as crazy as that may sound).

According to architectural historian Stephen Fox, Houstonians of the late 19th century considered it to be not only a cemetery, but also a park, complete with rolling landscapes along the ravines of the Buffalo Bayou, curved walkways, and romantic gardens. Eventually, an irrigation system and fountains were installed, a greenhouse was added, the bridge was renovated, and the property expanded to include a (since filled) lake.

Today, the cemetery gates are open to the public every day from 7am to 5:30pm (when Daylight Savings Time is in effect, the gate closing is extended to sunset or 5:30pm, whichever is earlier), with docent-guided walking tours available four times a year by reservation only.

Get immersed in nature at the Houston Arboretum

Set on the western edge of the sprawling Memorial Park, scenic nature sanctuary Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is worth a visit in its own right.

Discover true serenity while exploring its 155 acres, including five miles of winding trails and walkways surrounded by native grasses, trees, and wildflowers; soak up the beauty of its gardens and ponds abundant with wildlife from birds and butterflies to snapping turtles and bullfrogs; bring the kiddos to its Nature Playscape and Discovery Room; and explore the Arboretum’s many public events and programs, from Earth Day celebrations and Bird Photographers to Tapas on the Trail and family-friendly Scavenger Hunts.

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