HERE FOR HOUSTON

By Jeanni Ritchie

Houston far surpassed my expectations!

I was no stranger to the city, but my perspective was limited to childhood trips to Astroworld and passing through in rush-hour traffic. What an incredible experience to become fully immersed in Houston culture. Or I should say CULTURES, because Houston has one of the most diverse populations in the nation. Visiting Houston is like taking a trip around the entire world!

Houston isn’t just a big city—it’s a big experience. I went expecting to dip my toes into a few highlights, but what I got was five whirlwind days packed with food, fun, art, and more surprises than I could’ve dreamed. From Chinatown eats to rooftop cinemas and candy-making classes, here’s how I discovered the playful side of H-Town.

The Day I Became the GOAT

Let’s start with the night I ended up living my childhood dream—starring in a game show.

At CityCentre, a sprawling 47-acre development that feels like its own little resort town, sits Great Big Game Show. Think trivia, buzzer-beating challenges, and audience energy straight out of the ’70s classics I grew up watching. Trouble is, you need a team to play. I travel solo.

So, I lingered in the lobby hoping someone might let me join their group. Just as I was about to give up, the manager broke the news to a pack of teenage boys: they had to have an adult to play. That’s when I volunteered. And just like that, I was in.

Cue the trash talk. We faced off against an escape room crew next door, and let’s just say…those poor teens never stood a chance. My random trivia knowledge and Blockbuster skills carried us through. They called me the GOAT—and I wore the crown proudly.

I told my teammates the truth: I honed these skills as a kid, faking sick with a mercury thermometer and a nightlight just so I could stay home from school to watch game shows. Call it destiny.

Dumplings, Pops, and Sugar Cane Juice

Before that triumphant buzzer moment, my Houston adventures had already taken me across cultures. With Visit Houston’s Jennie and McKenna as my guides, I spent a day in the city’s vibrant Chinatown.

At Mein, I finally learned the proper way to eat dumplings. (Spoiler alert: I’d been doing it wrong.) At Hong Kong City Mall, we each had $20 and 40 minutes to explore. I wandered the aisles of shops, while McKenna braved a tall glass of fresh-squeezed sugar cane juice. (I had to laugh—growing up, I chewed the plant itself!)

Then came Popfancy Pops, a dessert shop-meets-merchandise pop-up. The current craze? Labubu dolls—the quirky collectibles stealing the spotlight from Troll dolls this decade. We waited an hour in line, but the mix of whimsical design and sweet treats was worth it.

Rooftops, Butterflies, and (Almost) 10 Things I Hate About You

The days blurred into a kaleidoscope of experiences:

• Buffalo Bayou Cistern: an old water reservoir turned performance space, complete with a 20-second echo. I want to go back just to hear a symphony fill those walls.

• Hermann Park Conservancy: where I rode a carousel three times, picking a black stallion, a pink pony, and—yes—an overlooked fiberglass pig I felt sorry for.

• Houston Museum of Natural Science: where I discovered I’m now the type of person who cries at a wildebeest scene five minutes into Africa: The Serengeti. (Circle of life? Yes. Circle of tissues? Also yes.)

• Post Houston: a former post office turned food hall, rooftop park, and culture hub. I sampled Nigerian food, FaceTimed my sister about a Jessie Murph concert, and fell in love with Art Club, a gallery of light-filled interactive exhibits.

• Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown: where I watched Crazy, Stupid, Love under the stars with Houston’s skyline glowing in the background. Adirondack chairs, headphones, popcorn, city lights—it was pure magic. I nearly went back the next night for 10 Things I Hate About You. That’s how good it was.

Hats, Tex-Mex, and Shakespeare (With a Twist)

No Houston trip is complete without a cowboy hat, and I made mine at the Buckle Bunny Hat Bar. Picture ribbons, pins, and branding irons. I chose an orange-and-gold ribbon, a butterfly pin (a nod to 2 Corinthians 5:17), and charms that told my story: a Louisiana pin, a Texas pin, and a cross burned into the brim to remind me of John 10:28.

Next came Tex-Mex at Candente, where brisket queso and smoked chicken quesadillas hit the table like a Michelin-starred fiesta.

Then: Drunk Shakespeare. An immersive, cheeky retelling of Romeo and Juliet where I ended up dancing with Juliet and holding Romeo’s boombox like John Cusack. Audience Mad Libs rewrote the final act, and—on this particular night—our star-crossed lovers died…by Taco Bell.

Sweet Endings

On my last day in Houston, I indulged my inner kid at Papabubble, the only U.S. outpost of the global candy-making chain. I pulled sugar, rolled lollipops, and chopped bite-size hard candies just like the ones that used to live in my grandma’s candy dish. My creations? Orange, yellow, and red confections in the shape of hearts, lips, and even a candy snake.

Afterwards, I explored the Heights, where dogs get their own treats at Three Dog Bakery and boots are still stitched by hand at Republic Boot Co.

By the time I grabbed a sandwich at Local Foods, I realized Houston had given me everything I love: Jesus, kids, food, new friends, pop culture, pool time, and plenty of fun.

If You Go

• Stay: The Moran CityCentre, for easy access to restaurants, shops, and Great Big Game Show energy.

• Eat: Dumplings at Mein, smoked chicken quesadillas at Candente, brisket queso (just order it—you’ll thank me), and candy from Papabubble.

• Do: Rooftop Cinema Club, Buffalo Bayou Cistern, Art Club at Post Houston, Buckle Bunny Hat Bar, Drunk Shakespeare, Discovery Green’s glow-in-the-dark bumper boats.

Houston is a city that never stops surprising, a place where joy finds you in unexpected ways and wonder waits around every corner. What I learned is simple: pace yourself, breathe it all in, and let the experience unfold. Because here, the skyline isn’t the only thing that’s big—the opportunities for adventure, connection, and delight are even bigger. And in Houston, the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.