Houston's Museum of Natural Science // The Holocaust Museum

We are slowly starting to conquer all the museums around Houston. With my first weekend off in months, and free tickets given to us by a friend it was finally time to hit up one of the last on the list, The Museum of Natural Science. Word on the street is that this is THE museum to hit up when visiting the Houston area, located near Herman Park, this massive institution houses all sorts of exhibitions including: Cullen Hall of Gems, Ancient Egypt, Prehistoric Safari, and Texas Wildlife.

We've been putting this one off because it's on the pricey side - $20 for adult ticket ($17 for students) and $10 for parking plus you have to pay extra to get into special exhibitions within the museum but it would definitely provide you with enough entertainment for the day.

For more information you can view their website HERE.

We started from the bottom floor and worked out way up, our first stop was a mock space center which you could tell was installed in the early 80s (that was part of the charm for me though). We then explored the Hall of Chemistry!!

My favorite portion of the museum by far was the Paleontology displays filled with fossils, prehistoric trees, and other fascinating specimens. Dinosaurs have been a fascination of mine since I was little so this part was super nostalgic for me.

The Cullen Hall of Gems was probably my next favorite, it was filled with rocks and minerals most of which I had never seen or heard of before, there was also a special area that highlighted rare gems like the ones below (can you imagine how heavy these babies are to wear?!)

Side note - here are some shots of the Holocaust Museum, while it's not that big it has some amazing content including testimonials from survivors that now reside in Houston as well as an actual German train car that was believed to be used in the transportation of prisoners and a Danish fishing boat used to smuggle people to safety. While you aren't allowed to take pictures inside, you are allowed to take pictures of the outdoor monuments. College students get free admission and there is also an audio tour available for your cell phone as well as a personalized tour that runs every hour - be prepared for all the feels, especially if you watch the testimonial video at the end.

Join Me For Houston's Taste of the Nation!

No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. But it doesn't have to be that way. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger in this nation by making sure all kids get the healthy food they need, every day. And you can help, all while enjoying some of the best food and drink in Texas at Houston’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry!

Every year, the country’s best chefs, sommeliers and mixologists join together with one goal in mind: end childhood hunger in America by supporting Taste of the Nation® for No Kid Hungry presented by Citi® and Sysco®. In more than 30 cities across the nation – including Houston – guests of Taste of the Nation can sip and sample gourmet creations from each city’s premier culinary talent and participate in unique food, travel and lifestyle auctions – all while raising funds for No Kid Hungry. Houston’s Taste of the Nation is coming up on September 29. Some of the best culinary talent in the state – including Chef Chris Shepherd, Chef Randy Evans, BBQ Master Ronnie Killen, and Beverage Chair Alba Huerta – will be serving bite-sized versions their signature fare, as well as amazing wines and craft cocktails. All event proceeds support No Kid Hungry; just $1 can help feed a child in need 10 healthy meals, so your participation can have a huge impact. Last year Houston’s Taste of the Nation raised enough to connect kids to 1.4 million healthy meals!

Join me at Houston’s Taste of the Nation this year and help make No Kid Hungry a reality for more kids in Texas and across the country. As a bonus for The Nifty Cupcake readers (because you're awesome) through September 25th you can use my exclusive discount code NIFTYCUPCAKEHTX for 10% off the ticket price. For tickets and more information, visit NoKidHungry.org/Houston. I hope to see you there!