With golf, fishing and beautiful gardens, an afternoon spent in Hermann Park is the perfect tonic for a stressful day in the city.
Hermann Park was given to the city of Houston by George Hermann in 1914 and is now one of the city’s most popular green spaces, with over 6 million visitors a year. city of Houston by Stretching over 180-hectares, it has much to see and do within the grounds that an entire day will fly past with ease. The Houston Zoo and Museum of Natural Science are both located here, as well as an excellent playground with newly refurbished equipment.
The park is the perfect spot for a picnic or barbecue, so remember to pack up some food in advance. Try out one of the public grills dotted throughout the grounds and cook yourself up something delicious for dinner!
Kids will love catching a ride on the miniature train, which puffs around a 5 kilometre circuit of the park taking in beautiful views across the water and gardens for just a few dollars. Pedal boats are available to rent on McGovern Lake and anyone can try their hand on the putting green at the 18-hole golf course. Bring your fishing rod and see if you can land a catch off of Bob’s Fishing Pier on the western side of the lake. The area is marked off by green buoys, with a catch and release policy in place to keep the fish population healthy.
Alternatively, you can just spend a few hours relaxing on the rolling lawns or rejuvenate in the peaceful Japanese Garden. With its delicate cherry trees, winding walkways and soothing tea palace, this is a haven of calm even on the busiest of days.
Centennial Gardens which will be reopening to celebrate the Park’s hundredth anniversary in 2014 is well worth a visit, too. The gardens include a fragrant rose garden filled with delicate blooms, a sculpture promenade and interactive family gardens.
Located at the intersection of Main Street and Montrose Boulevard in the Central Business District, Hermann Park is just a ten minute drive from downtown Houston. You can’t miss the entrance, which is guarded by a statue of General Sam Houston pointing visitors in through the gates.
