Work up a sweat with a visit to Memorial Park on the western side of Houston. Free to enter, the Park is a paradise of running, skating and cycling routes. There are volleyball, tennis and croquet facilities as well as a forest with beautiful hiking trails and some of the best mountain biking in the city.
The area was originally used as a training camp for soldiers during the First World War. After being bought back by the City in 1924, it was dedicated to the memory of those who gave their live during the war and it is from this heritage that the Park derives its name.
These days, Memorial Park is a popular venue for Houstonians who want to shake off the stress of a hard day at work. The Seymour Liebermann exercise trail is particularly popular first thing in the morning as keen runners pound the pavements. The full circuit is 5 kilometres long and is dotted with water fountains and work-out stops along the edge of the granite track.
If you’re an experienced rider, you should try out the unbeatable territory around the Buffalo Bayou waterway. Its craggy rocks and ravines are challenging and enjoyable, really giving you something to get your teeth into.
Keen golfers can enjoy a game on the 18-hole golf course, which is said to be the best in Texas. Designed by the professional golfer John Bredemus in 1936, the beautifully conditioned greens and picturesque surroundings make this green an absolute must.
Why not get a team together and try your hand at a traditional American game of volleyball or have a quick kick-about on the grass. There is a swimming pool within the park grounds for anyone who fancies cooling down with a few lengths after a hard game, and more sedate croquet lawns are also available.
Just ten minutes by car from downtown, Memorial Park has no entry fee and has free parking. Some of the leisure facilities do charge a small fee, but these are clearly advertised and paid for at point of use.
