Houston: Space Center, museums and aquariums

The short answer

Houston's four tickets fall into two decisions. For a museum day, choose between Space Center Houston and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. For an animal day, choose between the Downtown Aquarium, which pairs an aquarium with amusement rides, and the Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve, which is built around hands-on animal encounters.[8][6] Each ticket admits you to one venue; none is a pass.

Space Center Houston or the natural science museum

Space Center Houston Ticket. Space Center Houston calls itself a nonprofit and the official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, at 1601 E NASA Parkway, Houston.[2] SkyGate's single option is timed general admission to the spaceflight exhibits, interactive displays and the shows included with entry, and asks you to arrive 5 minutes before the time you chose. Ticket types are adult (12 to 64), child (4 to 11) and senior (65 and over), and the page says children under 4 go free. SkyGate's listing says large bags are not permitted and all bags are screened.[1]

The NASA Tram Tours are the part to plan. SkyGate's page says they may require advance planning or separate boarding passes.[1] Space Center Houston says its Historic Mission Control tram tour costs extra, is not included in general admission and must be booked in advance when you buy general admission online. It says its other tram tours are free to general admission guests, subject to availability; for the Astronaut Training and Campus tours you collect a timed boarding pass at the Guest Services desk.[3] The SkyGate ticket is general admission only, so it does not include Historic Mission Control. See the Space Center Houston page on XTOUR.

Houston Museum of Natural Science Ticket. Three options with timed entry slots:[4]

• General Admission, to the permanent exhibition halls.[4]
• General Admission + Cockrell Butterfly Center, adding the live-butterfly rainforest.[4]
• General Admission + Burke Baker Planetarium Show, adding a domed-screen space show.[4]

You show the smartphone voucher at the museum's box office, and there is one ticket type for ages 3 and over; the page says children under 3 go free. SkyGate's listing says the museum has no storage for bags or coats and is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.[4] The museum gives its address as 5555 Hermann Park Dr, in Hermann Park, and listed hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Thursday and 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday to Sunday. On the day XTOUR read it, the museum's page listed the Cullen Hall of Gems & Minerals and the Brown Hall of Entomology as closed, so check the halls you want before you go.[5] See the Houston Museum of Natural Science page on XTOUR.

XTOUR's reading: choose Space Center Houston for human spaceflight and NASA, and the natural science museum for dinosaurs, cultures and, with the add-on options, butterflies or a planetarium show.

Downtown Aquarium or the interactive animal preserve

Downtown Aquarium Houston Ticket. One option, the All Day Adventure Pass. It covers the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit, interactive areas such as the stingray touch pool, and amusement rides and attractions through the day. Show your smartphone ticket and valid ID at the ticket booth or Will Call window to receive a wristband. SkyGate's listing says children under 3 go free and children over 106 cm need an adult ticket.[6] The operator, Landry's, says there is no entrance fee for the Aquarium Restaurant or for walking around the outdoor amusement area, while exhibits and rides are ticketed.[7] SkyGate gives the address as 410 Bagby Street.[6] See the Downtown Aquarium (Houston) page on XTOUR.

Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve Ticket. One option, general admission to all main exhibit areas, with marine species, reptiles, birds and mammals. Feeding experiences are available inside at extra cost: SkyGate says they are additional, and the operator says extra credits are bought for animal feedings.[9] Ticket types are adult (12 and over) and child (3 to 11); the page says children under 3 go free and under-18s should be accompanied by an adult. SkyGate's listing says outside food is not permitted and to be ready for indoor and outdoor areas, including possible rain.[8] The operator gives its address as 5440 N Sam Houston Pkwy E, Houston, TX 77032.[9] See the Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve page on XTOUR.

XTOUR's reading: choose the Downtown Aquarium for a central day that mixes the aquarium with rides, and the interactive preserve when touching and feeding animals is the point.

How to choose

• NASA, spacecraft and the tram tours: the Space Center Houston Ticket.
• Natural history, with a butterfly or planetarium add-on: the Houston Museum of Natural Science Ticket.
• Aquarium plus rides downtown: the Downtown Aquarium Houston Ticket.
• Hands-on animal encounters: the Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve Ticket.

Before you book

• Space Center Houston tickets are timed; arrive 5 minutes before your slot.[1]
• Book Historic Mission Control separately and in advance if you want it.[3]
• The natural science museum has no bag or coat storage.[4]
• Bring valid ID to exchange the Downtown Aquarium ticket for a wristband.[6]