Unleash the Fun: Your Ultimate Dog-Friendly Vacation in Texas

This is Part 1 of our Central Southern dog-friendly vacation, where we started our road trip in Houston, Texas, and then continued with Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Please see the map for more details. The ultimate goal of this road trip with Zen was to see the best of all the central Southern states.

Day 1. Houston

As we decided to start our road trip in Houston, Texas, the first thing on my mind was the NASA Space Center, but as you would expect, it is not dog-friendly.

Is compromise possible?

This is one of the great examples of how to do it. As I mentioned, I loved to travel even before I had a dog. This blog intends to make the best time for BOTH you and your dog. Space Center Houston is one of Houston’s most popular space-related attractions, so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to visit it.

If you are not a user of Dogtopia, they provide more than fantastic daycare or half-day care. First, they are chains that follow standards in whatever location you choose. All employers are dog lovers and care about animals. Also, all areas are equipped with cameras so you can watch what your dog is doing. I love that option, not just because of knowing what is happening but also because it allows you to learn how your dog behaves and interacts with other dogs and people without you.

We have been using their service for more than three years, primarily in two locations, but recently, I have recognized it as a great option during travel. All you have to do is call them in advance to get your dog’s information from other Dogtopia offices before you bring your dog.

If you are not a user, you must book a meet-and-greet appointment for your dog. They also request up-to-date vaccinations (including Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella), but once you set it, you can easily use different locations around the States.

One of their locations is Dogtopia NASA, Genesis Blvd, Webster, TX 77598, and you can guess not far from NASA Space Center. Please call them earlier to book the day and confirm everything else.

NASA Space Center

After you leave your pup to meet new friends from a different state, you can happily dedicate a few hours to learning about human spaceflight, the space program’s history, and ongoing space exploration.

Don’t forget to BUY A TICKET in advance.

NASA’s main building has numerous points of interest, but the best are three tram tours you should plan in advance:

1. The Historic Mission Control Tour is not included in general admission but can be purchased and booked in advance (which I strongly recommend). It was the most exciting part for me because it brings you back in history and visits the historic control center from which NASA led the Gemini and Apollo missions. It lasts one hour.

2. The Astronaut Training Facility Tour is included in general admission, but you must book it as soon as you come to the NASA center because availability is limited. You need to plan one hour for this tour too.

3. George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park Tour is also included in general admission and does not request a booking, but plan 30-40 minutes at least for it.

All three tram tours drive you through NASA Research Center facilities.

The Main Building

The rest of your time you can spend in the main building where you can visit:

1. Starship Gallery with multiple flown spacecraft and national treasures.

2. Spacesuit Collection is a comprehensive collection of spacesuits representing the men and women of space exploration.

3. Independence Plaza with the historic shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905 and Shuttle Independence, a full-scale replica of the Space Shuttle mounted on top of the plane.

4. Starship Gallery features a collection of actual flown spacecraft, including the Mercury 9 capsule, Gemini 5 capsule, and Apollo 17 command module.

5. Astronaut Gallery offers insights into the lives and careers of astronauts, with exhibits showcasing spacesuits, personal items, and mission memorabilia.

6. Mission Mars is an interactive exhibit that allows visitors to experience a virtual trip to Mars.

7. Space Center Theater and simulators

Downtown Houston

After your science morning, you can pick up your dog and continue your vacation with more dog-friendly activities in Texas. To begin, visit downtown Houston. You can start around Market Square Park. This park features a spacious central lawn area, providing a green weekend getaway in the heart of downtown Houston. Furthermore, Market Square Park is home to the original location of Niko Niko’s, a popular local eatery known for its delicious Greek cuisine.

There are more outdoor artworks, like Seven Wonders by Mel Chin, Personage, Birds by Joan Miró (near the JP Morgan Chase Towe), and Tranquility Park.

Day 2. Houston Parks and Galveston

City Parks

To kick off the second day, before continuing our road trip further south of Texas, we started with a walk in Houston Arboretum & Nature Center or Memorial Park. The arboretum offers over five miles of nature trails that wind through diverse ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, and meadows.

Another option is Memorial Park, which has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. The park’s land was originally part of Camp Logan, a U.S. Army training camp during World War I. After the war, the land was repurposed as a park and named Memorial Park to commemorate the fallen soldiers.

The park offers a vast network of hiking, running, and biking trails that wind through beautiful, wooded areas.

Breweries and Restaurants

Visit one of the dog-friendly breweries with a great variety of beers.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company, 8th Wonder Brewery, or Anomaly Brewing allow dogs indoors and outdoors.

If you feel hungry, then our recommendation is one of these two beautiful restaurants nearby:

Ragin’ Cajun was established in 1974 by Luke B. Mandola Sr. and was the first Cajun seafood restaurant in Houston. Customers have been known to drive 100-plus miles to enjoy the exceptional spicy crawfish.

Local Foods specializes in healthy alternatives without compromising flavor or diversity. The daily menu includes smoked salmon, the quinoa burger, barbeque pork, and much more. You’ll also find salads, specialty drinks, beer, wine, and cocktails.

A great choice of food and drink is another reason to choose Houston for your weekend getaway.

Texas City Dike

In the afternoon, you can make a short stop on your road trip to Texas City Dike and Galveston Island and soak your feet and paws in the Gulf of Mexico water.

The Texas City Dike is an artificial structure located in Texas City, Texas, along the shores of Galveston Bay. One of its primary functions is to serve as a hurricane barrier. It was constructed to protect the city of Texas City, its industrial complexes, and the nearby Galveston Bay from storm surges and flooding during hurricanes and tropical storms. The dike is a popular spot for fishing but also an option for great pictures with apocalyptic backgrounds.

Galveston Island

If you have enough time, continue to Galveston Island along the Gulf of Mexico. It offers visitors a variety of recreational activities and opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the Texas Gulf Coast, with more than 30 miles of dog-friendly beaches.

Dogs should stay on a leash, but during our visit, there were not many people on the beach, so there were off-leash dogs. I would never recommend it unless your dog is 100% under your control and there are no other people or animals around he could disturb.

We ended our day with a delicious dinner, drinks, and a stunning view at the Tipsy Turtle Seaside Bar & Grill.

After an amazing start to our road trip and dog-friendly vacation in Texas, we’re continuing our journey to Louisiana. Want to join us on this adventure? Click Dog-friendly Louisiana to follow along!