Clear Lake, Houston

Clear Lake is the southeast Houston area around NASA's Johnson Space Center, and things to do here start with Space Center Houston and end with your feet near the water. It sits a solid drive down I-45 from Downtown, along NASA Parkway and the 2,000-acre lake it is named after, which connects to Galveston Bay. It feels like a different city from the Inner Loop: boats, astronauts, engineers and a real breeze.

The Vibe in Clear Lake

Suburban, sunny and a little nerdy. People here work on spacecraft and then go fishing. There is more water than you expect and fewer places to walk than you want, so plan on driving between stops, with somebody sober behind the wheel.

Things to Do in Clear Lake

• Space Center Houston. The official visitor center for Johnson Space Center, at 1601 E. NASA Parkway. The tram tour takes you onto the campus to see historic Mission Control and a Saturn V lying on its side. Johnson Space Center is a federal site, so federal rules apply once you are on it. Plan most of a day.
• Armand Bayou Nature Center. A 2,500-acre preserve with wetland, forest, prairie and marsh, plus guided boat tours and night programs.
• Lone Star Flight Museum. Vintage aircraft out near Ellington, and a good pair with the space stuff.
• Clear Lake Park. A waterside park on NASA Parkway in Seabrook.
• Kemah Boardwalk. Rides and restaurants over Galveston Bay, just down the road. See day trips.

More in things to do in Houston.

Clear Lake Food

Gulf seafood is the move this close to the bay. Look for places where the boats are parked outside. Tookie's in the bay area is known for crab legs. Check hours before you go, and see Houston munchies for the rest of the city.

Chill Outdoor Spot: Armand Bayou

Go early, go slow and bring bug spray. It is hard to believe you are minutes from strip centers and a space agency. In summer, read our heat guide first.

A Perfect Day in Clear Lake

1. Space Center Houston when it opens, tram tour first.
2. Seafood lunch near the water.
3. A slow walk at Armand Bayou.
4. Sunset on Kemah Boardwalk, then let somebody else drive home.

The Good and the Annoying

The good

• Actual rockets.
• Water and breeze you do not get in the Loop.
• Room to breathe.

The annoying

• I-45 traffic both ways.
• Not much of it is walkable.
• Storm surge and flood risk are real down here, so take warnings seriously.