Discover Houston

Houston can be explored through several specific themes: the paved Root River State Trail, public owl sculptures throughout the city, a wildlife exhibit, and a festival held every March. These offer different focuses—from a named route to art and nature themes.

The Root River State Trail and paths from Trailhead Park

The paved Root River State Trail runs for 42 miles along the Root River from Fountain to Houston. The river and the two endpoints describe its route; Houston is the end of the named trail. The mileage refers to the entire trail and gives a sense of the scale of this connection. This makes it possible to distinguish the route as a whole from using a single section of the trail.

Another trail description starts at the Houston Nature Center in Trailhead Park: from there, you can explore the Root River Trail System on foot or by bicycle. Here, the focus is on a starting point and two ways of getting around, while the 42-mile figure describes the entire route between Fountain and Houston. Trail conditions and closures can change, so check for updates before setting out.

Owl art and the March festival

The Parade of Owls Art Tour includes twelve public owl sculptures throughout the city of Houston. The sculptures can be viewed year-round. This means the art tour is not tied to a specific event date and can be part of your trip at any time of year.

The International Festival of Owls takes place every year on the first full weekend in March. The exact calendar dates vary, so check the dates for the year in question if you plan to time your trip around the festival. The main difference from the owl art is timing: the sculptures can be seen year-round, while the festival takes place on a specific weekend in March.

Wildlife exhibit at the Houston Nature Center

The Houston Nature Center has a wildlife exhibit area featuring taxidermy specimens, reptiles, and fossils. Its focus differs from that of the Parade of Owls: the Center focuses on wildlife and fossils, while the tour features public sculptures. This lets you choose between natural history and art themes when planning your visit to Houston.

The Nature Center is also the starting point for exploring the Root River Trail System in Trailhead Park. The information describes both walking and cycling options. This brings an exhibit and opportunities to explore the trail system together in the same local area; when planning, bear in mind that trail conditions can change and closures may occur.

Houston on the National Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway

Houston is located on the National Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway along Highway 16. This is a distinct road-related consideration for trip planning, alongside the Root River Trail. If you plan your trip around this scenic byway, you can think of Houston as one of the towns along the route.

These different connections address different planning questions: the byway places Houston on a named road route, while the trail describes a paved route associated with the river, and Trailhead Park provides a starting point for exploring on foot or by bicycle. When looking for a hotel in Houston, you can first consider which of these travel connections will be most important to your stay.

For the broader travel overview: Houston County.