Hotel at a Glance: Hotel Derek

The 4-star Hotel Derek is located in Houston’s fashionable Galleria, steps away from more than 300 shops and boutiques, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and the new River Oaks District. From bright pops of color and bold design choices to plush down bed pillows and linens, the hotel’s high design rooms blend modern luxury with fresh, funky touches.

• Stylish guest rooms: Large windows in spacious standard and superior rooms overlook uptown or downtown Houston.
• Dining and nightlife: Enjoy drinks and elevated southern cuisine at the sleek Revolve Kitchen + Bar.
• Take a dip in the outdoor pool.
• Nearby attractions: the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Houston Zoo; and the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park

Houston, Texas: Space History and Museums in Nation’s Fourth-Largest City

As the nation’s fourth-largest city by population, Houston has established itself as one of the Gulf Coast’s most thriving cultural hubs. The city’s museum district has 19 museums covering everything from history to art to science. For art lovers, the Menil Collection—which Frommer’s calls “one of the great private collections of the world”—is a must-see. Here, you’ll browse an array of 20th-century art from Jasper Johns, René Magritte, and Andy Warhol, as well as artifacts from Africa and the Pacific Islands.

You could also spend an entire day exploring Houston’s science institutions. When Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell famously stated, “Houston, we have a problem,” he was talking to mission control at Space Center Houston. Here, visitors can tour the historic mission-control room and get a behind-the-scenes look at astronauts training for the International Space Station. Along Houston’s Hermann Park, The Health Museum exhibits a large-scale human body that you can enter to learn about how your organs operate.