Valentine’s Day is a great time to get to know Houston better—romantic Houston, that is. Whether you’re new to Houston, new to romance, or just ready to step things up in your relationship, you can find lots of advice on where to go and what to do for that special date. We’ve sorted through advice from Citysearch, CBS Houston, KHMX Radio, KILT Radio, and the Houston Dating Advice Examiner. They agreed on some Houston romantic spots, and disagreed on others. These were the five most-recommended spots—plus one that gets honorable mention for being a marvelously quirky place to smooch. Here are our picks for the six most romantic places in Houston:
Williams Tower Water Wall
The most recommended romantic Houston spot is the Water Wall at 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, behind Williams Tower. It’s also the most photographed place in Houston. Set in a beautiful three-acre green park, this 64-foot man-made waterfall sends 11,000 gallons of water crashing down into mist and majesty every minute. Bring your love here when you want to be overwhelmed by the power of the moment—or when you need to cool off in the mist.
Reflection Pool and Japanese Garden at Hermann Park
Hermann Park Conservancy, at Cambridge Street and Hermann Park Drive, contains many of Houston’s best attractions, including two well-loved places for romance. The Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool is a peaceful, 740-foot by 80-foot water feature, black-bottomed for maximum mirroring, and flanked by stately oak trees. For more active romantic meditation, try the park’s famous Japanese Garden, where you can walk over stone paths and sculptural bridges, enjoying waterfalls, flowers, and exotic trees.
Burke Baker Planetarium
Also inside Hermann Park, you and your love can visit the planetarium inside the Houston Museum of Nature and Science. Smooch under artificial stars, rock out to a Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin laser light show, or learn about the Mayan prophecies, black holes, and more.
Galveston Seawall
Galveston Island is an hour’s drive away from Houston, but it’s worth the trip. The most stirring spot on the island is the Galveston Seawall. This 10-mile wall was built beginning in 1904 to protect the City of Galveston from hurricanes like the historic “Great Storm” of 1900, which destroyed one third of the city and killed 6,000 people. Now the wall stands between the city and the elements, and it also displays miles of ocean-life murals painted by Texan artists. Enjoy history, art, and the power of the sea with your sweetheart.
Marlfreless
Marlfreless Bar and Lounge, at 2006 Peden, is not your average noisy club—in fact, it was created in 1972 as an alternative to Houston’s loud and garish bar scene. Here, the music is mellow and low enough that you can hear your conversation. Houstonians know it as a quiet, cozy, romantic spot to relax with someone special.
Honorable Mention: Waugh Bridge Bat Colony
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you and your honey like natural wonders and dark oddities, you must get yourselves to the Waugh Bridge at sunset. At the corner of Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway, 35 miles from Downtown Houston, this bridge is home to an estimated 300,000 Mexican Free-Tailed Bats. At sunset, they all fly out in a glorious, living cloud. You and your sweetie can watch from the sidewalk on the bridge, or take a pontoon boat tour and watch the bats from the water.
