Under $100: Houston

The most populous city in Texas, Houston is continually growing. With an expanding restaurant scene, beautiful public parks and a bustling downtown, Houston is the place to be in the Lone Star State.

Hermann Park © Laurence Simon | Flickr

Start your morning with breakfast tacos at Tacos A Go Go. Combine eggs with your favorite toppings — chorizo is a go-to for locals — all made from scratch. Breakfast costs $5. With locations throughout the city, rent a Houston bicycle for $5 for the entire day. Ride to Hermann Park with a two-mile hiking and biking trail.

Satisfy a Texas-sized appetite at Bernie’s Burger Bus. Boasting homemade ingredients, Bernie’s offers a burger for every taste, including their behemoth Detention burger with two patties sandwiches between two bacon grilled cheeses serving as buns. Lunch costs $20. Walk off your hefty lunch at the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston. The free museum displays work from the best international, national and regional artists of the past 40 years. Tours are available at a fee.

Contemporary Art Museum of Houston © Aleksandr Zykov | Flickr

Sample true Texas whiskey on a tour and tasting at the Yellow Rose Distillery. Tours cost $7 and include tastings of four Yellow Rose whiskeys and the Howdy Stranger vodka. A visit to Houston isn’t complete without a Tex-Mex meal. Go to Ninfa’s on Navigation for menu staples like enchiladas, tamales and —their most popular dish — fajitas. Dinner costs $20–25.

End your night under the stars at The Showboat Drive-in Theater. Located a short drive from downtown, the $7 price of admission includes a double feature.