Weird, Wonderful Houston: 3 Unusual, Inexpensive Places to visit in Houston, Texas

If you like to visit places off the beaten path, then Houston, Texas is the place to visit. Houston has many strange and unusual things to see that are either free or very inexpensive.

Here are three of my favorite places from our Houston roadtrips:

Address:222 Malone, Houston, TX

Directions: 222 Malone Street, between Memorial Drive and Washington Avenue.

Hours: Open Saturday-Sunday 12-5.

Admission: Per person - $5.00. Free for children 12 and under.
Self-guided tours available for purchase in the gift shop.

Guided tours can be arranged through the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Call to schedule.

Phone:713-926-6368

In 1968, John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, started his project now known as the Beer Can House. He joined his love of beer and his dislike for house painting, and came up with the perfect solution. He created siding from flattened beer cans and covered the outside of his house. He hated mowing the grass, so he paved the yard with cement embedded with marbles, shiny metal, and buttons. Beer tops were chained together creating wonderful windchimes. My daughter and I visited on a windy day and the sound was magical.

The Beer Can House is now owned and maintained by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. They are trying to restore the house to its former glory. The guides we met were very friendly and informative. They were glad to show off this strange, artistic masterpiece.

Address: 415 Barren Springs Dr., Houston, TX

Directions:North of Houston on I-45. Out by the airport, take Exit 63 - Airtex. Left on Airtex, go 1/4 mile to end, turn right on Ella Street. Two blocks later, right on Barren Springs, #415, first building on right.

Hours: Monday - Friday: 10am until 4pm
Saturday: 10am until 5pm
Sunday: 12pm until 5pm

Closed most holidays. Check their website below for more information.

Admission: Adults: $10.00
Seniors/Veterans: $9.00
Children (Under 12): $7.00
Children (Under 3): Free

Group Rates are Available

Minimum of 25 guests required. $8.00 per person.

Handicap Accessible

This museum is creepy, cool, and very interesting. The first large room contains a collection of hearses, all in working order. There is an exhibition on early embalming. The art made from the hair of the deceased is especially macabre. Also we saw the Pope Mobile, a collection of caskets made in the shape of animals, racecars, and other objects, a decorated mummy's casket, and a casket with embedded money.

The gift shop has a collection of death and funeral art, funny T-shirts, and other collectibles.

Address:2500 Summer St., Houston, TX

Directions:Northwest side of downtown. I-10 767-B, then south on Taylor St. for six blocks. Turn right onto Summer St. and drive to the end.

Admission:Free.

The artist David Adickes is best known for his giant Sam Houston statue on I-45 near Huntsville, Texas. About 20 of his President Heads sculptures are lined up in the field next to the parking lot of the his studio. It is open and free. Also see the sculpture of the Beatles. We liked the randomness of this display. It is really just a staging yard for his work. Well worth the trip. Truly an amazing sight.

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