George R. Brown Convention Center – Things To Do With Your Team

Located smack dab in the middle of Houston’s entertainment, dining, and arts district, the George R. Brown Convention Center is an ideal convention center to have a tournament at. There are a lot of welcomed amenities that your team can take advantage of, including five restaurants, complimentary Wi-Fi, a Starbucks, and more.

You won’t want to spend your entire trip in the convention center though. That’s where the George R. Brown’s prime location works towards your advantage. Explore Houston a bit whenever you don’t have to be at the center.

 

Things to Do

Minute Maid Park

Any baseball fans on your team? Stop by Minute Maid Park for an intimate tour of the stadium. Home of the Houston Astros, Minute Maid Park hosts two tours of the ball park each day Monday through Saturday. Get guided around the stadium for an hour or so and see the parts of Minute Maid Park that the average person never sees.

During the tour, you and your team will get access to the broadcasting booth, press box, and luxury suites. That’s not all though. The tour guide will take you to where the real action is. Sit in the same dugout as the Houston Astros, see where pitchers warm up in the bullpen, and even get an up close look at the scoreboard.

All tours start at the historic Union Station where it is advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour. There, you will meetup with your tour guide and begin the tour. Do not be late! Any customers who are over 10 minutes late will not be able to go on the tour after it has started. 501 Crawford St, Houston, TX 77002

 

Toyota Center

The home court of the NBA Houston Rockets, the Toyota Center is only a stone’s throw from the George R. Brown Convention Center. Like Minute Maid Park, you and your team have an opportunity to take a tour of this famous venue. Each tour lasts approximately an hour and is only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

While you’re on the tour, a guide will show you around the arena where you will get to see the locker room, a couple fancy lounges, and the best part: the court itself. There you can witness the Toyota Center from the perspective of NBA players. The tickets for tours are already quite cheap, but if you bring 20 or more people, you’ll be able to take advantage of even cheaper prices. 1510 Polk St, Houston, TX 77002

 

Houston Police Department Museum

Learn about the history of the Houston police force and the brave officers who protected and served the city’s citizens through the decades at the Houston Police Department Museum. Housed in the lobby of the Houston police department headquarters, the museum boasts an impressive collection of police artifacts and memorabilia.

You have two options of how to see the museum: self-guided or guided tour. If you prefer to look around at your own pace, opt for the self-guided tour. Gain some insight into the kinds of equipment the police force and SWAT team used to have. Badges and uniforms from past officers are also on display in the museum.

Traveling with 10 or more people to the museum? You will qualify for a guided tour. The choice is still up to you, but if you want to learn more than what the exhibits themselves offer, a guided tour is the optimal choice. Lasting between an hour to an hour and a half, your tour guide will bestow all of the fascinating knowledge he or she has about the Houston police force’s history. Reservations for tours are required. The Houston Police Department Museum is free for all visitors. 1200 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002

 

AMC Houston 8

The pinnacle of nationwide movie theaters, AMC has really stepped it up over the past decade. If your team has a tournament at George R. Brown Convention Center, stop by AMC Houston 8 and enjoy a movie. You and your team will have eight to nine blockbuster hits to pick from. Once you decide which one you’re all going to watch, lounge in AMC’s comfortable seats and relax.

Heading to the theater around lunch or dinner time? AMC can alleviate any hunger you might have. Serving up many different appetizers and entrees, this dine-in theater will keep you entertained and well-fed. You don’t even need to miss any of the movie to get your food. Your server will take your order directly at your seat and bring it to you at the start of the movie. 510 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002

 

Downtown Aquarium

Dive into the depths and venture into a world unseen at Downtown Aquarium. Found near the George R. Brown Convention Center, you will spot fish and other marine wildlife from all over the globe. Divided among eight exhibits, the aquarium has a lot to discover. Encounter dangerous creatures like alligators, piranhas, a 20-foot python, alligator snapping turtles, sharks, and more. There are even four majestic white tigers that live at the aquarium!

Downtown Aquarium also has many animal residents that are a bit less intimidating. From the brightly colored clownfish to the colossal sized sea turtles, your team will be captivated by the sheer awesomeness of these creatures.

If you’re seeking a more hands on experience with the animals, check out the Education Room. Your team will get the chance to hold bearded dragons, pet snakes, sea turtles, and other residents of the aquarium. At Stingray Reef, you are allowed to pet sting rays as well.

Besides being an aquarium, Downtown Aquarium has a couple of amusement rides on the premises, including a Ferris wheel and a ride called Lighthouse Dive. Popular carnival games can also be found in the amusement park ride section of the facility. 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002

 

Places to Eat

Zydeco Louisiana Diner

Bringing tasty Louisiana classics to Houston, Zydeco Louisiana Diner prepares the best Cajun and Creole dishes around. This quaint little lunch and dinner spot is going to make you want to take a trip to Louisiana after you take a bite of your food.

Order up an authentic po’ boy, gumbo, or jambalaya and understand firsthand why Louisiana is famous for its cuisine. Chicken, shrimp, and some more familiar dishes are available too for those with less adventurous tastes. 1119 Pease St, Houston, TX 77002

 

China Garden

Considered by many Houston natives as one of the best, if not the best, Chinese restaurants in the city, China Garden not only has delicious food, but it’s very easy to get to from the George R. Brown Convention Center.

China Garden is open for lunch or dinner and serves up a huge selection of dishes. The dinner menu specifically is extremely large. The lemon chicken has been a consistent fan favorite, so it’s a solid contender. Regardless of what you order at China Garden, you’ll be happy with your meal. 1602 Leeland St, Houston, TX 77003

 

Brooklyn Meatball Company

A place with fast food speed but quality meals, Brooklyn Meatball Company expands on meatballs in ways you wouldn’t have imagined. Start things off with deciding what kind of meatball you want: classic, turkey, or eggplant. Then, you can choose between four sauces to top your meatballs with. You can also get them served over pasta, or in a sandwich. After a meal at Brooklyn Meatball Company, your standards for meatballs will increase tenfold. 930 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

 

Cypress Trail Hideout, home of Pappa Charlies Barbeque

Barbecue is a big deal in the south. Texas is proud of its barbecue and for good reason; it’s delicious! Experience a little famous Texan barbecue at Pappa Charlie’s Barbeque, located at Cypress Trail Hideout. At just over a 30-minute drive from the George R. Brown Convention Center, it’s a bit out of the way, but well worth the trip!

The menu might not be big, but the selections offered will be more than enough to satisfy your team. Order up a half pound of pork ribs, brisket, chicken, or sausage. Pappa Charlies knows how to cook their meats to perfection. Each bite will be an epic one.

To go along with their succulent barbecued meats, Pappa Charlies has a selection of sides that you can choose to complement your meal. Favorites like mac and cheese, potato salad, and spicy slaw are just a few of the options. This is one place you can’t pass up going to when you’re at the George R. Brown Convention Center. 25610 Hempstead Rd, Cypress, TX 77429

 

You and your team really lucked out if you have to travel to the George R. Brown Convention Center. Many of Houston’s attractions are in the vicinity of it, and will provide you hours of entertainment. This will be a hard trip to top.