If you are looking for a family getaway that will have beauty and culture, sports and amusement, relaxation and education and a out of this world experience, then Houston, Texas may just be the place for you. So make sure that in planning your next vacation, to EXPLORE all the possibilities!

If your family is looking for a little bit of culture, don’t miss out on Award-winning Alley Theatre .  For show listing and ticket information please visit www.alleytheatre.org.

Houston Ballet  For information and tickets, call (713) 227-ARTS (2787) or visit the Web site www.houstonballet.org.

Everyone from die-hard sports fans to distinguished history professors know the contagious appeal of baseball. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston hosts Baseball As America, May 21-Aug. 14. This captivating exhibit, organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, features 500 artifacts illustrating the evolution and cultural impact of America’s pastime. For more information, call (713) 639-7300 or visit www.mfah.org.

And don’t forget to go for the gold! The Houston Museum of Natural Science continues its Gold! Natural Treasure, Cultural Obsession exhibition through Aug. 7. This groundbreaking display features the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of gold objects, specimens and bullion ever assembled — adding up to more than one ton of gold. For information and tickets, call (713) 639-4629 or visit www.hmns.org.

The depths of the world’s oceans are explored from inside the Aquarium at Moody Gardens, a 12-story pyramid with several marine habitats. Explore nature and science in the Rainforest and Discovery Pyramids, while thrills await at the IMAX Theater and with the popular RideFilm Theater. Moody Gardens is at One Hope Blvd. on Galveston Island. For more information, call (800) 582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.com.

Bayou Place is at the heart of the downtown scene, with great restaurants, theaters and concerts, all under one roof. Located at Smith and Texas Avenue, this popular complex is a natural stop for visitors, office workers and families. For current concerts at Verizon Wireless Theater, call (713) 230-1666 or check for tickets. For movies showing at the Angelika Film Center, call (713) 225-5232. For information on Bayou Place restaurants and bars, such as Hard Rock Café, Mingalone Italian Restaurant, Sake Lounge, Bar Houston and Slick Willie’s Pool Hall, call (713) 227-0957

And they’re off!” as Sam Houston Race Park celebrates the spirit and elegance of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing with live and simulcast racing in northwest Houston. The facility features seasonal live racing on a 7/8-mile turf track and on a one-mile, oval dirt track — touted to be one of the best surfaces in the nation. Watch from the grandstand, the pavilion or one of several luxury suites with trackside views. Simulcasts from horse tracks around the world are shown every day at 10:30 a.m. Call (281) 807-8760 or visit www.shrp.com for more information.

Open every Saturday and Sunday year-round, Trader Village is a 60-acre market hosts an average of 800 merchants and one million bargain-seekers each year. Other special attractions include kiddie rides, restaurants and special events. For details, call (281) 890-5500 or visit www.tradersvillage.com.

Houston's premier family fun complex Six Flags features such thrill rides as SWAT, the only extreme ride of its kind on the planet, and Diablo Falls, a whirling raft ride on the tallest spinning rapids in the world. While you’re there don’t forget to visit WaterWorld, included in the ticket price. For more information, call (713) 799-1234 or visit www.sixflags.com/astroworld.

An out-of-this-world experience awaits visitors at Space Center Houston. The Disney-designed facility boasts simulated space voyages and mission control panels. It also houses the Astronaut Gallery, the Mission Status Exhibit, the Starship Gallery, the NASA Tram Tour and Texas’ largest giant-screen theater. For more details, call (281) 244-2100 or visit www.spacecenter.org

About 20 miles east of downtown, the San Jacinto Battleground marks the spot where Texas won its independence from Mexico. The complex houses the towering San Jacinto Monument, the San Jacinto Museum of History and Battleship Texas. The true story of the battle is told in Texas Forever!! The Battle of San Jacinto, screened in the Jesse H. Jones Theater. The battleship, which was commissioned in 1914 and saw action in both the Allied invasions at Normandy and on Okinawa, was presented to the people of Texas as the first memorial ship in 1948. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free, but the film is $3.50 for adults. For more information, contact (281) 479-2421 or visit www.sanjacinto-museum.org.