Pearland

With its nationally-acclaimed restaurants, performing arts, and special events, prepare to love Pearland during your next vacation in the Houston area. Located just south of Houston, Pearland stands in its own right as a memorable destination in Texas’ Gulf Coast region. Indulge your inner foodie at one of Pearland’s nationally-ranked restaurants, enjoy live entertainment at a performing arts venue, and shop until you drop. 

Along with all the action in town, Pearland is just minutes away from Space City’s world-class sports venues and some of the top attractions in the Houston area, such as the famed Johnson Space Center.

For a small-town getaway from the big city or the ideal starting point for your next Gulf Coast adventure, Pearland is hard to beat.

Like many Texas towns, Pearland was birthed by the railroad. In 1883, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroads built a siding switch called “Mark Belt” as part of the rail line connecting Houston and Alvin in the location that is Pearland today. Twenty years later, the Santa Fe Railroad built a depot here, which became a gathering place for settlers and a shipping point for the area’s agricultural products. Get a glimpse of this part of Pearland’s past when you visit the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad Depot, one of the oldest attractions in town. The depot was damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008, and there are plans for its repair.

Pearland is home to some of the most unique attractions in the Houston area. Start with the sacred Sri Meenakshi Temple, an ornate structure that is the only temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Meenakshi outside of India. Then take your youngsters, or a date, roller skating at the Pearwood Skate Center, a real throwback where you can rent quad and in-line skates. Pearland BMX is a USA BMX-sanctioned bicycle motocross track where you (or the kiddos) can work on your skills and enjoy some friendly competition. Meanwhile, you can participate in a workshop on a topic ranging from bird watching to hiking and backpacking at the Bass Pro Shops location in Pearland.

Speaking of birding, Pearland is a year-round hotspot home to everything from migratory songbirds to egrets and herons. Come during the spring migration season (April and May) and you’ll see a wide array of songbirds, while the late summer is a great time to see coastal birds. To cross some birds off your list, head to the Shadow Creek Nature Trail, John Hargrove Environmental Center, Independence Park, or Centennial Park.

To get outdoors, head to Zychlinski Park. The park is named after Witold von Zychlinski, a Polish nobleman who named the town after seeing how many pear trees were in the area. Today, you can stroll along the trail, let your kids run wild at the playground, and see a war memorial dedicated to Pearland residents who died in the service of their country.

Stay in Pearland and you’ll be a stone’s throw away from many of the most popular Houston attractions, including the Houston Museum District, 288 Lake (an open water lake that offers a range of recreational opportunities), and Theatre Under the Stars. Pearland hosts a number of events that have visitors flocking to the city each year.

Whether it be Pearland Art on the Pavilion, Concerts in the Park, or the Pearland Boutique Shop and Hop, this city knows how to celebrate culture and have a great time. Be sure to check out Visit Pearland’s website, visitpearland.com, when planning your Houston-area vacation!