Sundays get a bad rap because they signify the end of the weekend. In Houston, however, Sundays are just as lively as Saturdays. The city’s ample greenspaces, museums, brunch spots, and day-drinking destinations provide unlimited “Sunday Funday” options. While every neighborhood in Houston has its highlights, these are the best for maximizing those dwindling weekend hours.

EaDo

East Downtown, also known as EaDo, is a budding neighborhood right in the heart of Houston. Start the morning browsing the East End Farmers Market on Navigation Esplanade in EaDo’s sister neighborhood, Second Ward. The year-round market showcases fresh produce, homemade goods, and local art. Then, hop over to Tout Suite, a half a mile away, for coffee and brunch. The cafe’s industrial space features exposed brick, pipes, and Edison bulbs. Locals spotlight Tout Suite’s southern benedict—a jalapeno corn fritter topped with house battered fried chicken and Tabasco hollandais. Or, try Around the Corner, a charming cafe housed in a restored 100-year-old bungalow, for buttermilk french toast with bourbon syrup and $3 mimosas.

Day-drinkers or those just looking for a spot to hang out have a few options. 8th Wonder Brewery, a beer lover’s backyard and home to the iconic 28-foot “We Love Houston” sign, has a sprawling patio with picnic tables and corn hole courts. Truck Yard is an adult playground full of shipping containers, repurposed pickup trucks, and a Ferris wheel. Play some old school skee ball or ping-pong while feasting on their signature cheesesteaks. Soccer fans can pack into the massive 25,000-square-foot Pitch 25 to watch games on the abundant big screen TVs or play soccer on the indoor pitch. Best of all, kids and dogs are welcome at all three establishments.

In the eventing, catch a show at Warehouse Live, Houston’s premier live entertainment venue, or watch stand-up comedy at The Secret Group, a bar and event space with a rooftop patio.

Museum District

Museum of Fine Arts photo courtesy of Hequals2henry

Sunday Funday opportunities are endless in the Museum District—Houston’s cultural hub containing 19 museums. Browse the Museum of Fine Arts collection of 65,000 works from all over the world; visit the always-free Contemporary Arts Museum and Asia Society Texas Center; learn something new at the Holocaust Museum, The Houston Museum of African American Culture, or The Buffalo Soldiers Museum (a museum honoring a group of servicemen comprised of former slaves, freemen, and Black Civil War soldiers); and marvel at dinosaur bones, mummies, and an immersive butterfly habitat at The Museum of Natural Science.

Families love The Children’s Museum where children of all ages can work in a kid-sized metropolis, conquer a ropes challenge course, and use a 3-D printer. The nearby Houston Zoo is home to 6,000 animals and 11 habitats. Little ones can meet their favorite animals while adults enjoy a leisurely stroll around the park.

Nature lovers flock to the 445-acre Hermann Park. The park has plenty of places to picnic, scenic hiking and biking trails, multiple gardens (including the picturesque Japanese Garden), a golf course, a railroad that takes riders on a two-mile train tour around the park, a lake that can be traversed by rentable pedal boats, and an outdoor theater.

Upper Kirby / Montrose

Levy Park photo courtesy of WhisperToMe

Upper Kirby’s Levy Park is one of Houston’s coolest greenspaces. On Sunday mornings, Levy hosts free yoga, and Zumba classes (mats provided). Other amenities include a playground, a splash pad, a dog park, and activity carts outfitted with books, magazines, board games, and art supplies. Next door to Levy Park is Kirby Ice House, a 23-and-up establishment with sofas, hi-def TVs, and food trucks. The ice house features a huge dog-friendly patio with colorful Adirondack chairs for lounging.

Montrose, adjacent to Upper Kirby, is an artsy neighborhood lined with antique shops and thrift stores. Shoppers spend Sundays hunting for vintage gems at Antique Pavilion, Chappell Jordan Clock Gallery, BJ’s Antiques, and Old Blue House Antiques while thrifters snag steals from Pavement Clothing's $1 sidewalk sale. Those looking to add to their record collection can check out Cactus Music, Houston’s oldest independent music store and local artist venue.

Menil Park is another favorite spot for Montrose weekenders. Brunch at Bistro Menil, roam the lawn admiring the sculptures, browse the bookstore, or spend a lazy afternoon picnicking or napping under shaded oak branches.