Things to Do in Pasadena

The boom swings lugubriously, its shadow slicing across the sun-steeped white deck of the Alternate Latitude. Water chuckles against the double hulls of the Voyage 440 ship. In four cabins, air conditioners purr as the boat cuts towards the azure horizon, dwarfing the other catamarans on Galveston Bay.

During chartered sailing trips, Captain Steve—who holds a 50-ton United States Coast Guard Masters License—and his crew steer the vessel as passengers lounge on trampolines on the deck and sip drinks. The ship, which was built in South Africa, now makes occasional cruises to the Virgin Islands. Queen-sized berths in each cabin cradle passengers during overnight trips and after chamomile-tea-drinking contests.

Charged only by the moon, glowing costumes, and a desire to help local charities, participants in the Firefly Run take over their city streets for friendly 5K and 10K competition. During the race, runners cut through the cool night air decked out in incandescent gear, leaving little neon trails behind them like a gaggle of baby comets. Participants are encouraged to sign up in teams and coordinate outfits for the postrace costume contest, and DJs and LED dance troupes gather around the finish line to welcome them back from moonlit journeys.

While most drinking establishments offer suggestions on what wines pair well with food, The Paint Pub gives its clients recommendations on what varietals complement painting classes. As guests enjoy wine and beer from the bar, The Paint Pub’s artistic team guides them through the painting process. Simple steps such as mixing colors and applying brushstrokes do not require students to have any previous artistic experience though drying canvases with laser vision may not be easy for everyone. Classes can be reserved via the online calendar.

Whaz SUP's team gives clients an up-close view of the Clear Lake Area by renting standup paddleboards, leading guided tours, and holding waterborne yoga classes on paddleboards. Located about 45 minutes southeast of downtown Houston on Galveston Bay, the Clear Lake Area has one of the largest fleets of pleasure boats in the US. Each outing gives guests a steady, all-over workout that engages the core and helps paddlers fit into their high-school cummerbunds.

In its 12th year of fear, The Haunted Trails breed chills and shrieks while daring explorers to tiptoe across acres of mortifying scenes. Nightfall casts a blackened veil over every visit, during which guests grope through darkness and past plumes of fog in search of an end to the madness. Along the route, bloody limbs dangling from branches and scenes mummified in cobwebs set a morbid tone, and grotesque creatures lurking among the trees wait patiently to pop out and politely inform you of an untied shoelace. This season, the terror has spread to a newly established attraction, Nature's Nightmare, and both sights remain open through November 3rd to grant visitors their Halloween fix.

In its first annual festival, Houston Oktoberfest pays homage to the centuries-old German shindig by corralling more than 30 different beers from both local breweries and the Deutschland itself. German beers such as Hofbräu, Spaten, and Warsteiner swirl with crisp, effervescent flavors that pair deliciously with German morsels. Diners can also enjoy local seasonal pours and complement them by nibbling on autumn leaves. As participants mingle and sip, they can also swing their hips to the sounds of 10 different bands throughout the grounds. Louisiana’s Grammy-nominated Pine Leaf Boys headline the fest with a Cajun set complete with a squeezebox, raspy vocals, and fiddle, and Houston’s own The ‘71’s churn out hard-rock anthems such as “Confession.” The strains of traditional German music bounce off the nearby carnival area, which features games and rides for children, adults, and sentient lederhosen.