The Best of Houston Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Drive with Action
3.2
Paula_R
156 days ago
Very easy to use. Clear driving instructions and interesting facts and stories. I will definitely use this app again in other cities I visit by car.
Find out what makes Houston the most vibrant city in Texas with this self-guided Houston driving tour! As you explore, you’ll see everything that makes Houston unique, from historic districts to stunning parks and the famous Space Center! Revisit historic battles on the Bayou. Stop by Emancipation Park, a centerpiece of Black history in the city. Admire Houston's tallest skyscrapers and uncover the heart of this truly Texan city! Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Departure Point
- Begin from Lamar St @ La Branch St, Houston, TX 77010, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
- Audio guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Buffalo Bayou Park3600 Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive, , Houston, TexasNext, we'll arrive at the Buffalo Bayou Park, where we'll get a chance to see the enormous cisterns the once quenched the thirst of the entire city! We'll also learn how the city transformed and found new uses for these cisterns once they weren't needed for drinking water any longer. NOTE: The tour is over 40 miles long, with more than 40+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Sam Houston Park1100 Bagby St, , Houston, TexasOur drive takes us past Sam Houston Park next, where a row of preserved historic homes display how Houstonians from all walks of life lived, from freed slaves building new lives for themselves to affluent merchants.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Houston City Hall901 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002We'll park at City Hall and hear about the challenges of building it during the Great Depression. We'll also get a good look at the statues of Houston's founders which stand before the hall, and learn about how those statues had to wait over 80 years to be built!Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Pennzoil PlaceHouston, TX 77002We'll keep driving until we see Pennzoil Place, a pair of huge black towers looming over Houston. Here, we'll pick up some facts about the imposing buildings and the innovative architect behind them.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Market Square Park301 Milam Street, Houston, TX 77002Our route takes us next through Houston's Historic District, chock full of gorgeous old buildings. We'll also hear about the multiple fires which swept across the old City Hall, and the celebrities like Johnny Carson who have partied in this very district!Duration: 5 minutesStop At: JPMorgan Chase Tower600 Travis St, , Houston, TexasThe next sight we'll see is the Chase Tower, the tallest building in all of Texas. Here, we'll uncover some secrets of its construction, like how the original design was hazardous to air traffic and it sports a helipad that's never been used!Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Christ Church Cathedral1117 Texas St, , Houston, TexasNext, we'll park at the Christ Church Cathedral, Houston’s very first religious congregation which dates back to 1859. We'll also hear about the generous stranger who's responsible for a steer's head being part of the church seal.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Daikin Park501 Crawford St, Houston, TexasOur route then passes Minute Maid Park, the famous baseball stadium designed to imitate the Golden Age of baseball.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Emancipation Park3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston, TX 77004Next, we'll see Emancipation Park, a lovely recreational space with a rich history. We'll hear about emancipation, Juneteenth in Texas, and how this park became an epicenter for the Black community in Houston. Then, we'll get the real facts on some of Houston's most notorious urban legends.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Houston Museum District4912 Main Street, , Houston, TexasAs we drive, we'll enter Houston's Museum District, home to fascinating museums covering everything from Black history to natural science to fine arts and beyond. If you want a really deep dive into the city of Houston, this is the place to be.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Hermann Park6001 Fannin St, , Houston, TexasNext, we'll pass Hermann Park, home to plenty of attractions for the little ones, including an entire zoo featuring cheetahs, chimps, and more!Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Rice University6100 Main St, Houston, TexasOur route brings us through the Rice University campus next, where we'll get some insight into the founder and hear about a baffling--and very ambitious--senior prank conducted by an alum known only as "The Mastermind."Duration: 5 minutesStop At: James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany SkyscapeSuzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilio, Houston, TexasNext, we'll see the subject of the prank itself: the William Marsh Rice Statue, and learn about how the pranksters banded together to protect one of their own from repercussions.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: MacGregor Park5225 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77021As we continue through the Rice campus, we'll see the strange, pyramid-shaped building known as Skyspace. Here, we'll get a quick rundown of what this odd building is for, and how you can experience its beautiful sky viewings for yourself.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: MacGregor Park MLKHouston, TX 77021We'll keep driving past MacGregor Park and listen to the story of how he revolutionized Houston's transit system by replacing the donkeys it relied on for far too long.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Discovery Green1500 McKinney St, , Houston, TexasAt the end of the boulevard, look to the right. You should be able to spot the bronze statue of Dr. King. For a full picture of his life and achievements, check out the African American Culture Museum in Midtown.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Houston Graffiti Building2011 Leeland St, Houston, TexasAs we drive, we'll end up on the Old Spanish Trail. Once upon a time, it spanned the entirety of the country! This trail stretched over 2,750 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Next, we'll look down get the inside scoop on the importance of oil and gas in Texas's development, and look up at the stars to hear about NASA, the infamous Apollo 13 mission, and world-famous astronomer Carl Sagan.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Holocaust Museum Houston5401 Caroline St, Lester And Sue Smith Campus, Houston, TexasThe San Jacinto Monument is a 567.31-foot-high column located on the Houston Ship Channel in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, near the city of Houston. The monument is topped with a 220-ton star that commemorates the site of the Battle of San Jacinto, the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: The Houston Museum of Natural Science5555 Hermann Park Dr, , Houston, TexasDiscovery Green is an 11.78-acre public urban park in Downtown Houston, Texas, bounded by La Branch Street to the west, McKinney Street to the north, Avenida de las Americas to the east, and Lamar Street to the south.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TexasGrouping of industrial structures featuring rotating displays of colorful street art & murals.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Children's Museum Houston1500 Binz St, , Houston, TexasThe Holocaust Museum Houston is located in Houston's Museum District, in the U.S. state of Texas. The Holocaust memorial museum is the fourth largest in the U.S., and opened in 1996. A major commitment of the Holocaust Museum Houston is education.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany SkyscapeSuzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilio, Houston, TexasThe Houston Museum of Natural Science is a natural history museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: The Health Museum1515 Hermann Dr, , Houston, TexasThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, located in the Houston Museum District, Houston, is one of the largest museums in the United States. The permanent collection of the museum spans more than 6,000 years of history with approximately 70,000 works from six continents. Duration: Not AvailableStop At: San Jacinto StreetSan Jacinto Street, Houston, TX Bustling family museum with a wealth of hands-on activities such as a Bubble Lab & a Tot Spot.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Old Spanish TrailOld Spanish Trail, Houston, TX Built in 2012, the pyramidal structure accommodates 120 people between two levels. Twilight Epiphany is acoustically engineered to host musical performances and to act as a laboratory for Shepherd School of Music students. Constructed of grass, concrete, stone and composite steel, the structure is equipped with an LED light sequence that projects onto the ceiling and through an aperture in the 72-foot square knife-edge roof during sunrise and at sunset. Turrell's composition of light complements the natural light present at twilight, and transforms the Skyspace into a locale for experiencing beauty and reflecting on the surrounding campus and the natural world. Duration: Not AvailableStop At: William Marsh Rice StatueHouston, TX 77005The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science, or The Health Museum in short, is a museum in the Museum District of Houston, Texas. The museum is a member institution of the Texas Medical Center. Duration: Not AvailableAdditional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Find out what makes Houston the most vibrant city in Texas with this self-guided Houston driving tour! As you explore, you’ll see everything that makes Houston unique, from historic districts to stunning parks and the famous Space Center! Revisit historic battles on the Bayou. Stop by Emancipation Park, a centerpiece of Black history in the city. Admire Houston's tallest skyscrapers and uncover the heart of this truly Texan city! Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Departure Point
- Begin from Lamar St @ La Branch St, Houston, TX 77010, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
- Audio guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Buffalo Bayou Park3600 Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive, , Houston, TexasNext, we'll arrive at the Buffalo Bayou Park, where we'll get a chance to see the enormous cisterns the once quenched the thirst of the entire city! We'll also learn how the city transformed and found new uses for these cisterns once they weren't needed for drinking water any longer. NOTE: The tour is over 40 miles long, with more than 40+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Sam Houston Park1100 Bagby St, , Houston, TexasOur drive takes us past Sam Houston Park next, where a row of preserved historic homes display how Houstonians from all walks of life lived, from freed slaves building new lives for themselves to affluent merchants.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Houston City Hall901 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002We'll park at City Hall and hear about the challenges of building it during the Great Depression. We'll also get a good look at the statues of Houston's founders which stand before the hall, and learn about how those statues had to wait over 80 years to be built!Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Pennzoil PlaceHouston, TX 77002We'll keep driving until we see Pennzoil Place, a pair of huge black towers looming over Houston. Here, we'll pick up some facts about the imposing buildings and the innovative architect behind them.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Market Square Park301 Milam Street, Houston, TX 77002Our route takes us next through Houston's Historic District, chock full of gorgeous old buildings. We'll also hear about the multiple fires which swept across the old City Hall, and the celebrities like Johnny Carson who have partied in this very district!Duration: 5 minutesStop At: JPMorgan Chase Tower600 Travis St, , Houston, TexasThe next sight we'll see is the Chase Tower, the tallest building in all of Texas. Here, we'll uncover some secrets of its construction, like how the original design was hazardous to air traffic and it sports a helipad that's never been used!Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Christ Church Cathedral1117 Texas St, , Houston, TexasNext, we'll park at the Christ Church Cathedral, Houston’s very first religious congregation which dates back to 1859. We'll also hear about the generous stranger who's responsible for a steer's head being part of the church seal.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Daikin Park501 Crawford St, Houston, TexasOur route then passes Minute Maid Park, the famous baseball stadium designed to imitate the Golden Age of baseball.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Emancipation Park3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston, TX 77004Next, we'll see Emancipation Park, a lovely recreational space with a rich history. We'll hear about emancipation, Juneteenth in Texas, and how this park became an epicenter for the Black community in Houston. Then, we'll get the real facts on some of Houston's most notorious urban legends.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Houston Museum District4912 Main Street, , Houston, TexasAs we drive, we'll enter Houston's Museum District, home to fascinating museums covering everything from Black history to natural science to fine arts and beyond. If you want a really deep dive into the city of Houston, this is the place to be.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Hermann Park6001 Fannin St, , Houston, TexasNext, we'll pass Hermann Park, home to plenty of attractions for the little ones, including an entire zoo featuring cheetahs, chimps, and more!Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Rice University6100 Main St, Houston, TexasOur route brings us through the Rice University campus next, where we'll get some insight into the founder and hear about a baffling--and very ambitious--senior prank conducted by an alum known only as "The Mastermind."Duration: 5 minutesStop At: James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany SkyscapeSuzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilio, Houston, TexasNext, we'll see the subject of the prank itself: the William Marsh Rice Statue, and learn about how the pranksters banded together to protect one of their own from repercussions.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: MacGregor Park5225 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77021As we continue through the Rice campus, we'll see the strange, pyramid-shaped building known as Skyspace. Here, we'll get a quick rundown of what this odd building is for, and how you can experience its beautiful sky viewings for yourself.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: MacGregor Park MLKHouston, TX 77021We'll keep driving past MacGregor Park and listen to the story of how he revolutionized Houston's transit system by replacing the donkeys it relied on for far too long.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Discovery Green1500 McKinney St, , Houston, TexasAt the end of the boulevard, look to the right. You should be able to spot the bronze statue of Dr. King. For a full picture of his life and achievements, check out the African American Culture Museum in Midtown.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Houston Graffiti Building2011 Leeland St, Houston, TexasAs we drive, we'll end up on the Old Spanish Trail. Once upon a time, it spanned the entirety of the country! This trail stretched over 2,750 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Next, we'll look down get the inside scoop on the importance of oil and gas in Texas's development, and look up at the stars to hear about NASA, the infamous Apollo 13 mission, and world-famous astronomer Carl Sagan.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Holocaust Museum Houston5401 Caroline St, Lester And Sue Smith Campus, Houston, TexasThe San Jacinto Monument is a 567.31-foot-high column located on the Houston Ship Channel in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, near the city of Houston. The monument is topped with a 220-ton star that commemorates the site of the Battle of San Jacinto, the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: The Houston Museum of Natural Science5555 Hermann Park Dr, , Houston, TexasDiscovery Green is an 11.78-acre public urban park in Downtown Houston, Texas, bounded by La Branch Street to the west, McKinney Street to the north, Avenida de las Americas to the east, and Lamar Street to the south.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TexasGrouping of industrial structures featuring rotating displays of colorful street art & murals.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: Children's Museum Houston1500 Binz St, , Houston, TexasThe Holocaust Museum Houston is located in Houston's Museum District, in the U.S. state of Texas. The Holocaust memorial museum is the fourth largest in the U.S., and opened in 1996. A major commitment of the Holocaust Museum Houston is education.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany SkyscapeSuzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilio, Houston, TexasThe Houston Museum of Natural Science is a natural history museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park.Duration: 5 minutesStop At: The Health Museum1515 Hermann Dr, , Houston, TexasThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, located in the Houston Museum District, Houston, is one of the largest museums in the United States. The permanent collection of the museum spans more than 6,000 years of history with approximately 70,000 works from six continents. Duration: Not AvailableStop At: San Jacinto StreetSan Jacinto Street, Houston, TX Bustling family museum with a wealth of hands-on activities such as a Bubble Lab & a Tot Spot.Duration: Not AvailableStop At: Old Spanish TrailOld Spanish Trail, Houston, TX Built in 2012, the pyramidal structure accommodates 120 people between two levels. Twilight Epiphany is acoustically engineered to host musical performances and to act as a laboratory for Shepherd School of Music students. Constructed of grass, concrete, stone and composite steel, the structure is equipped with an LED light sequence that projects onto the ceiling and through an aperture in the 72-foot square knife-edge roof during sunrise and at sunset. Turrell's composition of light complements the natural light present at twilight, and transforms the Skyspace into a locale for experiencing beauty and reflecting on the surrounding campus and the natural world. Duration: Not AvailableStop At: William Marsh Rice StatueHouston, TX 77005The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science, or The Health Museum in short, is a museum in the Museum District of Houston, Texas. The museum is a member institution of the Texas Medical Center. Duration: Not AvailableAdditional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and SavingsCustomer Reviews
3.2
based on Groupon 46 reviews
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Fawn_W
It was hard to follow the directions and the map wouldn't load. Market square had construction so there was nothing set up there. We did this on Juneteenth and unfortunately there was nothing going on at Emancipation park either. A bunch of driving around unless you get out and walk the area and take pictures. There was also a detour on the rice university, so didn't see the statue. I would just put the places in your map and go see them for yourself. Save time from wrong turns, detours, etc.
Paula_R
Very easy to use. Clear driving instructions and interesting facts and stories. I will definitely use this app again in other cities I visit by car.
Gerald_M
In theory this should be an incredible app. The last part took us at least an half an hour to get out to NASA. You pull up and the tour is over. Which means driving another half an hour back to the city. I thought it missed some important highlights of the city p
Jeffrey G
The map was very difficult to follow. The driving instructions were not clear. Need to be able to put map on the car screen. Locations were not that great but nit sure if that was your fault or houston's.
JamesM_S
Car Play map does not work on this app. Very distracting having to watch iPhone in a city like Houston.