As the fourth-largest city in the United States and one of the most sprawling, Houston’s scale can feel overwhelming. But it all becomes manageable when you join a tour of the city park where it was founded, its international food scene, its vibrant public art and its role in space exploration.

With a population of around 8 million, Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country. This blend of cultures translates to an eclectic dining scene with a large selection of cuisines from more than 70 countries. Sample these fusions of flavors with a food tour: Secret Food Tours offers several stops, including one for brisket eggrolls in one of Houston’s downtown tunnels.

© Secret Food Tours

Houston was founded on the banks of Buffalo Bayou in 1836, and the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park along its banks beckons both residents and visitors. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership offers several tours. Walking tours take guests on wellness and nature walks. Five types of pontoon boat tours are available, including those focused on history, birding, and haunted tales and legends. Those willing to go underground can take one of several cistern tours to explore the 87,500-square-foot former drinking water reservoir built in 1926 to service the city, now converted to public space for art installations and performances.

Dozens of huge, colorful murals cover the buildings in Houston, including those depicting landscapes, sports figures, dancers and calls for justice. One of the most iconic is the Houston Is Inspired mural. Commissioned and created in 2013 as a temporary installation, it gained international recognition. Visitors can take one of several mural tours or head out on their own. Most of the murals are located downtown, and Houston Graffiti Building makes a great place to start.

© Space Center Houston

No trip to Houston is complete without taking in Historic Mission Control. See the room where NASA monitored the Gemini and Apollo missions, including the first manned landing on the moon in 1969 when they heard Neil Armstrong’s famous words, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” One of the most popular tours of NASA Johnson Space Center, a 60-minute tram tour, includes an AV recreation of the moon landing inside the restored Apollo Mission Control Center.