Fun on a budget

HOUSTON -- In the sprawling expanse of the nation's fourth largest city, you don't need a bank account the size of Houston native Beyonce's to have a good time. There's lots of Texas-sized fun to be had for less than $20.

But before you go, there are two things to know: No. 1, rent a car -- it's the only logical way to navigate a metropolitan area that's larger than Rhode Island. And No. 2, pack your shorts to combat the 90-plus degree summer temperatures coupled with stifling humidity.

Museums

Museum choices abound here, and it's easy to jump from place to place within the city's Museum District, home to 15 museums within walking distance of one another.

Drop in at the Houston Museum of Natural Science -- www.hmns.org -- on Tuesdays after 2 p.m. when admission is free (it's still a bargain on other days, at $6 and $3.50 for kids 3-11). Check out the "Lord of the Rings" exhibit (up through Aug. 28) that has 650 pieces of memorabilia from the movie, including costumes worn by the trilogy's main characters.

Before you leave, drop in at the Cockerell Butterfly exhibit, a three-story glass-enclosed structure that houses more than 2,000 of the world's largest and most colorful butterflies. Watch rambunctious children morph into living statues as they stand motionless, hoping to entice one to land on them. But if you're looking for a reprieve from the sweltering humidity, move on, because the rainforest atmosphere inside can be just as bad.

Baseball fans will love the "Baseball As America" exhibit featuring items from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum that runs through Aug. 14 at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, www.mfah.org. See it on a Thursday when admission is free and you can marvel over a plethora of memorabilia that includes a section on Lone Star baseball stars.

Finish your day at the Children's Museum of Houston -- www.cmhouston.org -- which is free from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. The fun-filled spot gives youngsters plenty of chances to learn while doing and no trip there is complete without a stop at the paint-your-own-face station on the way out.

Zoo

Home to more than 3,000 animals, the Houston Zoo -- www.houstonzoo.org -- is $8.50 for adults and $4 for children, and it's free on holidays. Don't miss the Asian elephants and a crowd-pleasing sea lion show.

Live entertainment

After a long day of museum-hopping, take a seat at the nearby, and free, Miller Outdoor Theatre, www.milleroutdoortheatre.com. The venue features a wide assortment of plays, live music, dance and movies. Some performances require tickets for the covered seating area, so check the Web site before you go to get the best seats.

Houston's acclaimed Theatre Under The Stars -- www.tuts.com -- hosts an annual free show there. This summer's show, "The Music Man," runs from July 18-23.

More theatre action can be found at the Alley Theatre -- www.alleytheatre.org -- where select tickets to shows on Sunday and Tuesday evenings are just $19. This summer's performances include Deathtrap and Spiders Web.

Jazz aficionados shouldn't miss Scott Gertner's Skybar, located in the penthouse level of 3400 Montrose Blvd., which often features live music from international jazz musicians in a sophisticated atmosphere with killer views of the Houston skyline. You can dance under the stars on its 3,000-square-foot terrace, where women often pay no cover and men are typically charged $10.

Make sure and go downtown. It's the site of a recent revitalization project and clubs and bars are plentiful. You can find a spot for almost any musical taste and cover charges are almost universally reasonable.

Public spaces

Jump on a 95-foot-long boat at the Port of Houston and enjoy a free 90-minute cruise along the Houston Ship Channel. Watch the international cargo ships travel through one of the nation's busiest ports. There are morning and afternoon tours each day except Monday, but make reservations online at boattours.poha.com/boattour/ to ensure a spot.

Catch some sun at Memorial Park, called the largest urban park in the state. The almost 1,500-acre park, located in the middle of the city, includes a three-mile running course, a golf course, tennis courts, and swimming pools.

See native plants, animals and insects at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center -- www.houstonnaturecenter.org -- which is always free.

About 20 miles east of downtown Houston is the San Jacinto Monument -- www.sanjacinto-museum.org -- which commemorates the battle where Texas won its freedom from Mexico. The structure is reminiscent of the Washington Monument, but at almost 570 feet tall, it's more than 12 feet higher. On the same grounds is the century-old Battleship Texas, the only remaining battleship to survive World Wars I and II.

Check out the beautiful Williams Tower (formerly known as the Transco Tower) on Post Oak Boulevard near the enormous Galleria shopping mall. The 64-story glass building claims to be one of the tallest buildings in the world outside of a central business district. Don't miss the 64-foot "Waterwall" just south of the building where thousands of gallons of water pump through both sides of the structure.

Take the 610 Loop south from there to see what was once called "The Eighth Wonder of the World," but don't be surprised if you miss the aging Astrodome at first glance as it sits sadly in the shadow of the sparkling $449 million Reliant Stadium, home to the Houston Texans.

Sports

If a peek at the world's first indoor stadium gets you in the mood for sports, head downtown to Minute Maid Park to catch a Houston Astros game -- houston.astros.mlb.com -- for less than the cost of a movie ticket. Adult tickets in the outfield upper deck are just $5 with $1 tickets for kids ages 3-14. Just make sure to bring your binoculars.

Shopping

Check out the shops on Harwin for cheap clothing and accessories from around the world. For more finds make the trek to Trader's Village -- www.tradersvillage.com -- a 100-plus acre flea market that is home to more than 1,000 vendors. Open Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to dusk, you can find everything from crafts to tires and antiques to electronics.

Food

Get a breakfast burrito for about $2 at one of the hundreds of taco stands that dot the city.

Try Drexler's World Famous BBQ & Grill on Pierce near Dowling for tender ribs or a sliced beef plate, both $8. Owned by the family of NBA great and Houston native Clyde Drexler, Drexler's houses some of the star's trophies, NBA All-Star Game rings and lots of other goodies.

Go to the Montrose area for tasty Greek food at Niko Nikos, www.nikonikos.com. They have more than a dozen plates priced under $10 featuring keftedes (Greek meatballs), dolmathes (stuffed olive leaves), and pastichio (Greek lasagna), accompanied by Greek salad and oven-roasted potatoes.

For late dining, go to Mai's Restaurant for outstanding Vietnamese food. Cha gio (Vietnamese egg rolls) is a must at $6.25 and canh chua ga (Vietnamese chicken soup) for $9.25 is delicious.

Lodging

There are more than 58,000 hotel rooms in Houston so finding affordable lodging shouldn't be a problem. In fact, with all the money you'll save on cheap entertainment, you could stay in the swanky four-star Hotel Derek -- www.hotelderek.com -- for less than $150 a night. Or try the spacious Magnolia Hotel -- www.magnoliahotelhouston.com -- for about $125 a night and be near Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center, home to the Houston Rockets and Comets.