SPORTS + OUTDOORS

A haven of quiet and green in the midst of downtown Houston's bustle, Sam Houston Park is also a parcel of the city's past. Nestled in the park's 19 acres, eight historic structures dating from 1823 to 1905 have been carefully restored. Buildings range from a cedar log cabin believed to be the oldest surviving structure in the county to St. John Church, a country parish relocated here. Heritage Society guided tours of the buildings give guests a glimpse into the life and times of the Houstonians who used to live, work, and worship here. Soak up more history at the park's free-admission Heritage Society Museum, where exhibits range from 19th-century paintings to priceless pieces of early Texas furniture to an exact replica of a general store from Egypt, Texas.