Visiting Houston

MD Anderson’s Patient Travel Program offers discounts on unrestricted, changeable, non-penalty airfares and change fee waivers on restricted fares from anywhere in the United States (and most of the world) for patients and their caregivers coming to Houston.

Patient Travel Services has access to MD Anderson airline, lodging and transportation discounts and rates. Call weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 713-745-2300 or toll-free 888-848-9992 or e-mail patienttravel@mdanderson.org.

Patients travel from across the country and around to world for treatment at MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center. International patients are encouraged to contact the Proton Therapy Center directly at 713-563-8961 and ask for the Proton Therapy Center information line.

Many international patients have their Visas and other necessary paperwork in order. Those who need assistance work with our Patient Access Coordinators and the International Center to obtain the documents they need to enter the United States for treatment.

The MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center is located just south of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, and offers a wide variety of lodging options.

Visit the Traveling to Houston page for details, to review and print the list of hotels, apartments, RV parks and other accommodations in or near the Texas Medical Center. This list is updated frequently for your convenience.

Houston is a city that is rich in cultural diversity and activities. From sporting events to art museums to great restaurants, there is always something fun to do. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau is a great resource to learn more about what to do in Houston, special events and to get discounted tickets.

Here are links to other noteworthy venues in Houston:

The arts and museums

There are many theaters and museums near the Proton Therapy Center, as well as all over Houston. Popular attractions include:

Alley Theatre: A 75,000-square-foot venue in Houston's downtown theatre district. It is state-of-the-art and one of the most complete and largest facilities of its kind anywhere. On our two stages – the 824 seat Hubbard Stage and the 310 seat Neuhaus Stage – the theater presents a wide ranging repertoire of 11 productions each season. 

Blaffer Gallery: Housed in the Fine Arts Building on the University of Houston central campus, Blaffer is a contemporary art museum dedicated to fostering the careers and understanding of emerging, mid-career, and underrepresented artists and bodies of work through exhibitions, publications and public programs.

Children’s Museum of Houston: This museum is the highest-attended youth museum in the country for its size. Housed in a whimsical building designed by internationally acclaimed architect Robert Venturi, the Children’s Museum of Houston offers a multitude of exhibits bursting with action-packed fun that engage kids in the ultimate learning experience.

Contemporary Arts Museum: CAMH occupies the famous stainless steel building in the heart of the Houston Museum District. The museum is a non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national and regional art that documents its role in modern life through exhibitions, lectures, original publications and a variety of educational programs and events.

Discovery Green: A 12-acre urban park with more than 400 events per year, there is something for everyone at Discovery Green! Most events are free and open to the public. 

Fire Museum: Built in 1898, the Houston Fire Museum was originally Fire Station No. 7, the first fire station built by the Houston Fire Department after it became a fully paid station in 1895. Preservation of old Fire Station No. 7 as a fire museum began in 1980, and now the two-story building is completely renovated and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Health Museum: also known as the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, this is Houston's most interactive science learning center and a member institution of the Texas Medical Center. Located in the heart of the city's Museum District, The Health Museum encourages growing interest and regard for healthier lifestyles, fitness and good physical, mental and spiritual health.

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts: A state-of-the-art entertainment complex with two opulent, acoustically distinguished theaters - Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall, Michael Cordua's Artista restaurant and its own above-ground 800-car parking garage.

Holocaust Museum: Located in Houston’s Museum District, Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, the Museum teaches the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy.

Jones Hall: Dominating an entire city block, Jones Hall is a monument to the memory of Jesse Holman Jones, a towering figure in Houston during the first half of the 20th century. A key player in FDR's cabinet during America's recovery from the Great Depression, Jones was also a builder in Houston. At one point, he could count 35 buildings he added to the City's skyline. Jones Hall is home to the Houston Symphony and the Society for the Performing Arts. More than 400,000 visitors attend some 250 events annually.

Kemah Boardwalk: Open daily and located just 20 miles from downtown Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk is home to fabulous waterfront restaurants, amusements, charming retail stores, festivals and seaside shows every day.

Menil Collection: Dedicated to preserving and exhibiting the art collection of Houston philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil, the Menil Collection’s diverse holdings represent many world cultures and thousands of years of human creativity, from prehistoric times to present day. Assembled over the course of many decades, the collection – which continues to grow – is widely recognized for its depth and eclecticism.

Miller Outdoor Theatre: The 84-year-old Miller Outdoor Theatre provides a unique resource for residents and visitors. The theater is a professionally operated proscenium theater located on approximately 7.5 acres of land in Hermann Park, site of the Houston Zoo, the Garden Center and the Museum of Natural Science. Seating is provided for 1,582 patrons and 27 wheelchair spaces in addition to an 80,000-square-foot sloping lawn that accommodates about 4,500 more.

Museum District: Formed in 1997 by 11 institutions, the Houston Museum District Association aims to maximize use of the artistic, scientific and educational resources of the institutions by all Houston-area residents and visitors. The District is now comprises 18 museums located within an approximate 1.5 mile radius of the Mecom Fountain in Hermann Park.

Museum of Fine Arts: A dynamic cultural complex comprising two museum buildings, two art schools, two decorative arts centers and a sculpture garden. With its encyclopedic collection and an exciting schedule of international loan exhibitions and award-winning programs, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is one of the nation’s premier destinations for art lovers.

Museum of Natural Science: Founded in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the highest-attended museums in the United States. The Museum includes four floors of dynamic permanent exhibit halls, the Wortham IMAX® Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center and the Burke Baker Planetarium.

NASA/Space Center Houston: The official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston tells the story of the NASA space program and is the only place in the world where visitors can see astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock, land a shuttle, and take a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA.

Rice Art Gallery: Since 1995, Rice Gallery has commissioned more than forty installations. It is a nationally recognized contemporary art with nearly 40,000 a year, and it is celebrated among artists as "a great place to show." Located on the campus of Rice University – near the Texas Medical Center – the gallery is the only university museum in the country dedicated to installation art.

Theater District: This multi-venue area is ranked second in the nation for the number of theater seats in a concentrated downtown area and is one of only five cities with permanent professional resident companies in opera, ballet, music, and theater. The Theater District is home to Houston's nine world-class performing arts organizations, the 130,000 square foot Bayou Place entertainment complex, restaurants, movies, plazas and parks.

Theater District outdoor venues

• Bush 41 Monument, a tribute to the 41st American president and a public green space
• Fish Plaza, located in front of the Wortham Center's main entry with great visibility for outdoor festivities
• Jones Plaza, a popular spot for concerts and community gatherings across from Jones Hall
• Root Memorial Square, a new outdoor venue across from the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets and Aeros
• Sabine Promenade, a 23-acre park featuring 12 street-to-bayou access points and native landscaping
• Sesquicentennial Park, an inviting park along Buffalo Bayou, often the site for water-based activities and events

Weather Museum: The Weather Research Center (WRC) advances the science of weather and the knowledge of the weather’s impact on the global community through research, prediction and education to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. The center extends its reach through the John C. Freeman Weather Museum, helping visitors become weather-wise and educated about weather safety.

Wortham Center: Built at the height of the 1980s oil bust, the 437,500-square-foot Wortham Center is home to Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera. More than 5 million patrons have visited the Wortham since its opening in 1987. It has also served as the backdrop for hundreds of social galas, civic meetings, corporate and group events and even weddings.

Sports

Houston Astros: Houston’s Major League Baseball team, play their home games at Minute Maid Park, the city’s first retractable-roof stadium located in the heart of downtown.

Houston Dash: This female professional soccer team plays at BBVA Compass Stadium, just east of downtown Houston.

Houston Dynamo: The team won back-to-back Major League Soccer cup championships its first two years in existence (2006 and 2007). The team plays at BBVA Compass Stadium, which is just east of downtown Houston.

Houston Rockets: Houston’s professional basketball team, won back-to-back National Basketball Association (NBA) championships in 1994 and 1995. The team plays their home games at the 18,300-seat Toyota Center.

Houston Texans: Houston's National Football League team plays at NRG Stadium, which is very near the Proton Therapy Center.

Restaurants

Houston is home to some of the best food in the nation. To learn more about what options exist near the Proton Therapy Center and beyond.