Trading small-town Mississippi vibes for the energy of the nation’s fourth-largest city, Abigail, Sid Richardson '26, spent her four years at Rice diving into Houston’s endless opportunities. See how she used her free student METRO Pass to explore beyond the hedges!

Once a self-described "stiff and awkward" dancer, Nikita, Baker '27, used the freedom of the Rice experience to trade her gym routine for the rhythms of Indian dance, Latin dance and step. See how exploring new campus traditions transformed Niki from a hesitant beginner into a confident performer!

Lara is a senior at Duncan College studying Psychology. Discover how a spontaneous visit to the Houston Zoo after Orientation Week during freshman year grew into a cherished annual tradition for her!

The Menil Collection — free for Rice students to explore year-round — is a favorite spot for Mark, a student at Rice Architecture, to visit. Discover Mark’s top recommendations for exploring this tranquil space in the city.

Joshua is a senior at Rice studying Sociology and Political Science. As a native Houstonian, Joshua came to Rice with a lot of prior knowledge about Space City. However, that didn't prevent him from stepping out of the "Rice Bubble" and creating new memories in the city where he was raised!

Tegan is a senior at Rice studying Health Sciences. As a Houston native, she knows just how much the city has to offer. Here, she shares what makes Houston so full of energy, culture and opportunity.
 

Rice University kicked off the start of Latine Heritage Month with food and festivities! Berny (McMurtry ‘26) shares how Rice students celebrate the history, contributions and achievements of Latino/a/e/x communities during this very special month.

Devika and Naman take a break from studying for finals to explore Houston's Chinatown. Catch a glimpse of Houston’s vibrant cultural scene as they whisk you away on a food and adventure tour of Dun Huang Plaza.

Houston is a foodie paradise, home to over 10,000 restaurants spanning a variety of budgets, ambiences and cuisines. Here are some Rice favorites.

Rice Owls often remark that campus is a bubble. Although our campus is always active and has many events put on for students, the city of Houston has many options too. Throughout the semester, Nimah and Devin have been using their weekends to explore Houston’s bakeries, restaurants, markets, libraries, and more to immerse themselves in the greater Houston community & culture. 

The Rice Program Council (RPC) hosts various campus-wide events and gives students the opportunity to explore Houston by offering subsidized or free tickets to local events. Read along to hear about one student's experience at the Houston Ballet's Nutcracker performance as a part of RPC's Passport to Houston program!

When you live in a city as diverse as Houston, you'll find cultural experiences and events throughout the year, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival! A couple of Rice students took an excursion out to Asia Society Texas for this fun weekend event.