Hello, I have a friend in town who is looking for some activities to do during the mid-morning / early afternoon hours. She has a flight out in late afternoon but has a free day leading up to that. Most shopping (Galleria, etc.) won't open until probably 10:00, I'm guessing, so she can't do that too early. Museums are maybe a possibility? She doesn't have sneakers w/ her so walking around parks probably won't work (plus the heat would nix those plans). She's staying in the downtown area and does not have a car, but it willing to take a taxi to get wherever she needs to go. Any advice for me to pass on to her??

Thanks.

If you're friend is staying downtown proper I would recommend the museums, they can be reached easily on the new lt. rail.
They are clustered together: fine arts, contemporary art, zoo, park, IMAX, etc. She could browse the gift shops there as well.
If she enjoys photography then Museum of Fine Arts is a must, there's a Diane Arbus exhibit running. Not sure about hours of operation...

If she really wants to shop there is a small shopping center in downtown. She can ask her concierge/ front desk for directions (she may be able to take the underground tunnel system depending on where her hotel is). I'd second pegelicious' recommendation to take the metrorail down to the museum district. She should buy the day pass though, to save time and $$. She may want to get off in midtown and have breakfast or get coffee or something on the way down to the museums.

How about space center houston? IMO its definitely worth a visit! Having been to Kennedy Space Center / Cape Canerval in florida several times over the years, Houston's tour FAR surpass it in quality and quantity, IMO. There is some walking but trams are also used.

I didn't suggest Space Center because it would be pretty expensive to get to via taxi, and it sounds like she doesn't have all day in Houston.