[Museum of Printing History]-From the earliest cuneiform tablets to current headlines, the museum show visitors how written communication has influenced the course of history. The galleries contain hundreds of rare printing artifacts, One gallery features historical headlines of documenting events from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Open Tues.-Sun. 10am-5pm. At 1324 W. Clay St. Tel. 713/522-4652. (Admission)

[Port of Houston]- Among top three seaports in the United States, sixth largest in the world in total tonnage. The port is connected to Gulf of Mexico by 50 mile-long ship channel. Nearly 5,000 ships and 40,000 barges transit the channel yearly. World Trade Center Building is hub of Houston's international commerce, and location of many foreign consuls assigned here. Visitors may view famous Houston Turning Basin from observation deck reached trough Gate 8 at 7300 Clinton Dr. Observation deck open daily 10am-5:30pm.
      M/S Norwegian Sea, Norwegian Cruise Line's luxury cruise ship, departs every Sunday from the Port of Houston for seven-day Texaribbean cruise. Departures from Barbours Cut Container Terminal. For cruise information, call 1-800-327-7030

[Reef, The]-20 acre spring-fed lake and water-based family park offering facilities for scuba diving, swimming, fishing, kayaking/canoeing, picnicking and much more. Open May 15-Sept.15 Mon.-Fri. 11am-8pm, Sat. and Sun 7am-8pm; Sept. 16-May 14, Sat. and Sun. 9am-4pm. At 4800 Schrumier Rd. For more information, call 713/991-3483

[Sam Houston Race Track]-Class I race track offers pari-mutuel wagering on love thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races and on off-track races simulcast from other tracks. Beautiful 30,000-capacity grandstand incorporating luxury suites, a private Jockey Club, and track-view dining. Racing season: Thoroughbreds usually Jan.-Apr. and Nov.-Dec.; Quarter Horses, usually Jul.-Sept. On the Sam Houston Tollway (toll road) near F.M. 249. For information, call 281/807-7223.

[San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Park]-Site is adjacent to city's northeast city limits. Four historical markers on Battleground Rd. (Texas 134) within city attest to city's claim as "Birthplace of Texas."

[Shell Oil Company Museum]-Museum covers the history of Shell Oil Co. in the United States, from the early 1900's through today's petrochemicals. Displays include early gas station memorabilia, models, of offshore drilling rigs, and more. Open Mon.-Fri. 9am-5:30pm in the lobby of Shell's corporate headquarters at 900 Louisiana St. For more information, call 713/241-4900

[Space Center Houston]-Put on your space helmet and blast off to the most exciting, fun adventure on Earth. Space Center Houston is a spectacular journey into America's space program-from the past...all the way into the future. Out-of-this-world family fun at NASA's official visitor center includes live shows and presentations tours to the Johnson Space Center and much more.
      See actual spacecraft, like Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, capsules, and watch astronauts train for upcoming space shuttle missions. Try on space helmets, touch a moon rock, or land the shuttle and try a space walk on sate-of-the-art simulators. Live satellite links to NASA facilities provide up-to-date information about current space flights and astronaut training activities.
      Kids of all ages can jump on the moon, man the space station, drive a lunar rover, command the space shuttle, build and launch a rocket and lots more at the exciting Kids Space Place-with 40 interactive play station to explore and experience the excitement of space!
      Open Mon.-Fri. 10a.m.-5p.m (extended hours during summer); Sat., Sun., 10am-7pm Closed Christmas day. Located 20 miles southeast of downtown Houston, 3 miles east of I-45 on NASA Road 1. For information, 281/244-2105, or 1-800-972-0369. (Admission)