Houston, TX

Answer 1

Houston is nicknamed, "The Bayou City" and is the fourth largest city in the U.S. When the Allen Brothers first stepped on land from the Buffalo Bayou in 1836, they established the city grid from this waterway. Today the bayou has street level access points to the Downtown Aquarium, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, and the Wortham Center, home to Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera in the Theater District. People can jog, hike and bike in a lush landscape under crosswalks and city streets away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Enjoy Buffalo Bayou by pontoon, kayak and canoe.

Landmarks

Memorial Park, a 1,500 acre park with many beautiful trees and open grass fields, is the largest in Texas, and is twice the size of New York's Central Park. It includes a golf course with a three-mile jogging path around it.

Space Center Houston has simulated space voyages and houses the Astronaut Gallery, Starship Gallery, and the NASA Tram Tour.

Houston Zoo, the eighth most visited zoo in the U.S., is situated on 55 acres in a tropical setting and is home to over 3,100 animals including 500 species. You can view the Wildlife Carousel of 64 hand-carved endangered species.

Texas Medical Center has the largest medical conglomerate of medical doctors, researchers and medical professionals in the world and treats more than 5 million patients a year. It is represented by such institutions as Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Kemah Boardwalk is located approximately 35 miles south of the city on the Galveston Bay. Enjoy waterfront restaurants such as Landry's Seafood House, Saltgrass Steak House, Joe's Crab Shack and Aquarium Restaurant. It is fun to watch the sailboats go by while dining at your dining table.

Restaurants

Dining options in Houston are diverse. Try these award-winning restaurants: Mark's American Cuisine, top 10 in U.S. according to Zagat 2007, Rouge - hugh steaks, Shade - brunch, lunch, dinner all good, and T'afia - fantastic appetizers,rated in Travel + Leisure. Hugo's is rated among the top eight Mexican restaurants in U.S. according to 2004 Delta's Sky magazine. Your taste buds may enjoy Houston restaurants.

Events

Houston Livestock Rodeo, an annual showcase of Texas western heritage with livestock events. Entertainment plays a large part of the event and is graced by well known entertainers such as Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Jonas brothers, and Black Eyed Peas. More than 22,000 volunteers help produce this premier event.

Answer 2

Houston, the fourth most populous city in the United States, located in the great state of Texas, is probably not on the top of the list for most vacationers. Houston has a huge number of truly varied activities available and is steeped in the history of the United States. Walk the streets and you’ll hear over ninety languages spoken in this truly multicultural family-friendly city. With a young population, about 34 percent of the people in Houston are between the ages of 25 and 44, you can be sure that there will be lots of activities to interest you. Don’t overlook the wild west for your next vacation. There’s so much to do in Houston, you’ll be glad you went!

You might not even have imagined that Houston’s seventeen block theater district is the second largest in the United States. With almost four hundred performing arts and visual arts organizations and over ninety multicultural or minority arts organizations, Houston has the museums and the art collections to attract even the world weary traveler.

From the American Cowboy Museum which offers history and heritage of the ethnic cowboy traditions of Texas where you can enjoy the ride on a hay wagon or on horseback to the Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge which show cases the little-known bayou side of this Texas city. At Anahauc you can spend your day learning about the prairies and coastal marshes that are home to some of Houston’s native wildlife including bobcats, alligators and twenty-seven species of duck.

Visit NASA, at the Space Center Houston, where you can enjoy an out of this world adventure in space travel. The Space Center is located in downtown Houston and the museum showcases a huge variety of space memorabilia. Also near downtown is the Gite Gallery which has a big collection of African art or visit the Houston Center for Photography which is one of the only non-profit galleries in the United States showing the talents of new photographers. Whatever your taste in art, there is a gallery or show for you in Houston.

When you’re hungry, there are almost 11,000 restaurants and bars and nightclubs in the Houston area that will surely be able to fill the hole. Start with the meal that you think of first when you come to Texas - a great big juicy steak! Try Cullen’s Upscale American Grill located on Space Center Blvd or Del Frisco’s on Westheimer road for a romantic dinner for two. If you’re more in the mood for Tex-Mex, wander into the Rice District for El Meson with it’s blend of Mexican, America and Cuban cuisine, you’ll be full in no time. Houston’s Rice District is well-known for it’s family-friendly and multi-cultural food and drink. There isn’t any type of food that’s not available in this area. Chinese? Mexican? Thai? Sushi? You name it and you will find it in Houston.

Ready for a little Houston style nightlife? Take your significant other for a romantic night on the town. Houston’s warm climate makes it a paradise for evenings in the city. Houston has a very quirky and funky mix of bars and clubs which gives it a college town feel. Head for Brasil on Dunlavy road and get your fill of the hipster bar mixed with coffee shop style bar where a dj spins a blend of hip hop and rock. Maybe you’re a beer lover at heart, there’s a place for you in Houston! The Flying Saucer Draft Emporium on Main street has over eighty beers on tap with great service and the bartenders who know beer! Connected to Sullivan’s Restaurant, the Ringside at Sullivan’s is a luxury lounge for the tourist looking for a more up-scale entertainment. They have excellent live jazz on the weekends with a cool and trendy atmosphere.

Houston is a southern city with style and culture, an excellent place for a family vacation or a romantic weekend getaway.

Answer 3

Whether you are a single young adult, a family of four or retired, Houston, Texas is a great place to live.

If you like attending sporting events, there are many options to choose from. Houston is home to the Rockets and Comets (mens’ and womens’ professional Basketball team), the Astros (professional baseball team), the Dynamos (professional soccer team), the Texans (professional football team), and the Aeros (professional hockey team).

For visual and performing arts enthusiasts, there is also a lot to choose from including the Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, The Hobby Center, The Alley Theater and TUTS (Theater Under the Stars). Houston is home to such museums as the Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Fine Arts, the Health Museum and the Holocaust Museum.

For families, there is plenty to see and do while living in Houston. Family friendly places include the Houston Zoo, Hermann Park where you can take horseback riding lessons, the Children’s Museum, the Aquarium Restaurant and the Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. For even more entertainment, take a short drive to NASA, Kemah Boardwalk or Moody Garden’s in Galveston.

Houston is home to hundreds of churches, synagogues, and temples to meet your spiritual needs. One of the largest churches in the United States, Lakewood Church with Pastor Joel Osteen, is centrally located on Highway 59 inside of Loop 610. Houston is also home to a world renown medical center including a Children’s Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Midtown, Uptown, Montrose and the Heights are all great places to live for people working downtown. While real estate can be somewhat pricey in those areas, some of the charm is unbeatable and cannot be found in any other parts of the city. If you are looking for more family friendly neighborhoods, Bellaire, West University, Spring Branch, Memorial, and Katy are great places to live.

No matter what part of Houston you settle down in, you can be assured that you will have great restaurants, shopping and entertainment close by.

Answer 4

The largest city in the United States, Houston is quite dense and easy to get around with public transportation, which includes buses, Metro-rail and taxi’s. Bicycles are also commonly used around the city.

Space junkies can peruse the Johnson Space Center and take a tour with knowledgeable tour guides. See the baby goats, ducks and chickens at the Houston Zoo. The Museum of Natural Science is the place to be if your interest is Natural Science and African exhibits. Stop by the Williams Water Wall and feel the wall of water as it sprays you while it cascades downward. During the season, drop in to the Minute Maid Park,(home to the Houston Astros) and see Houston’s finest. Do some shopping at the Galleria Mall, a multi level mall that is quite impressive.

Don’t leave Houston before enjoying the nightlife, whether it is local talent battling amongst themselves, salsa, jazz, Reggae, pop or you sipping Mojitos and Frozen margaritas, Houston has it all.