Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States. It is huge, both in population and in land area. "Urban sprawl" is a term tailor-made for this city, due to Houston being the largest unzoned city in the country. Houston is a multicultural city home to some of the nation's largest Asian, Arab and Latin American populations. But its culture is not limited to diverse population — it also boasts a world class symphony and theater district that includes a full-time ballet company and opera.
Houston is the largest city in the United States without any appreciable zoning. While there is some small measure of zoning in the form of ordinances and land use regulations, real estate development in Houston is only constrained by the will and the pocketbook of real estate developers. Traditionally, Houston politics and law are strongly influenced by real estate developers; at times, the majority of city council seats have been held by developers.
What this means to visitors is that Houston covers a larger land area with less population than might otherwise be expected. Everything is spread out. No matter where you are, almost nothing will be within walking distance. The entire city is built on the energy industry and nearly everyone owns a car and drives everywhere they go. However, the city is becoming more dense and walkable, particularly in the Midtown/Montrose areas. With a few exceptions, most everything to see or do is located in Houston's urban core inside the 610 Loop and more specifically in between downtown, the Galleria, and the Texas Medical Center.
PLACE TO VISIT
Menil Collection, Montrose. 1515 Sul Ross. The Menil Collection is a unique museum environment located in the Montrose-area Museum District housing the collection of John and Dominique de Menil. The museum building is the centerpiece of a neighborhood featuring satellite gallery spaces and related cultural institutions set in a parklike setting.
Discovery Green Park, Downtown. Discovery Green opened April 13, 2008. The downtown Houston park is located across Avenida de las Americas from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas Hotel. Toyota Center, Houston Center and Minute Maid Park are only blocks away.
Spec's Liquor, Midtown. 2410 Smith Street. Owned and operated by the same Houston family since 1962, Spec's is a true destination shopping experience. The Warehouse Store is the crown jewel of all Spec's locations. With over 40,000 labels of wines, spirits, liqueurs, beers, and finer foods, Spec's indeed fills all 80,000 square feet of selling space. The deli offers the finest in deli meats, pates, domestic and imported cheeses, fresh caviar, and a complete assortment of domestic and imported smoked fish and salmon make the selection limited only by your imagination.
Houston Holocaust Museum, Midtown. Phone: 713.942.8000. 5401 Caroline St. Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and millions of 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 to tens of thousands of people worldwide each year.
Downtown Tunnel System, Downtown. The majority of Downtown Houston's buildings are connected by an intertwining, complex tunnel system. Scores of lunch restaurants and easy access to building entrances from underground keep Houston's workforce primarily underground during the day. Only open during the weekdays, the tunnels are an interesting spectacle to observe, but try to avoid getting lost.
Chase Tower Observatory, Downtown. 600 Travis Street. The sky lobby on the 60th floor of the building is the observatory and free during business hours. The Chase Tower is the tallest building in Texas and the tallest five-sided building in the world.
Space Center Houston, in Clear Lake. Indoor fun space museum with lots of hands-on space-science exhibits and artifacts from the full history of U.S. space exploration. Highlights include the actual Apollo and Mercury launch vehicles, and a tour of astronaut training facilities.
Hermann Park - Approximately 455 acres in south of Downtown which encompasses the Miller Outdoor Theater, the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Hermann Park Golf Course.
Forbidden Gardens, Outdoor museum (expensive and sadly incomplete) replicating some of China's historic scenes.
Contemporary Arts Museum, . 10-5 Tu-We, 10-9 Th, 10-5 Fr-Sa, noon-5 Su, closed Mo. Free admission.
Diverse Works,. noon-6 We-Sa. Alternative artwork center. Varies, some free..
Williams Tower, in Uptown. The largest skyscraper in the world outside of a downtown area.
Houston Ship Channel Boat Tour, 10:30 and 2:30 Tu, We, Fr, Sa, 2:30 Th and Su.. See one of the busiest ports in the world. Advance reservations required. Free, reservations required..
Downtown Aquarium, Downtown. Not an aquarium, but rather a restaurant with an aquarium inside it. Its high-profile location and neon lights make it hard to miss. It has a ferris wheel and other carnival-style rides.
WHAT TO DO
ZaSpa, A secluded, luxury spa located on the private 2nd floor of Hotel ZaZa Houston offering a variety of spa treatments for both men and women. Facilities include a pool and Spa Café.
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo - Reliant Stadium and Reliant Park. March, yearly (March 3-22 for the 2009 season). The world's largest rodeo. Includes rodeo events, calf scramble, and music concert. It is known for its big-name music acts as much as it is for the rodeo. The livestock show attracts professional breeders who bring in their world-class livestock to be judged. There is also a carnival on the grounds.
FotoFest Exhibitions and art installations, film and video programs, lectures and forums created by FotoFest for FOTOFEST2006 were held March 10 - April 23, 2006.
Bayou City Art Festival Built on an 8/10 mile asphalt loop surrounded by lush trees, foliage, and picnic areas, the annual, juried, fine art event boasts a stress-free outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. March 28– 30, 2008 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Houston Children's Festival is the largest celebration for children in the United States, the Houston Children's Festival offers over 350 events packed into a couple of hectic days. 31 March - 1 April 2007.
WorldFest-Houston Film Festival (now its 41st year!) continues with its totally dedicated Independent Film screening format for the upcoming April 11 - 20, 2008. All Screenings at the AMC Studio 30 on Dunvale, the HQ Hotel is The Renaissance Hotel, Greenway Plaza. 55 New Intl Feature Films and 100 New Short Films all introduced by their directors with a Q&A after the screening.
The Houston International Festival (AKA iFest) Annual international festival featuring juried arts, crafts, food, music, games and events for adults and children. April 19-20 & 26-27 2008.
Art Car Parade is the Worlds Largest and Oldest Art Car Parade. The event features over 250 Art Cars, 200,000 plus live spectators and media from all over the world, making Houston ground zero of an international phenomenon. Saturday, May 10, 2008.
Latino Book & Family Festival Hosts a world class array of panels, authors, celebrities and entertainment for your enjoyment and enlightenment. September 29-30.
Greek Festival Includes children's activities, Athenian playground, food and entertainment. OPA!! Held October 5-8, 2006.
The Texas Renaissance Festival is one of the nation's largest, most acclaimed renaissance theme parks where the sights, sounds, tastes and beauty of the 16th Century come alive every Saturday and Sunday for 8 weekends October through November, from 9:00 AM to dusk.
Splashtown Great water park located in the suburb of spring next to I-45. Splashtown is no longer part of the Six Flag's Chain of Amusment/Water Parks. Six Flags has recently sold the park to developers that will keep the park open until further notice.
The Orange Show 10AM-5PM Sa-Su. One-of-a-kind attraction dedicated to the eccentric, artistic and scientific. Features the Beer Can House and annual Art Car Parade. $1.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Houston is served by two major commercial airports and two smaller regional airports.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport , (IATA: IAH). The larger of the two airports and is located 23 miles north of downtown near Beltway 8, between IH-45 North and US-59 North. It is a hub for Continental Airlines and serves 24 domestic and international airlines.
William P. Hobby Airport, Located 7 miles south of downtown and is located off of I-45 South. It is convenient if you're travelling downtown or south of the city, such as to Galveston. Its main carrier is Southwest Airlines, and it also served by Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and AirTran.
Sugar Land Regional Airport, Located 25 miles southwest of downtown on TX 6, just north of U.S. 59. It is a popular choice among the well-heeled corporate aircraft set.
Ellington Field, Located 19 miles southeast of downtown, just off I-45. Formerly an air force base, now used for general aviation, non-passenger commercial traffic, and government aviation (NASA, Texas Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard).
By train - Amtrak, 902 Washington Ave, Amtrak's Sunset Limited line is the only passenger train route with a stop in Houston.
