Anyone been to Houston?

[REDVAN]

EDIT: OLD bumped thread see post 11 for new info...


Hey everyone,

This was spurred on by the Tampa bay thread. I am going to Houston. Does anyone have any good places to go to, touristy things and non-tourit things are both good. I am going to be there for a week in February if your suggestion is season dependant. Thanks in advance for any ideas!!!!

[FlamesAddiction]

I was in Houston just a couple of hours ago.


Houston, British Columbia that is. They have a mean gas station there!

[redforever]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Hey everyone,

This was spurred on by the Tampa bay thread. I am going to Houston. Does anyone have any good places to go to, touristy things and non-tourit things are both good. I am going to be there for a week in February if your suggestion is season dependant. Thanks in advance for any ideas!!!!

What time in February? That is when they always have their Indoor Rodeo, which is the biggest indoor rodeo in the world, Calgary having the largest outdoor rodeo in the world. Even if you dont want to see all the bull riding, calf roping and the like, the entertainment every nite is out of this world and is included with your rodeo admission, like DIRT cheap. And the entertainment reads from the who is who of the Country and Western charts, George Strait being the head attraction.

Other than that, I was not overly thrilled with Houston. If you are there a week, try going down to Galveston, great seafood there. And do make a trip to San Antonio, only a 3 hour drive, and do the RiverWalk. San Marcos is only half an hour from there and that is where all the big outlets are for shopping, huge selection, dirt cheap too.

And from there, you are rite by New Braunfels, great little town, and such nice scenery compared to the Houston area.

[calf]

Originally Posted by redforever

calf roping .

I frikkin' hate calf roping

[KTown]

I've been to Houston many times on business.

I only spend a few days there and then head back.

I'll tell you one thing it's one of the fattest cities in the states, they sure love there Ihop.

I'll be in Baytown, just outside of Houston for a few weeks sometime in the new year. I plan on heading to Dallas in my spare time to visit some friends.

[Daradon]

Can't remember much about Houston, (it's not a very pretty city and very deserving of #1 polluted center in the states) but just a very short drive away is Galvaston which is GORGEOUS and has some GREAT seafood places as well as nice beaches.

[BlackEleven]

Been there a few times on business as well. I would recommend going downtown; the downtown is actually quite nice and there are a lot of bars/restaurants. Unforunately, I didn't really find much of interest outside of downtown (I did try).

Be sure to take advantage of the Tex-Mex food. I went to a number of good restaurants down there. Also, be sure to rent a car as there is absolutley no way to get around without one. I've never seen a city more car centric that Houston.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by KTown

I've been to Houston many times on business.

I only spend a few days there and then head back.

I'll tell you one thing it's one of the fattest cities in the states, they sure love there Ihop.

I'll be in Baytown, just outside of Houston for a few weeks sometime in the new year. I plan on heading to Dallas in my spare time to visit some friends.

haha! Been there for a wedding and may end up living there one day but its a nice place. One thing I noticed that I didn't think of was the humidity. I knew it'd be hot but wow... I found it quite humid.

The people are fat. That is a fact. Seriously. they are fat. And when you order a large of something...

well...

it's not like our large. It's like feed a family of 7 large.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Was there a few years ago. Quite a nice place I must say. Far more cosmopolitan than I expected.

Check out this Boardwalk area south of Houston:

Kemah Boardwalk. Kind of like San Fran's pier 39.
http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/flash_...h_content.html

I also went to NASA but have to say I was a bit let down. It's really just a kids museum, you don't really get to see much cool stuff.

Sugarland had a ton of big box outlet mall type stuff.

The Galleria is a super duper shopping mall on the west side of the 610. Great shopping there.

The 610 is Houston's primary ring road that connects the two airports, MinuteMaid Park and goes around the downtown core. However, it's not so much a road as a parking lot depending on what time of day you're there. I got a hotel off of this and recommend it if you do as it's easy to get around town from this road if it's non peak.

For some reason, the locals warned me about downtown. Not sure if it's that sketch or what, but they did.

It wasn't that I saw obese people so much as I was stunned at how "dolled up" people were down there and the sheer display of wealth. Women looked like they came from a salon eating at a mall sandwich shop in full designer name clothing. Lots of hot women too. I saw so many freaking BMW's on the road it was practically the official car. And not just 3 series.

[teamchachi]

A little Houston word association:

Big hair

Huge People

Enormous meal portions

Traffic Jams

Hot and humid

Hand guns

All the Texas stereotypes are pretty much based in truth

[REDVAN]

MASSIVE BUMP.

But it's my own thread and I feel like it's no big deal... haha 5 years. Record bump?

I know that a few months ago I bitched about needing a travel sub-forum, so I hope that doesn't make anyone jaded to giving me any advice.

Last time I went with my ex-gf and stayed at my aunt and uncles-

Went to Sugarland, and Katy for malls, as well as Galleria. Saw the Space Center and the aquarium. Can't really remember what else I did, since it was 5 years ago.

This time I am going with my current gf and her parents- staying in a hotel by the airport, but still visiting family near Katy. My gf and her mom love shopping, and so I am looking for stuff to do once again other than that. Will be there over this coming weekend for 4 days. Am thinking ball game, golf, and maybe Galveston for a day. I'd go back to the space center, but as someone said- it was nothing special.

So, in the last 5 years: any new things that I can't miss? Any good (cheap and greasy) places to eat that can't be missed? I am looking forward to dying in the summer heat!

[Red Slinger]

Food: I go to Houston quite a bit on business and I try to always go to Pappadeaux's for Seafood. Huge portions if you're into that but most of the food is really good. If you like Crayfish that is your place but there's lots of other seafood too.

You've already done the space center so the other 'must do' should be a trip to Galveston. There's not a lot to do there but it's a very picturesque town and the boardwalk is nice (if they've finished rebuilding it from the Hurricane). It's probably too hot to golf or do anything outdoors there at this time of year so a ballgame or shopping might be the best option.

[simmonjam1]

You could go to Willowbrook mall. The ladies can shop and they have a real good restaurant by there (BJ's Brewhouse). Its similar to our Brewsters with all kinds of microbrews.

Boudreuax's is close to Willowbrook mall and is my favorite restaurant. Cajun food, cheap, but the crawfish etouffee is awesome.

You could check out San Jacinto Battlefield. That's where Texas won it's independence; where Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna after the Alamo. At that battlefield is the Battleship Texas which is a floating museum. It's a decommissioned WWII era battleship.

[Mass_nerder]

My sisters both live in Houston, so I get down there a few times a year.
The city is nice if you stay away from some of the more shady areas.
Midtown is great for bars, and is a pretty trendy area just outside of downtown. The Galleria is a super fancy mall, if you're into shopping. Drive through River Oaks to see some of the most ridiculous houses you could see. Bush Sr. used (or maybe still does?) live there.
As for touristy stuff, the Houston zoo is okay, and there are the Texans, and Astros.
Check out Galveston as well...it's a neat little gulf city.
For food, check out Star Pizza...super good deep dish. Don't eat at Pappasito's Cantina.

If I were you, I would jump in a car and drive to San Antonio or Austin. Both are much more tourist friendly, and there's a lot more to do around town.
Only a 3 hour drive to either one.

[troutman]

Telephone Road

[YYC in LAX]

I've been to Houston a couple times. Here are some recommendations.

1. Make the ~1 hour drive to Galveston. It's in the Gulf of Mexico. Pretty cool spot.
2. Astros game?
3. Check out a big university or college in the area. Some pretty cool campuses.
4. Can't remember actual names of Tex-Mex places, but most are pretty good.
5. Whataburger

[Barnes]

Mmmmm...

Seafood stockpot at papadeaux.