Houston For Two Days

[FlamesAddiction]

Hey,

I will be going to Houston for two days in January. What are the must see sites for such a short visit?

Thanks!

[wireframe]

If you're into modern art, I love going to the Rothko chapel.

[Gundo]

Do yourself a favour and hit up any of the Rudy’s or Pinkertons for some BBQ. It’s life changingly good.

[Engine09]

The Johnson Space Center, you can get up close to one of the Saturn rockets built for the Apollo missions.

Drive to Austin.

[Flashpoint]

Into Battleships? WWI Dreadnaught Texas is there and you can tour throughout. Was the US flagship in the 20’s. Only the top deck has been restored, so you get a great look at authentic war veneer.

It’s in a park rather than in the ocean and is absolutely mind blowing as you approach.

If you’re more into hippy stuff, yeah, go to Austin. Get your BBQ in the hill country otw.

[keenan87]

Go to El Tiempo for Mexican food. Never had better.

[Yoho]

The aquarium was awesome before the Hurricane.

[Flamenspiel]

Other then the Space centre, Houston is a bunch of highways, i suggest the 4 hour drive to New Orleans, the last couple of hours is actually interesting as the highway is elevated above the bayou. I worked there for three weeks, i found the fact that it was close to New Orleans the best feature.

[Weitz]

Yah, if you are only there for 2 days don't drive to another city.

There is cool stuff to do in Houston for a day or 2.

[loudin218]

Houston gets a bad rap, I've been living here for 5 years it's actually a very diverse and interesting city.

Definitely the Space Center, something interesting there for people of all ages.

Battleship Texas and San Jacinto monument is cool if you can get over the fact that it's surrounded by refineries in the ship channel.

Galveston is fun if you want to make the drive.

The Museum District has lots of cool museums, the Natural History museum is really great. The zoo is down there as well.

Eat lots - there's an absurd amount of Mexican and BBQ joints.

[DuffMan]

If you like seafood there is a place downtown, that has a massive, like 3 story tall, cylinder shaped aquarium with tons of fish in it, some the size of cows.

Also you can walk a block or 2 away and get a picture holding George HW Bush's hand. This statue is actually about 10' tall so it looks pretty funny.
Actually you might not, that might be disrespectful now, and you will get shot.

[troutman]

Telephone Road's ten miles long
Fifty car lots and a hundred honky-tonks
Jukebox blastin' and the beer bottles ring
Jimmy banging on a pinball machine

Come on, come on, come on, let's go
This ain't Louisiana
Your Mama won't know
Come on, come on, come on, let's go
Everybody's rockin' out on Telephone Road

--------------------

A drive-in movie in the trunk of my car
One-eyed sailor in an ice house bar
Spit-shine Charlie and ol' Peg-leg Bill
Are dressed up fit to kill
On Telephone Road

Telephone Road, Telephone Road

Brabecue and beer on ice
A salty watermelon slice
At the Little Taste of Paradise
On Telephone Road

[REDVAN]

I love Houston. I would move there if I could.

My favourite BBQ place was Goode Co, they only have a couple locations. https://www.goodecompany.com/restaurant-bbq2.asp

Honestly though, any bbq is going to be great but try to avoid Pappas places, they are just a chain and the quality isn't as good IMO- probably location dependent. I've tried a bunch of "small" bbq joints down SW of HOuston (Katy area and south rural areas) and they are worth trying. Someone recommended Rudy's above and it's decent too. Be prepared for meat sweats.

If you like fast food chicken fingers, I can NOT get enough of Raisin' Cane's. I know it's not only Houston-local, but we don't have them here so I always go there when I can.

Try a Kolache if you drive by a Kolache Factory. It's so bad for you, it's good https://www.kolachefactory.com/ They're basically stuffed buns, but there are many varieties.

Tex-Mex is their staple down there, so you must try something. I don't have a favorite per-se, but a google search would probably help you if no one else has any suggestions. Don't go for anything too weird/modern or expensive, as I've found the Tex-Mex-iness of it decreases and it's just not what I was looking for.

If you are driving around on the highways and freeways, find a Buc-ee's mart. https://www.buc-ees.com/index.php It is the most Texas-sized thing you will ever see in your life and a symbol of American excess. Think of a typical gas station, multiply it by 25x and then you have a buc-ees. Not a tourist thing, but it's worth it for a pit-stop.

As for the Space Centre, it is a yes if you're into it, and a NO if you are not. It is pretty much exactly what you expect it is, so you may or may not find it worthwhile. If you're down that way you should drive down to Galveston and dip your toe in the water, if you've never been before. The battle ships are very interesting, and you can walk through some of them so I thought it was worth it.

Other than that, museums or shopping are the only other options, depending on your preferences. The museums are very good, and there are quite a few to choose from- shopping is never-ending so good luck.

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

If you are driving around on the highways and freeways, find a Buc-ee's mart. https://www.buc-ees.com/index.php It is the most Texas-sized thing you will ever see in your life and a symbol of American excess. Think of a typical gas station, multiply it by 25x and then you have a buc-ees. Not a tourist thing, but it's worth it for a pit-stop.

and make sure to bring back enough Beaver Nuggets for everyone.

[Dodsdomd]

Originally Posted by troutman

Telephone Road's ten miles long
Fifty car lots and a hundred honky-tonks
Jukebox blastin' and the beer bottles ring
Jimmy banging on a pinball machine

Come on, come on, come on, let's go
This ain't Louisiana
Your Mama won't know
Come on, come on, come on, let's go
Everybody's rockin' out on Telephone Road

--------------------
d[/i]

One of my all time favourite albums!

[Strange Brew]

Big yes to the Space Center. Space shuttle on the back of a 747. Need I say more?

Lots of great food but don’t limit yourself to chains for BBQ or TexMex although Lioe Tortilla’s for TexMex is pretty good. El Real, Irma’s and Original Ninfa’s on Navigation are also awfully. If BBQ is your thing, Killen’s has lines out the door and is famous.

The aquarium downtown (another one in Kemah) is cool but as a restaurant you are treading in pricey Red Lobster territory.

Museum district is loaded with great museums if that’s your thing. Misuse of Natural History is really good.

Galveston is fun too but in January it won’t be as warm as you think.

[FlamesAddiction]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yeah, I don't think I will be up for driving too much, but you never know. The idea of seeing the Gulf coast on Galveston appeals to me. I would love to touch the water even if it is cooler this time of year. Maybe I will see if there are any shuttle buses or day tours offered this time of year.

I think I will definitely have to do the Space Center. It sounds like the kind of thing that is unique and most cities can't offer anything like that.

[DeluxeMoustache]

It you get homesick during those 2 days and/or need to watch hockey, there is always the Maple Leaf pub.

[Mass_nerder]

Check out Star Pizza

[driveway]

I once had a ten-hour layover in Houston on my way to Costa Rica (cough-humblebrag-cough) and got a taxi driver to take me to HIS favorite restaurant which turned out to be an all-you-can-eat Cajun-soulfood place.

Seriously top three meals of my life. I have no idea what it’s called but I can tell you it’s waaaaayyyy into the ghetto and the staff were insistent I remain inside until my taxi came back.

This was 15 years ago so obviously I have no idea if it’s still there or how to get back, but if were in Houston I’d do two things: see the Rothko chapel (I friggin love Rothko’s stuff) and eat my face off.