About Houston

Houston, seat of Harris County, Texas, United States, located on the upper Gulf Coast, 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico – this vibrant city is the fourth largest city in the United States. Houston has long been recognized as the energy capital of the world and home to NASA/Johnson Space Center. On July 20, 1969, the first words spoken from the moon was the name of the city, when Neil Armstrong reported, “Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Houston is a vast and diverse city, which has a 17-block theater district that attracts 2 million people annually. The theater district resident companies include the Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony and the 1996 Tony Award winning Alley Theatre. Houston is one of only five U.S. cities with resident companies in all four major performing art fields of ballet, symphony, opera and drama.

In Houston, the museum district offers a range of museums, galleries, art and cultural institutions for over 4 million people to experience each year.

Read More…

History

From its humble beginnings as a cotton-shipping port to its designation as the “Energy Capital of the World,” Houston has enjoyed more than 160 years of existence.

The Early Years

The first settlement in this area was actually started by John Harris in 1826 and was called Harrisburg. At that time, the area was still under Mexican rule, but Texans were growing increasingly discontent. Ten years later in 1836, war between Texas and Mexico was in full swing, and Harrisburg was destroyed by Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna as he chased the Texas army across the area. A short week later, General Sam Houston led the Texas troops to victory and independence at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Later that same year, two brothers and land speculators from New York, Augustus and John Allen, purchased land near the burned-out remains of Harrisburg and started a new settlement.

Read More…

Fast Facts

City: 613 sqm

Metro: 8,778 sqm

Zip Code: 77002 – 77099

Population: 2,521,059

Home Appreciation: 5.60%

County: Harris

Home Owned: 45.99%

Sales Tax: 8.25%

Median Age: 31.8

Home Median Value: $118,226

Cost of Living: 95.8%

Median Income: $43,525

Unemployment Rate: 5%

Elevation: 90′ above sea level

Where to Stay

Houston is a well-traveled city, and you certainly won’t have any difficulty finding accommodations that appeal to your tastes. Whether your style and budget demand luxurious, elaborate lodgings or something much more casual and simple, you are certain to find the perfect hotel to meet your needs. There are even some unique bed and breakfast establishments and a few rejuvenating spas mixed in with the traditional choices.

The downtown area is home to many of Houston’s prestigious business leaders. With the smell of money floating in the air, it is no great surprise that many of the city’s most prestigious—and expensive—hotels are located in this area. The luxurious Four Seasons was recently renovated to refresh its cutting-edge image. Besides glamorous accommodations, it has an on-site beauty salon and impressive workout facilities. Sophisticated, elegant dining is available at DeVille without even leaving the hotel. The Lancaster first opened as the Auditorium Hotel in the 1920s. A combination of unabashed luxury, small size, gorgeous antiques and breathtaking artwork makes guests feel like part of the elite. Dining in the hotel restaurant, Bistro Lancaster, is an equally elegant experience.

Read More…

Climate

By Car

Highways

In the eight county Houston metropolitan areas, there are 575 miles of freeways and expressways. These roadways provide numerous eastwest and north-south corridors. Since the city is a hub of business in the Gulf Coast region, many major highways intersect providing direct routes to other major cities.

Following are a few of the major freeways and their names.

Sam Houston Tollway = Beltway 8

Beaumont Highway = U.S.90

East Freeway = 1-10

East Eastex Freeway = U.S. 59

Gulf Freeway = 1-45

South Katy Freeway = 1-10

West The Loop = Loop 610

North Freeway = 1-45

North Northwest Freeway = U.S. 290

Southwest Freeway = U.S. 59

South Freeway = Texas 288

Public Transportation

Metro Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas

Bus Route and Schedule Information (713) 635-4000

Main Switchboard (713) 739-4000

http://www.ridemetro.org

1201 Louisiana

P.O. Box 61429

Houston, TX 77208-1429

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, known throughout the Houston region as METRO, is in the middle of a massive upgrade in reach and service.  Light rail, commuter rail, and bus routes have all been in the process of being upgraded and expanded since 2001.

Inter-City Transportation

Greyhound Bus (800) 231-2222

Amtrak (800) 872-7245

Coach USA (713) 223-8800

Service from Houston to numerous locations throughout the United States.

Air Transportation

George Bush International Airport

(281) 230-3100

www.fly2houston.com

Situated 22 miles north of downtown Houston, this airport is the 12th busiest in the nation for total passengers that total more than 30 million annually. The airport features an ultramodern interterminal train system that provides convenient transportation between four terminals.

Taxi And Shuttle Service

Fiesta Cab (713) 236-9400

Liberty Cab (713) 695-6700

Square Deal Cab (713) 659-5105

United Cab (713) 699-0000

Yellow Cab (713) 236-1111

Cab Express Shuttle (713) 523-8888

Rental Cars

The airport is serviced by the major rental car companies from a single, central location at the new Consolidated Rental Car Facility which opened in August, 2003.

Read More…

Television

Radio

Live Music

If you enjoy the sounds of live music, you will have ample opportunity to satisfy your desires. Houstonoffers an abundance of live music of all types. Some bars and nightclubs showcase live bands on weekends or specific nights, while others like the Fabulous Satellite Lounge feature live bands every night of the week. The Lounge is located in the historic Heights area and has been honored several times by the Houston Press as one of the city’s best venues for live music. Popular bands play rock, blues, country and folk music to entertain sizable crowds. Billy Blues Bar & Grill is another popular nightspot that features live blues performances every night. This bar also has a full-service restaurant, where you can nibble on some tasty barbecue while you enjoy the music. If your preference is jazz and seafood, head downtown to Sambuca Jazz Cafe for nightly performances. The management at this ritzy club books at least one national act a month.

Read More…

Landmarks

Downtown

During the day, the downtown skyscrapers are alive with activity and the sidewalks are filled with bustling executives in designer suits. A lot of the city’s industrial wheeling and dealing takes place at some very ritzy restaurants. Grab a bite to eat at Clive’s, DeVille or Dover’s, and you will probably have a front row seat for observing numerous power lunches. If you miss the big-wigs in action, you can still enjoy the elegant surroundings, first-class atmosphere and cutting-edge cuisine.

Do not let the daytime business atmosphere fool you, however. This city cares about much more than business, and it is out to prove it. When the sun goes down, the downtown area comes alive with an entirely different personality.

The Theater District and numerous bars are nestled among the high-tech skyscrapers, giving the area an entirely different feel in the evening.

Read More…

Festivals

If you plan on visiting the city, keep an eye on the festival section in Local Events. A variety of fun and entertaining festivals occur in or aroundHouston each year. The Texas Renaissance Festival starts in October every year and runs for seven weekends. Step back into the Renaissance period and watch a couple of knights joust at this popular event. It is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. In October every year, the Bayou City Art Festival showcases the work of local artists and is wildly popular with artlovers. The Texas Crawfish Festival goes on during two weekends in May and provides a double treat. Not only is the festival a lot of fun, but it takes place in scenic Old Town Spring, an area worth visiting at any time. If you have the kids along, maybe you will get lucky and the circus will be in town. The Greatest Show on Earth, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus performs in Houston every summer.

It’s easy to find random, small carnivals set up throughout the city, but if you’re looking for a guaranteed carnival and some excellent food, head to the Kemah Boardwalk. A Ferris wheel and other carnival rides are set up year-round.

Film

If you enjoy watching the latest Hollywood films in your spare time, a multitude of cinemas can accommodate you. The latest trend is the giant, multi-screen complex that features stadium seating and modern comforts, and Houston already has an abundance of these cinemas. On the West Side, visit AMC Studio 30. The northwest part of the city features Cinemark Tinseltown 290, while Magic Johnson Theater caters to movie-goers in the north. In the Galleria area you will find Greenway Place 24, and Cinemark Hollywood is located on the East Side.

There is also an abundance of traditional cinemas, special “dollar” cinemas and art houses. Dollar cinemas, like Wind Chimes 8 and Silver Cinemas, offer reduced ticket prices (usually $1-2) on recent Hollywood movies that just left the big theaters. If your film preferences run to artistic productions, you will prefer the films at art houses like Angelika Film Center, Wortham IMAX and the Museum of Fine Art.

Museums & Galleries

Houston’s extensive number of museums and galleries house a plethora of unique artifacts, gorgeous artistic creations and scientific memorabilia. Both the Museum of Fine Art and the Contemporary Art Museum display the work of world-renowned artists, and The Menil Collection boasts one of the finest private art collections in the country. A visit to Lawndale Art Center will familiarize you with the work of many very talented local artists. Art lovers can spend days enjoying these and many other area galleries.

Aside from artistic offerings, you’ll also find some exceptional examples of museums that feature historical and scientific exhibits. The HoustonHolocaust Museum is relatively unique and features in-depth information about the tragic events of the Holocaust. The Museum of Natural Scienceoffers three levels of fun that you’ll be hard-pressed to view in a single day. Burke Baker Planetarium and the Cockrell Butterfly Center are conveniently located in the same building. There’s so much to see and touch, you might want to allow two days for this outing. If the impressive history of Texas intrigues you, take a drive out to San Jacinto Historical Park and visit the Museum of Texas History and the Battleship Texas.

Read More…

Performing Arts

During the course of the past century, Houston gained a formidable reputation as a world-class center for the arts. It is one of the few cities with its own resident professional companies in ballet, opera and theater. If you enjoy theatrical performances, you won’t lack for entertainment during a visit to the city. The 17-block Theater District is home to over 200 performing arts organizations and houses some very prestigious theaters and performance halls. You can catch first-rate Broadway and off-Broadway productions at the Alley Theater, or opt for incredible opera performed by the Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winning Houston Grand Opera. Bayou Place is the hottest new addition to the downtown entertainment scene. It features theaters, concert houses, nightclubs and restaurants all under one roof. The Aerial Theater is the resident theater at Bayou Place and offers a broad range of productions, including comedies and concerts.

Read more…

Comedy

Houston certainly isn’t New York on the comedy circuit, but it still has some comedy clubs that will inspire an evening of full-blown laughter. Spellbinders Comedy Club features newcomers and an occasional star. This popular West Side club has shows six nights a week. Book in advance and arrive early to get a good seat. Magic Island is a dinner theater type of place that throws in some magic and psychic phenomenon with the comedy. This is another hot spot that should be booked in advance. If you want to see some hilarious improvisational comedy, make a reservation for Comedy Sportz or Comedy Showcase. Both feature newcomers and occasional stars. Dubbing itself “Houston’s Premier Comedy Club,” the Laff Spot at Willowbrook features a full-service restaurant in the club. Smaller comedy cafes include Laff Stop, Just Joking Comedy Cafe and Bobby’s Comedy Corner.

Recommended Tours

Houston is a city with a lot of popular attractions and a plethora of things to do. Even many of the locals have never managed to see and do everything, and most of them have spent a lifetime here. Many sights in the city can be enjoyed on your own, but guided tours are also available at many attractions. The ones noted below are among the best offered.

Of all the things to see in Houston, the Astrodome, or the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” is the must-see. Guided tours are available at 11am,1pm and 3pm on Tuesday through Saturday of every week. Not only will you experience the wonder of the stadium itself, you will see first-hand all the amenities that were included when the dome was built in 1965. Tour the museum, hotel rooms and a bowling alley as well as other special features.

Read More…

Nature & Parks

Houston is a city of warmth and sunshine, so it should not be a surprise to find a lot of nature centers and parks in the area. Many of the parks, such as Hermann Park—home of the Houston Zoo— and Sam Houston Park, offer a broad assortment of activities in addition to the simple pleasure of communing with nature and enjoying the outdoors. You can easily turn these outings into all-day events. Popular nature centers that feature both native plant and animal life include Armand Bayou Nature Center and Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Mercer Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is equally popular, but it focuses solely on native plant life. Be sure and bring the kids along for an educational experience that will also provide a great deal of entertainment.