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. Seventeen blocks of theaters and performance halls offer over 800 performances and attract more than two million visitors a year. The Alley Theatre literally opened in an alley in 1947, but it has certainly come a long way since then. It was the recipient of the 1996 Special Tony Award and offers the latest Broadway and Off-Broadway productions to patrons. Jones Hall is home to the critically acclaimed Houston Symphony, which has been performing classical productions for patrons since 1913. The Houston Grand Opera, currently the fifth-largest opera company in the U.S., is entering its 45th season with numerous Grammys, Tonys and Emmys to its credit.
Bayou Place, which features restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, and concert houses all under one roof, is the hottest new addition to the downtown entertainment scene. You can catch an art flick at the Angelika Film Center and grab a bite to eat at Angelika Café, or you can head over a couple of streets to Ruggles Bistro Latino and jam to Latino music while dining on an assortment of Latin, South American and Caribbean specialties. If you are on a date, definitely take a romantic carriage ride through the area before ending your evening. It is an experience the both of you will treasure.
If all of this is not enough to impress you, then give the underground tunnels and some shopping a try. A trip through this “city under the city” is an interesting experience that should not be missed by anyone—tourist or resident. You are also welcome to relax in one of the downtown area’s 53 parks or public spaces. And do not forget to take a peek at the Minute Maid Park while you are in the area. The Astros started playing in this incredible stadium for the 2000 season.
The Galleria
(713) 621-1907
5075 Westheimer
Houston, TX
The prestige and glamour of the Galleria area is undeniable. Office space in one of the nearby skyscrapers is expensive, and the shopping consists primarily of exclusive shops offering designer merchandise. Even the sports facilities in the area are world-class. Just ask the former NBA Champs and WNBA Champs. The Toyota Center, home to both the Rockets and the Comets, stands proudly at the eastern edge of the area.
If money is no object, definitely put a trip to the Galleria Mall on your list of things to do. This glamorous shopping center showcases the best names in American and European design, with over 300 shops and restaurants in residence. If your shopping expenditures tend to be a bit more low-key, this outing still offers a world of fun in the form of window-shopping. The ice skating rink on the bottom floor is also a popular attraction, especially at Christmas, when a lavishly decorated, three-story tree is erected in the middle of the ice.
Restaurants and clubs, like most things in the area, tend to be fairly sophisticated and cosmopolitan. The Capital Grille serves up some of the biggest and best steaks in the city and has a flair for a rather bold style of elegance. The former Executive Chef of New York’s Tavern on the Green recently opened Masraff’s, an elegant, Tuscan-style establishment that serves an impressive selection of Continental cuisine. City Streets features seven first-rate nightclubs under one gigantic roof and always attracts an impressive crowd.
Montrose
If you enjoy things “eclectic”, the Montrose area is by far the most interesting section of the city. Considering that it blends right into the Museum District, it is no great surprise that numerous artist hangouts line the streets. If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you can probably walk away with a quickly done caricature or other pieces of original art at a price that will amaze you.
Beyond the artistic, shopping in the area is on the funky side. You will find lots of stores that feature vintage clothing, retro resale items and some of the most interesting jewelry creations you will ever lay eyes on. If you are curious about what the future holds, visit one of the area’s psychic specialists for a palm or tarot card reading. The area also holds a special place in the hearts of the gay and lesbian community and boasts quite a few of the city’s most popular gay and lesbian nightspots. Both Chances and Mary’s Lounge have been Montrose fixtures for years.
The numerous restaurants that dot the area boast unique personalities as well. Boulevard Bistrot’s “sidewalk café in Paris” feel exudes charm and appeal; enjoy an espresso and a view of the eclectic passersby (you will find that locals do not bat an eye at anyone with flaming pink hair). The key to enjoying the Montrose area is to remember that anything is possible, and you should be prepared to see plenty that proves it. It will make for an interesting and fun afternoon.
Museum District
As you veer off from the heart of Montrose into the Museum District, the sights still have a distinctive artistic flavor, but the overall package is a little less funky. After all, both the Museum of Fine Art and the Contemporary Art Museum house some of the finest masterpieces in the world. A sense of class and distinction is inevitable. If your interest in museums leans toward the historical, do not miss the HoustonHolocaust Museum. It is recognized worldwide as a leading source of information about the horrifying events of the Holocaust.
Medical Center
Six of the institutions that make up the Texas Medical Center were ranked in the 1998 U.S. News & World Report survey of the top hospitals in the country. If you have an interest in the medical field and the latest medical breakthroughs, definitely take the Medical Center Tour and visit the Museum of Health and Medical Science. It’s a learning experience that you will not soon forget. Although it is completely unrelated to anything medical, at the south edge of the Medical Center you will find an architectural wonder that represents one of the proudest moments in Houston’s history. Dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World” upon its completion in 1965, the Astrodome revolutionized the concept of sports stadiums in the U.S. It has been home to the Astros, the Oilers and the annual Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and has hosted the talents of many of the century’s greatest musical performers. A trip to Houston simply is not complete without an Astrodome Tour. A short hike across the bridge that runs over the freeway will take you right to the gates of Six Flags AstroWorld and Six Flags WaterWorld. If you have the family along, these three attractions can keep you entertained for days.
Hermann Park
Running alongside the Medical Center, in what can only be described as an odd blend of technology and nature, is Hermann Park. Or perhaps the blend is not as odd as it might seem. When striving to maintain a position as a leader in the healthcare industry, a peaceful view of a nearby park might be just what the doctor ordered for stress relief.
Besides providing a peaceful view and getaway for the local medical workforce there, the park offers a variety of fun options to tourists and residents. Sports enthusiasts can commune with nature while exploring the bike and jogging trails or hit the golf course for the afternoon. Families enjoy spending the afternoon riding the train around the park and exploring the water on paddleboats. For a little cultural enhancement, Miller Outdoor Theatre offers exceptional evening performances during the warmest ten months of the Houston year. Grab your cooler and arrive early, because the grounds are usually packed with fans. If you enjoy learning a thing or two while having a good time, visit the Houston Zoo and the Museum of Natural Science. But do not try to do both in one day! The museum features three levels of amazing sights that will keep you busy for hours, and it also houses Burke Baker Planetarium and the Cockrell Butterfly Center.
Combined, they definitely represent an all-day adventure. The zoo also features an assortment of exhibits that require a full afternoon to experience them all. The white Bengal tiger habitat is just one of the many popular exhibits.
Clear Lake/Kemah
If you head south past the Loop on I-45, you will run into the Clear Lake/Kemah area. Unless you are the boat-loving outdoors type, the greatest attraction in this area is Johnson Space Center, Houston’s famous home of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Tours through various NASA buildings—including the original Mission Control room—and other exhibits provide a full day of activities that are both fun and enlightening.
Space Center Houston
(713) 244-2100
1601 NASA Road 1
Houston, TX
Get ready for an out-of-this-world experience at the premier space showcase, Space Center Houston. It is a discovery center for all ages which features interactive exhibits, IMAX films, live demonstrations and tours of NASA’s Johnson Space. If you happen to prefer the “splashier” side of life, you will undoubtedly love this area for its water sports and boating activities. Both Clear Lake and Galveston Bay offer ample opportunities to get your feet wet. In fact, this area has been labeled “the nation’s third coast for boating” and contains one of the largest concentrations of pleasure boats in the country.
Of course, an area with ocean access has to provide delectable seafood offerings, or it simply would not be worth its salt. The Kemah Boardwalk excels in this respect. The Aquarium and Bay Brewery are among the many restaurants that showcase fabulous culinary delights along this extended stretch of beach and wood.
East Houston/San Jacinto
A visit to San Jacinto State Historical Park is a must for history buffs. The park encompasses the actual fields where General Santa Anna’s troops were defeated by the troops of Sam Houston and other Texas patriots at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. If you have watched the movies or read the history books and “remember the Alamo,” you will definitely appreciate the 570-foot monument that stands as a reminder of Texas’ hard-won independence from Mexico. The history of Texas and its prominent leaders, both before and after this battle, has been fully captured in the Museum of Texas History, located in the base of the monument.
The Battleship Texas is from a different era, but it is equally impressive. Docked on a branch of the Houston Ship Channel that runs adjacent to the park, it stands as a proud reminder of its wartime service. The ship was commissioned in 1914 and is both the last of the World War I era dreadnoughts and the only surviving combat ship to have served in both World Wars—an impressive accomplishment to say the least. Tours are self-guided, and guests are free to roam most areas of the ship.
You will also get a chance to see the famous Houston Ship Channel while you are traveling through the area. While it is not necessarily as scenic, the sight is certainly splendorous in its own way. Depending on the route you take, you can cross the channel via a toll bridge or a ferry. Naturally, the ferry is recommended for the best view.
West Houston/Katy
As the newest section of the city, the west side has the distinction of being fresh and modern. You will not find a lot of tourist attractions on this side of town, but you will find excellent restaurants and shopping centers. Town & Country Center, a modern, three-story shopping mall, offers the perfect blend of traditional mall retailers and unique specialty stores. The Center’s newest neighbor is Town & Country Village, a sprawling shopping center that has wisely followed the same pattern. You will find many designer and specialty stores situated next to the names you recognize.
A little further out in Katy, an impressive entity just opened its doors in the fall of 1999. Katy Mills Mall has been humming with both shoppers and gawkers ever since. It is a sight to behold. The mall is home to the first Bass Pro Shop in the Houston area. And if you have the kids along, definitely grab a bite to eat at Rainforest Café. The wait is typically long, but the mechanical jungle animals, steamy waterfalls and simulated thunderstorms create a dining atmosphere that is worth waiting for.
While contemporary restaurants still tend to gravitate to the downtown and Galleria areas, the west side holds its own when it comes to a juicy cut of steak or spicy Tex-Mex fare. Lynn’s Steakhouse and Taste of Texas are two of the highest rated steakhouses in the city, while Pappasitos and Ninfa’s fare equally well in the world of Tex-Mex. This side of town is also home to Wild West, an immensely popular Country & Western dance club.
Richmond Strip
Although a few other businesses have managed to squeeze into the crevices here and there, the number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs lining this strip is phenomenal. The western portion of Richmond Avenue is fairly tame and civilized, but once you cross Hillcroft on your way downtown, the fun and games begin. With so many choices available, it is hard to nail down the most popular spots in the area, but City Streets would definitely have to qualify. Inside this vast nightclub, you will find seven distinctly different clubs, including a 1970s Pop Disco, a piano bar and a huge Country & Western dance hall. If you enjoy perfecting your gaming skills with the latest in high-tech virtual reality and video game equipment, head to Dave & Busters. It also features a full service restaurant, numerous pool tables and both a karaoke and a traditional bar.
Restaurants along the strip are diverse and impressive as well. The Outback is a popular bar/restaurant hangout with the twentysomething and thirtysomething crowd. One word of caution—most of the establishments on the strip focus heavily on boisterous fun. The atmosphere gets a little classier at a few select spots—Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is a prime example—but if you are truly in search of peace, quiet and luxury, you will probably prefer the choices in the Galleria and downtown areas. As long as glitz and glamour are not on your agenda, the strip offers the perfect solution for a night out. Head to the strip and you will inevitably stumble across the perfect spot.
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