Houston?

[burrco]

Towards the end of next week I'm thinking of driving to Houston from Austin for maybe a three night stay.

Anybody got any thoughts on things to see/do?

The St Regis is pricing out quite reasonably so will most likely stay there - in the Galleria area - but am open to other suggestions. I'm a bit concerned about the traffic/driving any thoughts on how it compares to Dallas - which I don't find to bad.

Also would welcome any suggestions other then Houston - needs to be around a max. 3-4 hour drive from Austin - but not SAT or DFW - like both cities but after somewhere different for this trip.

 

[opusman]

Tour of the Johnson Space Center?

 

[casanovawa]

Houston Things to Do - Attractions - Golf - Art - Museums - VisitHouston

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm thinking of visiting there for a couple of days later on this year when I'm in the US, so I'd be interested to hear your experiences.

 

[Greggsy]

The Hilton downtown is pretty nice. Not much to do there but the space centre is well worth the trip alone.

 

[casanovawa]

A Houston Rockets game would be good if they are playing at home in that period, grid iron season has finished and baseball hasn't started... Find a place where they sell cheap tickets... If that is your thing...

 

[Greggsy]

Yeah, the Hilton is right next to the Toyota Centre and the Rockets games are pretty cool. You can get buy cheaper (much cheaper) tickets if you search the web for the Rockets flash seats where season ticket holders offload them.

The B-grade ice hockey (Houston Aeros) is pretty cool too, played at the same venue.

 

[ts911993]

traffic is fine coming in from Austin providing you miss the evening peak.

go shopping at the Galleria! that is an experience in itself. Space cente is cool, and maybe a trip down to Galveston. It's an interesting place to visit.

 

[tuapekastar]

I'd also recommend Johnson Space Centre...it has several tours you can do. I think buying tickets online ahead of time may be cheaper. We went nearby afterwards to (I think) Kemah Boardwalk area for a coughtail or two, and was nice. Can't help with anything else as I was just staying a couple of nights with friends and we bbq-ed at home rather than touring.

 

[Mal]

Jsc is good. Not as good IMHO as ksc near Orlando but still a good drive and day out. Area around there is fairly nice too... esp. Heading over the bridge.

Galleria is just a Mega mall IMHO. But a good wander.

I didn't do too much in Houston either. I was there for a now defunct awesome airfare quite a few years ago.

 

[burrco]

Space centre it is. On the Sunday night Houston is playing Dallas in the NBA - so maybe a good local "derby" style match so I'll prob do Friday & Saturday at the St Regis and then stay at the Hilton downtown for the match.

 

[Skyring]

The Space Centre is OK. Nowhere near as good as Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, but still well worth a look. Grab an audiobook copy of Mary Roach's Packing for Mars and get some hilarious inside guff as you drive.

Also get yourself a good GPS. Our TomTom navigated us through some truly awesome freeway interchanges in Houston. If not for the GPS I think I might still be there!

 

[browski]

Houston is one truly horrid city. However having just spent 2 weeks there, here is how you make the best of it.

Bars: Cyclone Anaya in Midtown; Ginger Man near Rice University.
Restaurants: Foge de Chao Home | Fogo de Chao
Things to do: Enjoy feeling thin; drive back to Austin.

 

[sage]

I concur with a previous recommendation of Fogo de Chao as a restaurant...particularly if you love your meat. It's a meat fest!!!

And if you drive past a Lupe Tortillo...stop immediately and go in to eat some Fajita's. It's the best tortilla and fajitas around. Plus a few top shelf margaritas go down well too ;o)

 

[Simsy85]

Ok couple of off the beaten track things that are a must -

One, If you have time, go to San Antonio - it's not that far out of the way, especially if i read right and you have 3 days to drive it! While your here visit the Alamo and learn the history of the Great Nation of Texas (That's right, the Nation of Texas).

Two, Stop by San Marcos for the outlet shoppings

Three, Also go off the hwy a bit and go to New Braunfels - locals call it Gruene (pronounced Green) - go to the Gristmill restaurant, get the Texas Onion rings (well anything from here, it's amazing.

You can do the above in a day.

Four, drive to Houston, stick to the ring roads, they are amazing.

Five, visit San Jacinto River - in particular the San Jacinto monument - it's bigger and better than the washington monument (isn't everything in Texas). This is the site where General Sam Houston smashed the Mexican army, outnumbered something like 20 - 1. If you'e ever heard the song Yellow Rose of Texas - this is the place she did the deed (She was a prostitue sent to distract the Mexican general).

NB - across the road from this is the USS Texas - a truely great Battleship that you can play around on if you're into that sort of thing.

Six, Eat at the Monument Inn, it's just down from there and does a great feed with nice views.

Seven, take the car ferry across the river, it's free and it's something to do for ****s and giggles (NB - you can jump on the ring road back around or just catch it back)

Just some local ideas of things to do - I have family that live in TX and love visiting them.

Cheers

Simsy

 

[get me outta here]

If you get to DFW I can really recommend the Kimball Art Museum. It's quite small and has great archtecture by Louis I. Kahn (1901–1974) with a new part due to open by Renzo Piano. I particularly lioked a little early Picasso of a small child. https://www.kimbellart.org/visit/hours-admission

Also, agree w' Simsy San Antonio is certainly worth it to look at the Alamo, also surprising small.

 

[Skyring]

If you get to DFW I can really recommend the Kimball Art Museum. ... Antonio is certainly worth it to look at the Alamo, also surprising small.

I love the Kimbell! A small but top notch collection. And yes, the building is an artwork in itself.

The Alamo, for the history, but do duck down onto the Riverwalk, a precinct of walkways, bridges, cafés, parks, restaurants. Great for strolling.

I loveTexas. Some great places, generous people, big ten gallon smiles.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We be needing spend 1nt Houston Dec 4 b4 heading back to Oz Dec 5 so any recent intel hotels close proximity IAH?

I see a Doubletree which we might have a crack unless can find better

 

[Lynda2475]

I went to Houston for work and had a free weekend there any struggled to find anything worth doing. It's very spread out you need a car and will see actual tumbleweeds as you drive on the highway.

I'd pick another Texan city.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We be needing spend 1nt Houston Dec 4 b4 heading back to Oz Dec 5

I'd pick another Texan city.

That might be a tad difficult with ret flts being locked in for 6mths