Houston Overview

Known as both the Bayou City and the Energy Capital of the World, Houston is a diverse city that offers world-class arts and entertainment to people of all nations. Voted third most livable city in the U.S., it's home to NASA and the Astrodome.

Districts

Often described as a "sprawling Texas town", the greater Houston area covers more ground than any other major city in America. This spread-out effect creates a sense of living in a medium-sized town that just happens to offer big-city convenience and opportunity. Houston’s many districts include: Downtown, Galleria, Montrose and the Museum District.

Entertainment

From sophisticated theaters and museums to live music events in funky bars, Houston is a city that offers a very broad range of entertainment. If you enjoy the sounds of live music, you will have ample opportunity to satisfy your desires. Houston offers an abundance of live music of all types. Houston's extensive number of museums and galleries house a plethora of unique artifacts, gorgeous artistic creations and scientific memorabilia. If you have the family along for the trip or you are just a big kid at heart, you will definitely be interested in local amusement parks.

The opportunities to enjoy dancing in Houston are two-fold. First, you can experience the beauty and splendor of ballet performances by purchasing tickets to the Houston Ballet. The other dance option is obviously to dance the night away yourself, and several choices exist for this purpose. Nightclubs featuring dance floors are popular in Houston.

Dining and Drinking

So what kind of food really says "Texas" to most visitors? Actually there are two—barbecue and Tex-Mex. Barbecue does not really require a definition, but if you are wondering what Tex-Mex is, it consists primarily of dishes that most Americans think of as basic Mexican food. Steaks are considered to be a strong runner-up as a Texas tradition, and some of the finest steakhouses in the state are located in Houston. The close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico has inspired a love of seafood, which has, in turn, inspired the birth of a large number of seafood restaurants across the city.

With so many cultures represented, it is no great surprise that the city's dining opportunities reflect their influences. If you are simply adventurous and like to sample the flavors of the world, you will have a lot of chances to do so while visiting.

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.

Did You Know?

Houston and its surrounding suburban sprawl encompass 8,778 square miles, making it as big as Israel and El Salvador. In terms of sheer volume of space it ranks as the largest city in the United States.

Orientation/Geography

Rated as the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest in Texas Houston, sprawls all over southeast Texas. The Gulf of Mexico looms just 50 miles east, Dallas 240 miles north, San Antonio 200 miles west, and Mexico 355 miles south. Despite its inland location it is connected to the Gulf of Mexico via the Buffalo Bayou (a Texas term for canal).


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