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The
Houston Skyline at Dusk |
Often associated with oil
and cattle, Houston
has much more to offer visitors. In fact, it can be downright out of this world.
Chock full of attractions and activities, visitors are often heard to exclaim,
"Houston, we have lift off."
As many know, Houston is
home to NASA a fact that makes many Houstonians proud. But how does a city that
is best known for its oil and cattle industries become the site of a prestigious
space program? Looking at the city's history reveals that Houston is deeply
rooted in the fearless exploration of new frontiers, which began when the area
was first settled.
HISTORY AND ECONOMY
What is known today as Houston
was first called Harrisburg in 1826, in an area that was then under Mexican
rule. Ten years later, a war ensued between Mexico and Texas
over the land. Texas lost and Harrisburg was destroyed. But a week later, General
Sam Houston returned with Texan troops to win independence at the Battle of
San Jacinto.
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| Monument
of Sam Houston |
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That same year, two brothers,
Augustus and John Allen, started a new settlement near the remains of Harrisburg.
The brothers named the area Houston, after Sam Houston who had also just been
named the first president of the Republic of Texas.
The main industry at this
time was rice and cotton until 1901 when Houston's first gusher burst onto the
scene, skyrocketing the city's economy. As the oil industry can be volatile,
the boom turned to bust in 1986. Learning its lesson, the city diversified its
economy including that which really put Houston on the map the space program
at NASA.
As Houston's main industries
have diversified even more in recent years to medical research and high tech,
the city's population make up has also diversified over the years. Since 1865,
when the word reached Texas that slavery was abolished, the city's diversity
has exploded with many immigrants from all over the world. Today, over 90 languages
are spoken throughout the city and an innumerable amount of cultures have intertwined.
This ethnic diversity contributes to a vibrant culture that offers an eclectic
array of restaurants,
attractions and cultural
events.
Not only are most Houstonians
accepting of other cultures, they are among the most educated people in the
country with more adult residents having completed four years of college than
any other city in the United
States. Currently, there are more than 240,000 students enrolled in
Houston's many prominent post-secondary educational institutions: Rice
University, which first opened for classes in 1891, the University
of Houston (1927), Texas
Southern University (1947), University
of Saint Thomas (1947) and Houston
Baptist University (1960). Also, both Baylor and the University of Texas
have prominent medical schools in the Texas
Medical Center.
Because of Houston's dynamic
atmosphere, it has been considered one of the most livable cities in the United
States. If not yet a top visitor destination, it soon will be with a plethora
of attractions to meet interests that are as diverse as its people.
ORIENTATION
Just like everything in
Texas, Houston is large. In fact, it happens to be the fourth largest city in
the United States. An inland city in Texas' southeastern corner, Houston is
only 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of the Gulf of Mexico. Dallas
is 240 mi (385 km) to its north. To its east are San
Antonio, 197 mi (317 km), and New
Orleans, Louisiana,
350 mi (563 km).
Greater Houston sprawls
to envelop around 8,778 square mi (square km) of suburbs and towns, while Houston
proper covers 617 square mi (14,127 square km). Most of Houston's attractions
are found in the downtown core. While mostly concrete, the core comes alive
with an array of restaurants, shops and entertainment. The Theater
District and the Museum
District are also located downtown. With all this action, downtown Houston
can appear surprisingly quiet. This is because there is an underground, air-conditioned
walkway, complete with shops, that is used by most people that work downtown
so that they may avoid the extreme heat.
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| Month
|
Average
daily temperature |
Average Rainfall |
| Min
|
Max
|
| Jan
|
4.3°C
(39.7°F)
|
16.1°C
(61°F)
|
83 mm |
| Feb
|
5.9C
(42.6°F)
|
18.5°C
( 65.3°F)
|
75 mm |
| Mar
|
10°C
(50°F)
|
21.7°C
(71.1°F)
|
74.2mm |
| Apr
|
14.5°C
(58.1°F)
|
25.8°C
(78.4°F)
|
82 mm |
| May
|
18°C
(64.4°F)
|
29.2°C
(84.6°F)
|
133 mm |
| Jun
|
21.4°C
(70.5°F)
|
32.3°C
(90.1°F)
|
126 mm |
| Jul
|
22.4°C
(72.3°F)
|
33.7°C
(92.7°F)
|
91 mm |
| Aug
|
22.2°C
(72°F)
|
33.6°C
(92.5°F)
|
89 mm |
| Sep
|
19.9°C
(67.8°F)
|
31.3°C
(88.3°F)
|
124 mm |
| Oct
|
14.2°C
(57.6°F)
|
27.6°C
(81.7°F)
|
109 mm |
| Nov
|
9.8°C
(49.6°F)
|
22.4°C
(72.3°F)
|
96 mm |
| Dec
|
5.7°C
(42.3°F)
|
18.2°C
( 64.8°F)
|
88 mm |
|
|
Climate
data from the National Weather Service
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CLIMATE
Houston's weather can
best be summarized as hot and humid very humid. Sunglasses, sunscreen and hats
are recommended; however, it is also wise to bring a sweater when sightseeing
indoors due to the cold extremes in air-conditioning.
In terms of climate, the
best times to visit Houston are spring (April and May) and early summer (June
and July) as the days are warm with little rain and less humidity. October experiences
the highest humidity, reaching extremes of 93%.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting to Houston is easy
from any corner of the world with two international airports that serve most
major airlines: the Bush
Intercontinental (renamed in 1997 after former president, George Bush,
senior), and William
P. Hobby Airport (renamed in 1967 after Houston's former governor).
For getting around the city,
taxis
are available and booking in advance is recommended. However, visitors should
bear in the mind that, when traveling across the city, traffic jams and urban
sprawl could cause fares to skyrocket, making journeys very expensive.
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A
Freeway Against the Backdrop of Houston's Downtown |
The car is a popular option
with many major car
rental companies found throughout the city, including outlets at both
airports. Houston and area has a comprehensive freeway system making car travel
possible; however, visitors may have difficulty navigating through a somewhat
confusing one-way system. Drivers are advised to pack water, a sandwich and
reading material as traffic jams can crop up unexpectedly and frequently.
For those daunted by driving,
Houston does have a comprehensive public transportation system called the Metro
with over 120 bus routes throughout the city. The main bus terminal is located
downtown near the Museum District, which also serves as the drop-off point for
other national coach lines, such as Greyhound.
Visitors can also travel
to Houston via Amtrak,
the national train company.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
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| The
Apollo Moon Rocket at the Houston Space Center |
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Houstonians main attractions
can be seen in a day or two, but there are plenty of more unusual attractions,
as well as a bounty of entertainment pursuits, that can keep visitors busy for
much longer. Obvious attractions that visitors should not miss are: the Space
Center Houston, with a description of the space program, and; the Chase
Tower, formally known as the Texas Commerce Tower, standing 1002 feet (305 meters)
with spectacular views from its free observation deck on the 60th
floor.
While Houston does have
a popular Livestock
Show and Rodeo, the city is also much more cosmopolitan and cultural
in nature.
Museum District
With such a long history,
it is perhaps no surprise that Houston is home to 16 museums.
While visiting all of the museums may seem daunting, the task may not be as
difficult as one may suspect as they are all situated within a few blocks of
each other. Referred to as the Museum
District, the area extends north of Hermann
Park to St
Thomas University, with the bulk of the museums found just northeast
of the Sam Houston Monument, directly off Main Street.
For visitors that simply
do not have time or the inclination to see them all, there are a few that stand
apart. Recently expanded, the Houston
Museum of Fine Arts is the largest arts museum in Texas and the sixth
largest in the country. And, with more than 2.5 million visitors a year, it
is also one of the most popular. Visiting exhibits change regularly, and the
permanent collection of 45,000 artworks, which ranges from the ancient to the
contemporary, is impressive.
Rather than being bemused
by the powers of human artistic creativity, visitors to the Houston
Museum of Natural Science can revel in the awesome powers of nature
and science, from dinosaurs to space travel. A variety of interactive discovery
attractions include an IMAX cinema, a planetarium and a butterfly center.
Theater District
For the
couth, Houston is a cultural hub with a Theater
District that encompasses 17 blocks in the downtown core. Within its
borders are permanent professional resident companies in all the major disciplines:
ballet,
opera,
theater
and music.
Houston is only one of five cities nationwide to hold this honor. The
Houston Grand Opera is a treasure having won a Tony, two Grammy awards
and two Emmy awards.
Along with five main theaters,
the Theater District is also home to Bayou
Place, a 130,000 square foot (square meters) entertainment centre complete
with movie theaters, restaurants and parks.
Sports and Recreation
Houston is a balanced city.
Not only does it have all the main artistic disciplines, but it also has sport
teams in all the major professional sport divisions: the National Basketball
Association (NBA) Houston
Rockets, who are two time World Champions; the Women's National Basketball
Association (WNBA) Houston
Comets, who are four-time World Champions; Major League Baseball (MLB)
Houston
Astros, who are four time Central Division Champions; the National Football
League (NFL) Houston
Texans; and the American Hockey League (AML) Houston
Aeros.
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The Invention
of Astroturf
When the Astrodome was first built in 1965, it had real grass that grew
by the natural light that the clear domed ceiling tiles permitted. However,
this light-colored backdrop made it difficult to see flying baseballs.
Thus, the tiles were painted in a dark checkered pattern. It was not long
before the natural grass died off. The solution was Astroturf, a durable,
synthetic material that looks like real grass. Today, Astroturf is used
as a popular alternative to real grass in many sports, from tennis to
football.
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Houston may also be responsible
for changing the face of baseball. The city's famous Astrodome,
constructed in 1965 was the world's first covered baseball field. It was also
at the Astrodome where Astroturf was invented. Although baseball is no longer
played here, it is still open for tours. Even for those not interested in sports,
the Astrodome is a marvel in architecture and is large enough that an 18-storey
building would fit under its roof.
It is a fair bet that golfing
is a popular sport in the city, with more than 165 public and private golf
courses in the greater Houston area. The Houston Golf Association (HGA)
has had a hand in the popularity by bringing PGA Tour golf to the city since
1946. Today, the Shell Houston Open hosts a tournament that operates in conjunction
with the PGA.
While there are many outdoor
recreational pursuits a short drive from Houston—such as Lake
Conroe—the city itself has many green and blue spaces with 42,000
acres (hectares) of land and 12,000 acres (hectares) of water designated for
county parks
and playgrounds.
Houston also has Texan-sized
amusement
parks. Six
Flags Astroworld and Waterworld is an entertainment complex with 33
rides, nine of which are roller coasters. The water park offers a variety of
slippery slopes of raft rides and waterslides.
Restaurants and Shopping
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| Towering
Buildings in Houston's Downtown |
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There isn't a problem finding
a good place to eat in Houston with over 4,200 restaurants.
Houston's large cultural diversity ensures that visitors can find a wide variety
of cuisines with more than 35 countries represented. As well, there is a variety
of price ranges from which to choose.
For serious shopping enthusiasts,
a trip to the Galleria
in Houston's Uptown is mandatory. Featuring over 300 luxury stores and restaurants,the
shopping centre is an attraction in itself with magnificent glass atriums and
skylights and suspended glass balconies, complemented with building materials
that include nine types of stones, three types of wood and leather. There is
even an ice rink and two Westin hotels. Of course, the shopping is only the
best with such stores as Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Macy's, Tiffany
& Co and more.
For Something Completely
Different
As with most cities in the
United States, Houston has a quirky side. The
Orange Show could be the city's quirkiest. What began as one man's tribute
to the orange in 1954, has now escalated into a foundation that preserves a
house full of unusual sculptures, made-up folk sayings, observation decks, and
much more—all painted in orange. Recently purchased by The Orange Show
Foundation is The
Beer Can House, a house that gleams in the landscape with over 50,000
aluminum beer cans in a variety of uses, from a fence to streamers made from
beer can tabs.
Far from macabre is The
National Museum of Funeral History. Through an array of artifacts, the
museum investigates cultural traditions surrounding funeral rituals and reveals
that we can learn much about a culture's way of life through its relationship
with the deceased.
