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Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States. It is huge, both in population and in land area. "Urban sprawl" is a term tailor-made for this city, due to Houston being the largest unzoned city in the country. Houston is a multicultural city home to some of the nation's largest Asian, Arab and Latin American populations. But its culture is not limited to diverse population — it also boasts a world class symphony and theater district that includes a full-time ballet company and opera.

Houston is the largest city in the United States without any appreciable zoning. While there is some small measure of zoning in the form of ordinances, deed restrictions, and land use regulations, real estate development in Houston is only constrained by the will and the pocketbook of real estate developers. Traditionally, Houston politics and law are strongly influenced by real estate developers; at times, the majority of city council seats have been held by developers.

What this means to visitors is that Houston covers a larger land area with less population than might otherwise be expected. The city is primarily built on the energy industry and nearly everyone owns a car and drives everywhere they go. However, the city is becoming more dense and walkable, particularly in the Midtown/Montrose areas. With a few exceptions, almost everything to see or do is in Houston's urban core inside the 610 Loop and more specifically in between downtown, the Galleria, and the Texas Medical Center.

The city has a number of districts. Historically, these districts were called "wards" and they tended to have distinct populations. Redevelopment has rendered most of those distinctions meaningless, but the modern version of Houston still has districts.

Houston has three areas that look like a typical downtown in a big city with high-rise buildings and, at street level, concessions to pedestrians that include shops and eating establishments.

• Downtown - Center of the city, still the home of high finance and big business. Houston is second only to New York City in corporate headquarters of Fortune 500 companies. Many of them are located downtown including some of the world's largest energy companies. Downtown Houston also boasts the second largest theatre district in the United States and the city has world class permanent organizations such as the Houston Symphony and Houston Ballet. The Houston Pavillions entertainment district opened in October 2008 between Main St. and the Toyota Center.
• Med Center and Rice - To the south and east of downtown lie Rice University, the many attractions of Hermann Park, and the Texas Medical Center (or just "the med center"), including some of the world's best hospitals. The Rice Village is a highly concentrated area of restaurants, bars, and shopping.
• Uptown or The Galleria Area is west of the city center and is known for its namesake, a huge high-end shopping mall complex. It also has the tallest building in the United States outside of a main downtown area, the Williams tower. This area has many great restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and infamous traffic jams during peak hours.

Situated elsewhere in town, between these three pillars of development and surrounding them, are a dozen or more distinct districts that define the more-accessible heart of the people and the city.

• Warehouse District - Formerly an industrial zone, the Warehouse District is now full of loft conversions and trendy residents, some good eats and nightlife.
• Montrose - Ideally bordered by Midtown, Heights, River Oaks, and the Medical Center, Montrose is both a street name and a neighborhood. Montrose is Houston's longtime home of its gay and lesbian population, as well as host to the city's museums. Lower Westheimer (Westheimer in between Montrose Blvd. and Shepherd) offers an array of resale fashion shops, eclectic shopping as well as antique stores. The gay nightlife is centered around Pacific St. and surrounding streets. Many Montrose neighborhood pubs attract an eclectic and diverse crowd.
• River Oaks - Houston's most exclusive and affluent neighborhood, home to eye-popping mansions and the River Oaks Shopping Center, one of America's first suburban shopping districts and a great display of Art Deco architecture.
• Midtown - The area between Downtown and the medical center. This area experienced serious redevelopment in the 1990's and is now home to many of Houston's young professionals, newer restaurants and bars/clubs. The nightlife here is hip and very vibrant.
• The Heights - A large district of gingerbread Victorian homes as well as early 20th Century bungalows. Like its sister neighborhood Montrose, The Heights is home to a diverse population from artists and musicians to wealthy professionals. Parts of the Heights are still dry, fostering a large number of BYOB restaurants ideal for those who enjoy their own selected wine.
• Southwest Houston - Despite a plethora of rundown apartment complexes and a reputation for crime, it is also home to some of the city's most desirable neighborhoods, including Meyerland and the charming City of Bellaire. This area is almost completely outside of the 610 Loop, although the City of Bellaire is partially inside the 610.
• New Chinatown or Asiatown- Located southwest of the center, it would be the largest Chinatown in the world area-wise, but the term Chinatown is misleading due to the fact that the majority of the shops and restaurants cater to Houston's large Vietnamese population. This area is outside the 610 Loop and near the Beltway, Houston's outer freeway loop.

Houston is served by two major commercial airports and two smaller regional airports.

The large airports are:

• George Bush Intercontinental Airport , (IATA: IAH) [1]. The larger of the two airports and is located 23 miles north of downtown near Beltway 8, between IH-45 North and US-59 North. It is a hub for Continental Airlines and serves 24 domestic and international airlines.

• William P. Hobby Airport, (IATA: HOU) [2]. Located 7 miles south of downtown and is located off of I-45 South. It is convenient if you're travelling downtown or south of the city, such as to Galveston. Its main carrier is Southwest Airlines, and it also served by Delta Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and AirTran.

The smaller airports are:

• Sugar Land Regional Airport, (IATA: SGR) [3]. Located 25 miles southwest of downtown on TX 6, just north of U.S. 59. It is a popular choice among the well-heeled corporate aircraft set.

• Ellington Field, (IATA: EFD) [4]. Located 19 miles southeast of downtown, just off I-45. Formerly an air force base, now used for general aviation, non-passenger commercial traffic, and government aviation (NASA, Texas Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard).

• Amtrak, 902 Washington Ave, [5]. Amtrak's Sunset Limited line is the only passenger train route with a stop in Houston.

Houston's major freeways include:

• IH-45 North ("North Freeway"): To Dallas
• IH-45 South ("Gulf Freeway"): To Galveston
• IH-10 West ("Katy Freeway"): To San Antonio
• IH-10 East: ("Baytown/East Freeway", not to be confused with "Eastex freeway") to Beaumont
• IH-610 ("The Loop"): Loop around downtown
• US-59 South ("Southwest Freeway"): to Victoria
• US-59 North ("Eastex Freeway"): to Lufkin
• US-290 West ("Northwest Freeway"): to Austin
• SH-288 South ("South Freeway"): to Freeport
• SH-225 East ("Pasadena Freeway"): to La Porte
• BW-8 ("The Beltway/Sam Houston Tollway"): Loop about twice as far out as IH-610.

Approximate mileage to nearby cities (in miles):

• Austin: 160
• Baton Rouge, LA: 270
• Beaumont: 90
• Dallas: 240
• El Paso: 745
• Galveston: 50
• Lake Charles, LA: 140
• New Orleans, LA: 346
• San Antonio: 200
• Waco: 180

• Greyhound Lines, [6].
  • Downtown station, 2121 Main St.
  • Crosstimbers Station, 4001 North Freeway.
  • Northwest, 1500 West Loop North.
  • Southeast, 7000 Harrisburg Blvd.
  • Southwest, 5690 Southwest Freeway.

• El Expreso, [7]. Mexican trans-border bus line, also serves destinations throughout southeastern United States.
  • Downtown station, 2201 Main St.
  • Harrisburg, 7701 Harrisburg
  • Southwest, Bissonett at Southwest Freeway (US 59)

You can get to Houston easily from Mexico (from as far as Mexico City and Michoacan) on a bus. In the bus stations of many major cities in Mexico you will see buses advertised to go to Houston.

There are many private bus companies in Houston that exclusively serve Mexico.

Houston has a number of major highways that make getting around Houston fairly easy. (See list of freeways under the "Get in" section.) A number of obstacles, however, can make driving in Houston a less than pleasant experience. One is construction, which seems to be ever-present, and the other is traffic. Evening rush hour in Houston begins as early as 4PM and can last more than 2 hours. Morning rush hour is between 7 and 9. During rush hour, traffic on the highways can come to a halt. The strip of the West Loop near the Galleria, between US-59 and IH-10, is an area you should definitely avoid during rush hour if possible.

• Houston Traffic Map [8]
• The outstanding freeways system [9]

Some of the freeways have an H.O.V. (High-Occupancy Vehicle) lane, which are limited-access lanes located in the median strip of the highway. The HOV lanes are operational Monday - Friday in the morning hours (5AM - 11AM) in the inbound direction and in the outbound direction in the afternoon and evening (from 2PM - 8PM). The HOV lanes are restricted to cars with 2 or more passengers, however some HOV lanes require 3 or more passengers during peak travel periods (6:45-8:00AM and 5-6PM, for the IH-10 west; 6:45-8AM only for US-290). The HOV lanes are marked with signs bearing a white diamond on a black background. Highways with HOV lanes are: IH-45 North, IH-45 South, US-59 North, US-59 South, IH-10 West (Katy Freeway), and US-290. In addition to its usual Monday through Friday hours, the Katy Freeway HOV lane also runs on Saturday in the outbound direction and on Sunday in the inbound direction.

• HOV lane map & schedule [10]

Currently, public transportation in Houston is limited to METRO [11], which operates bus lines as well as the new and very popular light rail line called METRORail [12].

METRORail is a seven and a half mile light rail line that runs between downtown, midtown, the museum district, the Medical Center, Reliant Park, and the Fannin South Park & Ride (which is a handy place to park and is located near the 610 loop). It costs $1.25 for a one-way ticket. (Also see the stay safe section.)

• Outside of Downtown, don't expect to catch a taxi on the streets, but there are various cab stands located at various parts of downtown proper. Taxis in Houston are generally dispatched by various companies the largest being Yellow Cab, 713-236-1111 or from their web page [13].

Houston is so enormous, spread out, and (most of the time) humid and hot that bicycles are only good for exercise or to get to somewhere that is closeby. It wouldn't be good to ride a bike to somewhere important as, by the time you're likely to get there, you will be sweaty and tired. Most city buses have easy to use racks in the front that can get traveler and bicycle near to a final destination. The city of Houston has 290 miles of marked bike routes, plus another 80 miles of hike and bike trails in city parks, with concrete plans for even more expansion. For more information on the Houston Bikeway program, including a complete map of all marked bike paths, visit the City of Houston Bikeway Program website [14]. On the other hand, if you have a little bit of stamina and perseverence, Downtown, midtown, rice, uptown and the medical center/hermann park/museum district area are within a 30 minute ride.

Houston, like many American cities, is diverse. As the state's largest city and the nation's fourth largest, Houston is home to more than 100 languages. Signs can be found in Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin, among others, but English is the lingua franca. Knowing some Spanish may help in certain neighborhoods, but most people will speak English.

• Space Center Houston, in Clear Lake. Indoor fun space museum with lots of hands-on space-science exhibits and artifacts from the full history of U.S. space exploration. Highlights include the actual Apollo and Mercury launch vehicles, and a tour of astronaut training facilities.

• Houston Museum of Natural Science, Montrose/Museum District [15].

• Houston Zoo, Montrose/Museum District [16].

• Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Montrose/Museum District [17].

• Children's Museum of Houston, Montrose/Museum District [18].

• The Health Museum, Montrose/Museum District [19].

• Houston Holocaust Museum, Montrose/Museum District. Phone: 713.942.8000. 5401 Caroline St. Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and millions of other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, the Museum teaches the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy to tens of thousands of people worldwide each year.

• Contemporary Arts Museum, ? 713-284-8250, [20]. 10-5 Tu-We, 10-9 Th, 10-5 Fr-Sa, noon-5 Su, closed Mo. Free admission.  edit

• Hermann Park - Approximately 455 acres in south of Downtown which encompasses the Miller Outdoor Theater, the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Hermann Park Golf Course.

• Menil Collection, Montrose. 1515 Sul Ross. Tel: 713-525-9400. The Menil Collection is a unique museum environment located in the Montrose-area Museum District housing the collection of John and Dominique de Menil. The museum building is the centerpiece of a neighborhood featuring satellite gallery spaces and related cultural institutions set in a parklike setting.

• Bayou Bend, [21].

• Discovery Green Park, Downtown. Discovery Green opened April 13, 2008. The downtown Houston park is located across Avenida de las Americas from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas Hotel. Toyota Center, Houston Center and Minute Maid Park are only blocks away.

• Downtown Tunnel System, Downtown. The majority of Downtown Houston's buildings are connected by an intertwining, complex tunnel system. Scores of lunch restaurants and easy access to building entrances from underground keep Houston's workforce primarily underground during the day. Only open during the weekdays, the tunnels are an interesting spectacle to observe, but try to avoid getting lost.

• Chase Tower Observatory, Downtown. 600 Travis Street. The sky lobby on the 60th floor of the building is the observatory and free during business hours. The Chase Tower is the tallest building in Texas and the tallest five-sided building in the world.

• Forbidden Gardens, [22]. Outdoor museum (expensive and sadly incomplete) replicating some of China's historic scenes  edit

• Diverse Works, 1117 E. Freeway (N. Main at Naylor), ? 713-223-8346 (Tickets@diverseworks.org), [23]. noon-6 We-Sa. Alternative artwork center. Varies, some free..  edit

• Williams Tower, in Uptown. The largest skyscraper in the world outside of a downtown area.

• Houston Ship Channel Boat Tour, [24]. 10:30 and 2:30 Tu, We, Fr, Sa, 2:30 Th and Su.. See one of the busiest ports in the world. Advance reservations required. Free, reservations required..  edit

• Downtown Aquarium, Downtown. Not an aquarium, but rather a restaurant with an aquarium inside it. Its high-profile location and neon lights make it hard to miss. It has a ferris wheel and other carnival-style rides.
• Rothko Chapel, 1409 Sul Ross, ? (713) 524-9839, [25]. 10AM-6PM Daily. The Rothko Chapel, founded by John and Dominique de Menil, was dedicated in 1971 as an intimate sanctuary available to people of every belief. A modern meditative environment inspired by the mural canvasses of American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, the Chapel welcomes thousands of visitors each year, people of every faith and from all parts of the world. free.  edit
• Buffalo Soldiers National Museum (BSNM), 1834 Southmore, Houston, TX 77004, ? 713.942.8920, [26]. Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Closed on Sundays. The BSNM is located in the Historic 3rd Ward, in the Museum District and is dedicated to the brave men and women of color who courageously served in every great American War and Military Campaign. The BSNM provides fun, interactive, multi-media exhibit for interest and education for its patrons. The BSNM also offers its patrons a complete look at African American military history from 1770 to 2000 (Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War). The BSNM seeks to reach as many people in its community through its educational activities and opportunities. Among its many outreach programs, the museum participates in parades, gives historical lectures, created a youth drill team and a summer high school ROTC internship program. The BSNM is an active participant in National Veteran projects, such as the Veterans' Registry Program. The BSNM actively seeks out collaborations within the arts and educational community in order to present multi-faceted events that present the untold story of African-Americans in the military. Admission: $2.00 per person.  edit
• Memorial Park, 6501 Memorial Dr., [27]. 6:00am - 11:00pm. Memorial Park is Houston's premier urban park. The park's 2.88-mile jogging trail is very popular with runners and walkers year-round. The park also has miles of mountain bike trails, several tennis courts, and other options for outdoor recreation. Free.  edit
• Battleship Texas and San Jacinto Battleground Monument, , in San Jacinto State Park, Battleground Rd., LaPorte (From IH-610 east, take SH-225 east for 11 miles to Battleground Road (SH-134), continue north approximately 2 miles. Turn right on Park Road 1836 for the Monument or continue on SH-134 another mile to reach the Battleship.), [28]. Open every day (closed for major holidays), 10-5 (battleship), 8-6 (monument). San Jacinto Monument is free. Tour a World World II battleship. The monument commemorates the battle at which Texas won its independence from Mexico. Adults $5, Children (6-18) $3, Children (5 and under) free. Senior discounts..  edit

• ZaSpa, 5701 Main Street, ? 713-639-4566, [29]. A secluded, luxury spa located on the private 2nd floor of Hotel ZaZa Houston offering a variety of spa treatments for both men and women. Facilities include a pool and spa café.  edit
• Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo - Reliant Stadium and Reliant Park. March, yearly (March 3-22 for the 2009 season). The world's largest rodeo and includes rodeo events, calf scramble, and music concerts. It is known for its big-name music acts as much as it is for the rodeo. The livestock show attracts professional breeders who bring in their world-class livestock to be judged. There is also a carnival on the grounds. [30]
• FotoFest [31] Exhibitions and art installations, film and video programs, lectures and forums created by FotoFest for FOTOFEST2006 were held February 5th, 2009.
• Bayou City Art Festival- [32] Built on an 8/10 mile asphalt loop surrounded by lush trees, foliage, and picnic areas, the annual fine art event boasts a stress-free outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. March 27-29, 2009 10AM to 6PM.
• Houston Children's Festival [33] is the largest celebration for children in the United States. The Houston Children's Festival offers over 350 events packed into a couple of hectic days. April 4-5, 2009.
• WorldFest-Houston Film Festival [34] (now its 41st year!) continues with its totally dedicated Independent Film screening format for the upcoming April 17-26, 2009. All Screenings at the AMC Studio 30 on Dunvale, the HQ Hotel is The Renaissance Hotel, Greenway Plaza. 55 New Intl Feature Films and 100 New Short Films all introduced by their directors with a Q&A after the screening.
• The Houston International Festival (AKA iFest) [35] Annual international festival featuring juried arts, crafts, food, music, games and events for adults and children. April 29th, 2009.
• Art Car Parade [36] is the worlds largest and oldest Art Car Parade. The event features over 250 Art Cars, 200,000 plus live spectators and media from all over the world, making Houston ground zero of an international phenomenon. May 8-10, 2009.
• Latino Book & Family Festival- [37] Hosts a world class array of panels, authors, celebrities and entertainment for your enjoyment and enlightenment. Dec 13 - 14, 2009.
• Greek Festival- [38] Includes children's activities, an Athenian playground, food and entertainment. October 1 - 4, 2009.
• The Texas Renaissance Festival [39] is one of the nation's largest, most acclaimed Renaissance theme parks where the sights, sounds, tastes and beauty of the 16th Century come alive every Saturday and Sunday for 8 weekends October through November, from 9AM to dusk.
• Splashtown- Great water park located in the suburb of Spring next to I-45. Six Flags has recently sold the park to developers that will keep the park open until further notice. [40]
• The Orange Show 2402 Munger St (IH-45 South (Gulf Freeway) to SH-35 (Telephone Rd) exit), ? +1-713-926-6368 (oranges@orangeshow.org, fax: +1-713-926-1506), . 10AM-5PM Sa-Su. One-of-a-kind attraction dedicated to the eccentric, artistic and scientific. Features the Beer Can House and annual Art Car Parade. $1.
• Super Happy Fun Land [41] is Houston's venue for experimental electronic music, underground jazz, and outsider art!
• Aurora Picture Show [42] is a non-profit microcinema housed in a former church building in Houston, Texas.
• Great Day Houston- [43] Be part of the Great Day Houston LIVE studio audience.
• The After Party- [44] Be part of the The After Party studio audience (for groups).
• Shooting- If you visit a shooting range you'll need a US drivers license to rent a gun.

• Miller Outdoor Theater, 6000 Hermann Park Dr, ? (281) FREE-FUN, [45]. Located in Hermann Park, every event here is free to the public, from Shakespeare to summer performances by the Houston Symphony. Bring a picnic and a blanket and take a spot on the hill. Wine and beer are also allowed, so long as it?s not in glass.  edit

• Spec's Liquor, Midtown. 2410 Smith Street. Phone: 713-526-8787. Owned and operated by the same Houston family since 1962, Spec's is a true destination shopping experience. The Warehouse Store is the crown jewel of all Spec's locations. With over 40,000 labels of wines, spirits, liqueurs, beers, and finer foods, Spec's indeed fills all 80,000 square feet of selling space. The deli offers the finest in deli meats, pates, domestic and imported cheeses, fresh caviar, and a complete assortment of domestic and imported smoked fish and salmon make the selection limited only by your imagination.
• Traders Village, 7979 N. Eldridge Rd.. A giant outdoor flea market with all sorts of wares. Deals are to be sought here. Unlike in the rest of the US, you can actually try to bargain in flea markets like this. Should not be missed by those looking to shop.  edit

Many of the shopping malls are concentrated to the west of downtown in Uptown.

• Galleria, 5085 Westheimer Rd. (at Post Oak Blvd.), ? 713-622-0663, [46]. 10-9 Mo-Sa, 11 - 7 Su. Free parking (if you find the right lots). A huge indoor shopping mall with 375 stores. Upscale shopping. Food court and fine restaurants. Indoor ice-skating rink.  edit
• Baybrook Mall, 500 Baybrook Mall (IH-45 South at Bay Area Blvd.), Friendswood, ? 281-488-4620. 10-9 Mo-Sa, 11-7 Su.  edit
• The Woodlands Mall, 1201 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands (30 miles north on IH-45), ? 281-363-3363. 10-9 Mo-Sa, 11-7 Su.  edit

In general, prices in Houston are lower than in other major US cities.

Houston has outstanding dining options, and is widely considered the most restaurant-oriented city in the United States, with a wide variety of ethnic restaurants, superb Tex-Mex, a great number of steakhouses, fine dining, as well as chain restaurants. For some of the best surprises, stop by any nondescript taqueria and order nearly anything at random.

• Brooklyn Pizzeria, 9467 FM 1960 Bypass Rd. West (Suite 300), ? 281-446-5500. 11:00-10:00. 100% Authentic New York style pizza.  edit
• Goode Company Barbeque, 5109 Kirby Dr. One of the city's most reputed barbeque restaurants. $5-10.  edit
• 100% Taquito, 3245 IH-59 (Southwest Fwy. at Buffalo Spwy.), ? 713-665-2900. Trendy, authentic Mexico City-type taco joint.  edit
• Tokyo Bowl, 2402 Bay Area Blvd, ? 281-480-5311. Japanese fast food. $10.  edit
• Mai's, 3403 Milam, ? 713-520-7648 (fax: 713-523-9043), [47]. 10-3AM Su-Th, 10-4AM Fr-Sa. Vietnamese food, popular with the late night crowd. Burned down in Feb 2010. $10.  edit
• Pappas Bar-B-Q, 1217 Pierce St, [48]. Texas barbeque by the Pappas brothers.  edit
• Taqueria Del Sol, 8114 Park Place Blvd. Authentic Mexican food.  edit
• Mission Burritos, 2245 West Alabama. A few (two?) locations, but 2245 West Alabama has more charm. Biggest, best burritos in town; they always have a 'Burrito of the Month' that is a sure bet.  edit
• Amy's Ice Cream, 3816 Farnham (Off Shepherd, just north of US-59), ? 713-526-2697, [49]. 11:30-midnight Su-Th, 11:30-1AM Fr-Sa. Texas' own super premium, all natural ice cream. $5.  edit
• Nee Hao, 5797 N. Belt East, ? 281-442-3402. Mon-Sat, 11:00-8:00. Serving Chinese cuisine.  edit
• Aloha Joe's Grill, 8550 FM 1960 Bypass Rd W, ? 281-540-0110. Authentic Hawaiian & Chamorro style food  edit

• Benjy's, 2424 Dunstan Rd, (713) 522-7602?, Modern American dining. This is a favorite of many locals. They have a location on Washington and in Rice Village.
• Kanomwan, 736 1/2 Telephone Rd, ? 713-923-4236. Wonderful Thai restaurant in historic 3rd Ward; home of the "Thai Nazi" (a la "Seinfeld").  edit
• Taste of Texas, 10505 Katy Freeway (IH-10 between BW-8 and Gessner), [50]. The finest steaks and prime rib (only certified Angus Beef) money can buy. Award-winning wine list, lobster, freshly baked breads, etc. Menu is translated into 12 different languages.  edit
• Nit-Noi, 2426 Bolsover, ? 713-524-8114, [51]. Thai cuisine that has franchises in several locations.  edit
• Chuy's, 2706 Westheimer Rd, [52]. Tex-mex with flair.  edit
• Chabuca's, 316 NASA-1, Webster, ? 281-554-8000 (reservation@chabucas.com, fax: 281-332-5029), [53]. South American style food and buffet served in a great atmosphere.  edit
• Kim Son, 2001 Jefferson St, ? 713-222-2461 (info@kimson.com), [54]. 11-midnight Fr-Sa, 11-11 Su-Th. Houston's biggest Vietnamese restaurant that has several other locations in town.  edit
• McGonigal's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk (Near Shepherd and US-59), ? 713-528-5999 (theduck@mcgonigels.com), [55]. Pub atmosphere and great food. $10-15.  edit
• Ruggles Grill, 903 Westheimer Rd, ? 713-524-3839, [56]. An American bistro with several different locations.  edit
• Mystery Cafe, 2400 West Loop South (Sheraton, IH-610 at Westheimer), ? 713-944-2583, [57]. "Where MURDER is always on the menu!" $52.95/person.  edit
• Niko Niko's, 2520 Montrose, ? 713-528-4976, [58]. 10-10 Mo-Th, 10-11PM Fr-Sa, 11-9 Su. Authentic and tasty Greek food.  edit
• Vargo's Restaurant, 2401 Fondren, ? 713-782-3888. Beautiful 9-acre garden and delicious steaks in a historic 40-year-old restaurant. Reservations recommended.  edit

• Mark's American Cuisine, 1658 Westheimer Rd, ? 713-523-3800, [59]. Lunch: 11-2 Mo-Fr, Dinner: 6:00PM-11:00PM Mo-Th, 5:30PM-midnight Fr, 5:00PM-midnight Sa, 5:00PM-10:00PM Su. Award-winning four-star restaurant by owner and chef Mark Cox. Housed in an old church for a unique atmosphere. Reservations are required.  edit
• Tony's, 3755 Richmond Ave, ? 713-622-6778, [60]. Houston's ultimate dining experience. Tony Vallone has set the tone for fine dining in Houston for decades. Parisian chef Olivier Ciesielski interprets contemporary cuisine with classic French care. Reservations required.  edit
• Da Marco, 1520 Westheimer Rd, ? 713-807-8857, [61]. One of Houston's best restaurants--known for great wine and Italian fare. Reservations required.  edit
• Cafe Annie, 1728 Post Oak Blvd, ? 713-840-1111, [62]. Insanely expensive prices, but very good American cuisine. Reservations required.  edit
• Monarch Restaurant & Lounge, 5701 Main Street, ? 713-527-1800, [63]. A fine dining option at Hotel ZaZa Houston serving seafood and steak entrees with Mediterranean flair. The Lounge is available for dancing and Monarch Terrace overlooks Main Street & Mecom Fountains.  edit
• Catalan Food and Wine, 5555 Washington, ? 713-426-4260, [64]. Catalan offers a Spanish-influenced menu and an extensive wine list. Reknowned restaurateurs Grant Cooper and Charles Clark have been wowing Houstonians and food critics alike at Catalan. Reservations required.  edit
• Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella Blvd, ? 713-861-8666, [65]. Raindow Lodge serves wild game dishes and seafood selections in a 100 year old log cabin perfect for the dining experience. Reservations required.  edit
• VOICE Restaurant & Lounge, 220 Main Street, ? 832-667-4470, [66]. Breakfast: M-F 7AM-10:30AM, Sat. 7AM-11AM, Sun. 7AM-12PM; Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM; Dinner: M-Thurs. 5:3-pm-10PM, F-Sat. 5:30PM-11PM; Lounge Menu: M-Thurs. 11:30AM-10PM, F-Sat. 11:30AM-11PM, Sun 12PM-10PM. Hotel Icon?s new restaurant, VOICE, offers a fine dining experience and contemporary American cuisine with private rooms for events and special occasions, in room dining and a luxury wine vault.  edit
• America's Restaurant, 1800 Post Oak Blvd, [67]. The menu draws from the foods and cooking techniques of North, Central and South America, to make one New World Cuisine; as you pass under its Mayan-inspired door, you quickly realize that nothing about this place is ordinary.  edit

• West Alabama Icehouse, 1919 West Alabama. Open since 1928, the Icehouse is a bar that provides outdoor seating and free hot dogs. Because of the outdoor seating, people are allowed to bring their dogs, play horseshoes, and basketball. There is usually live country music on Friday nights.  edit
• Gingerman, 5607 Morningside Dr, ? 713-526-2770, [68]. The original of a small chain, has a loyal community following. Serves lots of local and specialty beer, including hard-to-find and cask ales. $4/pt.  edit
• McGonigal's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk (Near Shepherd and US-59), ? 713-528-5999 (theduck@mcgonigels.com), [69]. Local bar, probably the best bet to find a variety of special and cask ales. $4/pt.  edit
• The Outpost Tavern, 18113 Egret Bay Blvd. (At NASA-1), ? 281-333-1235 (OutPostFriends@ATT.net), [70]. Closed - Dingy local bar with a colorful crowd, (inaccurately) portrayed as an astronaut hangout in movies like Space Cowboys and Rocketman (but no less worth the visit).  edit
• BJ's Restaurant and Brewery, 515 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster, ? 281-316-3037 (fax: 281-316-4213), [71]. 11AM - 12AM MO-TH, 11AM - 1AM FR. A brewpub with several house brews and a variety of microbrews available. $4/pt.  edit
• Tipsy Clover, 2416 Brazos, ? 7135240782. A nice Irish style pub full of attractive, affluent, young professionals.  edit

• The Ginger Man [72], located in Rice Village, near Rice University, is the oldest pub in the Ginger Man family. Since 1985, The Ginger Man pub has been serving up great beer with great themed events, such as: Oktoberfest, Holiday beer tastings and live entertainment.
• The Saint Arnold Brewery [73], located in Houston, is billed as Texas' oldest microbrewery. Their brews are often sold in local bars. Very popular beers are the Texas Wheat, Oktoberfest (August through October), and Christmas Ale (November through December). Brewery tour every Saturday at 1:00. Details on the website.

• Hyatt Summerfield Suites, 3440 Sage Road, [74]. Pet-friendly, all-suite hotel near Houston Galleria Mall  edit

• Houston International Hostel, 5302 Crawford Street, ? +1 713 523-1009 (resv@houstonhostel.com), [75]. More of a large family house than a hostel, with bedrooms containing bunk beds for travelers. The house is in the downtown museum district so there is a lot to do within walking distance (Thursday is free museum day!) but it's in a residential area, so shops and restaurants are not immediately nearby. The bathrooms are shared and the facilities are clean. Hostel customs are observed at the hostel. $15.  edit

• Hilton Garden Inn Houston Northwest, 7979 Willowschase Blvd, [76]. Opened in the Spring of 2002, this 171-room hotel is part of Chateau Court, a 13-acre mixed-use development that includes retail space and an office village. The rooms are equipped with work desks; speakerphones and high-speed Internet access. A hospitality center in each room includes a microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker. Iron/ironing board and hairdryer are also in all rooms. The hotel is decorated with slate flooring, leather chairs, cherry wood and hand picked French artwork.

• Marriott Houston North Greenspoint, 255 N Sam Houston Pkwy East 281-875-4000, [77]. 390 newly renovated rooms and suites. Indoor / outdoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna.

• Four Seasons Hotel Houston, 1300 Lamar Street, Tel. (713) 650-1300, Fax (713) 652-6220 [78]. In 2006, this luxury hotel was ranked as one of the "Top 100 Hotels in the World" according to Institutional Investor and offers great restaurants and amenities to guests. It is also within walking distance to the Houston Center Athletic Club - great for that morning workout before business.

• Hotel Derek, 2525 W. Loop South, (713) 961-3000, [79].

• Hotel ZaZa Houston, 5701 Main Street, Tel. (713) 526-1991, Fax (713) 526-0359 [80].Located in Houston?s historic Museum District, this pet-friendly boutique hotel features concept suites, a luxury spa and fitness center, meeting facilities and fine dining options.

• The Houstonian, 111 North Post Oak Lane, Tel. (713) 680-2626, [81]. Located on a wooded 18-acre site, the hotel includes a fitness club and full-service spa.

• Magnolia Hotel, 1100 Texas Avenue, Tel. 713-221-0011, Fax 832-201-7598 [82].

• Omni Houston Hotel at Westside, 13210 Katy Freeway, ? +1 281-558-833 (reservations@omnihotels.com, fax: +1 281-558-4028), [83]. A luxury hotel featuring an atrium lobby complete with indoor lakes and waterfalls, tropical fish and glass elevators.  edit

Houston has multiple telephone area codes and mandatory 10-digit dialing. For any number, even within your own area code, you need to dial areacode + number. For local calls, you do not dial a 1+ or a 0+ before the number. Some calls within Houston are considered long distance, and for those you need to dial 1 + areacode + number.

Houston's area codes are: 713, 281, and 832.

Houston is a big city and, like any other big city, has crime. Texas, like all but two states, allows carry of concealed handguns after a thorough background check, training, and shooting testing. Crime committed by these people is almost nonexistent. But like in other cities, criminals do not follow the law, and travelers should still be careful as always. Violent crime like in most cities is focused in certain areas, mostly within Loop 610 and in Southwest Houston. But as with any place you go to, you must use your common sense. Do not walk around deserted looking areas at crazy hours in the night, you are pretty much asking for trouble if you do. Especially if you travel alone, it's such an enormous city and it can overwhelm you easily. Do your research thoroughly on the internet and if possible go to websites like Facebook, Myspace or even Skype and speak with people who are from Houston and have lived there forever. They can offer you the best advice you could possibly ask for on places to go and stay away from.

Houston like much of the Gulf Coast is very vulnerable to Hurricanes in the summer and fall. If a hurricane is forecast to make landfall anywhere near Houston, listen to officials and heed mandatory evacuation orders if one is ordered. The last major Hurricane to hit Houston was Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.

Houston is very hot and humid in the summer, with temperatures up around 31°C-38°C (87°F-100°F), and summer climate in Houston is easily comparable to the average climates in tropical cities like Manila or Panama City during the summer. However, in the winter, Houston can be mild with temperatures ranging from -1°C-18°C (30°F-64°F), and winter climate is usually comparable to winters in the rest of the Southern United States or Southern California.

METRO Rail is the starter line of an expanding system which starts at UofH Downtown, through downtown proper, into Midtown, the Museum district, Medical center and the Reliant Complex near the south side. Houston Natives have a tendency to park along the rail line or the south side lot to go into downtown or medical center as it is easier to get in and out of those areas with the train without the hassle of parking and traffic.

Please be careful when coming near the METRO Rail track, especially at intersections.

Follow the signs since the trains move very quickly and run at almost all hours of the day and night. It runs almost silently. At many streets, left turns are not permitted. Also watch the signs and signals, because some will change as trains approach. Do not drive on the tracks, there are large raised white domes that separate the roadway and the rail line. In some areas signs may indicate driving (or walking) on the tracks is permitted (currently only in the Texas Medical Center) but make sure it is safe to do so.

Drive across the tracks only when you are sure it is safe to do so especially at night as the train's whistle is quiet and is often not heard by a driver inside a car.

• Meditation Classes for Beginners , [84]. Relaxation meditations and meditation classes to increase inner peace.

If that isn't your thing. Try the simple thing most Houstonians do when they need to release tensions of big ciy madness... Take a walk in the beautiful parks, go walking and shopping downtown. If you know someone who lives in Houston, you can have a lunch on a gorgeous Spring day outside. Sometimes the most relaxing and peaceful things don't always involve money.

• Galveston— Only about an hour's drive southeast from the city, Houstonians go to Galveston island for its beaches, the Strand, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston, and Moody Gardens.
• Surfside— Another beach, less crowded than Galveston. About an hour from Houston.
• Schlitterbahn [85], in New Braunfels(about 174 miles west of Houston). Huge waterpark, rated #1 waterpark in America by the Travel Channel.
• Kemah— Nice boardwalk with great restaurants and amusement rides that is south of Houston and on the way to Galveston Island.
• Bluebell Creameries— [86] See the Texas countryside in Brenham and tour the creamery. About one hour (75 mi) north west of Houston along US 290.
• A Taste of Coastal Texas— An itinerary leading you through sights along the Texas Coast down to Corpus Christi.

Routes through Houston

San Antonio ← Luling ←	W  E	→ Beaumont → Lake Charles
Dallas ← Corsicana ←	N  S	→ Galveston → END