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HOUSTON
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Houston is likely
the only city in America who's namesake is rendered in
giant statue form, hovering over the freeway leading into town
from the north. Houston is the biggest city in Texas with a
population over 2 million. If one's focus
on Texas is North Texas, with the big city in North Texas being Dallas,
one occasionally hears dismissive remarks about Houston.
Bad air,
Bad traffic, Bad humidity. These remarks get worse when something
happens, like when Houston beats out Dallas on an Olympics bid.
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Or,
God forbid, in a football game.
However, on two Houston visits, these Eyes on Texas found Houston to be a
very pleasant surprise. Houston's freeways were not the hodgepodge of
varying quality one finds in the D/FW Metroplex. The Houston skyline is
impressive. Houston rush hour traffic is bad, but not all that bad.
Houston's downtown is lively and pedestrian friendly. And Houston is only a
short distance from Galveston and
saltwater. Two attributes which are hundreds of miles from
Dallas/Fort Worth.
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SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF
HOUSTON ATTRACTIONS
HOUSTON RESTAURANTS
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click a thumbnail to view a
photo
We'll start our tour of Houston at night. At a
McDonald's near the Johnson Space Center.
Houston, we've got a
problem...the ice cream machine isn't working....
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The Astrodome appears to be a nicer looking building
than the now deceased Seattle Kingdome.
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Like the dead Kingdome of Seattle, the Astrodome was replaced
by a new football stadium. However, unlike the Kingdome, the Astrodome
was not blown up. Baseball is no longer played in the Astrodome. A
new stadium has been built downtown, formerly called Enron Field til
that name became associated with losing on a grand scale. Enron Field
has been re-monikered into Minute Maid Park.
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FOR HOUSTON RESTAURANTS
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You would not guess from this photo that Houston has
the worst traffic in the country. Here we are heading towards downtown
Houston after seeing the Astrodome.
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The aforementioned former Enron Field. The retractable roof
appears to be much more massive than the one on Safeco Field in Seattle.
Of course, it rains much more in Houston, obviating the need for a
much more substantial roof. Which leads one to wonder why there is no
retractable roof on the Ballpark in
Arlington?
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The entity formerly known
as Enron Field prior to being reborn as Minute Maid sits amongst an interesting collection of
buildings. The building shown here was, or is, a home for wayward girls.
It is not known if it has now been converted to a home for wayward
accountants. |
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Here you can see the home for wayward girls with
the former Enron
Field clearly as its close neighbor. Minute Maid seems like a good
name for a home for wayward girls, more so than a ball park...
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Houston's Convention Center is a couple blocks from
Enron/Minute Maid. It looks very futuristic, like something designed for a
Space City.
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Downtown Houston has a very interesting mix of old and
new buildings. The black box skyscraper you see here, with big holes in
its top, seemed particularly interesting.
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Don't know if this skyscraper is now the tallest west
of the Mississippi, but it appeared to be very very tall.
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A mural created an odd scene looking down the canyon
of skyscrapers.
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Houston's Hard Rock Cafe, in what they call their Arts
District. Seems a much more sophisticated name for such a district,
unlike Fort Worth's Cultural District.
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Had never seen a Have a Nice Day Cafe before.
Probably will never see one again.
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HOUSTON ATTRACTIONS |
ALEK VELODROME--
A 33,334 meter bike track banked 9 to 33 degrees. In Cullen
Park at 19008 Saums Rd. |
ALLEN'S LANDING;
OLD MARKET SQUARE-- This is where the Allen Brothers
arrived in 1836 to begin their new real estate venture which
eventually became known as Houston. Restored buildings, great
restaurants and a cool old bar in Houston's oldest commercial
building. |
ART CAR MUSEUM--
At 140 Heights Blvd. featuring custom decorated cars with
funny motifs. Go here for some Eyes
on Texas photos of Houston's Art Car Parade.
Call 713.861.5526 Official
Website |
BAYOU BEND
COLLECTION-- This collection has over 4,800 works from
colonial times, housed in the Latin Colonial home of the late
Miss Ima Hogg, daughter of the first native born governor of
Texas, James Hogg. Located at 1 Wescott St.
Call 713.520.2600 Official
Website |
ENSEMBLE THEATER--
The oldest professional theater in the Southwest devoted to
the African-American experience. Located at 3535 Main St. Call
713.520.0055 |
GEORGE R. BROWN
CONVENTION CENTER-- Located downtown the Houston
Convention Center has over 850,000 sq. ft. of convention
space. Call 713.853.8000 Official
Website |
HOUSTON ARBORETUM
& NATURE CENTER-- A 155 acre nature preserve with over
5 miles of trails meandering through woods, ponds and a meadow
with an Interpretive Center with interactive exhibits,
aquariums and a tree model. Four miles west of downtown
Houston at 4501 Woodway Drive.
Call 713.681.8433 |
HOUSTON FIRE
MUSEUM-- The history of fire fighting from bucket brigades
to modern methods. Located in former Houston Fire Dept.
Station #7 at Milan and McIlhenny Streets. |
HOUSTON TUNNEL
SYSTEM-- Houston has the world's largest indoor
air-conditioned pedestrian tunnel system. There are 7 miles of
tunnels with a variety of shops and more than 100 restaurants |
LAKE HOUSTON
STATE PARK-- This 4,195 acre park is located where Caney
Creek joins the San Jacinto River. The park has lodges,
campsites, horse trails, swimming, nature study, bird
watching, hiking and biking. Call 281.354.6881 |
MINUTE MAID PARK--
This is where the Astros play baseball. The ballpark is
located on the south side of downtown Houston at the corner of
Crawford and Texas Streets. For game info call 713.259.8000 |
NASA/SPACE CENTER
HOUSTON-- NASA's official visitor center has live shows
and presentation, interactive exhibits, an IMAX theater and
more. Call 281.244.2105 |
THE REEF-- A
20 acre spring-fed lake and park with scuba diving, swimming,
fishing, kayaking/canoeing & picnicking.. Located at 4800
Schurmier Rd. Call 713.991.3483 |
RELIANT PARK--
Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans NFL football team,
Reliant Astrodome, formerly known simply as the Astrodome,
Reliant Hall, formerly known as Astrohall and Reliant Arena,
formerly known as Astroarena, make up the Reliant Park complex
of sports and exhibition facilities. Reliant Park is located
of Loop 610 South at Kirby Dr. Call 713.799.9544 |
SAM HOUSTON RACE
TRACK-- A class 1 race track with pari-mutuel betting on a
live thoroughbred and quarter horse races, plus betting on
off-track races televised in from other tracks. Located on Sam
Houston Tollway at FM 249. Call 281.807.7223 |
SHELDON LAKE
STATE PARK-- One of the few remaining freshwater wetlands
in the Houston area. This 2,800 acre park includes Sheldon
Reservoir. A great place for both birders and fishermen.
Trails take you to 28 different ponds. Call 281.456.9350 |
TOYOTA CENTER-- This
is the largest flea market on the Gulf Coast. There are over
800 vendors every weekend, year round. Special events like an
Indian powwow, barbecue and chili cookoffs, a Cajun festival
and swap meets. Plus restaurants. With an on-site RV
park.
Located at 7979 N. Eldridge. Call 281.890.5500 |
TOYOTA CENTER--
This is where Houston's NBA team, the Rockets, play
basketball, along with the WNBA's Houston Comets and the
Houston Aeros of the AHL. |
THE HOUSTON VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER
Stop here first to get all the info you
need to know about Houston, maps, brochures, directions.
Open daily at 9 am til 4 pm. 901 Bagby Str. Call 713.227.3100
Houston
Visitor's Center Website |
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FOR HOUSTON RESTAURANTS |
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