The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in the United States - Houston looks impressive at first glance, but it is a hospitable city ready to offer guests open-air festivals, barbecue competitions, indie music and dance performances at the annual Summer Free Press Festival.
Dine on Texas-Mexican food, sample grilled meats in the Historic District , head to Montrose to check out bars and sip a few Texas Sipper cocktails, enjoy rock and roll at McGonigel's Mucky Duck .
But Houston isn't all about dinners, drinks, music, parties. It is a cultural center with award-winning theater companies, opera houses, classical music concerts, museums for the whole family. All this makes Houston a truly exceptional holiday destination.
TOP 5 reasons to visit Houston
- Houston once played an important role in hosting the NASA Space Center, and today tourists can learn how it was organized, see real space shuttles and other fascinating space exhibits.
- Houston is Texas' largest shopping mall, and the Galleria is home to one of America's most impressive shopping malls. Head there to stock up on items and accessories from Zara, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors.
- The business center of Houston is a cultural center with an internationally recognized symphony orchestra, an opera house, and many theatrical venues. Explore the Theater District , home to nine separate companies, including the award-winning Tony Theater.
- Every year, Houston hosts many parties, unique events: an art car parade, massive street parties, the September Fiestas Patrias, music festivals, including the Houston Open Air in September, which annually attracts a huge number of rock artists.
- Houston has major NFL and NBA teams, baseball and soccer teams of its own. No matter what sport you enjoy, be sure to go to the game!
Climate in Houston
Houston is known for high temperatures and even higher humidity. Most of the year the temperature in the city ranges from 15 to 27 degrees Celsius, the sun and precipitation are at their maximum power.
- Hottest month: August - 34 ° C
- Coldest month: January - 17 ° C
- Wettest month: July
If you want to enjoy being outdoors, hiking, camping or fishing, plan your trip in the spring. In March it is not yet too hot or too cold, by April-May the temperature rises significantly, and the amount of precipitation increases. Houston can experience severe thunderstorms in late May, often with hail or lightning. Houston is the perfect place for spring and autumn: from March to June, the weather in the city is warm, but not as hot as in July and August. March is a great month to visit with the International Children's Festival and Rodeos. Jeans, blouses and dresses - all this is appropriate to take with you in the spring, as well as a pair of comfortable shoes.
What to do in Houston
Space Center Houston - Located just minutes from NASA's Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston introduces visitors to the history of space travel in America. Check out first-hand documents, stunning photographs, moonstones that show the progress made by humans outside the atmosphere. Visitors will see spaceships that have explored the universe beyond our planet from Apollo 17 to Mercury 9.
- The highlight of the Houston Museum District is the internationally renowned gallery of fine arts , whose collection is one of the most complete in the United States, covering everything from pre-Columbian artifacts to some of the greatest artists of our time. Enjoy the spacious galleries and stroll through the perfectly manicured grounds. Nearby is the Contemporary Museum of Houston and several other themed institutions.
- The Houston Museum of Natural History is one of those not to be missed! The exhibitions are designed for visitors of all ages, complemented by interactive elements. Dinosaur bones, ancient jewelry, ancient artifacts, a planetarium, the Butterfly Center - there is a place to spend your time here! There is a zoo nearby .
- Tens of thousands of precious artifacts make up the Menil collection , housed in a number of modern buildings. An exquisite and beautiful complex of buildings, separate galleries illuminate the work of modern masters. Enjoy the diversity and contrasts of the unique museum.
- Minute Maid Park : Juice Box - The famous American stadium is located in the heart of Houston and was opened at the turn of the millennium for the Astros Major League baseball team. The park, built next to the city's historic Union Station, has a fun railway theme.
What to eat in Houston
Be sure to try the fried shrimp with remoulade sauce. The traditional sauce is made using homemade mayonnaise and garlic.
- For a burger that can feed a family of four, head to Kenny & Ziggy's for Big Reubowski . The brisket and ribs make the perfect hamburger patty, culminating in a hefty portion of homemade corned beef, sauerkraut and a generous sauce.
- Rainbow Lodge 's Hearty Smoked Duck Gumbo Bowl includes Anduy sausage with wild rice pilaf, creating an unusually savory dish with varied textures.
- Alfredo's rich, creamy homemade sauce tops fresh fettuccine, a pasta made from scratch, along with braised mushrooms, green onions and shrimp to create a Pasta Weesie .
- Choose from Czech cold cuts and cuts of smoked meats like turkey, chicken and brisket, as well as freshly cooked pies and homemade side dishes like Jambalaya Texana .
- Soaked in thick, dark, rich black sauce and toasted sesame seeds, a chicken quarter is the result of an 8-10 hour cooking process using an extensive list of ingredients. Chicken is served with rice, fried black beans and lots of tortillas.
- The lamb barbacoa is truly a Houston icon. This is meat with excellent spices, marinated with chili, garlic, avocado leaves.
- The deceptively simple steaming pasta bowl, seasoned with freshly cracked tellicherry peppers, parmesan and olive oil, has garnered national acclaim and the trust of locals who are eagerly waiting for a table just to get their hands on this Cacio e pepe.
Transportation in Houston
Public transport is not the most popular way to get around Houston. More than five million people use METRO city buses every month , and another two million use METRORail trains, a suburban park and attractions.
- Most people using public transportation in Houston use the bus system. There are dozens of routes that cross the city, although this may take a little longer than driving. The local bus fare is $ 1.25 with a free transfer up to three hours in any direction. Buses run from 5 am to late evening, some buses run after midnight to 2 am.
- BCycle - Houston's bike rental system has over 75 stations, most of which are concentrated in the city center, medical center and Museum District. You can either pay as you go ($ 3 for every 30 minutes) or buy a monthly or annual pass for $ 13 or $ 79, respectively.
- If you have a busy schedule in Houston and don't mind heavy traffic, a rental car is the right choice. Much of the city is built for drivers: car rentals are useful for visitors looking to travel out of town to attractions such as NASA or the beaches around Galveston where public transportation is limited.
- Houston's light rail is small - 22 miles of rails barely touching the surface in a city of nearly 9,500 square miles - but still capable of carrying more than 600,000 passengers a day. It is the second most popular public transport option in the city and can often be the fastest way to get to the city center. METRORail has three lines, but the longest and most used is the Red Line. This route connects some of Houston's busiest neighborhoods, including downtown, Midtown, Museum District, Texas Medical Center. Two other lines cross the red line in the city center to get from the Theater District to EaDo.
