It was in 1969 that NASA achieved the first moon landing from Houston, Texas, and the city’s name became the first word uttered back to Earth by astronaut Neil Armstrong. But Space City has come to represent many things since its 1836 founding, and Houston’s unofficial nicknames — Bayou City, H-Town, The Big Heart, the Medical Capital of the World and the Energy Capital of the World — are telltale of the city’s diverse contributions.
Houston is the fourth most-populated city in the U.S., covering approximately 630 square miles and housing more than 2.1 million residents. The most prominent of its 10 major bayous, Buffalo Bayou, runs into the 10th-busiest port in the world. More than 5,000 firms help make the city a global leader in energy, and it is from Houston’s renowned Texas Medical Center that more heart surgeries are performed than anywhere else.
Efforts to encourage alternative transportation earned Houston a spot on Causes.com’s 2013 list of “10 Greenest Cities in the U.S.,” and the city currently ranks #1 in overall job creation. With so much to see and experience — including four major sports teams, 37,832 acres of public green space, thousands of restaurants and a collection of nationally ranked schools and cultural venues — it’s certain that not one lone star, but many, shine bright over this city of names.
What’s Hot in Houston (Besides the Weather)
Food
Identifying the best Tex-Mex restaurants is no easy feat, considering that more than 1,000 currently claim space in Houston. Two that resonate with critics and locals, however, are El Tiempo Cantina, known for its margaritas and authentic flavors, and The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, famously credited with popularizing fajitas in America.
Seeking other comforts? Try the brisket at Gatlin’s BBQ (closes at 7 p.m.), one of Texas Monthly’s “Top 50 Barbecue Joints” in 2013, or grab some red beans and rice for lunch cafeteria-style at Treebeards. Vegans and vegetarians might head to Radical Eats (BYOB), where Mexican goodness radiates, or Cafe TH (BYOB), which offers herbivore- and carnivore-friendly Vietnamese selections. For some Vietnamese-Cajun fun, the boiled crawfish at Crawfish & Noodles (BYOB) come highly recommended.
To kick back after a long day, the House of Blues is a safe bet for a cold beer and simple southern fare. Or, you might head to The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen; the fish and chips are a local favorite. Wine lover? Savor an Old-World selection at 13 Celsius, or head to MKT BAR, where the gelato and Lebanese-inspired pizzas are top picks.
If prime beef is in order, Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse has a reputation for being a cut above the rest. And of course, there are many palate-pleasing options for James Beard fanatics: Enjoy modern seafood at REEF, share some Creole plates communal-seating-style at Underbelly or indulge in a carefully crafted tasting menu at Oxheart (reservations are scarce).
Attractions and Shopping
For first-time Houston visitors, stopping by Space Center Houston is a no-brainer. Take a NASA Tram Tour on the grounds of Johnson Space Center, see Historic Mission Control and check out the restored Galileo shuttle of Star Trek fame. History buffs might head to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte to see where Texas won its independence from Mexico. Also on site are the 570-foot San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas.
Want to get on the water? Try a Sam Houston Boat Tour of the Turning Basin — the navigational head of the Houston Ship Channel. If you’re more for flora and fauna, you may opt to take a stroll through the Houston Arboretum, a 155-acre nature sanctuary, or hang with the wildlife at the Houston Zoo in Hermann Park. For a dose of culture and sustainability, check out the LEED Gold-certified Discovery Green by the George R. Brown Convention Center and marvel at the surreal Monument Au Fantome.
Houston’s acclaimed Museum District boasts 19 cultural venues. Popular attractions are the Houston Museum of Natural Science, known for one of the largest collections of gems and minerals in the world; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Holocaust Museum Houston; and The Menil Collection, an important 20th-century art assemblage. Houston’s Theater District has permanent professional companies in opera, ballet, music and theater, and popular performance venues include the Alley Theatre, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Symphony.
If your inclinations fall to the offbeat, stop by the Art Car Museum or Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (it has a 3,000-square-foot folk-art monument), or drive by the 50,000-can adorned Beer Can House. And if it’s retail you’re looking for, you’ll find it. The Galleria (outside the West Loop) is Texas’ largest shopping center, containing 400 stores and restaurants of every kind. Or, for a more quaint experience, head to the Historic Houston Heights Shopping District (19th and Yale St.) for its eclectic scattering of galleries, vintage shops and eateries.
To avoid long waits and unexpected closures, check websites or call ahead for information. Many places are available via the Houston METRO or Greenlink downtown bus service.
Acknowledgments: Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Patricia Watson and Tom Loudermilk
Comprehensive Websites
Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Houston Museum District (Eleven institutions are free all the time; eight institutions offer free admission during select days/times. A searchable calendar of events for all 19 affiliated institutions is available via the website.)
Transport
Greenlink (Free downtown transport is available Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. every 7–10 minutes on environmentally friendly buses.)
Houston METRO (Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County)
Food
13 Celsius, 3000 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004, 713.529.8466 (Open nightly, 4 p.m.–2 a.m.)
Cafe TH (BYOB), 2108 Pease St., Houston, TX 77003, 713.225.4766 (Lunch, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. Dinner, Thursday and Friday, 6–9 p.m.)
Crawfish & Noodles (BYOB), 11360 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 990, Houston, TX 77072, 281.988.8098 (Closed Tuesday. Not open for lunch Monday through Friday.)
El Tiempo Cantina, 2814 Navigation Blvd., Houston, TX 77003, 713.222.6800 and 1308 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77019, 713.807.8996 (See website for full list of locations.)
Gatlin’s BBQ, 1221 West 19th St., Houston, TX 77008, 713.869.4227 (Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. No alcohol served, Patio BYOB.)
House of Blues Houston,1204 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002, 888.402.5837
MKT BAR/Phoenicia Market Downtown
1001 Austin St., Houston, TX 77010, 832.360.2222 (Closes at 8 p.m. on Sunday.)
The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, 2704 Navigation Blvd., Houston, TX 77003, 713.228.1175
Oxheart, 1302 Nance St., Houston, TX 77002, 832.830.8592 (Dinner, Thursday through Monday, 5:30–10 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Reservations via credit card required. Parties of up to six only.)
The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen, 2712 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77098, 713.533.0022 (Lunch not served Saturday through Monday.)
Radical Eats (BYOB), 3903 Fulton St., Houston, TX 77009, 713.697.8719, (Only lunch on Monday. Only brunch on Sunday. Closes at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.)
Treebeards, 315 Travis St., Houston, TX 77002, 713.228.2622 (Lunch only. See website for full list of locations.)
Underbelly, 1100 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77006, 713.528.9800 (Closed Sunday)
Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, 1510 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002, 713.228.1111
Attractions and Shopping
Alley Theatre, 615 Texas St., Houston, TX 77002, 713.220.5700
Art Car Museum, 140 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77007, 713.861.5526 (Free. Closed Monday and Tuesday.)
Beer Can House, (Maintained by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art), 222 Malone St., Houston, TX 77007, 713.926.6368 (Only open for tours Saturday and Sunday.)
Discovery Green,1500 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77010, 713.400.7336
5085 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77056
Historic Houston Heights Shopping District, Heights Blvd., Yale St. @ 19th St., Houston, TX 77008
Holocaust Museum Houston, Morgan Family Center, 5401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004, 713.942.8000 (Open every day, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. General admission is free; donation of $5 recommended.)
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX 77024, 713.681.8433 (Free)
Houston Ballet at Wortham, Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002, 713.227.2787
Houston Grand Opera, 501 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002, 713.546.0200
Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030, 713.639.4629 (Free on Thursday from 3–6 p.m.)
Houston Symphony, 615 Louisiana St., Houston, TX 77002, 713.224.7575
Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030, 713.533.6500
The Menil Collection,1533 Sul Ross St., Houston, TX 77006, 713.525.9400 (Free. Closed Monday and Tuesday.)
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77005, 713.639.7300 (Closed Monday except for holidays. Thursday general admission is free from 10 a.m.–9 p.m., courtesy of Shell.)
Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, 2402 Munger St., Houston, TX 77023, 713.926.6368, (Monument open Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Noon–5 p.m.)
Sam Houston Boat Tour (Turning Basin), The Port of Houston Authority, 7300 Clinton Dr., Houston, TX 77020, 713.670.2416, (Free. Reservations required 24 hours in advance. Tours offered Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. only.)
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site Battleground and Battleship Texas, 3523 Independence Parkway South, La Porte, TX 77571, 281.479.2431 (Free for individuals. Groups should contact the park.)
San Jacinto Museum of History/Monument, One Monument Circle, La Porte, TX 77571, 281.479.2421
Space Center Houston/NASA’s Johnson Space Center, 1601 NASA Pkwy., Houston, TX 77058, 281.244.2100 (Hours change seasonally — check website.)
Amy Kapp is a freelance writer in northern Virginia.