Information on Houston.

CalifornianTexaboo · Oct 22, 2019

I was recently presented with an opportunity to go out to Houston to see a World Series game. (Which I may not be able to act on anyway) but was wondering what the city of Houston was like, and what to expect? May go next year to check it out if I cant make it.

benenglish · Oct 22, 2019

Houston is a traditionally working-class city. For all the talk of "Houston Proud", it doesn't have much of a defining culture. For the most part, people are here to work a job and live their life.

That said, it has certain obvious characteristics. It's hot and humid in the summer. It's flat. It has virtually no respect for historic architecture; at a couple of points in its history, every single city council seat was occupied by someone in the real estate/development business. Certain parts of the city aren't what I'd call reassuringly safe. The homeless problem is worse than it should be but not nearly as bad as some other places.

But those things are true about almost all big cities.

And just like all big cities, it has things about it that are wonderful. Within easy access from a central hotel you can find the med center, the zoo, a couple of big parks, the museum district, major sports venues, concert halls, varied nightlife, plenty of things to see and do. The key to being a tourist in the city is researching how to use the rail system in advance. If your hotel is on a train station, just the things within walking distance from a rail stop are more than enough to fill a long vacation. That includes the park where the Astros play that's about a 3-block walk from the nearest station.

Rent a car or bring your own and you have NASA, amazing shopping, many unique small neighborhoods, more cultural oddities than you shake a stick at, and more.

The food scene, by itself, would need a huge article to just scratch the surface.

Houston is what you make of it. It doesn't have big, iconic things (other than NASA) that are recognized world-wide as must-see attractions. There's no Statue of Liberty equivalent. I don't think that's a big downside.

In sum, for the people who believe all big cities are cancer and would never go near one it is, of course, a hell-hole. But for the people who don't possess that prejudice, can keep some common sense in their head, and are willing to do a little research before visiting, it's a great place with many wonderful constituent parts that reward the curious.

Frank59 · Oct 22, 2019

If you go to a Houston Yates football game be sure and take a bullet proof vest and plenty of ammo!!

sidebite252 · Oct 22, 2019

Great place but worst traffic in the State. They have outgrown their highway infrastructure for sure.

Lonesome Dove · Oct 22, 2019

High rise concrete jungle with tons of traffic. Two places I avoid Downtown Houston and Austin.

BillFairbanks · Oct 22, 2019

Stay in the best hotel you can afford.

The best I’ve stayed in are the Intercontinental near the Galleria, the Hyatt Downtown and the Omni.

The worst was the Holiday Inn Express in South Houston.

There are a lot of great places to eat.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SQLGeek · Oct 22, 2019

Ben summed it up well. The weather is superb right now so it is definitely a good time to visit.

Drivers here are aggressive and insane so if you drive here, do so defensively. Having driven in all of the major cities in California, I can say that it's worse here. If someone wants in another lane, they're coming over so you better just make room for them. Red light running is a sport here. LA and Bay Area drivers are sedate in comparison.

If you want a certain type of cuisine, you can probably find it. Take a drive down Chimney Rock to see million dollar homes nestled next to convenience stores and strip malls.

Downtown itself isn't necessarily a top destination IMO. East Downtown (EaDo) is up and coming. There are several breweries in that area if that is you thing, including 8th Wonder.

Unless you want to stay right around where you are staying, plan on driving or taking Uber/Lyft.

There's a ton more information on the Houston subreddit and is a good place to find things to do. www.houstononthecheap.com has a bunch of cheap things also.

Edit: Also, if you're out here before the end of the year, you can still go see Battleship Texas and the San Jacinto (prounounced Jaw-sinto by the locals) monument. You can't actually go on the Battleship as they've closed it for repairs but it's still there.

The Lonestar Flight Museum at Ellington Field is worth seeing too.

avvidclif · Oct 22, 2019

About all I've ever seen about Houston is no zoning rules. Build what you want where you want. Explains strip malls and million dollar mansions side by side.

CalifornianTexaboo · Oct 22, 2019

benenglish said:
Houston is a traditionally working-class city. For all the talk of "Houston Proud", it doesn't have much of a defining culture. For the most part, people are here to work a job and live their life.

That said, it has certain obvious characteristics. It's hot and humid in the summer. It's flat. It has virtually no respect for historic architecture; at a couple of points in its history, every single city council seat was occupied by someone in the real estate/development business. Certain parts of the city aren't what I'd call reassuringly safe. The homeless problem is worse than it should be but not nearly as bad as some other places.

But those things are true about almost all big cities.

And just like all big cities, it has things about it that are wonderful. Within easy access from a central hotel you can find the med center, the zoo, a couple of big parks, the museum district, major sports venues, concert halls, varied nightlife, plenty of things to see and do. The key to being a tourist in the city is researching how to use the rail system in advance. If your hotel is on a train station, just the things within walking distance from a rail stop are more than enough to fill a long vacation. That includes the park where the Astros play that's about a 3-block walk from the nearest station.

Rent a car or bring your own and you have NASA, amazing shopping, many unique small neighborhoods, more cultural oddities than you shake a stick at, and more.

The food scene, by itself, would need a huge article to just scratch the surface.

Houston is what you make of it. It doesn't have big, iconic things (other than NASA) that are recognized world-wide as must-see attractions. There's no Statue of Liberty equivalent. I don't think that's a big downside.

In sum, for the people who believe all big cities are cancer and would never go near one it is, of course, a hell-hole. But for the people who don't possess that prejudice, can keep some common sense in their head, and are willing to do a little research before visiting, it's a great place with many wonderful constituent parts that reward the curious.

Not much of a city guy, but the best cities I've ever been to have been Nashville, TN and Montgomery, AL. So I think Texas has to have at least one good big city, hoping Houston is that one.

CalifornianTexaboo · Oct 22, 2019

SQLGeek said:
Ben summed it up well. The weather is superb right now so it is definitely a good time to visit.

Drivers here are aggressive and insane so if you drive here, do so defensively. Having driven in all of the major cities in California, I can say that it's worse here. If someone wants in another lane, they're coming over so you better just make room for them. Red light running is a sport here. LA and Bay Area drivers are sedate in comparison.

If you want a certain type of cuisine, you can probably find it. Take a drive down Chimney Rock to see million dollar homes nestled next to convenience stores and strip malls.

Downtown itself isn't necessarily a top destination IMO. East Downtown (EaDo) is up and coming. There are several breweries in that area if that is you thing, including 8th Wonder.

Unless you want to stay right around where you are staying, plan on driving or taking Uber/Lyft.

There's a ton more information on the Houston subreddit and is a good place to find things to do. www.houstononthecheap.com has a bunch of cheap things also.

Edit: Also, if you're out here before the end of the year, you can still go see Battleship Texas and the San Jacinto (prounounced Jaw-sinto by the locals) monument. You can't actually go on the Battleship as they've closed it for repairs but it's still there.

The Lonestar Flight Museum at Ellington Field is worth seeing too.

I might just take an Uber. And was thinking about getting an Air bnb. Wouldn't mind a decent hotel though.

Btw, anyone know the best BBQ in Houston?

BRD@66 · Oct 22, 2019

During the latter part of the 20th century when I still (sort of) worked for a living, anytime I got to thinking that the traffic in Austin was bad, I'd arrange a trip to Houston, then be tickled to again drive in Austin.

Brains · Oct 22, 2019

Guys, remember this is a Californian - you need to do some translations for him.

"Million dollar home" to a CA res is equiv. to ~150k home in Houston after all.

SQLGeek · Oct 22, 2019

Brains said:
Guys, remember this is a Californian - you need to do some translations for him.
"Million dollar home" to a CA res is equiv. to ~150k home in Houston after all.

Hah! This is true, it's been too long for me I guess.

By million dollar homes, I mean $10 million + homes in CA.

BillFairbanks · Oct 22, 2019

CalifornianTexaboo said:
Not much of a city guy, but the best cities I've ever been to have been Nashville, TN and Montgomery, AL. So I think Texas has to have at least one good big city, hoping Houston is that one.

IMO, Fort Worth is the best large city in Texas. Downtown is great, The Stockyards are fun, the Museum district is nice.

San Antonio is a fun city to visit. I like to stay on the Riverwalk.

Houston is probably the worst city in Texas.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

BillFairbanks · Oct 22, 2019

CalifornianTexaboo said:
I might just take an Uber. And was thinking about getting an Air bnb. Wouldn't mind a decent hotel though.

Btw, anyone know the best BBQ in Houston?

https://www.roegelsbarbecue.com/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

benenglish · Oct 22, 2019

CalifornianTexaboo said:
Btw, anyone know the best BBQ in Houston?

Are you trying to start an argument?

SQLGeek · Oct 22, 2019

BillFairbanks said:
Houston is probably the worst city in Texas.

Beauty really is in the eye of the beer holder. I can't stand Dallas myself.

benenglish said:
Are you trying to start an argument?

Figuring out 9mm vs 45 ACP for self defense may be easier.

benenglish · Oct 22, 2019

SQLGeek said:
Unless you want to stay right around where you are staying, plan on driving or taking Uber/Lyft.

No love for the light rail?

Brains · Oct 22, 2019

CalifornianTexaboo said:
I might just take an Uber. And was thinking about getting an Air bnb. Wouldn't mind a decent hotel though.

Btw, anyone know the best BBQ in Houston?

Uber is going to be hella expensive - Houston is BIG. "Across town" can be 50 miles, since 'town' extends to the whole metro area.

Best BBQ? Open for lots of debate, most think the best isn't in Houston. There's a thread on here somewhere about that for some pointers. Houston has it in spades for good food though, in every style and ethic background or fusion you can't even consider.

There's a LOT to see and experience in Houston, but as Ben alluded to most of it is hidden a little under the surface. The people here are also like nowhere else I've ever been, you can and will end up in conversations with completely random strangers in completely random places - and they probably won't look like you. Racism and intolerance may exist, but you pretty much have to want to find it.

SQLGeek · Oct 22, 2019

benenglish said:
No love for the light rail?

It's OK. I've used it to get to Texans games before but it's pretty limiting depending on where you're wanting to go.

And I generally hate public transit. BART scarred me for life.

Brains said:
Racism and intolerance may exist, but you pretty much have to want to find it.

In my experience, it definitely does, but you're not likely to just encounter it on the street.

One of the things that really struck me about Houston when we were looking at moving here is that for how big of a city it is, people are still pretty damn friendly.

Information on Houston.

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