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Houston Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Houston
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Houston Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Houston - The massive metropolis of Houston, sprawling
across the Gulf Coast plain of East Texas from its busy port, is
almost twice the size of the entire state of Rhode Island. Even
with this heavy urban concentration, though, Houston is green and
lush, sited at the end of a belt of forest coming down from the
north, and characterised by marshlands and bayous lined with
cypress trees in the southern reaches.
Houston,
named after former Republic of Texas president Sam Houston, is hot
and humid. To make life more bearable in the close-packed downtown
area much activity has gone underground. The city centre sports an
air-conditioned seven-mile (11km) pedestrian tunnel system full of
restaurants and shops. Unlike most cities, downtown in Houston is
the hub of residential development, so it remains busy and bustling
long after dark. Texas' largest city is not
generally a sought after tourist destination, being concerned more
with business than pleasure and leisure. Computer manufacture, gas
and oil, and a huge concentration of medical institutions account
for most of the economic activity, but all those hard-working
citizens have to play sometimes, and there are some good
attractions like excellent museums, the amazing Astrodome sports
pavilion, some wonderful theatres and, thanks to the cosmopolitan
mix of its residents, some ethnically diverse cuisine on offer in
its many restaurants and neighbourhoods. For visitors the absolute
"must-see" in Houston is the famed Space Center, mission control
for the US space programme.
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Houston
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
1601 NASA Road 1
www.spacecenter.org |
What is it? The visitor's Space Center is attached to the
headquarters of America's manned space programme, Nasa's 'Mission
Control' that directs the space shuttle project and guided the
pioneering astronauts. The Space Center, Houston's most popular
tourist attraction, is located at Clear Lake, 20 miles (32km)
southeast of downtown, off the Gulf freeway I-45. There are
numerous wonders to behold at this facility, which both entertains
and educates, from a mock-up of a space shuttle to an Imax theatre
and hundreds of hands-on exhibits. Tram tours run every half hour
taking in the highlights, including Rocket Park where retired
spacecraft come to rest, Mission Control and even astronauts in
training.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm (June), 9am to 7pm
(July), 10am to 5pm (August); weekends 10am to 7pm. Winter hours
are 10am to 5pm, closing at 6pm on weekends
Phone:(281) 244 2100 |
2. Museum District
www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org |
What is it? Set within a scenic part of central Houston
is the city's Museum District, featuring 11 varied and interesting
institutions and numerous restaurants set among some lovely green
spaces like Hermann Park. One of the highlights in the area is the
Byzantine Fresco Chapel on the corner of Branard and Yupon Streets
containing 13th century frescoes from Cyprus. There is also a
children's museum, contemporary arts museum and the Houston
Holocaust Museum. One of the most interesting museums in the
district is the Museum of Health and Medical Science, which
features a walk-through re-creation of the human body. The Menil
Museum has a collection of contemporary, surrealistic and 20th
century art in an interesting building at Sul Ross. In Hermann Park
is the comprehensive Museum of Natural Science and Planetarium, the
Houston Zoo and a Japanese Garden.
Hours of Operation: Various
Phone:(713) 437 5200 (Greater Houston Convention and Visitors
Bureau) |
3. The Orange Show
2402 Munger Street
www.orangeshow.org |
What is it? For a touch of the bizarre call at the Orange
Show to see how obsession can become art. A former postman spent 26
years of his life assembling a collection of weird and wonderful
objects and meshing them together into a labyrinth of passages and
staircases, almost all of it orange. The result is a quirky
curiosity, which is billed as 'folk art'.
Hours of Operation: Wednesday to Friday 9am to 1pm; Saturday and Sunday
12pm to 5pm (31 May to 6 September). Saturday and Sunday only 12pm
to 5pm (20 March to 31 May and 6 September to
mid-December)
Phone:(713) 926 6368 |
Houston
holidays - Top Events
1. Rodeo and Livestock Show
From 2007-02-27
To 2007-03-18
|
What is it? Houston's raunchy rodeo is the largest in the
world, and its accompanying livestock fair second in size only to
the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. This three-week spectacular not
only includes the world-beater rodeo competition and about 35,000
livestock entered in different categories, but it also offers
hundreds of other agricultural-related activities from pig races to
pony rides, and premier concert
entertainment.
Where is it? Reliant Park |
2. Houston Children's Festival
From 2007-03-31
To 2007-04-01
|
What is it? This major family fun event has become one of
the biggest children's events in America, designed to bring out the
child in everyone. The weekend-long festival includes 14 family
'adventure zones', all offering themed rides, games, activities,
crafts, exhibits and sports. There are also several music stages
pumping out ongoing entertainment, from health and fitness
demonstrations to techno and karaoke. The Festival is organised by
Child Advocates Incorporated and is in aid of abused
children.
Where is it? Various venues in downtown Houston |
3. Houston International Festival
From 2007-04-20
To 2007-04-29
|
What is it? Each year a different country has the
opportunity to be highlighted at Houston's massive celebration of
international culture (China in 2007). Houstonians love
festivities, and this is one of the city's biggest and best,
filling two weekends and 20 downtown blocks with music on outdoor
stages, street performers, ethnic food stalls, craft booths and art
exhibits. Dancing in the streets, fun and games and people-watching
are the order of the day.
Where is it? Stretches across 16 acres of parks and streets around
Tranquility and Sam Houston Parks, downtown Houston. |
4. Buffalo Bayou Regatta
From 2007-03-24
To 2007-03-24
|
What is it? Houston's Buffalo Bayou, the 9 waterway that
weaves through downtown, beckons visitors and locals alike to join
in the fun at the annual canoe and kayak regattas, and Dragon Boat
Festival. The serious racing is complemented by a hilarious
'Anything that floats' race, a relaxing picnic in Sesquicentennial
Park, educational environment and nature demonstrations, and a
trash pick-up with prizes.
Where is it? Sesquicentennial Park on Houston's waterfront |
5. Houston International Jazz Festival
From
To
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What is it? Summertime in Houston is made even hotter
during the first weekend of August when a variety of international
jazz performers take over at Bayou Place for the annual Houston
International Jazz Festival. Whether you prefer your jazz in Latin,
contemporary or smooth mode, it is catered for at the Festival. It
marks the start of a month-long citywide focus on jazz during which
local clubs offer promotions and lectures, and radio stations focus
on the popular music genre.
Where is it? Bayou Place |
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