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Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest city in Texas. It is situated in the southeast corner of Texas, just an hour drive from the Gulf of Mexico. Houston is huge, in both population and land area. The city is very culturally diverse, home to some of the nation’s largest ethnic American populations. This cultural diversity adds to the vibrant city life and plethora of activities that take place here in America’s south land.

Houston Pictures

Things to do in Houston

Houston offers many different thriving business hubs within the city. You can catch a fly ball at an Astros baseball game, visit some sharks at the aquarium, or stimulate the mind with a trip to the NASA space center. The “Uptown” district is home to a huge high-end shopping center with a busy nightlife for young adults. Head here for a lot of tourist activities. The downtown is the center of Houston and represents the headquarters for many of the businesses. Houston is second only to New York in corporate headquarters of fortune 500 companies. The Warehouse district is a recently remodeled part of town with trendy and hip housing complexes with tons of good places to eat and party the night away.

Nightlife in Houston

The best thing about Houston is the amount of unique and trendy local bars. Young adults rule the nightlife as the Downtown district comes alive at dusk. Whether you are looking for a place to chill or rock out to a live band, Houston has it all. Houston is known for its innovative hip-hop artists and great rap scene. Stop into Brasil to check out what happens when you mix a coffee shop with a bar. Cadillac Bar is an up-scale hotspot that looks like a basement and all the waiters wear tuxedos. When the Astros are playing head to the Ballpark district to join in some of the action. No matter what atmosphere you are searching for, Houston offers it. However, one piece of advice: Houston is very big, so make sure you ask the taxi drivers how much for a ride before you take off across town.

Dining in Houston

Houston knows food, and is commonly known as the most restaurant-oriented city in the United States. The restaurants include a wide variety of ethnic restaurants, superb Tex-Mex, a great number of steakhouses, upscale dining, as well as national chains. If you don’t have a lot of cash don’t worry, there are many restaurants that are wallet-friendly. Check out Goode Company Barbeque for some of the best BBQ in the city. If you want some tex-mex with flair head over to Chuy’s on Westheimer Rd. Some of the best meals are found by mistake; simply stop by any taqueria, order random items off the menu and you will most definitely be pleasantly surprised.

Shopping in Houston

For shopping gurus, head to the Galleria for up-scale shopping and ultimate variety in stores. The Galleria even boasts an indoor ice-skating rink if you want a break from shopping. Highland Village is another great stop just east of the Galleria with many stores such as Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma, and James Avery Craftsman. Other recommendations include Rice village, Uptown Park, and River Oaks Shopping center.

Houston travel tips

• Be sure to buy a map of Houston.
• Be prepared for intense heat and sun in the summer.
• Avoid rush hour traffic jams by taking public transportation.