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It's the only major city in Texas I haven't been to. What does a tourist/visitor do when they visit Houston? It's something I have a hard time getting my head around. It's not a knock, just a genuine question. I think of it as a place to do business and can't think any cachet or trademark about it, where as San Antonio has the Alamo/Riverwalk and Austin has music and an attractive downtown and I wouldn't have to think too hard on what I would do to keep myself busy in those cities.
I'm sure Houston has great shopping and dining (like any big city), but are there interesting destination neighborhoods to visit that would leave me thinking, "yeah, only in Houston". Does it have nice walkable areas to explore (something I love to do when I visit cities), and a decent enough downtown? Is it compelling enough to buy a plane ticket and make hotel arrangements to plan long urban weekend?
This. Even though Atlanta is a sprawling hell hole, it has built up a sizable tourist core in downtown centered on Centennial Park that can keep a person or family busy for a few days and even has some interesting walkable neighborhoods like Little Five Points or the history of MLK/Civil Rights Era and the Sweet Auburn district.
I can't think of anything in Houston...at all...I don't care about seeing their museums. If I wanted to see Fine Arts Museums, I'd go to NYC.
It's the only major city in Texas I haven't been to. What does a tourist/visitor do when they visit Houston? It's something I have a hard time getting my head around. It's not a knock, just a genuine question. I think of it as a place to do business and can't think any cachet or trademark about it,where as San Antonio has the Alamo/Riverwalk and Austin has music and an attractive downtown and I wouldn't have to think too hard on what I would do to keep myself busy in those cities.
I'm sure Houston has great shopping and dining (like any big city), but are there interesting destination neighborhoods to visit that would leave me thinking, "yeah, only in Houston". Does it have nice walkable areas to explore (something I love to do when I visit cities), and a decent enough downtown? Is it compelling enough to buy a plane ticket and make hotel arrangements to plan long urban weekend?
Trouble thinking of trademarks? You can start with the fact that Houston is the energy dynamo of the country. Or the advanced, futuristic space city, the conciense of the space program, a leader in many technological innovations. If San Antonio has the Alamo, then Houston has the San Jacinto Mounment, a monolithic tribute to the strategic, and tactical battle that allowed for the circumstances that eventually led to Texas becoming a useful, and important state of our union.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ant131531
This. Even though Atlanta is a sprawling hell hole, it has built up a sizable tourist core in downtown centered on Centennial Park that can keep a person or family busy for a few days and even has some interesting walkable neighborhoods like Little Five Points or the history of MLK/Civil Rights Era and the Sweet Auburn district.
I can't think of anything in Houston...at all...I don't care about seeing their museums. If I wanted to see Fine Arts Museums, I'd go to NYC.
The Houston Area offers immense oppurtunities to tourists around the country as well. In addition to the many Museums, and Fine Arts venues of downtown, more sights include the historic sectors (such as Heights) with Charleston-style Victorian aesthetic, a diverse mix of restraunts, NASA, and multiple coastal resorts for all the people to take advantage of the sunny, subtropical climate.
Trouble thinking of trademarks? You can start with the fact that Houston is the energy dynamo of the country. Or the advanced, futuristic space city, the conciense of the space program, a leader in many technological innovations. If San Antonio has the Alamo, then Houston has the San Jacinto Mounment, a monolithic tribute to the strategic, and tactical battle that allowed for the circumstances that eventually led to Texas becoming a useful, and important state of our union.
San Antonio has about 5 Missions, the River walk, Japanese Tea Garden, etc.
What does Houston have that a whole family can enjoy?
And keep in mind that Houston is twice as big as San Antonio.
It's the only major city in Texas I haven't been to. What does a tourist/visitor do when they visit Houston? It's something I have a hard time getting my head around. It's not a knock, just a genuine question. I think of it as a place to do business and can't think any cachet or trademark about it, where as San Antonio has the Alamo/Riverwalk and Austin has music and an attractive downtown and I wouldn't have to think too hard on what I would do to keep myself busy in those cities.
I'm sure Houston has great shopping and dining (like any big city), but are there interesting destination neighborhoods to visit that would leave me thinking, "yeah, only in Houston". Does it have nice walkable areas to explore (something I love to do when I visit cities), and a decent enough downtown? Is it compelling enough to buy a plane ticket and make hotel arrangements to plan long urban weekend?
Here is a link to a thread posted in the Houston forum where a woman from Florida bought her husband a 4 day vacation in Houston and really enjoyed her trip. Check it out and maybe you can get a idea for visiting yourself.
No city in Texas is that tourist friendly or attractive so I find it strange that you would somehow avoid the Houston/Galveston area because you can't figure out what to look for...Maybe your listening to those Houston bashers along I-35 too much or maybe its because Houston is the farthest City in Texas from New Mexico?....
^^^Spot on. Other than the sight where Tx was won and the beer can house it's difficult.
Speaking of the San Jacinto monument area, since that's where Tx was won and gained it's independence why didn't the city ever try to develop the area and make it a hot spot for more tourist to visit? I guess technically that is something unique about Houston.
It's too far removed from Central Houston. Same problem I have with NASA. Too far out. There needs to be more tourist friendly attractions in the Core. I was really hoping they could have done something useful and tourist centrist with the Astrodome but unfortunatly doesn't look like that will happen.
Here is a link to a thread posted in the Houston forum where a woman from Florida bought her husband a 4 day vacation in Houston and really enjoyed her trip. Check it out and maybe you can get a idea for visiting yourself.
No city in Texas is that tourist friendly or attractive so I find it strange that you would somehow avoid the Houston/Galveston area because you can't figure out what to look for...Maybe your listening to those Houston bashers along I-35 too much or maybe its because Houston is the farthest City in Texas from New Mexico?....
Thats dumb. Not just because Houston isnt the most tourist attractive city in Texas (it would be a toss up between Austin and San Antonio), but because your reasoning is stupid. Houston isnt popular because people are listening to bashers from Dallas? Really?
I dont really know why this is really being talked about. Im from out of state and I dont ever recall one being talked about more than the other. Austin was definately the sweetheart that was talked about the most.
Thats dumb. Not just because Houston isnt the most tourist attractive city in Texas (it would be a toss up between Austin and San Antonio), but because your reasoning is stupid. Houston isnt popular because people are listening to bashers from Dallas? Really?
Hold on Einstein I didn't specifically point to Dallas (you must have a guilty conscience). If you take Houston out of the equation though every major city in Texas is located along I-35 including Austin (remember). The post I was replying to which isn't the OP stated he had visited every major city in Texas except Houston. It was sarcastic, and accusatory, but tongue and cheek at the same time. I also gave an alternate explanation that Houston is the farthest away from where his profile says he is, which is New Mexico. We will see if the poster reply's. I may be reaching but it is not a dumb rational to think that maybe this one poster is being influenced by the places in Texas he has visited, of where to go, or not to go. We will see.
If he truly was just at a loss to come up with worthy destinations in the Houston area I would be astounded. Galveston would be a worthy, interesting, and compact destination, in and of itself, not to mention the Johnson Space Center or some of the more eclectic attractions of Houston.
Last edited by Jack Lance; 05-06-2014 at 12:14 PM..
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I'm sorry, but I SO don't get why there are repeated threads that are about things that are exclusively Texas on the General US and City v City forums. Nothing against the state, but understand that you are not the center of the Universe. No other state does this. It's annoying.
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I didn't specifically point to Dallas (you must have a guilty conscience). If you take Houston out of the equation though every major city in Texas is located along I-35 including Austin (remember). The post I was replying to which isn't the OP stated he had visited every major city in Texas except Houston. It was sarcastic, and accusatory, but tongue and cheek at the same time. I also gave an alternate explanation that Houston is the farthest away from where his profile says he is, which is New Mexico. We will see if the poster reply's. I may be reaching but it is not a dumb rational to think that maybe this one poster is being influenced by the places in Texas he has visited, of where to go, or not to go. We will see.
