Short trip to Houston (1-2 days) (Victoria, Allen: hotel, houses, neighborhoods)

[OzzyRules]

I have wanted to see Houston and I have a few questions. Basically, I was wondering if I would be able to do all these things in the time frame. I plan to arrive in the early afternoon. Stay 2 nights but leave the morning after, so there would only be one *full* day there (probably Saturday).

1. Galleria.

2. Drive around older neighborhoods in central Houston and look at houses. I would also like to drive around the older colleges or universities. Maybe the Herrman Park.

3. Drive around some less-older neighborhoods in the Mid-Century Modern style. (Built around the 1960's). The problem is, I don't know where these neighborhoods might be located.

4. Visit the downtown underground tunnels.

Those are the primary things I'd like to do while I'm there, basically in order of preference. I'll plan to stay in a hotel near Galleria. My main concern is the driving/traffic issues. (What's the best way to get to Galleria area coming from Katy side?) I"m also not familiar with the city, other than maps.

Thanks for any information or tips you can provide.

[westhou]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

I have wanted to see Houston and I have a few questions. Basically, I was wondering if I would be able to do all these things in the time frame. I plan to arrive in the early afternoon. Stay 2 nights but leave the morning after, so there would only be one *full* day there (probably Saturday).

1. Galleria.

2. Drive around older neighborhoods in central Houston and look at houses. I would also like to drive around the older colleges or universities. Maybe the Herrman Park.

3. Drive around some less-older neighborhoods in the Mid-Century Modern style. (Built around the 1960's). The problem is, I don't know where these neighborhoods might be located.

4. Visit the downtown underground tunnels.

Those are the primary things I'd like to do while I'm there, basically in order of preference. I'll plan to stay in a hotel near Galleria. My main concern is the driving/traffic issues. (What's the best way to get to Galleria area coming from Katy side?) I"m also not familiar with the city, other than maps.

Thanks for any information or tips you can provide.

If you want a scenic view of Houston starting from the Galleria area I would drive down Memorial Drive through Memorial Park. Once you pass Memorial Park you'll be driving parallel to Allen Parkway and Buffalo Bayou Park. Once you pass Buffalo Bayou Park you'll be Downtown and there you can tour the tunnels. Hop on the train on Main Street and ride it through Downtown to the Museum District/Rice University/Hermann Park/The Medical Center. Take the train back to Downtown Houston. Once back in your car I would drive down Allen Parkway until it turns into Kirby and tour River Oaks. Once you get to Westheimer head back towards the west until you get to Highland Park (do a little shopping there). Then you can head back to the Galleria area and check out the Waterwall. Lots of places to eat and shop along those routes.

Have a great time!

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by westhou

If you want a scenic view of Houston starting from the Galleria area I would drive down Memorial Drive through Memorial Park. Once you pass Memorial Park you'll be driving parallel to Allen Parkway and Buffalo Bayou Park. Once you pass Buffalo Bayou Park you'll be Downtown and there you can tour the tunnels. Hop on the train on Main Street and ride it through Downtown to the Museum District/Rice University/Hermann Park/The Medical Center. Take the train back to Downtown Houston. Once back in your car I would drive down Allen Parkway until it turns into Kirby and tour River Oaks. Once you get to Westheimer head back towards the west until you get to Highland Park (do a little shopping there). Then you can head back to the Galleria area and check out the Waterwall. Lots of places to eat and shop along those routes.

Have a great time!

Excellent suggestions! And don't miss out on the excellent food Houston has to offer!

[OzzyRules]

Thanks for the suggestion! I may do the train if the time allows. I don't want to spend too long on the drive. The tunnels would be last on my list.

[Oildog]

May want to go north of downtown into the Heights, up to 20th street to see the Victorian bungalows and such.

[SL Hawkeye]

I'd advise to scratch the tunnels. I was intrigued by the idea until I got a job downtown and explored them. They are mostly a bunch of cafes and pseudo-convenience stores and not really worth the time. Think airport terminal shops without the security or gates, all linked together by a skywalk without windows.

[Seoid]

Last I checked, the tunnels are closed on the weekends anyway so it would not be much to look at.

[Malvie]

I agree on the tunnels, the "airport concourse" description is accurate, imho. If you're going to downtown, a much better "waste" of your time would be the "Sky Lobby" on the 60th floor or the Chase Tower (you can see the whole city).

The poster "Modster" on here knows every MCM area and home of architectural significance in the city; you might want to IM him for a more detailed itenerary, but one neighborhood that stands out to me is the Memorial Bend area (what's left of it). You can start your tour there if you decide to take the excellent advice offered above and drive down Memorial to downtown.

Memorial Bend is roughly located at Memorial and Beltway 8. West of the Beltway (all the streets are named after operas) is a very well-preserved area of great MCM's; east, well, lots of McMansions scattered in.

[Pine to Vine]

As for Number 3 on your list, seek out Glenbrook Valley just north of Hobby Airport: howdy...

It's a pretty sizable collection.

[Shipresa]

I'm a tremendous MCM aficionado, and Modster knows where they are. Only about 5-6 true, non-altered MCMs are in the Memorial Bend area, back behind Memorial Herman hospital. And to take the time to go find them - I don't think you'd want to waste an afternoon doing it. (Unlike Las Vegas, you can spend 2 days looking at all the ones in the older neighborhoods.) So Modster is a great suggestion for an itinerary as you'll meander through the neighborhoods and find one for every 200 houses, and I've only located a few true originals - going west on Kingsride (behind the Hospital) and the side streets off Benignus. These are the quirkier ones (bird houses, sloping roofs, Asian roof slant-ups) and less 'modernist.'

HoustonMod - Preserving Our Modern Legacy

Good luck! Enjoy your stay.

ETA: Yes, Glenbrook Valley. I think they are going for historic landmark or somesuch status as well.

ETA2: Earlier pre-war bungalows abound...and you can get inside the Beer Can house, which was a step back into the 40s. (The beer can stuff I ignored, but the bungalow - oh my!)