Things to do in Houston (Galveston, Bellaire: travel, health, furnishings)

[CitrusFruit]

I need a spot of help from you wonderful people on this board. Houston has so many different things to do and see, it's a bit overwhelming for me. I grew up in a -very- small, country area in NC where cow-tipping was considered the highlight for a Friday night. Now that I'm here in Houston, I'm kinda going through an overload mentally on wanting to see and do things around here. So, what I'd like to know is, what are some of the things or places you'd recommend for newcomers to see and do? I'm open to any suggestions, of course, and I know y'all can come up with some things I'd never even think of (keep in mind - small, country area can equal pretty limited exposure to things).

Thanks in advance.

Oh, any recommendations for really good Chinese food?

[Mom2Feebs]

Astros games! View Deck tickets are cheap at $10-$12 and they're really not bad seats at all!

Every museum Houston has is GREAT, namely:

Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Natural Science
The Health Museum
Children's Museum
Rothko Chapel
Holocaust Museum

The Menil Collection is a must-see if you like art.

The Houston Zoo is really AWESOME. Even on dog-days of summer, if you can get there in the mornings, when they first open, it's quiet and the animals are still active.

Bayou Bend is the former residence of Ima Hogg, one of Houston's premiere citizens and a well-known philanthropist. The Hogg family is huge in Texas. James Hogg was once Governor of Texas. Miss Hogg's residence houses one of the best collections of American antique furnishings and accessories in the United States. The grounds are incredible, and it is well-known that though anytime is a good time to visit, March is the best to see the azaleas and camellias in bloom in the vast expanse of gardens.

The Houston Arboretum is really neat...but it's so hot, you may want to wait until it starts cooling off. I loved going there...it's been a while!

There's SO much to do here. It's crazy! I am sure more folks will have some other good ideas.

As for Chinese food, here are my absolute FAVORITES!

North China on Kingsland near Memorial City--THE best sizzling rice soup and General Tso's chicken. Holy cow.
Shanghai River on Westheimer
Fu's Garden in West U--best WonTon soup ever.
Mencius Hunan in Kingwood--Best shrimp toast and cashew chicken.
Imperial Palace on Bellaire--Best dim sum. Wow!!!

[MSJones]

Great ideas, Mom2Feebs! I second your recommendations on an Astros game, the Houston Zoo (lived here all my life and still go as often as I can!), and all our terrific museums.

CitrusFruit, I'd also head south and check out the SpaceCenter, Moody Gardens, and historic Galveston. You can also do a few different tours of NASA that are pretty cool. The beaches in Galveston are not, to say the least, the greatest, but there are plenty of other things to love about Galveston and the surrounding areas.

[C2H (ComingtoHouston)]

Kemah Boardwalk, Galveston Strand/Seawall/ Fairy Boats, Shopping, Kemah Boardwalk, NASA, etc.

[BearBranch]

Also take in a play at the Theater District. Have lunch surrounded by fish at the Houston Aquirian

[lukeache]

There is a spot called Bolivar Peninsula, which is really interesting, you get miles of ocean, yet it does not even feel like you are in Texas. You take 45 S from Houston to Galveston, then you take a ferry from Galveston to Bolivar Peninsula/Crystal Beach. I remember going to an all night party on the beach about 10 years ago, and it feels so free out there. I am not sure if you could camp out there, but it was very isolated and undeveloped.

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by CitrusFruit

Houston has so many different things to do and see, it's a bit overwhelming for me.
Oh, any recommendations for really good Chinese food?

really?!?

chinese food is hard to recommend. just take yourself along bellaire blvd near the beltway 8 and pick. I can recommend Arirang, TanTan and a few hidden shops behind the Chase Bank . on the west bellaire side theres Korean Garden, Tony's thai (wife's favorite), Aly

[carolineb]

Try some "new to houston"/travel groups like you can find on meetup.com or yahoo groups. I'm in a couple of these meetup.com groups and it's a lot of fun. Enjoy exploring Houston and welcome.

[tlacir]

our college campus' are so beautiful.
University of Houston-central
University of Houston-Downtown
Texas Southern University
Rice University
University of St. Thomas
check em' out