NYT thinks Houston is "The place to go" in the U.S. (and the world) in 2013 (Portland: house, neighborhood)

[Spade]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Would you ever consider going on a vacation to New York or Chicago? If so, what would you do there?

If you want to experience the best city/urban life that America has to offer, you go to NY or Chicago and several other cities over Houston. What do you think people go to see when they go to Paris or London?

Shopping? You can do that in every major city.
Museums? Pretty much every major city has a world reknown museum.
See a play? See museums and shopping.
Restaurants? See museums, shopping, and a play though I do believe Houston is underrated as a foodie city. It just doesn't have that local cuisine that you reminds you of the city and that you can't get pretty much anywhere else.

Yes Houston has some great ones. But none really outside a couple to bring millions from other parts of the country and world and think, I must come here again. Not to mention, they have attractions whether manmade or natural that brings people back and attracts people that's never been there. Chicago has the lake, fine dining, skyscrapers, multitude of parks, and walkable vibrant neighborhoods. NYC speaks for itself. This is what Houston needs to work on. They got the economy down. Now they need to work on activities and a sense of place. Stop ignoring what's given to Houston naturally such as the Bayous. What national historic landmark is there that would want people to go see every now and then.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by casimpso

"Underrated" is a word used frequently to describe Houston on these boards. Why is that? Do the negative perceptions unfairly outweigh the positives? Does Houston have a competent Convention and Visitors Bureau? There has to be a way to get the word out. My suggestion is that the GHCVB should immediately hire some of the more outspoken boosters/homers inhabiting this board, particularly the ones who live and breathe Houston v. Dallas 24/7/365. One suggestion: Quit touting the Texas Medical Center as a tourist attraction. No one wants to go to a hospital unless they have to, or they work there.

Agreed. I'd also add touting the Galleria as a tourist attraction is not a great idea either. It's a suburban styled mall. No different than Tyson's Corner in VA outside DC. People love to visit magnificent mile or shops at Bal Habour and 5th avenue. Those places are far more personal and inviting for tourists and others than suburban malls that they can experience in whatever city they are either in or close to.

[madrone2k]

Originally Posted by Spade

If you want to experience the best city/urban life that America has to offer, you go to NY or Chicago and several other cities over Houston. What do you think people go to see when they go to Paris or London?

Shopping? You can do that in every major city.
Museums? Pretty much every major city has a world reknown museum.
See a play? See museums and shopping.
Restaurants? See museums, shopping, and a play.

Yes Houston has some great ones. But none really outside a couple to bring millions from other parts of the country and world and think, I must come here again. Not to mention, they have attractions whether manmade or natural that brings people back and attracts people that's never been there. Chicago has the lake, fine dining, skyscrapers, multitude of parks, and walkable vibrant neighborhoods. NYC speaks for itself. This is what Houston needs to work on. They got the economy down. Now they need to work on activities and a sense of place. Stop ignoring what's given to Houston naturally such as the Bayous. What national historic landmark is there that would want people to go see every now and then.

I like this comment. For a long time, I've felt that we should focus on being a better Houston, building on our strengths to make it a better place to live, rather than wasting time and money using lame advertisements to convince outsiders that we are something we are not (or perhaps not yet). Houston has potential, but crowing to others about how wonderful we are now is not likely to be a successful tactic at winning many people over. My opinion is future Houstonians would benefit more by improvements to the city. SuperBowls and Olympics pump some money into the local economy, but in terms of the "hey, look at me" aspect, I would like there to be more to see.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by Spade

If you want to experience the best city/urban life that America has to offer, you go to NY or Chicago and several other cities over Houston. What do you think people go to see when they go to Paris or London?

Shopping? You can do that in every major city.
Museums? Pretty much every major city has a world reknown museum.
See a play? See museums and shopping.
Restaurants? See museums, shopping, and a play though I do believe Houston is underrated as a foodie city. It just doesn't have that local cuisine that you reminds you of the city and that you can't get pretty much anywhere else.

Yes Houston has some great ones. But none really outside a couple to bring millions from other parts of the country and world and think, I must come here again. Not to mention, they have attractions whether manmade or natural that brings people back and attracts people that's never been there. Chicago has the lake, fine dining, skyscrapers, multitude of parks, and walkable vibrant neighborhoods. NYC speaks for itself. This is what Houston needs to work on. They got the economy down. Now they need to work on activities and a sense of place. Stop ignoring what's given to Houston naturally such as the Bayous. What national historic landmark is there that would want people to go see every now and then.

You would travel to Chicago to look at a lake, go to a park and walk through a neighborhood? Seriously? You think that makes a tourist destination over performing arts, restaurants, museums and shopping?

NYC, same thing.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by madrone2k

but in terms of the "hey, look at me" aspect, I would like there to be more to see.

Keep in mind that the article addressed in the OP's post was in the New York Times, not the Houston Chronicle.

I love the mindset here.

"I'd love to go to NYC or Chicago to see the tall buildings, the museums, do some shopping, catch a play, maybe go sailing and eat at nice restaurants. But I don't think Houston is a good place to go; after all, who wants to see tall building, go to museums, shop, catch a play, go sailing or eat at nice restaurants."

[Schumacher713]

I have never in my life heard of anyone to come to Houston a vacation without coming to visit friends or family. If they do they are an idiot. I have traveled all over the US and there are thousands of places that would be more interesting. If you are going to go on vacation to a great city. You go to NYC, Chicago, New Orleans, San Franciso, Washington DC, Miami, Denver, Portland, Seattle, LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, Santa Fe.... I can do this all day long. I would never recommend anyone to visit any Texas city for tourism. To me vacation spots need to be either old cities or need to be scenic. Houston is neither.

The Galleria is a tourist attraction for rich Mexicans. The Med Center is where you go to get healed. Not to take pictures. NASA is not the big deal it used to be. Cutting funding and ending ambitious projects ended that. It would take a mission to the Moon or Mars for anyone to care.

I am proud of Houston as I was born here. People say I am crazy when I tell them how great of a place it is to live. This really is a great place to live. It is getting better every year too. I do wish they would clamp down on the pollution of the petro industry. I don't ever see that happening in Texas though.

[PedroMartinez]

Oh, well I did forget, NYC and Chicago have subways and I guess there are people who plan their vacations so they can ride a subway.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by Schumacher713

I have never in my life heard of anyone to come to Houston a vacation without coming to visit friends or family. If they do they are an idiot. I have traveled all over the US and there are thousands of places that would be more interesting. If you are going to go on vacation to a great city. You go to NYC, Chicago, New Orleans, San Franciso, Washington DC, Miami, Denver, Portland, Seattle, LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, Santa Fe.... I can do this all day long. I would never recommend anyone to visit any Texas city for tourism. To me vacation spots need to be either old cities or need to be scenic. Houston is neither.

The Galleria is a tourist attraction for rich Mexicans. The Med Center is where you go to get healed. Not to take pictures. NASA is not the big deal it used to be. Cutting funding and ending ambitious projects ended that. It would take a mission to the Moon or Mars for anyone to care.

I am proud of Houston as I was born here. People say I am crazy when I tell them how great of a place it is to live. This really is a great place to live. It is getting better every year too. I do wish they would clamp down on the pollution of the petro industry. I don't ever see that happening in Texas though.

Want to compare the museums, opera and theater of Seattle, San Diego, Santa Fe, Portland or Denver to those of Houston?

Tell me why you would visit Chicago.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Oh, well I did forget, NYC and Chicago have subways and I guess there are people who plan their vacations so they can ride a subway.

Chicago has the *el* which is only a small portion underground.

No, people don't plan their vacations to ride either the subway or the *el,* but it sure is a convenient way to access many attractions without driving and spending a lot on gas.

[GTRdad]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Tell me why you would visit Chicago.

The Taste of Chicago