Why is Houston not a snowbird destination? (Galveston, Center: transplants, amusement parks)

[SoCalSunnyShine]

Originally Posted by jfre81

How many of them are looking for "major metro" stuff that they can't find closer to home, that's generally indoors anyway?

You can go to museums, concerts, ballets, basketball games, restaurants etc. in Chicago or NYC, closer to where these people come from, as well as many other in between. The reason for getting out of the cold is to play golf, fish, boat etc. in warm weather, preferably far from the rat race.

I dunno, but I assure you that there are many looking for major metro stuff that also are looking to escape the cold and take part in warm weather activities. Just ask LeBron.

[cBach]

If you've been to Miami in December vs. Houston, you wouldn't have to ask.

Miami - models on the beach, bars open 24x7, open air stadiums for football, crystal clear water and sunshine everyday

Houston - all attractions indoors including football, bars open until 2 AM, murky Gulf water and ghetto like beach community

[MrJester]

Originally Posted by SoCalSunnyShine

In contrast, winter temperatures in the Western US are far more reliable and consistent.

Yeah right. Just tell that to anyone in Denver, Idaho, or Montana.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by SoCalSunnyShine

I dunno, but I assure you that there are many looking for major metro stuff that also are looking to escape the cold and take part in warm weather activities. Just ask LeBron.

33-year-old active professional basketball player > 55-plus-year-old retirees in RVs

In any case, if LeBron ever came here to play, it wouldn't be because Houston offered anything other than the path of least resistance to a championship.

[DavePa]

Originally Posted by SoCalSunnyShine

Galveston's beaches are FAR from ideal. But of the many places that would be advantageous, I wouldn't say Myrtle is one of them The water at that beach also gets quite murky, and the winters there, as I mentioned, are colder compared to Galveston.

The sand complaints are also overdone. South Padre and Galveston get their sand from the same geologic formation, so any differences in feel are illusionary at best. The sand at Texas beaches may not be white, but neither is the sand in a lot of well respected beaches. I know here in California, we have Rockaway Beach, which has even browner sand than what I saw at Galveston.

Actually, you can count on one hand the number of major metros in this country that would solidly be better snowbird destinations than Houston. The niche is hardly saturated.

You cannot become a secondary snowbird destination .... unless promoted and developers, investors build communities toward that purpose.

Houston and south Texas did not. Florida, Cali and now Arizona. Remain tops Florida #1, Cali more in the past due to cost and Arizona somewhat a replacement. But still Arizona had developers build such communities and got promoted.

The Whole Southeast Atlantic coast and gulf east of Louisiana is higher then Texas and southeastern Texas coast especially.... for snowbirds and especially to more permanently retire to. If NJ was in milder region .... it would be seen as one. Resort cities and towns, are all through the Atlantic coast. Fully hopping all summer. Texas has few hopping resort cities and towns along its substantial gulf coast. Even compared to Alabama to Louisiana. Much is wetlands too and less tropical looks created by man.

Same with a big city downtown. If you don't plan and steer developers to add more vibrancy, more tropical foliage that Houston's downtown could have, and plan and build attractions for tourism .... then you will less likely evolve one.

Who would have thought a city like Chicago would become a tourism destination? But they planned and built attractions with tourist in mind and aesthetically kept improving what it had. They got Corporate America involved too and invested in developments the city had them sponsor.

If only this city was in the sunbelt too and its successes in especially its core and lakefront .... and got corporate America to invest in the poorer minority segregated neighborhoods too, and other debts ... especially pensions that spiraled. Were avoided. But at least many choices worked out perfect that had monies spent, planned and got built that created many a successes for a now iconic core.

But the more you build and greenery and flowers to parks you make .... the more needs to be maintained ongoing, that will not just stay that way without.

Just some opinion. But if poorer in retirement .... I could see choosing south Texas areas. I know they still have trailer park options ..... outside of a Walmart parking lot and amenities to provide a decent retirement.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by DavePa

Who would have thought a city like Chicago would become a tourism destination? But they planned and built attractions with tourist in mind and aesthetically kept improving what it had. They got Corporate America involved too and invested in developments the city had them sponsor.

Chicago has grade-separated urban transit that helps make getting around the city easier and faster for visitors who don't know it well. You get a CTA pass for a day, week, month or whatever and the city's your oyster.

In Houston, accessing that range of amenities in the city involves lots of driving.

[cBach]

Some small Texas towns like Fredericksburg or Georgetown are retirement meccas as are small towns like Natchitoches in Louisiana.

I think if a retiree wants the beaches & nightlife they head to South Florida, if they want warm weather and a slow paced environment they retire to small towns in the South. South Texas is kind of the "poor man's" option for those that can't afford South Florida.

[SoCalSunnyShine]

Originally Posted by jfre81

33-year-old active professional basketball player > 55-plus-year-old retirees in RVs

In any case, if LeBron ever came here to play, it wouldn't be because Houston offered anything other than the path of least resistance to a championship.

The point is that plenty of people want both a warm weather lifestyle and big city amenities. Houston may not be the best in the field, but it certainly has a stake as there aren't many major cities in the country that would be better in fulfilling both.

Originally Posted by cBach

If you've been to Miami in December vs. Houston, you wouldn't have to ask.

Miami - models on the beach, bars open 24x7, open air stadiums for football, crystal clear water and sunshine everyday

Houston - all attractions indoors including football, bars open until 2 AM, murky Gulf water and ghetto like beach community

The Dynamo Stadium is open air. And no one is saying that Houston is as desirable as Miami, just why it hasn't done more to promote itself.

Originally Posted by MrJester

Yeah right. Just tell that to anyone in Denver, Idaho, or Montana.

The Western US as a whole is definitely more consistent in winter temperatures compared to states farther east. Holds true for Idaho, just compared the very inland and highly elevated Boise with the coastal Portland in Maine to see what I mean.

Denver and part of Montana may be in the Western US as a region, but they are east of the continental divide, and thus would certainly be open to the arctic sweeps, and the resulting temperature variations.

[SoCalSunnyShine]

Originally Posted by DavePa

You cannot become a secondary snowbird destination .... unless promoted and developers, investors build communities toward that purpose.

Of course, that's what the entire thread is concerned about.

The Whole Southeast Atlantic coast and gulf east of Louisiana is higher then Texas and southeastern Texas coast especially.... for snowbirds and especially to more permanently retire to.

Incorrect. Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Carolinas, and Virginia all get much colder than coastal Texas does in winter on average, so they aren't as ideal in terms of temperatures. The water at Georgia and South Carolina isn't any better than Galveston in terms of water clarity.

Florida is the only state in the SE/Gulf region that would be better than coastal Texas in every way, and even then, it's only the peninsula. The Panhandle also gets too cold during winter, not any different than coastal Alabama.

Texas has few hopping resort and towns along its substantial gulf coast. Even compared to Alabama to Louisiana. Much is wetlands too and less tropical looks created by man.

LOL, fact that you said Louisiana confirms that you have no idea what you are talking about. Pretty much the entire coastline of Louisiana is "less tropical" wetlands, except a few pockets like Grand Isle. And since the entire SE outside of FL gets colder than coastal Texas during winter, none of them would even have a chance to create as much of the "tropical look" as Texas does.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by SoCalSunnyShine

Of course, that's what the entire thread is concerned about.



Incorrect. Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Carolinas, and Virginia all get much colder than coastal Texas does in winter on average, so they aren't as ideal in terms of temperatures. The water at Georgia and South Carolina isn't any better than Galveston in terms of water clarity.

Florida is the only state in the SE/Gulf region that would be better than coastal Texas in every way, and even then, it's only the peninsula. The Panhandle also gets too cold during winter, not any different than coastal Alabama.



LOL, fact that you said Louisiana confirms that you have no idea what you are talking about. Pretty much the entire coastline of Louisiana is "less tropical" wetlands, except a few pockets like Grand Isle. And since the entire SE outside of FL gets colder than coastal Texas during winter, none of them would even have a chance to create as much of the "tropical look" as Texas does.

I think you missed the entire point. When he said "higher" I think he meant elevation. Texas, Louisiana, & MS are lower elevation and subject to extreme effects from hurricanes. AL, Panhandle of FL, and SC have higher elevations at the coast. You can see that driving I-10 across Florida - lots of hills.