Houston
Houston Skyline from Downtown Aquarium in the Theater District
Lots to Do, Even More Traffic
Plan Your Visit | Destinations | Cities and Towns
Most of the Texas branch of my family tree lives in the Houston area, so I am there frequently. Growing up in La Grange, which is pretty much the midpoint between Austin and Houston, I was there with some frequency as a kid.
There is so much to do in Houston, I will only be able to scratch the surface for the purposes of Annie All Around. It is the fourth largest city in the United States, so you will find a lot of shopping, restaurants, and attractions here that are unique to very large cities.
But the Traffic!
Houston is a very large city, both population- and area-wise, with very heavy traffic even on the weekends. To get the most of my time, I consider location when planning my day’s activities and usually budget a minimum of one hour to get to a destination. If you are going anywhere near an interchange with I-45 headed to Dallas, take it for granted that you will sit even longer.
However, I am accustomed to driving in large, congested cities and know Houston relatively well, so if you are not, build in extra time. GPS is very much your friend in Houston regardless of how well you know it.
Please indulge me: FM 1960 is Hell on Earth–Texas Branch due to congestion and general, daily conspiracy by the craziest people in Houston to drive FM 1960 when I cannot avoid it. If you have committed a mass atrocity in a previous life and need a karma cleanse, drive from TX 249 near Tomball to Lake Houston Parkway in Humble. If you make it with your brain cells functioning at full power and a continued will to live, your soul cleanse is complete.
Shopping
Shopping in the Houston area is awesome; there are good shopping centers all over the city. Even with the wide selection of stores I enjoy in Austin, Houston has even more. If you are a mall connoisseur like I am, the malls here are packed and full of selection. My personal favorites are:
The Galleria: This three-level mall has a skating rink, large food court, and top luxury stores. It’s really some of the finest shopping in Houston. Just don’t go during Black Friday weekend. I made that mistake so you don’t have to. You’re welcome!
The Woodlands Mall: Located in The Woodlands on I-45 north of Houston, The Woodlands Mall
Katy Mills Outlet Mall: Located in Katy, west of Houston, this indoor outlet mall also has indoor family amusement to keep the kiddos entertained.
Willowbrook Mall: Located TX 249 and FM 1960, this is also a very nice mall if you are hanging your hat in Northwest Houston.
Houston CityPass Attractions
Top attractions are included in the Houston CityPass, which you should purchase if you are going to be in Houston for a few days. The pass includes discounted, one-time admission to:
Space Center Houston (the tourist part of the NASA Johnson Space Center)
A choice of four from the following:
Given Houston’s size and traffic, get the most out of your time by scheduling these attractions based on location:
Hermann Park (TX 288 and McGregor):
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Zoo
Museum District (Next to Hermann Park at Main St. and Montrose Blvd.):
Museum of Fine Arts
Houston Children’s Museum
Theater District (North Downtown at I-45 and I-10):
Downtown Aquarium
I-45 South to Galveston:
Space Center Houston
Kemah Boardwalk
I used the Houston CityPass when my uncle visited Texas recently; I uploaded my pass to the MyCityPass mobile app (available for iPhone and Android) and had each attraction scan my pass.
CityPass is also available for other major U.S. and Canada cities.
Am I Moving to Houston?
Nope! When it comes to Team Austin vs. Team Houston, I’m Team Austin. Austin has been my home all my adult life and where I’m firmly planted.
Visiting Houston?
If you have any questions about visiting Houston, please contact me and I’ll be happy to answer your questions. As Annie All Around evolves, I will add more Houston-based destinations.
Related Content
Read more about my visits to Houston-area attractions:
