Houston Hotel Guide

Houston is a very big city - the fourth largest in the U.S. to be exact. It's cowboy pride and cosmopolitan living, oil fortunes and online companies.

The famous Gilley's, home to "Urban Cowboy", may be gone but Houston has plenty going on. There are fantastic museums, restaurants and an excellent symphony.

The city's population is ethnically diverse, with thriving Vietnamese, Mexican, Indian and German communities, just to name a few. Houston has plenty to offer travelers of all ages and interests. At the same time, the sheer size of the city can make it a bit overwhelming for the first-timer. The trick is to take it in sections and to not try everything in one trip.

If you arrive by car, you will most likely be on either I-45 or I-10. These two interstate expressways converge in downtown Houston, guaranteeing fairly heavy traffic at all times, especially during weekday rush hours. Because of its size, Houston can be a definite challenge to navigate. As a basic guide, Loop 610 (known to locals simply as The Loop) circles downtown Houston. Beltway 8, otherwise known as the Sam Houston Tollway, circles the city further out from its center.

What if you aren't driving to Houston? If you come by plane you'll arrive at one of two airports; the larger Intercontinental or the smaller Hobby Airport. Intercontinental is located about 20 miles north of downtown, while Hobby lies around 7 miles South East of the downtown area. If you come in late on an International flight, there are plenty of hotels located at the airport. The Marriott even offers an underground shuttle from the hotel to the airport terminal. Otherwise you can catch a cab or rent a car at either airport to head for your destination. What you choose to do about transportation depends on how much time you're going to have in Houston and whether or not you enjoy freeway driving.

If you have a limited amount of time, your best bet is to choose one area of the city to concentrate on and then rely on cabs or walking to get you where you want to go. With so much to do and see, it's easy to find an area rich with entertainment, restaurants and nightlife.

One great place for a weekend jaunt is the Hermann Park area - also known as the Museum District. You'll find plenty here by way of cultural activities. The Houston Zoo, The Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History are all located in or near Hermann Park. A short distance away you can stroll through the campus of Rice University. And Hermann Park itself offers plenty of pretty paths to meander along, and some beautiful old trees to rest under. There are plenty of hotels located near the Museum District. If you want to see the premier of a Broadway-bound play, your best bet is the Tony award winning Alley Theater.

If your idea of entertainment leans more toward sports, you'll find plenty to cheer about in Houston. The Compaq Center downtown at Greenway Plaza is home to the NBA Rockets as well as WNBA Comets, the Aeros hockey team and the Thunderbears arena football team. And in the eastern section of downtown, you'll find the Houston Astros baseball team. Housed in the Astrodome until October 1999, the Astros' new home is in Enron Field, located in the revitalized Union Station in east downtown. Check out the Metro shuttles to the ballpark from various locations around the city. The Astrodome is still standing though and hosts a number of conventions every year. And of course, across the road is Six Flags AstroWorld a huge and hugely popular water park.

Some other things to do in Houston: take a drive through River Oaks and see how some of the original Texas oil barons spent their fortunes, check out The Galleria for upscale shopping or hit the funkier boutiques and galleries in Montrose. If you do get lost during your exploits remember that you're in Texas. Most of the natives are mighty friendly.

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