On the way back from our upcoming trip to Zim & Moz we have a two night layover in Houston. Things like this happen sometimes when you book a mileage ticket. Trying to get a better connection but if we don't........

Where should we stay and what should we definitely see while there mid- May.

Thanks
J&J

What do you like to do stateside? Feel free to send me a PM.

May would be a great month for a fishing trip either Gulf or bay, depending on weather, and most especially, wind. That would warrant staying somewhere down by the coast.

Houston has some pretty good museums -- the Science Museum and art museums. If that interested you, you might want to stay down by the Medical Center/Museum District.

If you want to stay near Bush Intercontinental Airport, and if you are bringing a wife, the Woodlands would fit the bill as there is some shopping up there now from what I understand (I don't shop, but my wife spends a weekend or two a year up there).

Another thought given that you are from Alaska, if you wanted to see some Texas countryside and wildlife, and especially alligators, you might plan a side trip to Brazos Bend State Park, just a bit south of Town. Should be quite a few young alligators that time of year.

Arrive Houston airporthaving booked a hotel in Galveston.; Rent a car and drive there. Stop at Tiki Island, where most of the fishing boat charters are and hire a captain and boat to fish for tarpon (if they're in the bay by then), specs, redfish. Walk along the Strand, shop, see the historic buildings, and have a great seafood dinner. Next morning, drive back to Houston and board your flight home. The drive is something over an hour on I45 (Gulf Freeway), save for rush hour.

If you come to Texas you have to try the BBQ!
In Pearland just south of Houston is Killens Barbeque. Next to Franklin's in Austin, it's one of the best in Texas.

UP in Spring near Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is another great place Corkscrew BBQ

Wow, some of these guys have huge plans for you!

If you don't have all that much energy, then the downtown aquarium is a good way to pass 2 or 3 hours. This is a franchise with four locations, two in the Houston area and one in Denver and another in Nashville.

The one thing unique to the Houston area and interesting to history buffs is the San Jacinto Battlefield site. But it is about 20 miles to the east of downtown in the middle of nowhere. It might be worth the trip to you.

Nasa headquarters was a big disappointment to me and I wouldn't recommend visiting it to anyone.

As for accomodation, there are some nice hotels near the airport -- Sofitel comes to mind -- but that is not a walkable area and isn't all that safe outside anyway.

Downtown has a number of good hotels and would put you close to the Aquarium.

If you go north to The Woodlands, I think the Marriott is pretty nice (I think that's where the Houston Safari Club convention is held) but I don't know that there is much to see around there, although The Woodlands Mall is within walking distance and this area is safe, even at night.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts has a good collection of pre-modern art and also some antiquities. You could easily spend 5 hours in there.

If you are in to modern art (which I doubt you are, who is?) go to the De Menil museum and also the Cy Thombley museum across the street from it. I was dragged there last year and I learned this is the largest collection of Cy Thombley in the world.

Go to Westheimer and Montrose and park. Walk that section of Westheimer and visit the antique shops, eat Mexican food, have a drink at The Anvil, do some tranny spotting.

Then just a few blocks away is the Houston Museum of Fine Arts currently featuring Paul Rubens' "Spectacular Rubens Display".

If you are there Sunday morning have brunch at Rivas which is in the same area and drink Endless Mimosas.

Downtown you could have an evening of excitement attending a Houston Roller Derby bout at the Bayou Place and then walk over to La Carafe, Houston's oldest bar, and maybe spot a ghost.

Frostbit, drop me a line and I'll take you for a 10 second ride in the 69 Hemi Satelite ! Dave Dudek did the 528ci. If its on the weekend there are some cruises and maybe some action at Houston Raceway Park. Lee.

While people watching in Montrose is somewhat entertaining, after you've seen a few dozen transvestites, homosexual couples, prostitutes of whatever gender, tattoo parlors, drug dealers, etc., it gets a bit boring. I wouldn't recommend that. It's not Houston's finest moment.

Second the aquarium by the way. It's pretty interesting and there are a lot of nice restaurants downtown. They've really improved downtown in the last decade or two.

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
Frostbit, drop me a line and I'll take you for a 10 second ride in the 69 Hemi Satelite ! Dave Dudek did the 528ci. If its on the weekend there are some cruises and maybe some action at Houston Raceway Park. Lee.

Now that Sir is a fine offer. Dudek's Black Hemi Runner is a F.A.S.T. legend.

Frostbit,

Looks like you have found a plan, so I'm going to quit worrying about you. Don't hesitate to give me a call or e-mail while you're here if we can do anything.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Frostbit,

Looks like you have found a plan, so I'm going to quit worrying about you. Don't hesitate to give me a call or e-mail while you're here if we can do anything.

Thank you Sir.

And thanks to every for their suggestions. Gotta love the AR "family".

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
On the way back from our upcoming trip to Zim & Moz we have a two night layover in Houston. Things like this happen sometimes when you book a mileage ticket. Trying to get a better connection but if we don't........

Where should we stay and what should we definitely see while there mid- May.

Thanks
J&J

I would definitely see the Museum of Natural History. It is in a cool area of town and is really something.

If you like to run, I can highly recommend Memorial Park.

Carters country is a better than average gun shop in my opinion if you have time to find it and visit awhile. Their motto is guns ammo and huntin stuff. You can see several better than average whitetail mounts.
okie

If you are interested in going to a gunshop, I'd go to Collectors Firearms. It's a bit pricey, but they have some interesting stuff, not just new guns.

Two nights in Houston. ..
That does not sound like near as much fun/danger as Two Nights in Bangkok...

However when in Houston, You Should Definitely Go To COLLECTORS FIREARMS. ...

X2 on Collector's Firearms. High priced but a lot of variety in one place!

The Battleship Texas might still be having Hardhat tours. Very much worth the price of you are into that sort of thing!

Lots of micro-breweries here too.

Tell us what you interests and we should be able to point you in the right direction around town.

PM me for any specifics you might need to know.

Robert

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Another thought given that you are from Alaska, if you wanted to see some Texas countryside and wildlife, and especially alligators, you might plan a side trip to Brazos Bend State Park, just a bit south of Town. Should be quite a few young alligators that time of year.

My first job out of vet school was at Katy Equine Clinic. Lived in Simonton when it was way out of town. We used to drive over Brazos Bend all the time...cool place and full of gators...brings back memories!

And the little one's chirp. That always fascinated my kids.