Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Houston, Texas, USA

Houston, Texas, USA    - North America

By Athelda Ensley


It is true that everything in the state of Texas is big and spacious. Even largely populated cities like
Houston are sprawling and diverse. A spaghetti-style collection of highways, interstates and roadways connects this city to surrounding locations. As the fourth largest city in the United States Houston, Texas has a lot to offer to visitors and tourists. The more than 90 languages spoken in the city is representative of its ever growing population. Latino, Vietnamese, Korean and a variety of African communities exist in this city.
Houston offers a vast collection of immigrant and native residents. The common theme among most that live in the city is a deep love and pride for the state of Texas. Singular star emblems can be seen throughout Houston. This star representative of the state flag is displayed on buildings, apparel and even homes. Sports in Houston are embraced just as wholeheartedly as symbols of the state of Texas. In fact, many of the universities and colleges here have lifelong fans whether alumni or not.
The University of Houston, Rice University, Texas Southern University and others are popular locales for residents and students alike. Athletic teams in football, soccer and basketball are supported by large numbers of attendees. Professional teams, such as, the Houston Rockets, Houston Astros and Houston Texans bring basketball, baseball and football fans from around the world to this city. Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center are venues that attract sports fans to the heart of downtown.
Downtown Houston like other segments of the city provides a choice of transportation. Highway 59, Interstate 10 and 45 are popular fare ways to the city’s offerings in this area. Constant construction can make travel challenging, especially on the weekend. The downtown portion of Houston also has a
MetroRail train that journeys along midtown and downtown. This train system is currently under expansion to provide tourists with even more stops. Buses, taxis, horse-drawn carts and other transportation are available throughout Houston.
Popular tourist attractions downtown include the George R Brown Convention Center, Discovery Green and the Houston Aquarium. Family-friendly activities are
found throughout the city during the day-time hours. Parks like Discovery Green and Hermann Park provide children’s theater, events and playgrounds. Houston’s Galleria shopping mall is one of the nation’s largest. Along with hundreds of stores, this mall also has its own Westin Hotel inside. There are many other hotels and eateries within walking distance of this large mall.
Houston is a metropolitan city of tourism and of business. Many petroleum-related companies like Conoco Phillips and Marathon Oil call this location home. Along with them there are the headquarters of Reliant Energy, Halliburton and Baker Hughes. The Port of Houston is one of the tangible examples of the commerce of the city. This is also a very popular tourist attraction that shows the size and depth of Houston’s busy port.
There are a number of surrounding cities to Houston that are simply extensions of it. Pearland, Sugarland, the Woodlands and Clear Lake are just a few of these locations that are less than an hour from the city. Each of these areas offers their own attractions, restaurants and activities. Popular fast
food locations like Jack-in-the-Box and What-a-Burger are two local favorites. These are known for their burger varieties and quick dining.

Houston also has a number of fine dining restaurants that are sought after as well. Delicious ethnic meals can be found in several wards of the city that are better visited during daylight hours.
Vic and Anthony’s, Sambuca’s and Morton’s are examples of fine dining locations. Reservations are advised for visitors sampling this cuisine style. These restaurants are just some of the places to go during evening and night hours for fun. Jazz, blues, rock and country venues can be found at many of the eateries in the city at night. The diverse communities in Houston offer popular fare choices, when it comes to dining. Southern barbeque, Cajun fare, Asian and other styles can be found in virtually any segment of the city.

Houston provides great vacation options for its tourists. Theme parks like Splash Town are terrific options for heated Texas days. Since Houston is only a little more than an hour from the Gulf Coast, cities like Galveston offer vacationers more options. Inviting beaches, waterparks and seafood restaurants bring Houston travelers to visit Galveston. The city of Houston is an interesting destination in the US to explore. It offers an amazing view of the center of the country and the mixture of cultures that live there.

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