The downtown area is so much better now than 10 years ago -- bravo on that Houston. The sprawl is still epic and there is no way to change that -- annexed cities like Clear Lake are getting really big with their own entertainment areas (a lot of that is Kemah, but it's right next to CL). The freeways are epic in Houston -- I still can't believe they've finished that stretch of 59 they worked on for about 35 years. There really aren't a lot of huge port cities in the US and Houston certainly fits that description -- it's fun to trace Buffalo Bayou back and see just how close it comes to downtown.
What's the best place to eat Tex-Mex (not original Mexican food) in Houston? Back in 1995, I liked Ninfa's (I think it was on Kirby) and Pappasito's.
Austin? Nah. I'll give you San Antonio, but Houston has more to do than Austin. Plus, there are a lot of things coming Houston's way (just Google EarthQuest Theme Park).
Austin is more touristy to some because you get a hotel in Austin then head out to the hill country and do something -- in downtown there are things to see and do, but not a whole lot.
I don't let biasness get in the way of reality. What is there to do other then eat and drink in Houston? Splashtown? Too ghetto... Museum of natural science? Hookah?
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cVT1CB01Uek&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cVT1CB01Uek&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Chop Suey.
I know for me, ten years ago drving home from college meant a dreaded drive through Katy and all the traffic it entailed. Last year I drove to SA and was surprised that I-10 is finally finished. That was such an awesome drive. I thought the construction would never be done. That and downtown is a lot nicer. Kemah has blwon up too. There are other thigns, but those are what jumps out at me. I really hope to move back someday.
Never really understood what people mean when they say there is nothing to do in Houston. I mean short of mountains, an awsome beach, and amusement park what can you not do in Houston? I've heard shopping center hell as well but doesnt that just mean theres jobs out there?
But the beach is awesome! Brown dirty water ftw! I guess it's largely because there's not a lot of big landmarks and stuff back there. I mean, when I've headed back, it isn't a problem as it's just meeting up with old friends, and just enjoying myself roaming around wherever as I just like the city from growing up there, but to someone not familiar with the city, there's nothing that Houston has really over any other random city. That's my guess. Though admittedly as a history nutjob I can roam around San Jacinto all day. < Good. >
People dog Galveston, but it is nice to go for a day and grab lunch or whatnot. A lot of cities don't even have that. Also the water is brown because of the Mississippi. Anyway, as a tourist city it can be a harder sell, but everyone that I've brought home loved it.
Teotihuacan on airline in the heights is legit, as is little pappasitos on kirby, el tiempo on richmond or washington, and ninfa's on navigation
