[Yahoo Travel]Houston Third Most Underrated City in US

I agree with this statement. Houston is a great place to live with all the positive things mentioned in the article available to residents.

However, there really aren't any good touristy places. For example, if you came here for some reason (i.e. business or visiting friends) you would not be disappointed in the Houston Museum of Fine arts at all. It's a terrific place! However, I can't see someone coming to Houston specifically to see the HMFA. That's what defines a good touristy city to me: It has some compelling reason to GO there.

Not to derail the thread (but here I go anyways!)... What, if anything, does Houston already have that would cause someone to go "I've got to visit that place!"? I'm not asking what makes Houston a great place to live but for examples of why someone would want to visit.

 

Personally, I like to visit Galveston and then spend some time poking around Houston during those trips.

Or, I come to see an Astros game.

 

I must Admit. . . after watching too much of THE WIRE
I had my doubts


Rocket River

 

i think that goes w/o saying.... there just isn't many "touristy" things to do in houston, and i am perfectly fine with that.

that being said, the houston landscape is currently in the midst of a major transformation.... lots of very interesting and very "urban" projects starting or getting ready to start. pretty exciting times.

 

My friends and I used to have "Houston" discussions often year but havent in a long time... I'm with the general opinion here about Houston - not so good to visit but great city to live in.

If things-to-do or vacation worthy was the make-or-break standard for all the cities in the country, we would all be living in deep boredom and depression Sometimes thats an unfair standard of a city because the cities you named (add Hawaii and Miami) are the premium "things to do" cities and not every city has the capability of providing the extras that they can.

Still I think a city in the top 10 in size, Houston being a top 5, should be able to have things to do. Not to say Houston is under-performing just people seem to be okay with Houston how it is.

 

1) Get rid of the humidity & mosquitos
2) Free Beer Fridays every week
3) blow up Dallas

You'd have to first find out what people want, or look at what the "touristy" cities offer that Houston doesnt. All the obvious cities either have nice landscape/environment (Miami, Hawaii, San Diego), one outstanding theme (Vegas, Orlando, Hawaii), rich culture (NY, LA, San Fran, Boston, DC) or are big market/entertainment capitals (NY, LA, Chicago, etc). What makes Houston interesting, which of those themes can THEY work to their advantage?

Houston's gonna have to go commercial, sell out and w**** itself. Disney World, fashion centers, become celebrity friendly, casinos...or just continue gradually until word gets out and the positives speak for itself.

 

better off to do what we do.

drive up 45 if you want to live in a city that is striving to be like NY and LA combined.

 

We have Lankford Grocery. DOES YOUR CITY HAVE LANKFORD???

 

Im in Baltimore right now visiting my gf...I can honestly say that this city is one of the biggest pieces of crap Ive ever been in. There are a couple decent places here and there, but this city really has nothing to offer, other than danger.

 

while baltimore is a dump...nothing competes with detroit.

 

hahahahahaha. touche.

 

Yeah, I love what they are doing downtown [finally] -- the old restored buildings next to the modern towers is cool especially around the Memorial/ Main St. area. I wish they could find a reason and some space to start putting up some new skyscrapers downtown. Want a tourist attraction and a way to fight urban sprawl... build the world's tallest building in DT Houston.

 

Yeah that **** boring. The space center for kids is fun though, I went to it in when I was in elementary on a school field trip

 

I miss astroworld

 

Who's we? You and your friends? They're trying to make it into a hotel, but Uncle Bob McNair and Co. are against it.

 

There are already plans for 4 or 5 new skyscrapers to rise in downtown. One is already going up that fronts the new downtown park, and two are about to break ground in the next few weeks right in that same area.

Uptown is getting the cool 80 story Dubai high rise, though...so I hear. still rumor stage...would likely be the tallest building in Texas

 

Awesome - it's time for an already impressive skyline to grow.

 

no. The guy who built it called it the 8th wonder of the world. It was just a fun nickname.

 

That's freaking awesome!