A Weekend Getaway in Houston for Less
HOUSTON — With the current economic situation, many families search out close-to-home travels. Houston is surprisingly affordable with plenty of entertainment options for the entire family.
ACCOMMODATIONS
With more than 60,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Houston area, it’s possible to find perfect accommodations for any budget. Stay at the Courtyard by Marriott-Downtown, located on the METRORail line, from $109 per weekend night, just a few rail stops from Midtown, the Museum District, Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park. Or stay at Candlewood Suites by the Galleria for just $75.99/night. The Four Points by Sheraton, near Reliant Park, Greenway Plaza and The Galleria offers rates starting at $99/night.
WHAT TO DO
Houston's top attractions are now available for 50 percent less. In May 2008, Houston became the 11th city in North America to offer CityPass, a discounted ticket booklet for the top eight attractions in the city. For only $34 for adults and $24 for children ages 4-11 (about half the cost of regular admission), visitors to Houston can experience Space Center Houston, Houston Zoo, Downtown Aquarium and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. They can also choose between the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Children's Museum and between The Health Museum and the George Ranch. Click here for more details on CityPass.
Travelers to Houston looking for a great deal should log on to www.visithoustontexas.com to view special offers from over 60 Houston organizations. Check back often, as new offers are added regularly.
It will take a day to see everything from fine art to arts and crafts in Houston's famed Museum District, home to 17 museums and the Houston Zoo—all within walking distance of one another. But tha'’s not the best part. Ten of the museums are free all the time, and the others offer free admission on specific days of the week. Visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science free of charge on Tuesdays after 2 p.m.; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on Thursdays; The Health Museum on Thursdays after 2 p.m.; and the Children's Museum of Houston on Thursday evenings. Get a family package to the Houston Zoo for just $30, which includes zoo admission for two adults and two children, four Wildlife Carousel tokens and a souvenir guide book.
Houston's renowned performing arts scene is affordable year-round, and it gets even better during the summer. Miller Outdoor Theatre, located in Hermann Park, is a unique outdoor venue for free performances all summer. This season, audiences will enjoy performances by the Houston Symphony, Theatre Under the Stars and the Houston Shakespeare Festival, among others, for free. Spread a blanket on the lawn, have a picnic and immerse yourself in these spectacular shows.
If you prefer an "off the beaten path" experience, visit the Art Car Museum, dedicated to the fun, funky and outrageously exuberant Art Car movement—Houston's Art Car Parade is the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, presenter of the Art Car Parade, also preserves the Orange Show Monument, a tribute to the iconic fruit created by visionary outsider artist Jeff McKissack, and the Beer Can House, a Houston folk art landmark covered in more than 50,000 beer cans. There is no charge to visit the Art Car Museum. The Beer Can House costs only $2, $5 if you want a guided tour, and the Orange Show is $1.
History buffs will want to visit the San Jacinto Monument and Battleground. Following a period of renovation, the San Jacinto Museum store and the award-winning presentation of Texas Forever!! The Battle of San Jacinto are now open to the public. Visitors to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Park can also visit the grounds, the marsh boardwalk, and the Battleship TEXAS.
For those who like to gamble but aren’t exactly high rollers, Gulf Greyhound Park offers $2 minimum bets.
Visit the Water Wall in Uptown Houston, the city's most photographed site. The Water Wall pumps thousands of gallons of recycled water over both sides of a 64-foot wall. More than 180 live oaks shade the three-acre area that plays host to families and couples out for a stroll, picnic, or even a game of Frisbee. Get in touch with nature at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, a 155-acre forest sanctuary within Memorial Park.
CHEAP EATS AND NIGHTLIFE
Houstonians eat out more than residents of any other city. The good news is that even the "high" restaurants are lower than other cities of comparable size. According to Zagat, the average meal in Houston is $5.02 less than the national average.
Dine on a Dime
Irma's is a favorite Mexican food choice for locals and visitors alike. Serving only weekday breakfast and lunch, Irma's has become a downtown institution among the politico crowd, and is known for having no menu…as well as being easy on the pocketbook. Collina's, with locations on Richmond Avenue and Rice Village, offers piping hot pizzas and a B.Y.O.B policy. Food lovers flock to Niko Niko's for their famous gyros and Greek fare. Barnaby's Cafe offers a completely organic menu of salads, burgers and sandwiches at a reasonable price. A Houston legend, Goode Co.'s restaurants keep locals coming back for more with a taqueria, seafood house, world-famous barbecue and their newest venture, Armadillo Palace saloon. A Houston institution since 1923, James Coney Island has become a multi-million dollar institution that sells more than 30,000 hot dogs every day. While the hot dogs are no longer 15 cents (as they were in 1923), they are still an affordable, tasty option for the entire family.
Penny-Pinching Happy Hour
Self-described as the "home of Houston's best Happy Hour," The Social on Washington Avenue is a great place to mingle in style without splurging on price. This hip-hangout offers one of Houston’s most popular patios and an excellent rotation of local DJs. Plus, there’s free parking and no cover. Taco Milagro in the Upper Kirby district is Thursday's popular happy hour spot "a la Tex-Mex." For a lively mix of students, good tunes, pool tables, a famous frozen screwdriver cocktail and a relaxed vibe on the patio, try Volcano in the Rice Village area. Offering Houston's longest happy hour, The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium offers 85 taps, including Houston’s own St. Arnold Brewery.
Your vacation dollars go further in Houston. Whether you want to stretch or splurge, you’ll find plenty of things to do on any budget. Log on to www.visithoustontexas.com or call 1- 800-4HOUSTON for more information.
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