Houston: High and Low
HOUSTON—With gas prices approaching all-time highs, many families search out close-to-home travels. Houston is surprisingly affordable with plenty of entertainment options for the entire family. Known for its jet setting socialites and old money, Houston also has an abundance of high-end accommodations, retailers and activities for travelers looking for a luxurious vacation.
ACCOMMODATIONS
With more than 60,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Houston area, it's possible to find perfect accommodations for any budget.
Super Savings
Stay at the Courtyard by Marriott-Downtown, located on the METRORail line, from $129 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 $79.99/night. The Four Points by Sheraton, near Reliant Park, Greenway Plaza and The Galleria offers rates starting at $99/night.
Suite Dreams
Hotel Icon's tri-level luxurious suite located on the 12th floor offers a private 600-square-foot terrace with awe-inspiring views of downtown Houston and beyond. A favorite destination for visiting VIPs, the terrace has been the location for a live segment of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Luxury suites at Hotel ICON begin at $350, or you can upgrade to the Ritz Suite for $2,500/night. Or indulge in chocolate truffles, champagne and breakfast in bed at the Four Seasons Houston. Weekend Romantic Rendezvous packages begin at $305.
WHAT TO DO
On a Budget
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 nearly 40 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 that'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 from 5-8 p.m.. Get a family package to the Houston Zoo for just $35, 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 or the Beer Can House, and admission to 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. The permanent exhibit gallery, exhibiting 400 years of Texas history will be re-opened to the public in July. The observation floor, at 489 feet, will be opened in August for visitors to experience its remarkable view. 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. Until Aug. 31, 2006, the park is charging only 50 cents for hot dogs, sodas and beer every Thursday night.
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.
Money is No Object
Go behind the scenes at Space Center Houston and do as the astronauts do. Begin your tour with lunch in the Astronaut Cafeteria. See space artifacts, space suits, the new Mission Control Center and the Space Environment Simulation Lab. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Sonny Carter Training Facility and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab to experience weightlessness just like the astronauts. The tour costs $69.96 per person and includes a two-day pass to Space Center Houston.
The Houston Astros, 2005 National League champions, are battling it out for another pennant. There's no better place to see a game than in the Diamond Level, directly behind home plate. You may catch a glimpse of George H.W. and Barbara Bush, longtime Astros seasons ticket holders. For the chance to catch a home run ball, purchase seats in the Crawford Boxes, which are highly sought after for game "souvenirs."
The Houston Theater District is home to renowned ballet, opera, theater and symphony companies and three gorgeous venues. The best seats in the house at Wortham Center can be found in the Founder's Boxes and can run as much as $150 for a coveted performance by Houston Grand Opera. At Jones Hall, the hot ticket to a Houston Symphony show can cost as much as $85 if you want to sit in the box seats.
For a wild experience, have your portrait painted at the Houston Zoo by an elephant or an orangutan for a mere $500.
There's nothing quite as regal as high tea at the St. Regis Hotel Houston. Choose from a wide selection of superbly blended teas and a delicious menu of tea sandwiches, scones and fresh fruit. For an extra indulgence, the St. Regis offers a selection of fine French champagnes and wines. Tea is served Tuesday through Sunday 3-5 p.m.
High rollers feel right at home at the Sam Houston Race Park. Luxury suites offer great views of the track, where American Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred and Arabian horses race. The 22 luxury suites offer food prepared by award-winning chefs. Suite rentals begin at $250/night.
See Houston from a unique point of view—from above. Blue Sky Balloon Rides offer private hot air balloon rides that include a one-hour flight for two and a post-flight champagne celebration for $500.
Nothing says luxury quite like a yacht. Bay Area Houston, about 30 miles south of downtown Houston, is considered to be the nation' third coast for boating, with one of the greatest concentrations of sailboats, yachts and pleasure craft in the U.S. Choose from a variety of yachts and sailboats to rent, or charter a boat for a saltwater fishing excursion.
SHOPPING
A city full of extreme shopping opportunities, shoppers can find the perfect piece at designer boutiques that line The Galleria’s "Milion Dollar Mile” or land the perfect deal on Houston's internationally eclectic "Bargain Mile" found on Harwin Drive. Houston is a city that turns casual shoppers into shopaholics who never want to leave. And why should they? Houston is a shopper's paradise.
Bargain Buys
For a shopping experience unique to Houston, head directly to Harwin Drive in southwest Houston. Simply called Harwin by locals, shoppers will find sterling silver jewelry, faux designer fashions and handbags and perfume at prices you absolutely won't find at the mall. Known for its great deals and less for its appearance, shops along Harwin are simple, cluttered spaces, owned by people from around the world who don’t mind a little haggling. The "Bargain Mile" is also home to furniture, rugs, silk plants and accessories imported from around the globe.
Head west of Houston for clothes encounters of the discount kind at Katy Mills Mall, an expansive outlet mall full of amazing deals and finds. Clothing, shoes, accessories, house wares and more fill the 1.2 million square feet of shopping splendor. Know before you go, Katy Mills Mall is best experienced in a pair of comfortable shoes, but don’t worry. If you need a break from the shopping action, there are plenty of places to take a break, including the food court, a movie theatre and seating throughout the mall.
Trash or treasure? You decide at Traders Village, the largest flea market on the Texas Gulf Coast. You’ll find tires and tools, army surplus and electronics, comics and cards, crafts and collectible, silk plants and flowers, truck accessories, jewelry, furniture, clothing, garage sale bargains…and that’s just the beginning. More than 1,000 vendors set up shop at Traders Village each weekend. If you're not a shopaholic, you'll enjoy one of Traders Village's many weekend festivals like the Classic Country Music Festival, Cricket Summer Concert Series or the Village Art Car Show.
Pricey Purchases
While every city has its fair share of malls, Houston's malls are gigantic in size and selection. Topping the must-see and shop list is The Galleria, a wonderland for shoppers with discriminating taste and budget to go with it. A who’s who of designers, The Galleria is home to Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Chanel, Jimmy Choo and Ralph Lauren, among others. Joining the upscale boutiques are anchor stores Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Foley's, adding up to more than two million square feet of shopping thrills, making it the fourth largest shopping center in the country. An ice rink made famous by Olympian Tara Lipinski and restaurants to suit every taste make it easy to stay and play all day long at The Galleria.
Shoppers who enjoy the great outdoors have plenty places to stroll along, visit and shop while in Houston. You don't need a passport to shop at Uptown Park, an upscale, pedestrian-friendly shopping center in the shadow of the Houston Galleria that has a decidedly European feel. A collection of 36 stores and boutiques, Uptown Park caters to a sophisticated clientele, all the while maintaining its old-world charm. Also in the Galleria area is Highland Village, a classy collection of shops and boutiques that will easily outfit both you and your home. It's no surprise that nestled in River Oaks, Houston's toniest neighborhood, is the River Oaks Shopping Center. Whether window shopping, or searching for something specific, the River Oaks Shopping Center with stores such as Sole Sensation, Principessa, La Mode Lingerie and Chico’s is full of possibilities.
For a one-of-a-kind souvenir, get fitted for a custom Hamilton Shirt. Houston-based Alexandra Knight creates distinctive alligator handbags, which have been spotted at many a red-carpet event in Hollywood.
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.
Fine Food
There have never been a shortage of fine restaurants in Houston. Brennan's of Houston, part of the New Orleans family of restaurants, is also a Houston institution and has been in the same location for 40 years. Take one bite of their famous Turtle soup or jumbo lump crab cakes, and you’ll see why. Tony's, which relocated to a new location in February 2005, retains its reputation for fantastic food and an elegant ambiance. During a visit to Tony's, expect to see anyone from local politicians and oilmen to Houston socialites and national celebrities. Cafe Annie, one of the original creators of Southwestern cuisine, continues to delight and surprise patrons with ever-inventive selections. Mark's American Cuisine is consistently listed among Houston’s favorite restaurants and was recently one of the top 10 restaurants in America by Zagat. Housed in a 1920s church, Mark's ever-changing menu features only the freshest ingredients.
Cocktails and Dreams
Bar Annie, located inside Café Annie, is a place to see and be seen over a cocktail or appetizers. The Whiskey, the swanky lounge inside Hotel ICON, is nightlife king Rande Gerber's first foray into Houston. Try a shot of Louis XIII Cognac for $175. For a fine wine selection in a boutique setting, visit The Wine Bucket, which features more than 50 wines by the glass or bottle. If you prefer a good cigar and a bottle of 15-year-old scotch, Downing Street Pub is more your speed. Try the Macallan 50-year scotch, which costs $300 a shot and $4,000 a bottle. You can also store your cigars in a locker in the bar's humidor for a mere $400/year.
Whether you want to stretch or splurge, you’ll find plenty of things to do on any budget.
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Green Houston 
