"Houston is like New York City with its density of mom and pop ethnic restaurants. It has huge areas of sprawl with malls and strip centers where no English is spoken and you can find kumquat trees, bootlegged electronics, and food carts selling fried chicken, crawfish, and noodles."

"The famous Texas hospitality makes for a fun-filled visit but Houston is also full of surprises — it can rightfully claim the most diverse community in the US, as the workforce that staffs the oil and gas industries is a proper melting pot of nationalities."

"Perhaps no one knows the nooks and crannies of Houston as well as Omar Lopez. The singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist spends most of his nights performing at various hot spots around the city with his cover band, Goodtime Muffin."

"For the second time in 13 years, H-Town hosts the sports world's biggest show. Whether you're a hardcore football enthusiast so devoted that you don't care which team plays in Super Bowl LI, or you're just tagging along with ardent fans, the Bayou City clearly has festive diversions for you."

"The downtown renovations were going to happen regardless of the Super Bowl...but when Houston was awarded this year's game in 2013, it gave the city a deadline."

"In contrast to its past reputation as an urban dead zone after dark, Houston now includes a greater array of restaurants, high-rises, green space, and cultural and entertainment venues."

"The former New York Giant and Emmy Award-winning television personality was born there, and his parents still call it home. “There’s a lot of great stuff in Houston. People have misconceptions. They think it’s cowboys riding around on horses, but it’s a fun, advanced city.” He shares some favorite sites."

"With robust international influences from a diverse population, the sprawling metropolis offers plenty of diverse neighborhoods to explore, along with exotic cuisines, of-the-moment boutiques, and innovative art offerings."

"The nation's fourth-largest city is more complex than you probably think. Its unexpected quirks — an obsession with art cars, a fine wine auction tied to its famed rodeo — defy the 10-gallon hat and mechanical bull stereotypes."

"The host city of Super Bowl 51 has a bustling arts scene and a slew of international restaurants. We found plenty of reasons to visit right now--or any time."

"Houston, is, in fact, about as multicultural a city as exists in the country. Houston has been, from what I experienced, particularly if not more welcoming to immigrants and refugees from all over the world than most other cities I know."

"For many travelers, Texas cuisine is synonymous with steak houses and barbecue, but Houston, in particular, offers so much more. One of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, Houston has an exciting culinary scene that boasts an array of cultural choice, from Iraqi kabobs and Indonesian fried rice to Vietnamese pho and Mexican fajitas."

"Football fandom touches down in Space City for February's Super Bowl. But the big game lasts only a few hours in a city full of grit and roughneck charm."

"Thanks to liberal land use policies, and a huge influx of immigrants from around the globe, Houston is credited with having the most restaurants per capita in the world as well as being one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States."

"Houston wants to have you over. The city has built more hotel rooms in the past year than anywhere in America not called New York."

"There’s more to Houston than meets the eye. Yes, Space Center Houston is spectacular, especially for adults who’ve always dreamed of interstellar travel. And yes, it’s home to the Houston Astros and Rockets, but outside of space and sports, there’s a funky little town hidden in one of the country’s metropolitan cities—the fourth-largest, to be exact.."

"Beyond Houston’s serpentine freeways, Goliath-sized megachurches and mammoth downtown Hilton (room count: 1,200), lies a hotbed of culinary creativity."

"The crew who turned Houston into a respectable drinking town takes the writer on a few rounds."

"NASA may be based here, but it's Houston's out-of-this-world culinary scene that's drawing foodies to the Bayou City."

"After 76 hours... Houston seemed less sprawling and faceless. It became more like one welcoming neighborhood, albeit enormous, from the offbeat Montrose area to the city’s rambling Chinatown -- delicious evidence of the city’s status as the most diverse metropolitan area in the country."

"Houston claimed eight of the nominees for this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards. That’s right — Houston, that other Texan city."

"I thought CityPASS was awesome because it allowed me to gain entry into all the major tourist attractions at a significant discount off the regular price of admission."

"Named after General Sam Houston...the city has long been touted as a hub for business, particularly when it comes to oil. Unbeknownst to many, the city has struck it rich in areas the rest of us can enjoy as well."

"Whether you like museums, parks or unique adventures, Houston offers many great things to see and do. From culinary tours and cooking classes, to championship golf and indoor skydiving, couples can plan a fun weekend getaway in the city."

"For any native Houstonian, the oil that's built this city is as much a part of its history as any military battle."

"The city appears to be on a winning streak."

"I come today to proclaim Houston one of the great eating capitals of America."

"Houston gets a bad rap: flat, boring, concrete. The flat part? That's true. But the rest couldn't be more wrong."

"In Houston, there's something for everyone to see, do and even learn."

"Houston will surprise you. The city has been referred to as a modern day Ellis Island, where more than 145 languages are spoken.  The sprawling metropolis known for traffic and Tex-Mex is also home to next year’s Super Bowl and has one of the most diverse populations in the nation."

"Luxury awaits in cosmopolitan Houston, where an international vibe offers A-list opportunities to dine, shop, eat and explore in the energy capital of the world."

"America’s youngest city offers a potpourri pot of cuisines, quirky shops and art with both global and local reach."

"How wildcatters, hotsauce and multicultural neighborhoods created the ultimate Southern food frontier.

"Houston is surprisingly diverse, with an array of restaurants that go far beyond your typical BBQ joint or Tex-Mex cantina."

"Houston will receive increased attention
as a travel destination next year, when the pros face off there in Super Bowl LI. Get a head start and go now."

"Fast forward 48 hours and I'm wearing my H-Town t-shirt with pride, clutching a NASA fridge magnet and nursing a hangover."

"The problem with Houston's 19-institution Museum District is deciding where to begin."

"The city I knew the least surprised me the most. Houston, where have you been all my (food) life? Your best Vietnamese cooking returns me to Saigon, and some of your Chinese menus rival those I’ve dipped into in Beijing."

"Research shows that Chinese visitors are choosing Houston first and foremost really to shop. They come to the Galleria, the fourth-largest mall in the United States with nearly 400 stores and two hotels. The mall is also undergoing a $250 million expansion - everything bigger in Texas."

"What you know about Houston is likely based on what you think you know about Texas (i.e. stereotypes). Quentin Long eschews 10-gallon hats and cowboy boots to discover this most underestimated of American cities."

"Like many cities across the United States, Houston is in the midst of a renaissance — an ethnic and cultural transformation, if you will. In fact, it’s now the most diverse city in the United States, even surpassing the likes of New York City and Los Angeles."

"Founded in 1836, there’s a nice mixture of history and modern approaches to everything from business and the arts to dining and nightlife."

"For 2015 and 2016, new major projects are sprouting from improvements in transportation to crowd-pleasing attractions to classy and comfortable accommodations. Just take a look!"

"There’s a whole lot of truth behind the “big” moniker, but as Becca Hensley discovers, Houston is America’s biggest small town. Just don’t forget to bring a Texan-sized appetite."

"This big-business town has always had a soft spot for world-class art: Its oak-tree-lined Museum District has 20 institutions, including the privately assembled Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the non-denominational Rothko Chapel."

"One of the largest and most ambitious efforts is occurring in Houston, where the waterways are called bayous. There, Buffalo Bayou Park near downtown is undergoing a $58 million redevelopment."

"My recent weekend in downtown Houston revealed vibrant throngs attracted to popular new places for eating, drinking, and relaxing. I found plenty of out-of-town visitors in my midst, as well as Houstonians enjoying the ease of hopping on Metro Rail Houston for the quick light-rail trip into the central business district for an afternoon or evening of play."

"Houston is BIG. Its size. Its buildings. Its hats. Its boots. And its can-do spirit."

"Explore Houston's vibrant dining culture with a stroll down trendy Westheimer Road, where farm-to-table joints like
Underbelly and Uchi line the walkable street
just begging for a sustainable food tour."

"The rodeo, which welcomed nearly 2.5 million visitors in 2014, also features livestock and horse shows, kids activities, an array of dining options and a giant Western "shopping mall" filled with clothing, jewelry, leather goods and crafts."

"Over the past decade, the USA's fourth-largest city has quietly become not just a powerhouse of intellect and culture in Texas, but a major player on the world stage. The Bayou City's economic boom and urban renaissance have made Houston not just a magnet for travelers, but a permanent residence for many casual visitors."

"The pace, the enormity, the glistening monoliths...you don't so much enter Houston as you get drawn into it...Whenever I visit Houston, I feel like I'm entering a world of science fiction, a sensation that makes sense as you peel back the concrete layers of the city and tap into Houston's humanity and cultural diversity."

"Houston is synonymous with Bun B. Any hip hop enthusiast knows that Houston's reputation on the rap scene wouldn't be what it is today without the help of Bernard Freeman - better known to the world as Bun B."

"It is indeed perfectly possible to explore some of the most interesting neighborhoods in Houston without a car. In fact, doing so will make you part of a growing trend."

"Yep, these days the Bayou City is cropping up more and more on travelers' "Let's check it out" list. What's the draw? Shopping, arts, entertainment, and food."

"Long known as the country's oil capital, the Bayou City is experiencing a downtown renaissance, investing in new green space, impressive public art, and reinvigorating historic places."

For the first time ever this year, Houston ranked among the top five places in the nation on Travel + Leisure's list of America's Favorite Cities.

"This waterfront location holds a large part of the area's appeal, offering scenic views and ample opportunities for recreation in the form of kayaking, sailing and paddleboarding."

"Now, flush from a new energy windfall and building like mad, Houston is reinventing itself as a greener, more cultured, more human-scale cosmopolis."

"When you factor everything in, Killen's BBQ is the best barbecue place in Texas."

"In Houston, everything old is new again. Three neighborhoods -- the Navigation Corridor, Mid-Main and Market Square -- are being re-born right before our eyes."

"Sleepy on weekends for years, there's now a slew of new bars, restaurants and buzzed-about developments in the area, which further entices with its walkability."

"Houston is a fast-changing city. Or, as Greg Ortale, persident and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, puts it: 'If you haven't been to Houston in the last five years, then you haven't really been to Houston'."

"But you shouldn't dismiss Houston so easily; the Bayou City is an economic juggernaut. It's by far the country's No. 1 job creator (...). Add a thriving restaurant and cultural scene, and you've got a winning case for Houston as the best city in America."

"In recent years the Texas city has reinvented itself as a cultural center and culinary powerhouse, attracting visitors from across the globe."

"The place every astronaut knows by name has plenty of out-of-this-world offerings. Whether dining, shopping, soaking in culture, or enjoying nightlife, you'll be over the moon in America's fourth largest city."