MIDTOWN LIVE: Houston Texas Travel

If you, your friends or family are planning to travel to Houston you have come to the right place for the latest information to make your trip go smoother. We have just finished hunting down the best tours, places to visit and Houston attractions, just for you.

Our information will provide you with a distinctive edge over the other guys because we work in, live in and love Houston. We are first in line to get fresh details about what’s happening in and around the city.

10 Travel Tips For Houston

1. Don’t expect flag down cabs as you traverse the city. You will have to call the taxi dispatch office at least an hour in advance to arrange to be picked up.
2. There is plenty to see and do in Houston whether you’re visiting the heart of the city or one of the many suburban communities.
3. There always seems to be street and freeway closures, most are listed pretty fast by GPS systems. If you run into one that isn’t ask local convenience store clerks and repairmen for directions they tend to know the area better.
4. Houston traffic jams slow to a crawl, to avoid them wait until after 9:am and 6:pm to hit the streets.
5. If you want to see as much of the city as possible rent a car, weekly and weekend rates are usually the best deals and don’t forget to pull out that AAA or other discount card to get a reduced rate,
6. Local bus service is $1.25 (correct change required) and usually takes about an hour each way and may require you to transfer to more than one bus to get you most places outside of the downtown area. If most of your traveling is downtown or in the Texas Medical Center the Metro-rail train will get you there faster for the same price as bus fare.
7. If you are flying to the city and not staying near N. Sam Houston tollway, we suggest you consider using an airline that stops at Houston Hobby airport. It is way easier to get in and out than the terminals at Bush which maybe the only choice for some airlines and international flights.
8. You can usually find good dinning within walking distance of hotels, convention centers and shopping malls. Most of the major hotel chains have a bar and restaurant, which tend to be pricey, but are some of the top rated dinning facilities in the city.
9. The city of Houston Parks and Recreation department has several nice fitness centers where you can workout while away from home.
10. The city is 579 square miles. A smart and frugal way to see more of the city is to make all your visits to one part of the city at a time instead of trying to do everything in one day.

Traveling In Houston

Here's a few things you should keep in mind when traveling in Houston. Your options are limited to taxis and local bus service.

There are several taxi cabs in Houston. They are all dispatched through central locations. If you travel by taxi, ask the driver for his card and cab number if you would like him to become your unofficial chauffeur during your visit.

United Cab 713-699-0000
Yellow Cab 713-236-1111
Liberty Cab 713 695-6700
Fiesta Taxi 713-225-2666

Houston's Metro bus service is available from 5:am to 12:pm on most routes. They are cheaper than using a cab to get to the malls, museums and short trips around the downtown area. You should be prepared to leave about 2 hours prior to your arrival time to allow for transfers. For schedule information use the contact data below:

Website: ridemetro.org
Phone: 713-635-4000

Many visitors to Houston come for conventions, vacations and sports outings. Many of them are held at George R Brown Convention Center (downtown Houston), Reliant Stadium, ( near town ) and local hotels. Both of these places are referred to as being inside of the 610 Loop. It is the original freeway that circled the city and a good landmark to keep you from getting lost.

If you have some time on your hands you could take an exciting daytrip to explore other Texas destinations. Take a look at these fantastic places.

Things To Do Outdoors In Houston

Buffalo Bayou Boat tours
Breakfast On Bayou Tour
Lake Houston
Houston Arboretum
Waterway Square in The Woodland

Outdoor Adventures Near Houston

The beaches and boat tours on Galveston Island
Yacht cruise on Clear Lake
Hike and bike Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Boat rentals Lake Conroe
Paddle Texas canoe/kayak paddling trail

See more on boat tours in Houston

Fun Places To Visit Near Houston

The State capitol building in Austin
The San Jacinto Monument
George Bush Presidential Library
Texas Seaport Museum
Sea Center Texas

Indoor Things To Do In Houston

Houston Museum District

Tour Houston City Hall
Buffalo Soldier Museum
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Space Center Houston

Watch this video short on Houston

Fun Stuff To Do In Houston

Waugh Bridge Bat Tour
Port of Houston Boat Tour
Walking Tour Of Downtown Houston
Self-guided Tour Of Houston
Houston Arboretum

These are some places that families and couples who travel to Houston enjoy visiting. They are all economically priced and relatively easy to get to. This list is still just the tip of the iceberg when it come to having fun in the city.

You haven’t even discussed the nightlife, theater or dinning options. We will explore them in upcoming editions of the blog so stick around and get the full scoop.