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Houston Tourist Information and Houston Tourism
(Houston, Texas - TX, USA)



Houston lies in the southeast corner of Texas near the Gulf of Mexico in southern USA and Houston is the largest city in the whole of Texas. Founded in 1836, Houston became one of the country's most wealthy exporters of oil. Since a major slump in the 1980s, Houston's economy has diversified, including major aerospace and medical services, and Houston is again a city oozing with wealth and money, attracting tourists from around the globe. Houston spreads out from its center in a vast network of roads, freeways and enormous shopping districts, and is also a thriving seaport, with a busy shipping channel from Galveston Bay.

When arriving in Houston, there are plenty of travel agencies and tourist information centers located in downtown Houston and in other areas. The centers are full of up-to-date information about Houston's attractions, travel maps, public transport and general tourism information about Houston. Houston's main tourist information center can be found on Bagby Street and offers details about the city's regions, including the Downtown District, Midtown District, Museum District, Theater District and Uptown Houston.




The George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) can be found 22 miles / 33 km to the north of central Houston and includes many nearby hotels and cheap accommodation options. Budget hotels are common in Houston and are concentrated around the Northwest Freeway, Katy Freeway and also on Southwest Freeway. Many of the city's best hotels are situated in the heart of Houston city center. More information on Houston Hotels.

Houston has many world-class tourist attractions, including Downtown Aquarium - containing an enormous half-million gallon complex, showcasing underwater life from around the world; Houston Zoo - home to an array of attractions and animals, including Natural Encounters, where visitors are able to get close to many of the animals; Space Center Houston - Houston's premier tourist attraction, full of interactive displays and a host of information about space travel; Hermann Park - a huge park close to downtown Houston, containing a landscaped Japanese Garden; Sam Houston Park - close to Houston's skyscrapers, including a particularly historic log cabin, tearooms and museum area; and Houston's Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens - a 28-room mansion set in the River Oaks residential neighborhood of Houston.

Other important landmarks and attractions for tourists visiting Houston include the JP Morgan Chase Tower - the tallest building in Houston, featuring an observation deck; City Hall - constructed of Texas Cordova limestone, with museum areas and hosting a number of important Houston festivals; the Julia Ideson Library Building - dating back to the 1920s, housing the impressive Circle M. Collection and linked to the Ideson Library by a convenient tunnel; the Nina Vance Alley Theater - situated in downtown Houston, featuring two theaters and regular performances; and the Oscar F. Holcombe Civic Center - a multimillion dollar complex with four exhibition buildings holding a host a major events throughout the Houston calendar. More information on Houston Tourist Attractions and Houston Landmarks.

Tourist attractions situated near to Houston include the George Ranch Historical Park, Gulf Greyhound Park, Kemah Boardwalk, Moody Gardens, San Jacinto Battlefield and Six Flags Astroworld / Waterworld. The Galveston Beach area is near to Houston and is the perfect place to relax, away from busy city life.

Houston boasts some truly excellent museums and art galleries in Houston city center, with interesting information on the history of Houston and other exhibitions. Popular museums and art galleries in Houston include Children's Museum - a family museum with a tantalizing exterior, aimed at children up to 12 years old; the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum - housing the only intact frescoes in the whole of the Western Hemisphere; the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) - situated in Hermann Park, boasting dinosaur skeletons, an IMAX theater and a planetarium; the Menil Collection - perhaps the most prized collection of art in Houston, containing over 15,000 contemporary pieces; the Lawndale Art Center - a renovated art-deco building originally with its four galleries and information about local artists; the Museum of Fine Arts - Houston's premier art museum, consisting of more than 40,000 works; the Contemporary Arts Museum - full of interesting avant-garde exhibitions of paintings and known for its aluminum-clad exterior; and the Rice University Art Gallery - part of Houston's Rice University campus, loaded with contemporary visual art. More information on Houston Museums and Houston Art Galleries.

Houston Airports Guide - useful George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) information.

More Houston Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Country: United States of America (USA)
• Location: Harris County, Texas (TX)
• Status: city, county seat
• Area: approximately 579 square miles / 1,500 square kilometers
• Population: approximately 2.1 million
• Language: American English
• Currency: US Dollar (USD)
• Time zone: GMT - 6 hours Central Standard Time (daylight saving time is observed)
• Country dialing code: +1
• Telephone area code: 281, 713 or 832
• Religion: various religions
• Average daily January temperature: 16ºC / 61ºF
• Average daily July temperature: 34ºC / 93ºF

 
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