Houston...

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

XtremeDuty.45 , Do you have a GPS for you vehicle?
It could be a valuable tool to help get you back to a major road or freeway if you get turned around.

I rely heavily on mine while in unfamiliar territory.

I sure do!

[frazzled]

Sure. Don't come anywhere near Houston or Galveston. I rarely get through the night without mowing down hordes of zombies.

San Antonio and Austin are crime-free zones similar to Antarctica or the moon.

- Jim

My zombie count is up to 36,357 (bang!) er 36,358.

On the positive, the Austin city council just voted to boycott Arizona.

[USA1]

Sure. Don't come anywhere near Houston or Galveston. I rarely get through the night without mowing down hordes of zombies.

San Antonio and Austin are crime-free zones similar to Antarctica or the moon.

- Jim

Jim is right.

It's funny because on my last excursion I felt like I was leaving the "safety" of Houston on my trip to San Antonio.
It's all about what your familiar with verses the unknown.

I'm sure that XtremeDuty.45 will have a pleasant and safe visit.

[cajunautoxer]

I live in the Seabrook area. You'll do fine in this area. Kemah is okay place to visit. Not much really to offer but a good way to waste a couple of hrs. I just go for the funnel cake

[seamusTX]

I apologize for my previous snotty message.

The rules are simple: If you see abandoned houses, vacant storefronts, lots of bars and pawn shops, and men standing around drinking out of bags and spitting, you're in a bad neighborhood. Keep moving until the scenery changes.

if you want to come down to Galveston I'll show you around. At least 30,000 people didn't get murdered or robbed yesterday, and today will probably be the same.

- Jim

[UpTheIrons]

I apologize for my previous snotty message.
- Jim

All is forgiven.

I guess we're all just "homers" in our own ways. Like USA1 said, we are comfortable with the familiar. When I lived in Houston, there were lots of places I'd go, and lots of places I avoided, just like in Austin and SA - it's just the perception of the "big bad ol' city of Houston" and it's (somewhat undeserved) reputation as a crime infested place that too many people see.

Heck, even here in tiny, little ol' Seguin there are more and more places I don't want to go after dark.

[seamusTX]

All is forgiven.

I guess we're all just "homers" in our own ways.

Thank you.

I spent half my life on the south side of Chicago. Time has passed, but the Chicago of the 1960s and 1970s makes current-day Houston look like a garden spot.

Just a day in the park

- Jim

[WEC]

good call. sorry for the lack of info its a bit late and Im way tired.

We will be staying over by Nasa in Clear lake. The times we will be out and about will be after 5 and as for activities just whatever floats our boat and that is a wide variety of things so anything you got would help.

Sudi's Catfish House seems to get some press for being good food but I've never been there myself so I can't give you an opinion. As others have chimed in, the Kemah Boardwalk is nice but a bit on the touristy side. It is owned by the Landry's corporation so you know it's a master-planned community with master-planned prices. As others have stated here, the rule of thumb is that Clear Lake, Friendswood, Webster (to some extent), Seabrook and Kemah are all nice areas. If you go a bit farther southeast to visit Jim in Galveston I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.

[seamusTX]

If you go a bit farther southeast to visit Jim in Galveston I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.

Thanks.

You won't be surprised with NASA Road 1 or Clear Lake Boulevard, pleasantly or unpleasantly. Lupe Tortilla is one Houston-area chain that is not 100% Disneyfied.

People either love Galveston or hate it. Or both. It depends upon what you like.

- Jim

[frazzled]

If you go a bit farther southeast to visit Jim in Galveston I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.

Thanks.

You won't be surprised with NASA Road 1 or Clear Lake Boulevard, pleasantly or unpleasantly. Lupe Tortilla is one Houston-area chain that is not 100% Disneyfied.

People either love Galveston or hate it. Or both. It depends upon what you like.

- Jim

Don't forget the drill rig and Elyssa are next to each other. Very cool.

[Live Free]

XtremeDuty.45

You've been given good advise from many so far and those that are funning are mostly doing so light heatedly.

If you've never been to NASA (and Space Center Houston) before and have time it's worth a visit, don't plan a day of it but perhaps 1-2 hours is good. The Kemah Boardwalk is also a good time. (it's not for me but I try not to judge others).

About Houston
The City of Houston encompasses most of Harris County. There are a few smaller cites or villages but most of it is Houston proper. Houston has no zoning laws and as a result nice neighborhoods are often bound by junkyards, commercial or industrial areas. In some of the inner city rejuvenation areas industrial, commercial and new $500,000 homes coexist. Houston's extremely libertarian view also leads to many billboards and strip shopping centers everywhere. It is this and our lack of topological features that have many call this a very ugly city. Aesthetically , this is true.

What Houston lacks in visual beauty, it more than makes up for culturally. Houston is the most culturally diverse city in Texas (sorry Dallas, but it's true); immigrants from across the globe now call Houston home. This diversity results in some great food. Restaurants in all price ranges and all cuisines can be found citywide. If you're interested in food, try this site, B-4-U-Eat for reviews.

Good luck. Enjoy your visit.
-
Be Free

[seamusTX]

If you've never been to NASA (and Space Center Houston) before and have time it's worth a visit, don't plan a day of it but perhaps 1-2 hours is good.

Welcome to the forum.

I consider JSC a must-see (It's the Houston in "Houston, we have a problem"). They have a couple of guided tours that take you places you can't go on your own.

Just keep in mind that the entire place is federal property, and weapons are completely prohibited except maybe for some law-enforcement loopholes.

You can see Elissa in this webcam, if the camera is pointing west.

Pier 21 and the Strand nearby are literally streets that Sam Houston walked, and where the War Between the States was fought back and forth. I go there just to soak it up.

- Jim

[WildBill]

If you've never been to NASA (and Space Center Houston) before and have time it's worth a visit, don't plan a day of it but perhaps 1-2 hours is good.

I consider JSC a must-see (It's the Houston in "Houston, we have a problem"). They have a couple of guided tours that take you places you can't go on your own.

Just keep in mind that the entire place is federal property, and weapons are completely prohibited except maybe for some law-enforcement loopholes. - Jim

If you want to go on the tram/walking tour of NASA/JSC, plan on spending about 4 hours at Space Center Houston.

+1 on the Kemah Boardwalk. It's a tourist trap, but a nice one.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

Thanks for all of the advice. I think it will be a nice weekend away.

I was not trying to make Houston out to be bad I just know its a big city and with any big city there are bad areas. I live in San Antonio and will not go in some areas here. Im from St. Louis and will not go in some areas there. So, with being unfamiliar with Houston I wanted to know what the nicer areas were. So thank you all.

Also, Seamus, I appreciate the offer for showing us around Galveston but I dont think we will have the time to get down there. We did go there over Christmas 2 years ago and are planning on getting there again before I go to Korea. Needless to say we enjoyed it there!

[WildBill]

I wish you an enjoyable and safe trip. And watch your six!