Details about travel
facilities, collaborating hotels, etc... will be announced later.
About Houston:
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United
States of America and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the
2006 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.14 million within
an area of 600 square miles (1,600 kmē). Houston is the seat of Harris
County and an economic center of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan
area—the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of
around 5.6 million.
Houston was founded on August 30, 1836 by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen
and John Kirby Allen on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The city was
incorporated on June 5, 1837 and named after then-President of the Republic
of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San
Jacinto, which took place 25 miles (40 km) east of where the city was
established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil
discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In
the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical
Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research
institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control Center
is located.
Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, manufacturing,
aeronautics, and technology; only New York City is home to more Fortune 500
headquarters. Commercially, Houston is ranked as a gamma world city, and the
area is a leading center for building oilfield equipment. The Port of
Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage
handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled. The city has a
multicultural population with a large and growing international community.
It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits—attracting more than 7
million visitors a year to the Houston Museum District. Houston has an
active visual and performing arts scene in the Theater District and is one
of five U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major
performing arts.
(Source: www.wikipedia.org)
Houston Attractions:
No matter what your preference, downtown has something
for you.
Opera, ballet, the symphony and the Theater District are within walking
distance (or a short pedi-cab ride) from baseball and basketball.
Restaurants and bars can fill you up, while fitness centers can slim you
down. Office buildings stretch high into the air near condos and lofts that
lure Houstonians tired of long commutes. Fish swim and tigers pace at the
Downtown Aquarium, while humans ride and jog down the hike and bike trails
along Buffalo Bayou. Fountains shoot into the air on Main Street, while
tunnels stretch out below. Parades, dragon boats, art cars and festivals
shake things up. Welcome to downtown Houston!
Dining, Drinking, Dancing
Some of the city’s best restaurants are packed within a short radius here,
and with about 300 places to choose from, you never have to go hungry,
thirsty or unsatisfied. Hit a local brew pub before a game or shake your
tail-feathers after the theater. Downtown has numerous clubs and bars to
suit every taste.
Art & Culture
Downtown Houston is the place to be for art lovers! Houston is one of only
five cities in the United States with permanent professional resident
companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines - opera, ballet,
music and theater. Houston is also a major supporter of public art and
downtown, in particular, is home to a rich portfolio.
Shopping
Long time downtowner, Macy’s is located right on Main with Jos. A. Banks and
others just blocks away at the Shops at Houston Center. You can find almost
anything you need above ground or underfoot!
Events
Look no further, you now can find all the hot and happening events in
downtown in one place at www.houstondowntown.com. We’ve got major league
sports and world-class performing arts, outdoor music festivals and bayou
tours. Search by venue or a particular area of interest. Not sure what you
want to do, then check out our great itineraries and Top 20 list all online!
Downtown Aquarium
The Downtown Aquarium is a spectacular entertainment, dining and meeting
complex located in downtown Houston. Dine on a variety of seafood
specialties at the Aquarium Restaurant as you are seated around a
150,000-gallon centerpiece aquarium. Enjoy many of our fabulous attractions
including the Aquarium Adventure Exhibit with 500,000 gallons of underwater
tanks and more than 400 species of marine life and mammals including white
tigers. Take a ride on Shark Voyage, where guests travel by train through
the center of a shark tank. Enjoy the variety of amusements such as a Ferris
wheel, carousel and many midway games.
Forbidden Gardens
Come see where East meets West in Texas. Forbidden Gardens is an outdoor
Chinese museum designed to educate visitors about the history, culture, and
varied landmarks of ancient China. See fascinating exhibits, including
scaled replicas of Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army, the Forbidden City and the
canal of Suzhou, just to name a few. Open to the public Fri., Sat. and Sun.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tour times: 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Please note: Forbidden Gardens may close during inclement weather.
Useful Links:
http://www.houston-guide.com/
http://www.houstondowntown.com
http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/
VISA Information:
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/obtainingvisa/
