Here we go again, and again…
One other “36 Hours in Houston” article telling readers where to go and what to do in the event that they have a brief spell to spend here. The newest ran in TheLatest York Times last week, written by Shannon Sims, who claims that she grew up in Houston and continues to live here.
Thing is, Sims’ read similar to the one the Times ran in 2016. And the one they ran in 2010. They may as well just move here.
Thirty-six hours doesn’t do Houston justice. They’re written by travel writers, who sometimes don’t live here, for tourists who’ve never been here. Houston isn’t that type of town. First impressions aren’t our strength.
For instance:
Out-of-state media had a field day the primary time the Super Bowl was held at NRG Stadium in 2004. Sportswriters complained in regards to the weather, the gap between their hotels and the teams’ practice facilities and the stadium, the traffic, complimentary food spreads within the media room, nearly all the things. Freeloading whiners.
Writers sent so many negative stories about Houston back to their hometown newspapers that it caught the eye of ABC World News Tonight. An ABC News producer got hold of my name and asked if I’d go on with World News Tonight anchor Forrest Sawyer to speak in regards to the badmouthing of Houston.
Sure.
Welcome to the real Houston
They asked me where I’d prefer to do the interview, somewhere that looked like Houston. I said meet me within the Galleria area, on the corner of Sage and Richmond. I positioned myself facing south so the massive Men’s Club sign can be over my shoulder. If I’m going to speak about Houston … let’s get real about Houston.
Just before we began the interview, a Men’s Club bouncer ordered us to show off the camera and leave. Though we were on a public street, we left. He was a giant’un. We went across the road and did the interview in front of Pete’s Effective Meats.
I delivered my usual pro-Houston talking points — most diverse city in America (which I don’t consider, by the best way), 80 golf courses, 10,000 restaurants (undecided I think that one, either), Galveston Beach, Whataburger, on and on, etc.
Defending and promoting Houston became my thing. Every time a significant convention got here to town, I might write the welcome letter, bragging about all there was to see and do here — just about a “36 Hours in Houston.”
Come for a lifetime — not a vacay
But truth, I might never recommend Houston as a brief vacation destination. I might say, though, for those who’re on the lookout for a spot to place down roots, raise a family, live your life … consider Houston for the long haul.
To paraphrase that sign outside Goode Company Barbecue on Kirby, “You may give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars that you simply’re in … Houston.”
Spending 36 Hours in Houston is an empty promise. I’ve seen all those “Things to Do in Houston” and “Top 10 Attractions in Houston” lists provided by Trip Advisor, Time Out, Trip Savvy, Travelzoo and others: the Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, the Galleria, Houston Arboretum, Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, Bayou Place, the Museum of Effective Arts, Houston, and more.
What’s a tourist presupposed to do at Rothko Chapel – pray that Southwest Airlines finds their luggage before it’s time to go home?
I even have friends visit from out-of-state. I’ve never taken them to any of those places. I’ve never been to most of them myself.
When friends tell me that they’re coming to Houston, I’m tempted to say, “Stay where you might be, I’ll come to you.”
From the looks of most travel stories about Houston, the No. 1 (and practically only) thing to do here is eat. We do have limitless effective restaurants with international cuisines. That’s one reason, together with the variety of convenience stores and movie theaters here, why Houston has won many titles as “America’s Fattest City,” which we’re not. It’s only a dumb algorithm.
We’re simply not a hot tourist destination. Several years ago, I wrote in regards to the most-visited tourist attractions in Houston. You understand what was No. 1? The Galleria. Now every city has a galleria and each city brags about its restaurants.
Houston, in a very good 12 months, attracts 18 million visitors, and most of them come from inside Texas. San Antonio draws greater than 30 million tourists. San Antonio has the River Walk, the Alamo, Natural Bridge Caverns, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and SeaWorld.
Houston’s top amusement park is in a Fiesta supermarket car parking zone.
Do it right
This isn’t to say that spending 36 Hours in Houston is a waste of time. You simply have to time it right. Are available March and spend a day on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It’s a world-class event and tons of fun with a giant name concert and funnel cake to shut out your night.
Or, come throughout the summer when the Astros are playing at Minute Maid Park. There’s no more enjoyable sports experience in Texas than an Astros game. Should you live up north, get here in winter to flee your deep freeze at home.
Should you’ve got only 36 hours in your hands, perhaps Houston isn’t for you. But for those who’ve got the remaining of your life, then Houston might be the place.
