Houstonians...I need your help!

[NancyIL]

Before the majority of you posted today...I scheduled the airline/hotel/rental car to come back on the afternoon of the 3rd day! So as of right now, just 2 nights in Houston for me, although I can extend it. And NO...I'm NOT going to Austin instead!

I have a reservation at Springhill Suites by Hobby Airport, but I may try to get a hotel on Priceline when it gets closer. The Boardwalk Inn at Kemah looks lovely, but it's out of my budget for this trip.

So...what should my priorities be?

1. Galveston
2. Space Center
3. Kemah Boardwalk
4. Galleria (If I've been to other "Gallerias"...do I really need to see this one?)
5. Other museums in Houston

Thanks for all your help! I'd suggest a DIS meet at the Boardwalk, but people might not want to venture out there on a weeknight.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Before the majority of you posted today...I scheduled the airline/hotel/rental car to come back on the afternoon of the 3rd day! So as of right now, just 2 nights in Houston for me, although I can extend it. And NO...I'm NOT going to Austin instead!

I have a reservation at Springhill Suites by Hobby Airport, but I may try to get a hotel on Priceline when it gets closer. The Boardwalk Inn at Kemah looks lovely, but it's out of my budget for this trip.

It is pricey. I haven't been in one of the rooms, but every time I walk into the lobby, I wonder what the justification is for paying that much.

So...what should my priorities be?

1. Galveston

Ask yourself... do you love brown water so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face and sand that looks like mud? If so, make this number one. I almost wanna cry when I see Galveston, especially after living in Destin!

Some people love it though. YMMV.

2. Space Center

I haven't been here since they added on the new addition, so I can't answer that.

3. Kemah Boardwalk

Granted, it's surrounded by brown water too, and it's nothing more than carnival rides and restaurants for the most part. It's a cool place though, especially when they have bands playing.

4. Galleria (If I've been to other "Gallerias"...do I really need to see this one?)

Do you like to look at high-end "stuff"? (I'm talking Versace, Tiffany's, etc.). It's just like every other upscale mall, IMO. Again, YMMV. Keep in mind, there is a hotel attached to the Galleria. Maybe you could stay there?

5. Other museums in Houston

Our museum district is very "tight". You can museum hop and kill a whole day that way. The Houston Zoo is also in the same area.

Thanks for all your help! I'd suggest a DIS meet at the Boardwalk, but people might not want to venture out there on a weeknight.

You never know! You might get a good response!

 

[NancyIL]

Regarding Galveston...I'm really not interested in going to the beach, so I don't care if the water is brown! I want to visit the Strand and see the shops. Maybe it's not a full-day destination.

Looks like I definitely need to spend some quality time at the Space Center. I was thinking of buying an annual membership for only $2 more than a single admission - which includes free parking, as well as 10% off merchandise and food. That way I can go there the afternoon I arrive, and again the morning I leave.

I can't see staying near the Galleria when most of what I want to see is south of town. And no - I'm not a high-end kind of shopper...I'm WAY too cheap for that! OK..so maybe the Galleria is skippable.

Looks like the Boardwalk is open until 10 weeknights, so that's another option for one of my evenings. Hmmm...maybe I WILL see if anyone is interested in a DIS meet for dinner...once I iron out my plans some more!

I'll have to look into the museums...hadn't considered that until some of you mentioned them.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Here you go:

http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/
http://www.houstonzoo.org/
http://www.hmh.org/
http://www.nmfh.org/ (sorry, had to add that one in there - it just seems so bizarre!)

The Strand in Galveston won't take you that long, and there are shops of the same sort in Kemah. More in Spring, but you're talking heading North on I-45. You could probably get to Spring easier than Kemah/Galveston.

If you decide to go to Old Town Spring instead, let me know. I can give you gobs of info on where to eat and what to see. I live just on the other side of I-45 from it.

As for the Galleria, I'd rather go to The Woodlands Mall and Market Street. I can't stand that part of Houston where the Galleria is located. It's always so congested - but, it's where everything is. Probably why it's so congested! Duh... stoopid me.

 

[NancyIL]

Here you go:

http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/
http://www.houstonzoo.org/
http://www.hmh.org/
http://www.nmfh.org/ (sorry, had to add that one in there - it just seems so bizarre!)

The Strand in Galveston won't take you that long, and there are shops of the same sort in Kemah. More in Spring, but you're talking heading North on I-45. You could probably get to Spring easier than Kemah/Galveston.

If you decide to go to Old Town Spring instead, let me know. I can give you gobs of info on where to eat and what to see. I live just on the other side of I-45 from it.

As for the Galleria, I'd rather go to The Woodlands Mall and Market Street. I can't stand that part of Houston where the Galleria is located. It's always so congested - but, it's where everything is. Probably why it's so congested! Duh... stoopid me.

Thanks for the museum and zoo info.

I just had a thought...instead of staying in Dallas Sunday night, I could fly to Houston that evening and get a head start on my sightseeing plans bright and early Monday morning! I doubt my daughter would mind my early departure, since my DH and DS are leaving Sunday night to return home, and DD#2 will be staying with the new college graduate for a few days while I visit Houston.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Thanks for the museum and zoo info.

I just had a thought...instead of staying in Dallas Sunday night, I could fly to Houston that evening and get a head start on my sightseeing plans bright and early Monday morning! I doubt my daughter would mind my early departure, since my DH and DS are leaving Sunday night to return home, and DD#2 will be staying with the new college graduate for a few days while I visit Houston.

I dunno... the flight between Dallas and Houston is a long one! It might not help much.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Oh, one other thing that Houston has going for it, is our theater district: http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/

Maybe I should have been a travel agent instead of a real estate agent...

 

[drakethib]

I am from Houston and as the other posters have said try to go to Kemah. I really like going there.

Kemah is a great place !!!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Kemah is a great place !!!

DH is from Beaumont and his family still lives there. Just wanted to say hello!

 

[4greatboys]

Depending on your dates I think it would be fun to meet up in Kemah. My oldest is graduating high school then so it would just depend on what was going on.

 

[NancyIL]

OK...after my most recent brilliant idea...with the assitance of all of you, of course...I will now arrive in Houston on Sunday night, May 14. I decided to stay at TownePlace Suites Clear Lake instead of at the airport. Think I'll skip the Galleria and do the Space Center/Kemah/Galveston. Oh...this is getting exciting!

Deena...hope we can get together then!!!

 

[NancyIL]

OK...how does this sound?

Sunday, May 14 - arrive at Houston Hobby 7:12 p.m., check-in to hotel near Space Center, eat dinner and crash for the night.

Monday, May 15 - spend morning and early afternoon at the Space Center and perhaps finish the afternoon at the Holocaust Museum...or should I go to the museum first thing in the morning and then finish the day at the Space Center? Spend the evening at Kemah - possibly meeting other DISers for dinner

Tuesday, May 16 - visit Galveston...evening TBD

Wednesday, May 17 - return to the Space Center (especially if I buy an annual membership for only $2 more than a one-day admission), OR...venture to the Galleria for a few hours before afternoon flight home.

 

[Planogirl]

If you go to Galveston, you might want to consider checking out Moody Gardens. http://www.moodygardens.com/ It's very nice IMO and getting bigger all the time. We particularly enjoy the Rainforest and Aquarium Pyramids plus Palm Beach actually has white sand!

I think that some people are being a little hard on Galveston. Sure the water and sand aren't the best thanks to the offshore mess but the Seawall is still a nice place to stroll. Plus there's some very nice hotels like the Galvez and the San Luis along the the coast and a few great places to eat ( I recommend Gaidos). The Strand is pretty nice and be sure to see the tallship Elissa and the old Opera House if you're interested in such things. There are also various historic districts and old homes to tour both in those and along Broadway.

ETA: that it was a great idea to stay near NASA rather than at the airport. The Hobby Airport area isn't all that nice IMO. You might want to check calendars of events just before you go. The Houston area always has lots of festivals and other things going on.

 

[NancyIL]

Thanks for the info about Moody Gardens. I'll have learn more about it.