Dear Houston, I am so sorry. I took you for granted. I sold you short.
And that’s why I’m going to use the next 1,000 or so words trying to make it up to you.
You see for the past two years, I’ve been a typical Aberdeen business visitor. I fly over once a year for the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). And each time I naively thought I was enjoying the spoils of the Texan metropolis. I shopped at the Galleria. I visited the show and I drank margaritas in the hotel bar of the Hilton Post Oak.
But then Visit Houston stepped in with an agenda to show me that Houston was so much more than Marshalls and Maggiano’s.
I flew out on Singapore Airline’s new direct flight from Manchester to the US oil capital. The flight itself was a rare treat. The food and service were both superb, sending me straight into relaxation mode.
With 2.2million residents, Houston is the fourth most populous city in the United States, trailing only New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. And I soon learned the locals don’t let you forget it. In fact, I couldn’t have a conversation with anyone, without them letting me know they were on the cusp of overtaking Chicago.
They’re proud of their energy-charged economy and it reflects in the amount of new construction flanking most street corners. More than 145 languages are spoken in the cultural melting pot.
On arrival, we were headed straight for the hotel – the JW Marriot Houston Downtown.
Despite being wedged between Houston’s various high rises and sports arenas, the room was absolutely plush.
The deluxe layout gave you ample amounts of space on one of Houston’s busiest city streets. A room opened into a double sink and vanity space. The toilet and giant walk-in shower were tucked discreetly behind a sliding door. Two overstuffed, dreamy double beds faced one of the biggest flat screen TVs I have ever seen. A desk and various chairs completed the sleek living space.
But the best part of the hotel is that you didn’t have to sacrifice location for the space. You are still on the doorstep of the best beer, barbecue and nightlife you could want from a city jaunt.
And as I soon realised, you don’t need a Post Oak postcode to see the best of what Houston has to offer.
Threaded through every rat run, there’s culture, food and adventure.
The cultural hotspot prides itself on reflecting the “nation’s demographic future”.
38.8% of its population is Anglo, 35.9% is Hispanic, 16.7% is African American and 6.7% is Asian or other.
That melting pot of backgrounds and traditions bubbled over into the cuisine on offer.
In three days, I managed to eat myself silly, starting with the Grove, located inside Discovery Green Park.
It prides itself on urban dining. Persuaded by the waiter, I ended up ordering the Beet Hummus to start, accompanied by pistachios, dill, Serrano, sea salt, olive oil and flatbread. For my main, I had the TX Blackened Redfish. I handed the plates back practically clean and wondered if I could pull off ordering another main for pudding.
With its chic lighting and upscale atmosphere, it makes a great place to do business or entertain.
A short car ride away you will find Jackson Street BBQ, but be warned, during baseball season you’ll be lining up down the block to grab one of their famous Dino Bones. Grab a side of creamed corn and slice of Pecan Pie. You can thank me later.
It took sheer willpower to put my fork down and see the sights.
But whether you’re sport mad and want to catch a baseball or football game or a Stem geek like myself, the growing city doesn’t disappoint.
Houston, which will be hosting the coveted Super Bowl game this year, (2017), is also home to the Space Center Houston.
It’s the official visitor centre for Nasa’s Johnson Space Center.
With more than 400 attractions, including the presidential podium of John F. Kennedy, you’ll want to allow yourself enough time to take it all in.
On Fridays, you can meet a real-life astronaut, or head out to Independence Plaza on any day to enter the shuttle replica Independence, mounted on top of the historic and original Nasa 905 shuttle carrier aircraft. It is the world’s only shuttle mounted on an SCA and the only one allowing the public to enter both.
You can visit the centre on the Houston CityPASS, which offers you entry at a discount.
For nature lovers, there’s the Bayou City Bike Tours. The veteran-owned company hires post 9/11 veterans as they transition into service. Their experienced tour guides will fit you out with a bike and show you the gorgeous nature spots located alongside Houston’s historic skyline. As native Houstonians, they share more than just the trodden paths but the history and insight that makes them love calling Houston their home.
Finally, I couldn’t visit Houston without seeing what it had to offer at night – away from the Post Oak lobby.
The Downtown Historic Pub Crawl Tour includes three pubs all with amazing cocktails to boot.
For a city that made its name in oil, Houston is determined to create a legacy of diversity and variety.
It is a city that continues to cook, build and create. An oil metropolis that is determined to build unrivalled business reputations in other sectors.
So Houston, I hope you can accept my sincere apologies for pigeon-holing you to one postcode, one conference, because we both know you’re so much more.
HOLIDAY FACTS
Singapore Airlines flies five times weekly from Manchester to Houston, Texas
Flights start at £415pp in Economy and £2,390pp in Business Class. Book by January 31, 2017, travel until June 2017.
With Singapore Airlines codeshare with Flybe, 11 cities in the UK can connect to Manchester Airport and onwards to Houston, including Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness
To book or for more information visit www.singaporeair.com
Houston, the fourth-largest US city, is a dynamic destination home of world-class attractions, restaurants, shopping and renowned cultural and sporting events. Find everything you need for a perfect getaway and grasp the pulse of this cosmopolitan destination at www.VisitHOUSTON.com
Manchester Airport is the UK’s global gateway for the north with more than 210 destinations. For information on car parking, hotels, lounges and retail, visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk
