Houston, we have landed!

A work trip meant I found myself travelling to the USA for the first time this year. Spending 5 weeks there in total, the majority of my time was in Houston, Texas. Whilst I was primarily there for work, the evenings and weekends were free to explore as we pleased. I'm happy to say that I did manage to see some of what Houston has to offer (other than my company's office 😆), which I've collated into this blog. Note that I didn't visit Houston and Texas purely for travel, and if I had, I would have covered a lot more in this blog. Nevertheless, I got a decent amount done in my free time - from must-see attractions that are at the top of everyone's list, to lesser known things that I think you should visit.

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Prior to visiting (and still largely true!), my geography of the US wasn't great at all. Above I've attached a map which shows where Houston is relative to the rest of the country. As you can see, it's in the south of the USA, by the Gulf of Mexico (or recently renamed Gulf of America). As a result, the weather we got in February was largely great - 20-25 degrees C, sun, and not much rain! That being said, I'm told the summer months in Houston get very hot and humid, as well as regular temperature fluctuations. Still better than a winter in London though in my opinion.

My observations of Houston

I didn't really know what to expect of the US when I arrived. Would it be like the movies and Netflix depicts it? Would the stereotypes be true? How would specifically being in Texas (the deep south) feel? Those were some of the questions I had before my trip. After spending a month there, I've collated and summarised some of my thoughts/observations of the city:

• They say everything is bigger in Texas. I'd have to agree with that statement. The cars, highways, food portion sizes, land, showmanship all was up there in Houston. The state of Texas is huge itself - around 3 times larger in area than the whole of the UK.

• The appetite for walking and public transport is pretty much zero. Like the majority of the US, Texas is completely car-centric. Walking only exists in artificially built communities or neighbourhoods. Any further beyond that, you need to get in your car. I tried to go for a run one day from the hotel to a local trail. However, just getting onto the trail (which was 1.5 miles away), too me right along the interstate 10 highway. Not the most pleasant route. As someone who's grown up in a city abundant with public transport and walking as a form of commute, I was not a fan of the car centric-ness. Public transport does exist in Houston, however it is considered quite sketchy and dangerous to use.
• It's easy to eat unhealthily. The restaurants around me served a wide range of cuisines, but I often found the food rich, heavy, and if eating frequently quite unhealthy. Unhealthy options are quite affordable and abundant in the US, so I felt I had to go out of my way to try and find healthier options. Luckily, as a vegan, that type of diet lends itself to restaurants with "healthy eating options" (which is what my regular diet looks like anyway), so I did manage to find a few spots that worked well. More information on those below, but do watch what you're eating when here.
• The tipping culture. You tip for pretty much everything here. Expect to pay 15-20% service charge on your meal, and even be asked to tip at a fast food joint. It's still up to you whether you'd like to tip or not, however it is generally customary to tip. On the topic of bills, the amount of tax paid varies by state, so often the label price in-stores will exclude tax. Take this into account when shopping/eating.
• Texans are more friendly than Londoners (on the whole). I found it very easy to talk to strangers or passers by whilst in Houston. They were vey welcoming and always happy to have a conversation.
• The cost of living is similar to London. Everyday items like groceries, rent etc., are of a similar price to London. Fuel is significantly cheaper though in Texas - beneficial in a car-centered setup.
• Traffic and rush hours exist in Houston, despite the huge 6 lane highways (in each direction). Travelling can be quite bad during rush hour, with journey times lengthened. Always allow for the Houston traffic when commuting.
• Overall, I'd say it looks and feels similar to what you'd see in a movie/show set in Houston - which I was surprised by. Please also note that the above observations are simply my opinions, and what I experienced in my month in Houston. Everyone will have a different view on the city.

Things to see/do in Houston

NASA Space Center 🚀

This was on the top of my to-see list in Houston, and even if you're not interested in Space, I'd say this is a must-visit attraction. Opening in 1992, the Space Center Houston has welcomed over 26.6 million guests through it's doors, covering all things space exploration. It is the Official Visitor Center of the NASA Johnson Space Center, and you can easily spend half a day here. We were limited for time, so could only stay for about 3 hours. In that time though, we managed to check out the following:

• Space X's Falcon 9 rocket
• Rocket Park, which is a short tram ride away to see the full Saturn V rocket in a hangar
• The various exhibits in the main building, all exploring different parts of NASA's history and space exploration in general.

As a kid an astronaut was actually on my 'potential career' lists, so going here definitely reignited my childhood passion for space exploration! Space Center Houston is great for all ages, although it can get quite busy so arrive early if coming on a weekend to avoid queues. There is also a gift shop selling all sorts of cool merch and souvenirs to take home with you.

Buffalo Bayou Trail 👣

A lesser known gem of Houston goes by the name of the Buffalo Bayou Trail. This trail cuts across Houston and meanders its way past rivers, fields and parks - despite being surrounded by classic urban sprawl. I was recommended to check out the trail by a fellow colleague, who suggested it would be a nice place to run. And boy, were they right! Buffalo Bayou Trail provided a much needed contrast from the car centric, urban landscape of Houston - with only runners, walkers and cyclists to be seen. Even though you were still in Houston, whilst on the trail you did feel quite immersed in nature. It is a nice mix of different types of scenery and largely flat, so easy enough to spend a good amount of time on. One weekend I did a 24km run along the trail, and there was plenty of room to keep going. Ideal for a quick stop after work, or a longer exploration during the weekend, Buffalo Bayou should be added to your list of things to do if it isn't on there already.

Houston Rockets NBA Game 🏀

Sports and entertainment go hand in hand in the US. You're not just going to watch a basketball game - you're going for an evening of half-time performances, music, fan giveaways, and of course basketball! Going to my first ever NBA was a sensory overload - it was a spectacle of keeping you constantly entertained for the 3 hours that you were in the Toyota Center - home of the Houston Rockets. Having grown up playing basketball, I enjoyed watching the pros on the court, pulling off moves that I've only dreamt of doing. Due to the large number of fixtures in the NBA season, there will be lots of opportunities for you to catch a Rockets game. Tip - if you're on a budget, go to a mid-week game and tickets are often cheaper. Games against less popular teams are also cheaper. We managed to pick up tickets for about $30 for a Saturday night game against the Brookyln Nets.

When travelling to the Toyota Center, allow lots of time before the game to soak up the atmosphere, get any snacks, and have a wander around the stadium. It will be very busy, so allow extra time for everything.

Houston Walking Tour 🏙️

Despite generally being an un-walkable city, downtown Houston actually offered a free walking tour! I found one on GuruWalk called "The Complete Walking Tour of Houston: History, Architecture, Street Art". Run by a native Houston, John, he mentioned that this was pretty much the only walking tour in the southwest of the USA. It took us through some of the key spots in the city center, including:

• Market Square Park
• Islamic DA'wah Center
• The Rice
• 1910 Harris County Courthouse
• and many murals by famous artists.

Why each of these places are interesting I'll let you find out for yourself, but this was a nice alternative way of exploring Houston. I'm a big fan of doing walking tours wherever I travel (as you can probably tell from my other blogs), as it's a cheap and detailed way to get to know a place.

Houston Museum of Natural Science 🧪

If you've been to the Science Museum in London, this had a similar vibe. We specifically went on a field trip to visit the Weiss Energy Hall, an entire floor dedicated to the energy sector which was very interesting. The HMNS has plenty of other exhibits to look at, and you can easily spend half a day here. It is located in the museum district of downtown, so there are other attractions located nearby.

Buc-ee's! 🦫

I had never heard of Buc-ee's, nor understood its significance in the US until I saw it for myself. Founded in 1982, Buc-ee's are the equivalent of UK 'service stations' along the motorway. Buc-ee's is a Texas-based convenience store and travel center, building it's name through having the cleanest bathrooms in any travel center in the States!

It's so popular in fact that it's become a bit of a tourist attraction. Entering one of their branches, it's more like a superstore of everything you would need on a road trip and more: food stations, snacks, clean restrooms, 100+ pump gas stations, and of course plenty of Buc-ee's merch! Their largest branch is in Luling, Texas, with 120 gas pumps and 75,000 square feet of store.

While I wouldn't go out of your way to visit Buc-ee's, check where the nearest one is to you when in Houston. If it's on the way to your next destination, definitely pop and in you'll be surprised!

Houston Premium Outlets 🛍️

Although I'm not a big fan of shopping myself, the outlet shopping malls in Houston are worth paying a visit to. Compared to the UK, they are far larger and offer a better range of clothing, footwear and accessories. It feels exactly like a regular shopping center, except everything is outlet price. Houston Premium Outlets is a good one to visit - although 35mins from downtown so you'll need to allow at least half a day to go there. It offers over 140 designer brands, some of which have pretty good deals on. There is a food court there too, with some decent options. I picked up a few bits and pieces, but as always check what the price is elsewhere so you know you're actually getting a good deal.

PS: All the label prices exclude tax!

Plant-based in Houston 🌱

Food was something I wasn't quite sure about when visiting the US for the first time. I've heard mixed reviews about how good the vegan food is in the States, and going to Texas of all places I didn't have my hopes high. However, I'd say the food choices were decent - although lagging behind the UK & Australia still. Below are a few places I've highlighted that I think have decent vegan options are are worth supporting.

One thing I'd also add about the US restaurant scene that it is quite easy to eat unhealthily for quite a cheap price, and finding 'healthy' restaurants can be tricky. But they do exist, so if you do have any dietary requirements I'd recommend you do your research before coming here.

Flower Child 🥗

Probably my favourite restaurant that I visited whilst in Houston, Flower Child served nourishing, filling vegan food that hit the spot. I'd say this restaurant is more health focussed than other places, which is great if you don't want greasy, oily fast food. Some dishes I recommend are:

• Mother Earth bowl - ancient grains, sweet potato, portobello mushroom, avocado, cucumber, broccoli pesto, charred onion, leafy greens, red pepper miso vinaigrette, hemp seed.
• "Forbidden" Rice - black pearl, red japonica, snap pea, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, onion, toasted sesame, red chili hoisin
• Chocolate pudding - sprouted almond, toasted coconut

Cava 🧆

Fast food gone Mediterranean is how I would describe Cava. My go-to here was the Crispy Falafel pitta - Falafel, hummus, roasted eggplant, pickles, cabbage slaw, tomato + onion, garlic dressing, skhug. Super filling and reasonably priced too. Cava stores are pretty popular across Texas, so you can find them in other cities like Dallas.

Cascabel 🌮

A fully vegan restaurant serving Mexican eats in Houston, Cascabel was the best Tex-Mex I had during my 5 weeks in the States. They have a great outdoor dining area, complete with live music, perfect for a warm evening in February. I got the taco platter - 5 tacos with a choice of fillings, served with salsa, rice and beans. Super filling, and so delicious!

And with that finishes my summary of what Houston was like. It was a great first experience to the US and it's culture, and I enjoyed my month there. Very different from what I was used to growing up in the UK in all aspects - but I enjoy visiting places like that. Despite having limited exploration time, I hope I've shown that there's loads to do, eat and see in H-Town!

Now for a word on travel insurance...

Something that I always do is take out travel insurance. You never know when you're going to need it, and would rather have that piece of mind knowing you are covered. But for my multi-trip adventures, getting travel insurance was sometimes a bit tricky. Multiple countries, different start and end destinations, it can be hard to find the right cover for that. Which is where SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance comes in. The Nomad Insurance Offered by SafetyWing provides short term coverage for any medical/travel related issues when abroad. Feel free to click the button below to get started, and happy travels!