Hello Houston!
Boy am I excited to be back here! I was last in Houston in 2001 as a young 20 year old on a similar trip but on my own. I have family here in Houston and it has been way too long since we have seen each other. This post is a bit of a round up of everything we did in our 11 days in Houston. I will write a couple more detailed posts about parts of this trip and add in the links.
As always all the cost will be in a table at the bottom!
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| Flight Tracker United Airlines Los Angeles to Houston |
I have a love hate relationship with the flight tracker map on a plane. I wouldn't want to be without it as I really like knowing where we are but sometimes it just feels like it is not moving at all! This was a very relaxed and relatively short flight at about 3 and a half hours. After the 12 and a half hour flight from Auckland to LA this one was a breeze. A little bumpy on the landing, even though there didn't appear to be any wind.
Shopping
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| Boot Barn Houston Texas |
We have a few farmers in the family and had to check out the incredible selection of cowboy boots. We ended up buying jeans for the teenager and T-shirts as gifts. Bit too hard to choose boots as a gift! There were so many different styles and then who knows what size to buy.
We also went to several shopping malls and outlet stores with some success. Great to wonder round and look at everything, but when you are travelling to Europe before returning home you can't buy too much and have to lug it all with you.
For us little regional New Zealanders this one street of Christmas lights was out the gate! So many lights and so many cool displays. Nothing like any of us had ever seen before. We walked the whole street and saw so many kids out in the back of trucks in awe of the lights. It was just magical to see and really brought the spirit of Christmas to life.
We spent an incredible day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. This place is massive! So many dinosaurs, Egyptian artifacts, butterfly garden, interactive activities, this place has it all. To put it into context, we went to Auckland Museum, a 7 hour drive from home, to see a visiting T-Rex (Pete) as there had never been one in New Zealand before. Just the one T-Rex and the Houston Museum of Science has so many dinosaurs to see. I could've spent another day here just taking the time to see everything.
A short drive from Houston is the coastal city of Galveston. We did a little eating, shopping, ferry riding and walking at the beach. Ending the day with a stunning sunset. There are many stone wall, pier like things that jut out into the water. You can walk out on these, giving you even better views.
We had lunch at the Monument Inn, a seafood restaurant near the San Jacinto Monument. Huge portions and an excellent view. I was looking at what seemed like a medium sized river, with small ferries crossing, and then this beast just motored on through. It really didn't look like the kind of waterway that could fit a massive cargo ship. While we were eating a helicopter arrived, parked on the grass, put out their little orange cone and came inside to eat lunch. That is next level!
We met up with friends at the Kemah Boardwalk where the teens enjoyed the rides, and the more adventurous one even dragged dad to take on the rollercoaster, which was pretty scary being wooden and very bumpy. There were delicious snacks, drinks and an aquarium where we fed the stingrays.
On a drive around the area I spotted this stunning temple. They are very welcoming and open to visitors for no charge. The temple is entirely built of marble, it is not old as it was built in 2004. You need to remove your shoes, they have special rooms, male and female are separate, to take them off and place them in shelves. Then you can walk up the stairs and into the temple to look around.
Note: As you can see we have zero costs for accommodation and rental cars. We were very lucky to have such kind family to stay with and chauffer us around. While also feeding us the majority of the time.
Brazos Bend State Park
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| Brazos Bend State Park, Houston, Texas |
One of our first stops was Brazos Bend State Park. This sign was near the first car park we stopped at to look around. Right next to picnic tables and a play ground. Seems so bizarre! Caution Alligators but feel free to picnic and play.
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| Brazos Bend State Park, Houston, Texas |
Christmas Lights - Candy Cane Lane Sugarland
For us little regional New Zealanders this one street of Christmas lights was out the gate! So many lights and so many cool displays. Nothing like any of us had ever seen before. We walked the whole street and saw so many kids out in the back of trucks in awe of the lights. It was just magical to see and really brought the spirit of Christmas to life.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
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| Triceratops at Houston Museum of Natural Science |
Galveston
A short drive from Houston is the coastal city of Galveston. We did a little eating, shopping, ferry riding and walking at the beach. Ending the day with a stunning sunset. There are many stone wall, pier like things that jut out into the water. You can walk out on these, giving you even better views.
San Jacinto Monument & Monument Inn
The San Jacinto monument was a quick stop as we had a lunch date lined up and didn't have a lot of time. Surrounded by beautiful park like area it is a big contrast from the oil refineries we drove past to get here.
We had lunch at the Monument Inn, a seafood restaurant near the San Jacinto Monument. Huge portions and an excellent view. I was looking at what seemed like a medium sized river, with small ferries crossing, and then this beast just motored on through. It really didn't look like the kind of waterway that could fit a massive cargo ship. While we were eating a helicopter arrived, parked on the grass, put out their little orange cone and came inside to eat lunch. That is next level!
Kemah Boardwalk
We met up with friends at the Kemah Boardwalk where the teens enjoyed the rides, and the more adventurous one even dragged dad to take on the rollercoaster, which was pretty scary being wooden and very bumpy. There were delicious snacks, drinks and an aquarium where we fed the stingrays.
Houston Zoo
A family day out at the Houston Zoo was also a fun day. So many animals especially the cool ones we are not allowed in New Zealand even at the zoo, I'm looking at you snakes!
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple
On a drive around the area I spotted this stunning temple. They are very welcoming and open to visitors for no charge. The temple is entirely built of marble, it is not old as it was built in 2004. You need to remove your shoes, they have special rooms, male and female are separate, to take them off and place them in shelves. Then you can walk up the stairs and into the temple to look around.
Goodbye Houston
I was very sad to be leaving Houston. I had a wonderful time catching up with family, eating myself round and seeing all the sights. Luckily this is a summary post of our 11 days and I will be writing the more detailed posts soon. So, I can relive my holiday for a little bit longer!