Downtown Houston’s downtown is certainly notable for
its sheer and daunting size. Houston is one of the largest cities in
the United States and its downtown is the seventh largest business
district. The skyline is even its own district within a district.
Pedestrians can travel the downtown through underground tunnels and
skywalks, quite an intricate network of both. For more on downtown,
click here. South Side,
Southwest, and the Warehouse District South of Downtown is
the residential South Side. Southwest Houston is also mostly
residential, if shoppers might want to check out Meyerland Plaza, a
large outdoor shopping mall. The Warehouse District is Houston’s
residential north, but check out the restaurants and
nightlife. Midtown and Texas Medical
Center Midtown’s situated south of Downtown and just
recently redeveloped. It’s probably best known as the home of Little
Saigon, the business center of Houston’s large Vietnamese population.
And south of Midtown is the Texas Medical Center, largest medical
complex in the world. The prestigious and research-science-focused
Rice University is near the Medical
Center. Somewhat incongruously,
the sports-center Reliant Park is also close
by. Uptown West of Downtown is Uptown, which, true
to its name, is upscale, and the Houston
Galleria (largest Texas mall)
definitely helps in that respect. Uptown also hosts that famous
skyscraper, the Williams
Tower, which shows off its height with a
beacon that slices through the night sky. Museum District
and Montrose Sixteen museums rest within this district,
which is right next to the Texas Medical Center. Two particularly
significant ones are the Houston
Museum of Natural Science, and the Museum of Fine Arts. Hermann Park and its well-loved Houston Zoo are also
within this district. On the northern end of the district is Montrose,
a district of vintage shops and eateries and art that spills right
onto the street. The Menil Collection
of modern and ancient art is here. The Six
“Wards” The University of Houston-Downtown is in the First
Ward, and the Third Ward is host to the notable University of Houston
and Texas Southern University. The Fifth and Sixth Ward both have
historic significance, particularly the Old Sixth Ward, a neighborhood
older than any other in Texas and populated by Victorian
homes. Greenway Plaza Greenway’s largely
commercial complex is west of Downtown and east of Uptown. Houston is
known for its restaurants and one of its most famous, Tony’s, is here,
but the Lakewood Church is certainly the most famous Greenway
fixture. Clear Lake This is Houston’s bay and the
place to fish, boat, troll seafood restaurants, and visit the visitor
center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, better known as Space
Center Houston. |
