Where is Houston (Texas) Located? Is Houston worth visiting?

Aerial view of Houston zoo at downtown Houston, Texas
Aerial view of Houston zoo at downtown Houston, Texas
 

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Houston is the largest city in Texas and the 4th largest city in the United States. It is located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Within this article we will delve into more detail about the city of Houston, the best attractions and excursions that it offers, and some fun city facts which you may not know.

Where is Houston, Texas?

Where is Houston (Texas) Located
Where is Houston (Texas) Located

Houston is located in Texas, the 28th U.S. state. Texas is bordered by four US states: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, along with the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, and Chihuahua.

How many people live in Houston?

Houston is home to 2.31 million people according to the 2019 United States Census Bureau.

What time zone is Houston in?

Houston is in the Central Standard Time Zone. 

How big is Houston?

Houston is 1,733 km² (283.013 mi²).

Why is Houston nicknamed “Space City”?

Houston is nicknamed Space City to signify its global importance to space exploration. The city is known historically as being the prominent center of activity for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

What is the weather like in Houston?

Houston is classified as having a humid subtropical climate, partly due to its tropical influences.

In Houston, the summers are hot and humid, and fall usually ranks as the warmest month at 94.5 °F (34.7 °C). In the winter, Houston is cool, wet, and partly cloudy. January is usually the coldest month at 42.2 °F (5.7 °C).

Late March to mid May and late September to early November are the best times to visit Houston, as it isn’t too cold, too hot, or too humid.

What professional sports teams are in Houston?

Houston has six professional major league teams. These are the Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Texans (NFL), Houston Rockets (NBA), Houston Dynamo FC (MLS), Houston Dash (NWSL), and Houston SaberCats (MLR).

What airports are in Houston?

There are two airports in Houston: the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)  and the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)

The George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is best for most flyers, despite the fact that it is situated 23 miles from downtown. It offers over 185 non-stop destinations with 27 different airlines, and as such, has the best flight network and choices in Houston.

Alternatively, there is also the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), located just 7 miles from downtown Houston. This airport is best for traveling south of the city, and provides non-stop options to over 60 airports.

What is there to do in Houston, Texas?

Houston isn’t just the largest city in Texas – it is also one of the most diverse cities in the country. It is renowned for its food culture, theater district, and educational institutions, and as such, is a great place to explore. 

Houston is definitely worth visiting – and here’s why.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science. Editorial credit: Fotos593 / Shutterstock.com

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the best things to do in the city, and tou will need well over three hours to explore it. It is filled with dinosaur skeletons, space-station models, and mineral specimens, and even has an IMAX theater! It is a great day out for the whole family.

Cockrell Butterfly Center

Butterflies in Houston's Cockrell Butterfly Center
Butterflies in Houston’s Cockrell Butterfly Center

Located beside the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Cockrell Butterfly Center is a glass-enclosed butterfly habitat which houses thousands of colorful butterflies, along with a simulated rainforest. One of the best bits of the center is the 50-foot waterfall and the exotic plants.

Minute Maid Park

Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park. Editorial credit: Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock.com

Having opened in 2000 as the home stadium of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball, Minute Maid Park is a great place to experience some of that sporting culture that Houston is known for.

Houston Museum of Fine Arts

Houston Museum of Fine Arts
Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Editorial credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

The Museum of Fine Arts is home to nearly 70,000 objects covering world cultures. It is the largest cultural institution in the southwest U.S., and includes paintings from Europe, photography from Africa, Pre-Columbian prints, and endless sculptures, art, and design.

Children’s Museum Houston

Children's Museum Houston
Children’s Museum Houston. Editorial credit: Philip Lange / Shutterstock.com

The Children’s Museum is a great place to take kids to help teach them about history, culture, health, science, technology, and the arts. This is another place where you are bound to spend the whole day exploring with the family.

Houston Zoo

Aerial view of Houston zoo at downtown Houston, Texas
Aerial view of Houston zoo at downtown Houston, Texas

The Houston Zoo houses over 6,000 permanent animals, and has over 1.84 million guests annually. You can attend public events and entertainment, and learn more about what is essentially an animal city within a human city.

Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston. Editorial credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com

You can’t visit Houston without going to the Space Center! This is one of Houston’s top attractions, and has over 400 space artifacts, along with numerous permanent and traveling exhibits. Whilst here, why not also see the NASA Johnson Space Center?

The Galleria

The Galleria
The Galleria. Editorial credit: michelmond / Shutterstock.com

The Galleria is the largest shopping center in Texas, and the fourth largest in the U.S. It houses 4oo fine stores and restaurants, along with two high-rise hotels and three office towers. With over 26 million visitors each year, it’s a popular retail and tourist destination.

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Bayou Bend is Houston’s house museum for American decorative arts and paintings. Located in the home of the former Houston civic leader (Ima Hogg), this is one of the finest collections of American ceramics, paintings, and furnishings in the world.

What are some fun facts about Houston? 

“Houston” was the first word heard on the moon, in the phrase, “Houston, we have a problem”.

Houston is home to the first traditional Hindu temple in the U.S.

The Houston Astrodome (officially called the NRG Astrodome) is the world’s first domed sports stadium.

Houston’s highest point is 125 feet above sea level.

Houston is the fourth most populated city in the U.S.

There are over 145 different languages spoken in Houston.

Houston has the largest medical center in the world.

One of the biggest rodeos in the world is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Houston’s J.P. Morgan Chase Tower is the tallest five-sided building in the world.

See Also

US CITIES MAPS

What is Houston Known for?

Let’s Explore Space City

Interesting Facts about Houston

What Is Houston, Texas Famous For?

Is Houston, Texas worth visiting?

Best Places to visit in Houston, Texas

Hi and welcome to my travel blog! Based in London, I work in investment banking in a quantitative field and although I am not part of the travel industry, I have a ton of passion for travel. My blog is a reference guide for my fellow travelers with the same passion as me. Hopefully the blog is easy to navigate and my aim is to bring the most relevant and interesting information before you begin your journey!