maria, I forgot to mention to you that my office tried the restaurant I had mentioned to you, and we weren't blown away by it. The food was good, but not WOW good like I was expecting. Did you ever get to try it? The soup came in a little tiny container almost like what you would get ketchup in - kind of funny!

bk, thanks for your sweet compliment.

ade, I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but near New Braunfels is a town called Gruene (pronounced Green) - really charming and full of antiques, cute shops, and a great Bed and Breakfast called the Gruene Apple. The Grist Mill is a fun spot to eat right on the river; the outside has a lot of decks, and they make homemade wine coolers and sometimes have live music. Also Gruene Hall is famous for country music if you want a real taste of Texas; a lot of country performers have gotten their start there. I don't know if such a tiny town would interest you, but it's a nice contrast to Houston and the big D.

volcanogirl, yeah I was really disappointed with Tafia the last time we were there too (December). The food was almost tasteless! My husband is writing to her (very English thing to do). Anyway, there was a chef sitting next to us and they overheard us talking and they agreed, their food wasn't any good either. Very disappointing. However, have you tried Cafe Montrose? Belgian food. Yummy.

m, I'm glad it's not just me. I almost felt guilty saying I didn't love it. I will check out Cafe Montrose - thanks for the suggestion! Based on your posts, I can tell we have similar tastes. Hope everyone has a good night!

Cafe Montrose - YES YES YES! Some of the best moules frites I have had.

Rich,

You ask "What does it [Houston] stand for???"

I'll answer this once and for all, and then we need to get back on topic.

Well, how about mass consumerism, no zoning/city planning so that porn shops can sit next to child care centers, a lack of public transportation, lack of concern for the environment, pollution that exceeds Los Angeles (even though the metro area is 1/4 the population), sprawl, sprawl, and did I say sprawl?

Los Angeles had (past tense) a sprawl problem caused by too restrictive zoning, with building heights limited to a few stories up until a few decades ago. However, they've limited sprawl to a large extent (although what's already there is there), and skyscrapers are commonplace. The Los Angeles basin is now one of the highest urban densities in the country and the density keeps getting better, pollution is under check, and several subway and light rail lines have been built.

The net effect is that Los Angeles changed its ways, but Houston hasn't really done anything to address its problems. Also, there's no end in sight to a solution to any of the problems there.

When Los Angeles was becoming sprawl city in the 1950's and 1960's, nobody could have forseen how large it would have gotten. However, when Houston was expanding in the 1970's and 1980's, it could have taken it's cue from Los Angeles, where smog was such a bad problem that emissions standards and the like were becoming the norm.

Houston didn't learn from history, and we all know that is a terrible mistake.

I am so strong on these points, because I want to incite Houstonians to demand more from their inept city leaders. By the way, you were denied the Olympics because of the aforementioned issues.

i'm sorry, i was just in LA and the traffic adn sprawling issues are MUCH MUCH worse than in Houston. Anyway, I really don't think this is the post to bash Houston. Ade was asking for the good things of a city - not the bad.

maria_so,

I was just answering Rich's question.

it might be but Rich was just responding to what you said to begin with. Again, I really enjoy your positive suggestions but the negative ones are such a turn off. It's not a nice way to welcome people to Texas. It really isn't. I think we all know how you feel about Houston but you don't live here so don't worry about it and leave it to us Houstonians to get upset about or not about our own city. You are entitled to your opinion but the question wasn't "what bad things can you tell me about these texas cities i want to visit". The question was the exact oposite.

bk, enough with the Houston bashing please. Houston has hosted numerous big events including the Super Bowl, World Series, the All-Star game - every city has its positives and negatives. You'll notice that the people that live here really love it, and we can help visitors discover all its good points. The poster would just like suggestions on things to do for 3 days, and we're helping him do that. Ade, please let us know if we can be of any more help.

I saw the "Houston and what it stands for" slam by bkluvsnola (aka bkhateshouston), and almost bit, but restrained myself. Now, however, I'll jump in and say that along with maria and volcanogirl, I really like Houston, and take exception to someone trashing it (or anywhere else, for that matter) on what is supposed to be a travel information website.

And ade, sorry this has gotten off the subject. I hope you'll let us know if you need any more suggestions. We're glad you've decided to visit us in Texas!

yeah, so sorry I bit. I was really trying not to also but when she said that LA didn't have a sprawling issue anymore and that they have gotten better - comparing to us, I couldn't help it. I was stuck in traffic for 4 hours when I first got there and spent the majority of my time in traffic throughout the whole trip. Houston is nothing near that bad! I just don't get people who feel they have to bash a city (not their own) when it is completely beside the point. That's the last I will say about it.

Abe, apolodies for veering off topic.

Wow, I say some opinions about a city and I personally get bashed. It's okay, I have thick skin.

If you read the original transcript, you'll notice that I didn't bash Houston. Rich "stirred" stuff up originally.

I mentioned that I thought it would be a better American experience to go to a ball game in Arlington instead of Houston. This was advice - that is what this forum is for. *Several* people agreed with me as well so I don't think that what I said was "bashing" Houston, just an observation that several people confirmed. I personally think the OP would be better off seeing more of the other cities than Houston. This is a VALID OPINION.

maria_so,

I'm a guy and not a girl, so don't refer to me as "she".

I may have to take back what I said about all Houston residents that I have met so far being nice.

Ade,

This is what the Houston lovers want me to say to you:

Houston is a great city where you can walk to everything downtown, where the weather is 72 degrees and sunny with no humidity all year, especially in the summer. I don't even know why buildings have air conditioning there, as they don't need it. The food is great, cheap, and healthy. Everyone walks or rides bikes to work, especially in the 72 degree summer weather. In fact, they are the slimmest city in America. Oh, did I mention there is no poverty in Houston and the streets are paved with gold? Also, there is no traffic there, but the roads are nice and wide anyway, just to give you breathing room. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, the air is the cleanest in the country.

Oh, did I mention that the Brooklyn Bridge is for sale? The asking price is $1,000 - now that's a steal.

She has clearly never been to Houston or LA . . amazing!

bk, i think you have it very wrong. it would seem i am much nicer than you. I never bashed you. I stated the obvious, which is what you did. However, you bashed houston which you should know from past posts that it offends us Houstonians. You obviously don't care how you come across to us so please don't say anything about who are nice and not nice. I think that everyone who has been reading this post would not agree that Rich is the one who "stirred" it. Rich was just responding to your statement. Own up at least.

...and sarcasm? that was your best response?????

Keep Austin Weird!

Many of us who call Houston home really do like it. To each his own. Trust me that many of the people I know, myself included, can live anywhere we desire and choose to call Houston home. Maybe you think we should usurp Austin's slogan. We really don't care. There are many great tourist towns, such as New Orleans, where few people with a choice would ever choose to live. Then there are towns that do not depend on tourism for their economic survival, such as Houston or Dallas, where more and more people are choosing to live and offer many an excellent situation. It is that simple, however difficult that may be to understand.

Now in response to Ade's post:

Flying into Houston for three days I would definitely spend half a day at Space Center Houston/NASA 30 miles south of the city. I would visit the San Jacinto Monument and Battleground on the east side of the city if you are interested in Texas history (you could combine this with NASA).

I would spend a day Galveston, 50 miles south of the city. Visit the historic downtown and take in the movie regarding the hurricane of 1900. Spend the rest of the day at Moody Gardens.

You are probably going to need part of a day just to adapt following your flight. Go to the Galleria to shop, it should seem quite the bargain coming from the U.K.. If you are a museum buff, check out "Lucy" at the Natural History Museum (yes, the actual bones from Ethiopia) or the Menil Collection.

If it is nature you are after, visit Brazos Bend State Park, about 45 minutes southwest of the city. On a sunny day in April you are likely to see many alligators, some quite large, basking in the sunshine.

And of course, get your fill of Tex-Mex food. Pappasito's, El Tiempo, and Ninfa's are good tourist choices.

Enjoy your trip. I really wanted to visit the U.K. last November but normally expensive New York City was an absolute bargain in comparison, as many Brits seemed to agree. Also love the BBC; wish we could get the real thing here instead of "BBC America". I will consider taking the family later this year if possible; my son wants to see the new Doctor Who exhibit in London of course!

Thanks once again for the replies which have made me smile alot as there seems to be a lot of rivalry between you americans......abit like the welsh and the english.....for those of you that would like to visit the uk dont forget that its more than england theres another three countries to see so please dont stop at london which is vastly overpriced if you have the opportunity to travel......and bring your visa with you they dont call it rip off britain for nothing its so so expensive here....makes me wonder why you would bother at all....

again thanks for the info

Ade
Wales UK

Hope you enjoy your time here as much as I enjoyed my time in UK. I lived in London ( I know . . ) in the early 80's and while I did not get to do as much traveling around as I should have, I went to Aberdeen a lot on business and did to to Cardiff once on Holiday and loved it.

I hope we can be a gracious to you while you are here as folks were to me while I was there.

You have gotten some good advice here ( and some BS ) . . if you need any more information, we'd be glad to help out.

Rich