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NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
The Museum District, near Rice University and Hermann Park
The Houston Zoological Gardens
Cockrell Butterfly Tower, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, featuring a continually changing collection of live butterflies in a walk-through tropical garden
The Texas Medical Center
The Theater District--10 blocks in downtown Houston with the Alley Theatre, Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, parks and plazas
San Jacinto Monument and Museum of History, and the Battleship Texas
The Bishop's Palace, the Railroad Museum, Strand Street Theatre, Moody Gardens, and the tall ship Elissa in Galveston
Moody Gardens, with 10-story glass Rainforest Pyramid and one of the world's three 3-D IMAX theaters, in Galveston
Downtown Houston--a world-famous skyline, a kaleidoscope of contemporary architecture, 28 pieces of public art by internationally-acclaimed artists
Texas Commerce Tower's 60th floor public observation deck (Mon.-Fri. 8-5)
Astrodome U.S.A.--Astrodome, Astrohall, Astroarena and ExpoCenter
AstroWorld, a 65-acre amusement park
WaterWorld--15 acres of water sports and attractions adjoining AstroWorld
FunPlex--indoor entertainment complex and 15 acres of water sports
Splashtown USA, a 46-acre water park with 17 major water rides and attractions
Port of Houston and Houston Ship Channel (90-minute free tour available with advance arrangements--713-225-4044)
The Galleria, a three-story retail/entertainment/hotel center that is a premier attraction for visitors and residents alike
Sri Meenakshi Temple, an architecturally elaborate new Hindu temple in Pearland
The Water Wall at Transco Tower, just south of The Galleria
Downtown and suburban office buildings offer striking examples of award-winning contemporary architecture, including Texas Commerce Tower, the tallest U.S. building outside New York and Chicago, and Transco Tower, the tallest U.S. building outside a central business district. The Connection--begun in 1929, and now 6.3 miles of enclosed, air-conditioned pedestrianways (tunnels and elevated walkways) featuring retail and service establishments--links more than 70 downtown buildings. Houston is second only to Chicago in the amount of convention space for major exhibitions--1.7 million sq.ft., versus Chicago's 1.8 million. In 1994, Houston hosted 500 conventions of authentic convention-holding associations with 496,824 registered delegates using hotels or motels, and more than 106 public shows and special events. Since Houston hosted the 1992 Republican National Convention, the number of people attending events and attractions in the Houston area has risen above two million. Convention arrangements are made through the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, 801 Congress, Houston 77002 (800-4-HOUSTON).
HOTELS & MOTELS: Houston has 152 major hotels and motels. Many are located near convention and entertainment centers. Major hotels and motels in the Houston area have 32,961 rooms; 405 more rooms in four properties, primarily limited-service hotels, are under construction.
GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER, opened in 1987, offers 451,500 sq.ft. of exhibit space and 53,000 sq.ft. of registration area. Three halls, each over 123,000 sq.ft., can be combined into a single 371,500-sq.ft. space. Brown served as the media center for the 1990 Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations.
ASTRODOME U.S.A.: The Astrodome USA Convention and Entertainment Center, which offers 25,000 permimeter parking spaces, consists of three facilities:
The $31.6-million, 160,000-sq.ft. air-conditioned Astrodome, opened in April 1965, can be converted to seating for conventions (70,000), baseball (55,000), football (65,000), or basketball (65,000).
The Astrohall Convention Center, a $7.25-million facility with 550,000 sq.ft. of exhibit space, is site of the Offshore Technology Conference, the Houston International Boat, Sport and Travel Show, and other major professional and trade events.
Adjacent are the Astroarena and Exposition Centers, which have 350,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and seat 8,000.
Astrodomain was the site of the 1992 Republican National Convention.
THE SUMMIT, an $18.3-million sports arena/entertainment center in Greenway Plaza, has 17,000 sq.ft. of floor exhibit space and seats 17,064. It opened in 1975, and has covered parking for 6,500 vehicles.
ALBERT THOMAS CONVENTION CENTER is being renovated to accommodate a 155,000-sq.ft. retail and entertainment center that will include a sports bar, a country and western dance hall, a beach club, restaurants, and dance clubs.
COLISEUM & MUSIC HALL: The downtown Music Hall, home
of Theatre Under the Stars, offers a theater-style auditorium seating 3,023.
The adjoining Sam Houston Coliseum is slated for demolition; proposals
for redeveloping the site are being explored.
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Diane C. MoserReferral & Relocation Certified (713) 827-7300 |
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