Houston Flights and Travel Guide

The city of Houston might very well be the reason for the catch phrase, “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” Houston is the U.S. energy headquarters, the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in America, is home to the fourth largest multi-airport system in the U.S., has the nation’s third largest fleet of taxis and, of course, is home to NASA – the world’s leading space and aeronautics research center.

Visitors traveling to Houston will no doubt be entertained. Whether it’s golfing, sports, business or education, Houston has it all. Prepare to rally if your Houston flight falls during baseball season. Houston is big sports town – after all, it is the site of the Houston Astrodome, home to MLB Houston Astros, and the country’s first retractable-roof stadium, Reliant Park. Hop a flight to Houston to visit The Museum of Fine Arts, the sixth largest museum in the country, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. If you’re flying to Houston for business, make sure to set aside some time for a quick game of golf at one of Houston’s 165 golf courses.

NASA, the rodeo, museums, the Astrodome, elegant restaurants and barbecue spots — Houston has plenty to offer. And Houstonians are among the world’s friendliest people. Never hesitate to ask for directions or information; this town, for all its sophistication, still shows the spirit of the frontier days when the pioneers all pitched in to lend a helping hand.

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Houston Climate

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When to Fly to Houston

Peak Season:
The ideal times to take a flight to Houston are early spring and fall. In October and at least early November, the weather is often still warm enough for summer clothes, but the humidity is gone.

Off Season:
Most visitors prefer to avoid the hot, humid summer from June until September. Travelers on a budget are sure to find cheap flights to Houston during the summer months. Book your hotel accommodations at the same time as your Houston flight – budget and economy hotels in Houston book up fast during the off-season.

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Getting Downtown Houston

It’s easy to get around Houston via car. Travelers booking flights to Houston would do well to reserve rental cars. The city is easily to navigate and you can often find joint rental car and Houston flight deals. If your stay in Houston is short, leave your Houston flight and hop a cab downtown to your hotel. Both Houston airports provide taxis, private limousines, scheduled buses and shuttles, and access to public transport from the airport. For up-to-date shuttle information and fares, see the airport Web site.

George Bush Intercontinental (IAH). The airport is sited 22 miles north of Houston.

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). The airport is 9 miles southeast of the city.

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Getting Around Houston

If you’re planning to spend most of your time downtown (including the museum district), you can get by without a car. The area is compact, and hotels provide shuttles to many common destinations. Houston also has a very good public transport system, the Metro, with good bus service and the popular light rail.

If you plan to leave the city limits, renting a car is your best bet. It’s easy to drive around Houston and navigate out of the city. Houston is laid out in a logical manner, and the roads and streets are well marked. Rental car companies are located in the Houston airports so after your Houston flight arrives, grab a map and a set of keys and head out on the open road.

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Houston Insider Information

• Space Center Houston is the official visitors’ center for NASA's Johnson Space Center. The tram tour and the 4-hour tour show you working parts of the space center, and sometimes you can see astronauts in training. The Astronaut Gallery has a number of actual flight suits and pictures of all astronauts and crews. Films, simulations, and interactive displays give you the feel of being in space. Plan to spend at least half a day. If you take the 4-hour tour, consider a full day.
• The Houston Museum of Natural Science has excellent permanent exhibits (including good dinosaurs, a planetarium, and a Foucault pendulum) and often has outstanding traveling exhibits. The star attraction is the rainforest environment in the Butterfly Collection, with hundreds of butterflies eating, flying, or resting (sometimes on you).
• The Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH), near the science museum, has an admirable permanent collection, including a sculpture garden, and also hosts outstanding traveling exhibits. It’s worth visiting just for the architecture, a mixture of early 20^th century traditional and outstanding modern, including two additions by Mies van der Rohe. For a guide to sculpture and other public art owned by the city, check out www.houstontx.gov/municipalart.
• If your Houston flights are delayed don’t despair. The Houston airports have a reputation of being a “city within a city”. Take a stroll through any airport terminals and you’ll find dozens of specialty retail shops, fine dining and Wi-Fi service. Be sure to watch the time so you don’t miss your Houston flight.
• Now part of the MFAH, Bayou Bend is a wonderful museum house set in 14 acres of lovely garden. It showcases the American antiques, some as old as the 1600s, collected by Miss Ima Hogg. (Yes, it’s pronounced “I’m a hog.” The tour explains how her father, Governor Jim Hogg, did that to her—and also that she did not have a sister called Ura; that’s just a Texas tall tale.)
• East Texas has similar terrain to Louisiana, and Houston has several bayous, watercourses that are quite deep and narrow, except during heavy rains. At places like Bayou Bend, they are a lovely part of the natural environment. In downtown Houston, they have sloping concrete banks to reduce flooding, but they are still sometimes home to wildlife such as shore birds like herons or even the occasional alligator.
• The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo takes place in late February and early March. But there are also other rodeo and livestock-related events throughout the year. Check the Web site: www.hlsr.com.
• Galveston, an hour’s drive from Houston, is a small beach resort town. In addition to the beaches, its attractions include the Victorian buildings in the historic district.

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Houston Airports

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