Port of call

Houston, Texas, USA

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Description — Houston, Texas, USA

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States by population and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimate as of January 1, 2015, the population was 2,333,310. Houston is the administrative center of Harris County and the main economic hub of the Greater Houston area, with a total population of 6,490,180 in 2014.

The city is located 50 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico on a coastal plain, and covers an area of 1,552.9 km². After the Texas War of Independence, in August 1836, entrepreneurs brothers Augustus and John Allen purchased 26.9 km² of land along the Buffalo Bayou River, planning to found a settlement there. They wanted the future city to become the capital of Texas and a major trading center. The city’s founding date is considered to be August 30, 1836, when the Allen brothers placed an announcement about the appearance of the city. The city was named after General Sam Houston, later elected President of Texas.

Houston is one of the leading cities in the world in the extraction and processing of oil and natural gas, which is why it is often called the “energy capital of the world,” as well as in biomedical research and aviation. Houston is also known as a “green city,” since half of its electricity is generated using solar and wind power installations.

Houston is a city that impresses with its size and extraordinary beauty. The main attraction that draws tourists from around the world is the Johnson Space Center, the official visitor center of NASA’s Mission Control Center, as well as many fascinating museums and parks.

Climate

The city lies in the zone of a humid (oceanic) subtropical climate. The prevailing south-easterly winds from the Gulf of Mexico blow throughout the year, which means it stays warm all year. The city’s high humidity is due to the nearby presence of the Gulf of Mexico. On average, 90 days a year are sunny, most of them in October and November. Air humidity reaches 90% in the morning and drops to 70% by midday.

In spring and summer, it is hot and humid: the average temperature in spring is +21 °C, and in summer is +28.8 °C. Autumn is quite warm, especially September. The temperature in this month is higher than in May. The average temperature in autumn is +21.8 °C. Winter is mild. The average temperature in winter is +12.6 °C. Only 18 days a year see temperatures fall below 0 °C. Usually, precipitation in winter comes as rain, but it can rarely fall as snow.

Hurricanes often strike Houston.

Houston. USA
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
St. Basil Chapel
Rothko Chapel
Bayou Bend Mansion and Gardens
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
SplashTown Water Park
Downtown Aquarium
Kemah Boardwalk Entertainment Center
The Galleria shopping and entertainment complex
Hermann Park
Historic Ranch

Location on the map

Sights

Downtown

The city’s calling card is the skyscraper district in Downtown. Soaring into the sky, the spires of the J.P. Morgan Chase Tower (305 m), Wells Fargo Bank Plaza (302 m), the Williams Tower (275 m) and others, together with the distinctive local landscape, create a very recognizable look of the city. The JP Morgan Chase Tower is the tallest building in Houston and Texas since 1981. On the 60th floor there is a public observation deck. Originally, the JP Morgan Chase Building was planned to have 80 floors, but local authorities believed it would interfere with the landing of planes at the nearby William P. Hobby Airport. JP Morgan Chase is connected to Houston’s tunnel system, which forms a network of climate-controlled underground pedestrian walkways linking several city districts.

St. Basil’s Chapel

The structure impresses tourists and the city’s residents with its amazing shape, comprising three main elements-a cube, a sphere, and a rectangular plane. St. Basil’s Chapel is the tallest structure on the grounds of the student campus where it is located; its golden domes can be seen from the very center of Houston. Thanks to its unique architectural design, the building does not require artificial lighting-natural light always fills the interior. In its central hall, there is an altar adorned with wooden carving, as well as a wonderful organ whose music during holidays can be heard throughout the entire student campus. Originally, the structure was used for religious purposes; today, it serves as a city landmark.

Rothko Chapel

This is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Houston. Its design was commissioned in 1964 by brothers John de Menil and Dominique de Menil from the well-known architect Philip Johnson. The chapel was built in the shape of an octagonal Greek cross, and its exterior finish is dominated by pastel pink tones. In 1991, the Chapel celebrated its 20th anniversary, with around 5,000 people taking part in the event. In early 1999, the Chapel was closed for a major renovation. The paintings inside were partially moved to the nearby gallery of the John and Dominique de Menil brothers. Today, the building attracts many tourists from around the world; meditation sessions are held here, as well as exhibitions and various music events.

Bayou Bend Mansion and Gardens

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is a wonderful mansion and the gardens located near it, renowned for numerous examples of park art. The building was erected in 1927-1928 for brothers William and Michael Hoggs. Here they housed their magnificent collection, including around 4,700 objects reflecting Houston’s historical and stylistic periods from 1620 to 1870. For the general public, Bayou Bend opened in 1966. After fully enjoying the collection and the interior décor of the mansion, you can take a look at the gardens here, which are conventionally divided into eight sections. Each of them has a specific functional purpose; their total area is about 5.7 hectares.

What to see

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is responsible for training astronauts and managing spaceflights. The center was founded by NASA in 1961. It is also home to research facilities whose work is related to crewed flights, medicine, and the fundamental sciences. At the Lyndon B. Johnson Center, a dedicated exhibition center has been set up especially for tourists. During a tour of the Rocket Park, you can see spacecraft that have been to space, as well as the Saturn 5 rocket, which was intended to put Apollo-19 into orbit. At the on-site theater, films about astronauts’ lives aboard space stations are shown. Sometimes you can even watch the development of new technologies and the training of astronauts in an underwater laboratory.

SplashTown Water Park

Originally, an entertainment complex Hanna-Barbera Land was located on the site of the water park. In 1984, the SplashTown company bought these lands and set up a massive water complex here, one of the most popular in the USA. Among the most thrilling are Stingray Racer - a huge winding slide with six sections, Tornado - a slide with a fast-moving flow of water, allowing you to reach maximum speed during the descent, Texas Freefall - the most extreme attraction, whose height reaches 48 meters, as well as Wild Wave Pool - a large pool with constant water circulation, creating high waves. At SplashTown, there are numerous attractions for children, as well as cafes, restaurants, and cozy gazebos for relaxation.

Downtown Aquarium

The aquarium covers an area of about 2.4 hectares and is home to more than 200 species of marine animals. It was opened in 2003 and immediately gained immense popularity. The aquarium can be roughly divided into five sections. In the first of them, called the Louisiana Swamps, you can find animals from marshes and river channels along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, including alligators, turtles, crayfish, catfish, and frogs. The second section is called “Shipwreck”; once you enter it, you are transported inside the hull of a sunken Spanish galleon. In the third section, named “Rainforest,” you can enjoy marine flora as well as piranhas and rays. The fourth and fifth sections are devoted to different species of sharks. Downtown Aquarium includes a bar, a banquet hall, and a huge souvenir shop. This place is perfect for a family vacation.

Kemah Boardwalk Entertainment Center

Kemah Boardwalk is an excellent entertainment complex located on the coast of Galveston Bay in the town of Kemah, not far from Houston. Covering an area of 170,000 square meters, it features numerous restaurants to suit every taste, as well as shopping complexes, a Ferris wheel, a huge carousel standing 20 meters tall, and even miniature American roller coasters. Since the Kemah Boardwalk area is quite large, a local rail line has been laid for visitors’ convenience, with a tourist train running on it every day. One of the most popular attractions is the 140-passenger passenger boat called “Boardwalk Beast,” offering adrenaline-fueled 25-minute rides.

The Galleria shopping and entertainment complex

The complex is located in the city center and includes a private wellness club, two hotels, office premises under the name Galleria Towers, as well as a huge shopping center housing boutiques of world-famous brands. Here you will also find an aquarium, a gym, and a small ice rink. After shopping, you can relax in one of the 50 local restaurants. There are also several children’s playgrounds on the Galleria premises. Galleria is perfect for a family getaway. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, a walk through this complex will bring you plenty of positive emotions.

Hermann Park

Hermann Park is one of the most popular public parks in Houston. It was named in honor of the philanthropist George Hermann, who donated these lands to the city in 1914. The park covers a total area of 180 hectares, where you can find a zoo, a garden center, a Museum of Natural Sciences, a golf club, and a wonderful outdoor theater. The park also features lakes, musical fountains, cozy little squares for relaxing, and a beautiful Chinese pagoda. After visiting, you’ll be able to enjoy outstanding examples of park art, as well as unique architectural solutions. This place is perfect for a quiet family getaway.

Recommended excursions

Sightseeing tour with a visit to the Space Center

A sightseeing tour of Houston includes an overview of the city’s main districts, Market Square Park, the Theater and Museum Districts, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Natural Science Museum, the Health Museum, the Children’s Museum, the Downtown Aquarium, and more. At NASA’s Space Center, you will visit the Mission Control Center, learn more about the history of the astronauts’ landing on the Moon, get acquainted with space developments, and see many fascinating artifacts related to space.

Historic Ranch

George Ranch Historical Park is an open-air museum where, several times a day, you can enjoy a captivating show featuring large bulls. The park tells the story of the homestead where, over several centuries, the culture of raising elite cattle was honed. Here you can look forward to an original cowboy-style breakfast or lunch made from typical products sourced from the ranch. During your meal, you will be told how and from what ingredients the food was prepared, what people did to survive in harsh conditions, and what traditions existed and have been preserved. You can explore the vast ranch grounds both on foot and on tourist wagons that constantly shuttle around the park.

You can find a more detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.