Located in southern Texas just miles from the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is a modern, cosmopolitan city that's ideal for accommodating business travelers with outstanding convention space, great restaurants and walkable entertainment. Find out everything the city has to offer as you plan your Houston itinerary.
Things to Do in Houston
When you want to impress a client or just grab some of Houston's most exquisite food, you'll find terrific options in downtown Houston and neighborhoods such as Montrose and River Oaks. To close the deal, grab a juicy steak at Pappas Bros Steakhouse downtown. For the best power lunch in the city, head over to La Griglia between River Oaks and downtown, which is the preferred choice for both local and traveling businesspeople. A great lunch spot if you're with a group of people all wanting different foods is Conservatory, Houston’s first food hall. Featuring barbecue, poke, pizza, pho and more, Conservatory has something for everyone in a relaxed environment.
When you want to see the most interesting part of Houston and get some exercise, head over to the Houston Museum District. Situated in the heart of the city, this area features four walkable zones and 19 museums that cover science, history, art, and more.
Traffic and Parking in Houston
Houston has a notorious reputation as one of the worst traffic cities in America, despite a sophisticated network of expressways and the Interstate. Predictably, traffic worsens during the peak times when commuters travel from the city to the outskirts or vice versa. The only way to avoid these slow-downs is to drive during non-peak hours or stick to neighborhoods close by.
Parking is somewhat troublesome downtown and in other popular areas, but the city has many parking garages and on-street parking for your convenience. Parking meters are strictly enforced from Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Business Travel Information
Houston has two major convention centers in addition to several smaller ones. Located along the eastern edge of downtown, the George R. Brown Convention Center has 1.2 million square feet of usable space, a 99,000-square-foot outdoor plaza, and 550,000 square feet of exhibition space. NRG Park in downtown Houston has 2.1 million square feet of meeting space, along with 59 meeting rooms. Parking is free, but NRG is also accessible via Houston's light rail system.