text:
Huay Xai

Huay Xai (also Houayxay, Houei Sai etc.) is the capital of the Laos province of Bokeo. It lies on the banks of the Mekong River, which forms the border to Thailand.

Understand

Huay Xai is right across the river from Chiang Khong, Thailand. For most tourists it is seen as a transport stop-over, which is a pity. While there is not much to see in this small town, it's a good place to adapt to Lao life: sit on the banks of the Mekong, have a Beerlao and watch the river flow past, or even better, see the hordes of tourists float past.

Border crossing from Thailand to Laos

 * The Thai border control is 9 km south of Chiang Khong. From its bus station/center you get there by three-wheeled pedicab (120 baht in 08/2017) or white passenger truck (60B). A cheaper option is to take the red local bus from Chiang Khong bus station and ask the driver to drop you 5 km before the town where the road to the Thai border hits the main road (10 THB).

From Chiang Rai the bus cost 70 THB to Chiang Khong town from where you can get a tuk tuk (50 THB per person) at 3 km to the Thai border checkpoint or 120 bath to let be bus stop directly at the checkpoint (Dec. 2022).
 * After emigration on the Thai border checkpoint, you must take a shuttle bus across the bridge (08:00-18:00, 20 baht/person or 25 baht on weekends and after 16:00). As it only leaves when reasonably full, you might have to wait for up to an hour. Walking or cycling across the bridge is not allowed. Bikes are transported inside the bus for 100 baht, sometimes including the per-person-fee.
 * At the Laos border checkpoint, an immigration form must be filled out and the passport and a passport-sized photo must be handed to the official (they ask 20 bath fee for stamp). The photo can be obtained in Chiang Khong or in Chiang Rai near the bus station; if you arrive without a passport photo, the official will use a scan of your passport photo (40 baht fee).
 * Most nationals can obtain a 30-day visa-on-arrival. Its price was raised in 05/2022 to USD40 (cheaper for Thai and Vietnamese nationals). The amount in € tends to be the same as in US$, as the Lao authorities ignore differences in exchange rate. THB and KIP are also accepted, but at a poor rate. There is an official extra "overtime fee" of 10,000 kip / 1 USD on weekends and after 16:00. Even if none of this is the case you will still likely be asked for the extra fee, but it is often possible to avoid it by arguing with the official or just walking out fast once the visum is stamped.
 * There is a counter to buy bus tickets to the bus station, city center, and many national and international destinations (like the border with China). Songthaews go to the Huay Xai city center for typically 50.000 kip or 100 THB per person (Nov 2022). Otherwise it is a 10 km walk.
 * (Feb. 2024) In reverse (Huay Xai to Chiang Khong), a songthaew (which is called tuktuk in Laos) from the city center to the border cost 200 baht (or 130,000 kip) for one person in the vehicle. During the "rush hours", i.e. early mornings, there are many people going to the border and consequently, many tuktuks on the main road downtown, but by 10am, you may have to walk a bit to find one. At the Laos immigration, there is fingerprinting and photographing. The bus over the river was 25 baht (15,000 kip) on a weekday. A desk on the Thai side sells songtaew tickets to Chiang Khong for 60 baht. If you tell them you are going to Chiang Rai, they might signal any oncoming bus to Chiang Rai to stop so that you don't have to go all the way into the bus terminal. The local bus to Chiang Rai (90 baht) is worn out with no AC and hard seats, but all the doors and windows are open which is cooling enough. The regular direct bus Huay Xai - Chiang Rai is not yet running after the covid.

By car
You can drive from Vientiane on the haunted road. If you want to see how "haunted" it is, drive at night. With no buildings, no lights, and tall trees everywhere, it can get a little creepy.

The Friendship IV Bridge at the border is about 20 km south from Huay Xai.

By plane
Huay Xai's tiny airport had service from Vientiane on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. However, as of March 2022, this airport has been closed for runway upgrade works. There are no flights; it is unclear whether the runway upgrade works are in progress or if the lack of flights is due to lack of demand or COVID-19 travel restrictions.

By bus
There are two bus stations around Huay Xai. Upon arriving in Huay Xai, you may be approached by touts asking about your next destination. If you answer Luang Prabang, you will be pressured to reserve a ticket on a VIP bus, because the bus is invariably "sold out". You will be charged around 210,000-260,000 kip, which includes transport to the bus station. Upon arriving at the bus station, you will be handed a ticket with the actual price, 110,000 kip, staring back at you as a stinging reminder of your gullibility. At the bus station you can get a ticket all the way to Vientiane for 210,000 kip, which should give some indication of how much of a rip-off the touts in town are trying to pull on you.

If you're going to be in Huay Xai for at least a day, take a tuk-tuk to the bus station for 10,000 kip and buy your ticket for the day you plan to leave. The extra money you spend on tuk-tuks is more than offset by the 100,000-150,000 you'll save on your bus ticket.

From Luang Namtha
The journey is 198 km and now takes 5–6 hours with one stop for lunch on the way. The 09:30 bus arrives at the Bokeo bus station at around 14:30. The fare is 60,000 kip (Sep 2016). Tuk-tuks charge 10–25,000 kip to the border or guesthouse of your choice in town.

From Chiang Rai
There are four daily buses from Chiang Rai directly into Phet Aloune Station, which wait at the border. Price is 220 baht. PLS Company buses depart at 10:00 & 16:30 every day from Bus Station 2 in Chiang Rai. It goes over the Mekong bridge and thru immigration at both sides into Laos at Bokeo. A cheaper option is the cross the border by yourself: red local buses travel every hour between Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong (60 baht - May 2017). If you attempt to cross directly the border to Huay Xai, you can ask the driver to drop you 5 km before the town for 10 baht, at the junction between the main road and the road to the Thai border. From there, you can get a tuk tuk or walk to the border (40-60 baht, 3–4 km approx).

From other destinations
There are daily buses to/from Muang Xay (330 km, 85,000 kip), Vientiane (900 km, 230,000 kip) and Jinghong, China (150,000 kip).

By boat

 * . Huay Xai to Pak Beng 150.000 kip. Huay Xai to Luang Phabang 300.000 kip. (Nov 2022)

There are no scheduled services upriver, but you may be able to charter a boat to Luang Namtha for around 1,500,000 kip or 6,000 baht for the whole charter. The boats can carry between 6-10 people (the boat carries fewer people at the end of the dry season, when the river is low).

You can also reach Luang Prabang by speedboat, a bone-jarring, ear-destroying and potentially lethal 6-hour ride. See Luang Prabang and also read the warning about speedboats first. The speedboat landing is 5 km south of town.

The old cross-ferry service is apparently still working, but only for Thai and Lao citizens. Cross the bridge instead.

By train
The Laos-China train stops in Na Teuy (Nateuy) station, where official minivans are waiting to take connecting passengers to many destinations. Ask the desk about a van to Bokeo (and confirm with the driver as well). The minivans are cramped and the road is less than pristine so bumps will be common (avoid the cramped and sensitive seats in the last row). An official will collect the fare when everyone is seated (200,000 kip, Feb. 2024). The minivan makes toilet stops (you may have to use the forest) and maybe a longer food stop, and arrives at the Phet Aloune bus station in Huay Xai after about four and a half hours.

Get around
You can walk the main street. For longer distances take a bike taxi. A one-way fare to the Chinese morning market should cost 10,000 kip.

See

 * See the view from the temple tower at the top of the hill on the main street, near the border crossing.
 * See the view from the temple tower at the top of the hill on the main street, near the border crossing.

Do

 * Herbal Sauna. Coordinates: 20.2813, 100.4095. Sauna 25.000 kip, massage 80.000 kip. (Nov 2022)
 * Herbal Sauna. Coordinates: 20.2813, 100.4095. Sauna 25.000 kip, massage 80.000 kip. (Nov 2022)
 * Herbal Sauna. Coordinates: 20.2813, 100.4095. Sauna 25.000 kip, massage 80.000 kip. (Nov 2022)
 * Herbal Sauna. Coordinates: 20.2813, 100.4095. Sauna 25.000 kip, massage 80.000 kip. (Nov 2022)

Buy
The most important thing to buy is something to eat & drink for the slow-boat journey to Luang Prabang, although nowadays food and drinks are available on most boats. Food is not great, but acceptable.

 * Money: There's a small bank office offering change for cash and travellers' cheques next to the immigration office. It has no commission and good rates, better than in the town. Most guest houses and restaurants in town deal in baht, kip, and US dollars at decent rates. There are ATMs on the main road straight up the hill from the immigration office with a maximum withdrawal per transaction of 1,000,000 kip. It is better to get baht from Thailand and exchange them here because of the higher limits in Thailand. The official money exchange counter within the border building complex on the Lao side of the bridge has very good exchange rates (less than 2% added to baht rate and less than 1% added to euro rate compared to the exchange rates published by a bank, as of May 2015). The bus ticket office at the Thailand side of the border changes baht to kip at market rate. They also change some other currencies. (Nov 2022)
 * ATM: BCEL ATMs charge 20.000 kip withdrawal fee (warning: they proceed with transaction even if you press "cancel"!) and exchange currency about 5-6% lower than market rate. Phongsavanh ATM charge 20.000 withdrawal fee and gives maximum of 1.000.000 kip. (Dec 2022)

Eat
Most of the guest houses provide simple meals.

Watch the sunset over the Mekong river from a riverside restaurant.

 * The restaurant next door to the Gibbon Experience office is home to the expat crowd in town. It has a nice garden restaurant and terrace overlooking the Mekong.

Drink
There is not much nightlife in town. To have a beer, simply visit a restaurant or get your own stocks of Beerlao at one of the shops.

Stay safe
At the Huay Xai border crossing a tourist agent offers to help fill out visa forms and make arrangements for the slow boat and hotel in Pak Beng. However, he overcharges (asking 1,100 baht for the boat only) and does not really make the reservations he promises. Although you are paying premium prices at this "Customs" office for a room in Pak Beng, the rooms may have no windows and/or no water. There are many guest houses in Pak Beng. Carry your own gear from the wharf and inspect the rooms before you commit.

Internet and phone
There are now numerous "high-speed" Internet cafés in town. The going rate is 5,000 kip for 20 minutes.

If you have a Thai SIM card and have activated some of their Internet packages you can use this service. The signals of all Thai GSM networks reach across the Mekong and the locals often use a Thai number phone number in preference to a Lao one. There are many offerings of the Lao telecoms for data SIMs as well. Lao Telecom (M phone) has one offer for 1GB costing 50,000 kip that has to be used within a month.

Go next

 * Cross over to Chiang Khong, Thailand, just across the river.
 * Take a boring old bus, the two-day slow boat or the breakneck fast boat down to Luang Prabang.
 * Head up into the Lao highlands of Luang Namtha by bus or chartered boat.

On the way to Luang Prabang, make a stop over at Hongsa in Sayaboury Province for an elephant ride. Elephant Adventures have 2-5 day elephant trekking  on retrained logging elephants. These treks are supported by ElefantAsia NGO, focussed on elephant veterinary care, educational and environmental awareness, and economic viability for mahouts.

title: Huay Xai


text:
Houghton-Hancock

Houghton and Hancock are a pair of small towns in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan, and home to Michigan Technological University and Finlandia University. Although separated by a canal, they are connected into a single community by a unique lift bridge.

Get in
The two main routes into Houghton and Hancock from the south are US-41 and M26.

Travelers coming from Green Bay or the central or eastern Upper Peninsula will likely travel on US-41. You'll know you've arrived because you'll suddenly find yourself surrounded by large modern university buildings, sprawling parking lots, and fraternity houses; you're on the campus of Michigan Tech. Keep driving to reach downtown Houghton, where the architecture transforms into old red sandstone buildings lining the tightly-packed small town business district overlooking the canal. US-41 then crosses the lift bridge into Hancock, which climbs the ridge on the north side of the channel.

Those arriving from central Wisconsin, Minnesota, or the Western UP will take M26. The first thing you will see will be the Walmart on the right, and an eroded cliff on the left. Like US-41, M26 crosses the lift bridge.

On foot
Houghton-Hancock are very small cities and are easily accessed by foot, although some streets can be very steep.

By taxi
Neil's Cab operates a few taxis in the area and the City of Houghton operates a shuttle service.

Another taxi service is Copper Country Limo, featuring airport and local transportation. This is a smoke free service. They do local and long distance with a stretch limo also available. Serving the University and Airport. ( or www.coppercountrylimo.com)

By car
For exploring the area, a personal car would be best. Car rentals area available at the airport.

The road names can be confusing as the same road can have different names in different areas. Coming into Houghton, US-41 is called College Ave after Michigan Tech, and then changes to one-way Shelden Ave in downtown Houghton, crosses the bridge, and splits into two different directions of M-26 and US-41. The Yooper Loop is a rather challenging piece of road on the south side of the lift bridge, where Memorial (US-41), Montezuma, and Shelden meet. Go slow, but don't stop and remember to check your blind spot if you need to go onto M-26.

See

 * Portage Lake Ship Canal bisects the two cities. Running along Portage Lake and the canal is a rails-to-trails pathway which caters to bikes, rollerblades, runners/walkers, as well as snowmobilers. The canal itself resembles an arctic fjord, with steep slopes on either side.
 * The Portage Lake Lift Bridge is a unique bridge acting as the gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula to the north.

Do
Houghton-Hancock is mostly known for its cross country skiing. 4 local cross country trail systems groomed for both skating and striding are in the area. Mt. Ripley is open to downhill skiers and snowboarders, and is owned by Michigan Tech. Downwind Sports and Cross Country Sports are good places to rent equipment and ask about trails and waterways.The Breakers and McLain State Park are the closest access sites to Lake Superior. Swimming anywhere on Portage Lake can be refreshing in summer, as is canoeing or kayaking. Fishing is a popular activity both on Portage lake and the many nearby lakes.

Houghton is also the home port for the Ranger III, a 125 passenger National Park Service ferry ship that takes passengers to and from Isle Royale during the summer months.

There are five screens in the Rogers Cinema 5 theater, which is located in the Copper Country Mall.

Eat
Pasties are the most famous food in the Copper Country but there are a number of restaurants offering unique and high quality foods.

Splurge

 * Pilgrim River Steakhouse — Pilgrim River (just east of Houghton along 41). Expensive, good place for celebrations or when your employer or interviewer is paying.

Drink
The Upper Peninsula has a long drinking tradition, and the neighborhood bar is common here.

Go next

 * Isle Royale. Beautiful hiking on a pristine island in Lake Superior.  The Ranger III ferry departs from Houghton for around $100 roundtrip.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Houghton-Hancock


text:
Houghton Lake

Houghton Lake is a city in Rosscommon County in the state of Michigan. Home of Tip Up Town, USA, the largest winter carnival in the United States, the site of the movie Frozen Stupid, and amazing vacation spot for those on a budget or with children.

By car
Houghton Lake is right off the freeway.

By bus
Indian Trailsbus service between St. Ignace and East Lansing

By plane
Houghton Lake does have a small airstrip, but only small one or two engine planes land here. No commercial airlines operate out of Houghton Lake. There isn't actually an airport either. Unless you own a small plane, this method is not suggested for getting into the area. You can, however fly in through Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, rent a car, and drive to Houghton Lake.

By boat
Boats are welcomed in Houghton Lake, but don't try to get there by one. The Muskegon River is the big river connecting to the lake, and it goes through a lot of shallow, swampy areas, not to mention a few dams that make traveling in anything larger than a canoe a real challenge, if not impossible.

Summer
If you drive here, just use a car. Boats can also be rented.

Winter
Rent a snowmobile for the nearby trails, and make sure your car can drive through the sometimes-not-snow-removed streets during the winter. Sometimes it may take the snow removal crews a little while to clear the roadways.

See
Houghton Lake Historical Village. The Houghton Lake Historical Village near Prudenville on the south end of the lake shows how things were done in old Houghton Lake. Bring kids of all ages to the hands-on exhibits.

Do

 * The Pines Theater. This rustic, log-cabin style movie theater shows only one movie at a time for about three weeks. It is usually the highst-grossing film at the box office or the one with the largest promotional team.  Movies show at 7:30PM and 9PM nightly.  Be sure to get there at least half an our before the show starts to grab a good parking spot, buy refreshments, and make sure all the little ones go "potty".
 * Zubler's Indian Powwows. Every Thursday in July and August at one, two, three, and four pm there is an Indian Powwow next to Zubler's Indian Craft Shop. It is a free event, but the hat is passed around at one point in the show.  Refreshments and crafts sold on-site.
 * Boat Rentals. No visit is complete without renting a boat at the Houghton Lake Marina. Get a pontoon to have a lazy afternoon on the lake that you can fish off of, or a jet ski to zip around the lake on.
 * Cruise Down Muskegon River. After you've rented that pontoon, take it on a sloww ride down the Muskegon River. The fancy country club at the river mouth used to be a lighthouse, before it burned down.  Oooh and aaah at the wealthy homes on the riverside, but turn around once you get a little bit past the bridge, for a little ways beyond that is swamp.
 * Drive Down County Road 300. Take the kids down here on a drive. Be sure to go slow, because deer and turkeys like to jump in front of cars.  Very scenic and natural.
 * Reedsburg Dam. Fishing is allowed near the dam, so take a day trip here. Very nice.
 * Drive Down County Road 300. Take the kids down here on a drive. Be sure to go slow, because deer and turkeys like to jump in front of cars.  Very scenic and natural.
 * Reedsburg Dam. Fishing is allowed near the dam, so take a day trip here. Very nice.

Buy

 * Zubler's Indian Craft Shop. Houghton Lake souvenirs and lots of Native American Merchandise, this store is a must-see stop for any trip to Houghton Lake.
 * Rocking Chair Gift Shop. This is the classic Houghton Lake gift shop, selling t-shirts, knick-nacks, and all related Houghton Lake memorabilia. A must for any visit.

Budget

 * Fast Food Of course, there are numerous fast-food eateries right off the freeway: McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Wendy's and Arby's.
 * Garret's Place This is a small restaurant with a log cabin like decor. They serve the usual mom-and-pop type food, including fish, burgers, and soup.  The food's really good here.

Mid-range

 * Coyles. Also deserving mention is Coyles Restaurant. They have an extensive gift shop as well as buffets.  Go during the week and before four o clock pm to get the best deals. This is family friendly also, but be sure to keep little hands off the glass and porcelin stuff in the gift shop.

Splurge

 * Blue Bayou. For those at the Comfort Suites Lakeside, they have an on-site restaurant, the Blue Bayou. But this is a quiet restaurant, and we don't suggest bringing small children to the restaurant, and suggest room service. The prices are also not that friendly to those on a budget.  This is the closest thing to a "fancy restaurant" Houghton Lake has.  It sports a New Orleans type atmosphere with jazz music playing.  They also have patio seating, and a full bar area, as well as a little room to play pool and a private drinking room.

Drink

 * The Limberlost. The classic Houghton Lake bar. Leave the kids with a babysitter and visit here.

Resorts and Campgrounds

 * Poplars, on West Shore Drive. Recommended. They are family-friendly and have ample space for RVs.
 * Houghton Lake Campground. Great if you brought an RV. This park is for all camping with trailers and RVs if you don't want to stay at a hotel or resort.

Hotels

 * Motel 6 This is just off the freeway, and good for those just passing through. But if you are planning on staying more than a night, try somewhere else.
 * Motel 6 This is just off the freeway, and good for those just passing through. But if you are planning on staying more than a night, try somewhere else.
 * Motel 6 This is just off the freeway, and good for those just passing through. But if you are planning on staying more than a night, try somewhere else.
 * Motel 6 This is just off the freeway, and good for those just passing through. But if you are planning on staying more than a night, try somewhere else.

title: Houghton Lake


text:
Houjie

Houjie Town (厚街, Mandarin: Hòujiē) is a town in Dongguan City, China, on the east bank of the Pearl River. It has a permanent population of 93,000 with official residency, but more than 400,000 who have migrated from elsewhere in China. Like much of the surrounding area, economic activity is dominated by manufacturing.

Orientation
While the town spans to the east, the city center is approximately Houjie Avenue and Kangle Road. Houjie Avenue is a six-lane divided highway running west to east (roads do not follow cardinal directions, it's more northwest to southeast). Going east on Houjie street will take you past the Haiyatt Garden Hotel and eventually to the Guangshen Expressway, which runs between Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Kangle Road is the town's main drag—a two-lane road that runs through the busy main shopping area towards the south.

Houjie's large square is one block south of Houjie Avenue on Kangle Road.

Paralleling Kangle road a block south is Guantai Road, a massive 8-lane divided highway that Sheraton and HJ International hotels are found on. North on Guantai Road leads to Dongguan City, while Humen Town is to the south.

By plane
The majority of international visitors arrive via Hong Kong International Airport, or Guangzhou Airport (Baiyun). Shenzhen Bao'an Airport is also quite close.

Train & bus
The cheapest method of transport is not the easiest. Board the S1 bus at HKIA (HK$3.2), get off at the Tung Chung MTR station. Board the orange line, transfer to red line, green line, then light blue line to Lo Wu (HK$48). Cross the border on foot, and in the coach station find the bus to Houjie (¥45, last bus at 21:00). This will take you to the bus station near Houjie square.

From Shenzhen International Airport
From Shenzhen airport, the Guangzhou–Shenzhen intercity railway stops in Houjie on its way to other parts of Dongguan and Guangzhou East Station.

Alternatively, the bus to Dongguan Central Terminal will pass Humen and then Houjie, so either get off at Humen and then use the Dongguan Metro or taxi, or ask to be dropped while passing Houjie. In the latter case, the bus may be only able to drop you at the highway exit, in which case you'll have to take a taxi for the last mile.

By train

Alternatively, you can take a high-speed train to Humen Station—this is probably your fastest option if coming from Hong Kong. A taxi from Humen to Houjie costs ¥30-40. A metro (Humen Railway Station is the southern terminus of Dongguan Metro line 2) will cost ¥5.

By metro
Dongguan Metro, open in 2016, will cost ¥5 from central Dongguan and ¥10 if all the way from the Dongguan Railway Station. Getting off at Liaoxia station, you will end up standing across the road from the large Wanda mall, one block north from Houjie Avenue.

By bus
Public buses are available from other parts of Dongguan.

From Shenzhen, the coach station, on the street level at Lo Wu (Luohu), has a bus to the station near Houjie square. ¥45, 1-1.5 hour, last bus leaves at 21:00.

From Zhuhai, the coach station at Gongbei has a bus to Dongguan City (¥60) that will drop you at the highway exit in Houjie if that's the destination you buy a ticket for. There you will find a limited number of private drivers waiting to take you downtown. The fare to downtown should be about ¥20, but they will often try to charge up to ¥50.

By taxi
A taxi from downtown Dongguan costs about ¥90. A taxi from Shenzhen to Houjie costs between ¥220-260.

Get around
Dongguan metro line 2 is built under the central Guantai Road (next to the east and parallel to Kangla Road), is comfortable and cheap (¥5 for all the trips within the Houjie town, up to ¥10 for longer trips within Dongguan), and is highly recommended if your destination is not so far from the metro station.

Taxis can usually be hailed on busy streets, though they are a bit harder to find on multilane divided highways. Drivers seldom speak English, and fares should be negotiated before getting in the cab. A short trip under a mile should be ¥10. Across town is about ¥20. ¥40 should easily take you to the next town over.

Bicycle taxi is fun and easy way to get around the downtown area. They can be identified by the padded seat in back, and carry up to 2 (or 3!) people. A trip anywhere around downtown should cost ¥5. Most won't overcharge, but it's not a bad idea to agree on price in advance. Riding on the back of a bicycle in Chinese traffic is not an experience for the faint of heart.

Massage
Massage is a terrific and relaxing way to spend extra hours in China. It's much more affordable than in the West, and the service is very good. Contrary to popular belief, it's very unlikely you will be offered any "special" service. A good word to know is "轻点" (qīngdiǎn) meaning "softer". Chinese massage can be a bit intense when not accustomed to it.

Foot massage lasts about 60–90 minutes, and includes a back, neck, arm and leg massage, and foot washing. All while in a lazyboy recliner. Price is ¥40-70.

Body massage lasts 90–120 minutes. There is often an option with or without massage oil, and the price is slightly higher with oil.

Most high-end hotels offer massage services, but they cost more than the independent options. Expect 1½-3 times the price of other places, for the same quality of service.

Sports
Badminton, basketball, and ping pong are popular sports in China.

Hiking

 * Fushengang (福神岗): a popular park nearby downtown. It is north of the Tesco Supermarket, on a long walk down Caiyun East Rd. There are areas to hike, but the main attraction is the towering pagoda at the top of the hill. On clear days, there are terrific views of the whole town.
 * Dalingshan (大龄山) has a hilly landscape and good views. It can be reached by a public bus.

KTV
Ubiquitous in China, these clubs will rent you and up to 20 friends a private room for karaoke. Most non-budget hotels have KTV facilities.

Parks

 * Henggang Reservoir (横岗水库) is in the Tingshan region east of the Guangshen expressway. It's on Hujing Rd - which is the road that extends east of the expressway exit. Here there are opportunities to go fishing and find barbeque.

Eat
Places to eat fall into three distinct categories. Budget includes hawker stalls, alley barbeques with plastic chairs, and the like—most of which are outdoors. Midrange covers indoor sit down restaurants, that mostly cater to local Chinese. While splurge restaurants generally offer foreign foods aimed at western palates.

Most open-minded people will find that good food can be found at any price point. Budget and mid range options usually do not speak English. Any knowledge of Mandarin helps, but one can also get by pointing—at picture menus, at things they have sitting out, or at items that other patrons are eating.

Like most of Asia, some discretion should be taken with what you eat. As a rule, it's safe if it has been thoroughly cooked (boiled, fried, or grilled), peeled in the case of fruits or vegetables, or opened from a sealed container (bottled, canned). Food from any budget range is usually safe to eat accordingly.

As far as water is concerned, do not drink tap water. However, water and tea served in restaurants is safe if it arrives hot - this means it has been boiled. Ice is generally always fine to consume, as the water is purified.

Budget
Hawker stalls selling various items can be found in busy areas, many on Kangle Street near the main square. Popular items include a Chinese style pizza, fruits, tofu, chestnuts, steamed buns. Food quality at these stalls varies.

Outdoor sit-down
Alley outdoor eating is very rewarding and cheap, and is ubiquitous in sidestreets of Houjie. They are easily distinguishable by the small tables and even smaller plastic chairs. Most places have a selection of meats and vegetables on a stick you can choose, which will be grilled and seasoned spicy. With no Mandarin you can get by picking these out, and they'll be delivered to your table. Beer is served cold in large bottles. These same restaurants also have various other items available to order including fried rice, fried noodles, hot pot, etc. If it's the rainy season, look for places that can pull out an awning. Items on a stick are ¥1, a 600 ml beer will run you ¥5-7, fried rice ¥5-7, hot pot about ¥25-35.

Some locations include the diagonal street connecting the Hyatt and Sheraton Hotel (Yuefanshan Avenue), the side street across Kangle Road from the Sunshine Mall, and streets paralleling Kangle Road on either sides (Kangle Cross Street just north of Shan Hu Road; Xing Long Road).

Splurge
Most high end hotels have pricey Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and general-international restaurants, quality varies but they are usually pretty good. Outside of the hotels:

Drink
A popular drinking experience in Houjie is finding a table at an outdoor restaurant and whiling away the hours on 600 ml bottles of Tsing Tao (¥5-7).

There are western bars, including the hotel lobby bars. The

Open containers and consumption in public areas is acceptable.

Sleep
Budget hotels have fair room prices posted usually. High end hotels post room rates that are significantly higher (up to 3 times) than a corporate rate. If you are working with a company in DongGuan or elsewhere in China, it is a good idea to see if they can get a corporate rate with the hotel.

Budget and Midrange hotels often will not have English speaking staff, but with a basic understanding of Mandarin or a game of charades, you should be able to work out your arrangements.

Budget
Hotels along Kangle South Street charge in the range of ¥130-170. Expect clean, but very basic private rooms.

Splurge
Hotels in this range generally compare to a three- or four-star hotel in a Western country. All include buffet breakfast with Western and Asian fare options. An Italian, Japanese, and Chinese restaurant inside the hotel is pretty standard.

Stay safe
Houjie is for the most part safe, given some precautions. Due to the sheer numbers of people in most areas, violent crime is uncommon although it's best to stay to the beaten path. Instances of bag snatching from motorcycles are known of, so it is good to ensure you're well connected to any bags if you're carrying one. Less populated areas, such as Tingshan in the east, are best avoided at night.

Instances of overcharging is only common when bargaining is part of the exchange, but there isn't a hard and fast rule to what's negotiable. Food and drink, posted prices for services like massage, public transport, and store items with a posted price generally aren't negotiated (at least, not by more than 10-15%). Taxis and shops without posted prices may or may not be charging double or more.

Go next
Weekends in Houjie can be a bit slow for expats.

 * Dongguan has a far more active nightlife than Houjie. Dongguan Bar Street (东莞酒吧街, Mandarin: Dongguanjiubajie) in Dongcheng has a large number of busy bars and clubs and is a good destination Friday and Saturday nights, or any night of the week. Dongguan can be reached by a taxi for about ¥90, or by a number of public buses on Guantai road.
 * Hong Kong caters more to the Western lifestyle. There are a lot of tourist sites, Western-style bar streets packed with expats, and a myriad of food ethnicities. To get to Hong Kong International Airport, the same direct vans return from your hotel - hotels are able to book a ticket for you. ¥230, 2½-3 hr. See Get in. For downtown/Kowloon, take the bus to Shenzhen Luohu. Walk across the border, and take the MTR the rest of the way (~HK$46).
 * Macau is an old Portuguese colony. Here one can see interesting European architecture, as well as a plethora of casinos and fancy hotels. It is considered Las Vegas of the East. To get to Macau, take the bus Zhuhai Gongbei. The border is a short walk from the bus station. On the Macau side there is an underground bus station. Public buses run to the area with casinos, hotels, and the old town. A bus to The Grand Lisboa will get you into walking distance of everything.
 * Shenzhen has some tourist sites, as well as various places to shop.
 * Zhuhai at the border with Macau, has a walking street with outdoor bar stalls, ample shopping, as well as a hot springs facility a ways out of town.
 * Guangzhou is a sprawling city 1½ hours north.

At the bus station adjacent to the big square, coach buses run to Shenzhen Luohu (1-1½ hr, ¥45), Zhuhai Gongbei (2 hr, ¥60), and Guangzhou (1-1½ hr, ¥45). A short taxi ride to the Humen train station will also connect you to the high-speed train to Shenzhen North, and Guangzhou.

title: Houjie


text:
Houlton

Houlton is the county seat of Aroostook County in Maine.

Get in
Houlton is the northern terminus of Interstate 95. It is at the border of New Brunswick, Canada, west of Woodstock.

title: Houlton


text:
Houma

Houma is a small city (about 33,000 people in 2019, not including suburbs) in south central Louisiana. It is the seat and largest city in Terrebonne Parish, and the center of the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region in total is home to a little over 200,000.

Bayou Terrebonne runs through the town roughly east to west between Main Street and Park Avenue, with the Intracostal Waterway running north to south.

By car
Houma, Louisiana is just off Highway 90 south New Orleans Louisiana.

Directions from New Orleans (approx. 59 miles or 1 hour, 15 minutes):
 * 1) Merge onto I-10 W (9.7 miles)
 * 2) Merge onto I-310 S via exit 220 to Boutte/Houma (12.0 miles)
 * 3) Exit at US-90 W toward Houma (30.07 miles)
 * 4) Turn left at LA-24 E toward Houma (7.3 miles)

Directions from Lafayette, LA (approx. 104 miles or 2 hours, 10 minutes):
 * 1) From I-10, merge onto US-167 S via the US-90/US-167 S exit 103A to Lafayette (2.6 miles)
 * 2) Continue on US-90 E (93.8 miles)
 * 3) Turn right at LA-24 E (7.3 miles)

By train
Amtrak serves the city via its Sunset Limited train, running between New Orleans and Los Angeles. three days a week.

Connect
Telephone area code is 985.

Computer wi-fi can be found at the Coffee Zone listed above.

Go next

 * New Orleans, Louisiana's largest city and most popular visitor destination, is a 90-minute drive to the north east.
 * Lafayette, the main city of Louisiana's "Cajun Country", is just over 2 hours to the west.
 * River Region (Plantation Country), to see the many historic plantations and other attractions in St. Charles, St. John, and St. James parishes.

title: Houma


text:
Houston

Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.

Districts
Until 1915 the city was subdivided into "wards" and they tended to have distinct populations; the names survived in neighborhoods centered around similar areas. Since 1915 continual sprawl has created new districts and neighborhoods, some with distinct characters.

Understand
Houston has a character that, while very "Texan," is also a great melting pot of many cultures and socio-economic groups. You'll find well-to-do suburban mansions, LA-style shopping strips, Latin-American neighborhoods, towering skyscrapers, historic African-American neighborhoods fighting off gentrification, massive refinery complexes, large Asian communities, and pockets of artist communities. From October to May, the weather is relatively pleasant, and many restaurants and bars take advantage of it with plenty of outdoor seating and beautiful lighting. Houston's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico also makes it a lush, tropical paradise compared to the rest of Texas.

In a sense, Houston is the gritty step-cousin of wealthy Dallas and middle-class hippie Austin. You won't see many cowboys or giant hairdos in downtown Houston (outside of Rodeo season), but you will see a quite diverse mix of people servicing the oilmen, petroleum engineers and high-end doctors.

Houston is the largest city in the United States without any appreciable zoning. While there is some small measure of zoning in the form of ordinances, deed restrictions, and land use regulations, real estate development in Houston is only constrained by the will and the pocketbook of real estate developers. Traditionally, Houston politics and law are strongly influenced by real estate developers; at times, the majority of city council seats have been held by them. This arrangement has made Houston a very sprawled-out and very automobile-dependent city. The benefit of this lack of zoning is that some neighborhoods like Montrose contain a plethora of hidden bars and art galleries nestled among historic neighborhoods - an arrangement not possible in zoned cities across the country.

For one desiring a walkable visit, the areas close to downtown are gradually becoming more dense and walkable as islands of trendy mixed-use developments pop up. Many areas can be downright hostile to pedestrians and bikers as sidewalks are privately built (if at all) and roads are littered with massive potholes. The city is primarily built on the energy industry and nearly everyone owns a car and drives everywhere they go, even to a destination less than a mile away.

With a few exceptions, almost everything to see or do is in Houston's urban core inside the 610 Loop and more specifically in between downtown, the Galleria, and the Texas Medical Center.

Visitor information
The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Houston Visitors Center. The center is in the heart of downtown Houston at 901 Bagby (corner of Bagby and Walker St.), on the first floor of the historic City Hall. Find information on Houston's history, attractions, restaurants, hotels, directions, maps, purchase Houston merchandise and watch an 11-minute film on Houston. You'll find over 10,000 brochures and magazines to help plan your visit to the Houston area. The center is open Monday - Saturday, 9AM to 4PM

Climate
Houston's climate generally ranges from a hot humid summer to a mild winter. The months of October to April make for fantastic times to visit to avoid the heat. Visitors from areas with mild summers or dry climates should be extremely careful if planning to travel there in the summer months, especially around August. The combination of high heat and thick humidity can result in stifling and oppressive weather. It's by no means "a dry heat"! Even some lifelong residents of Houston complain about the August weather. If visiting in the summer, stay hydrated and try to limit outdoor exposure during the hours between 10AM and 7PM. The nights are very hot too, but not as dangerously hot as during the day. Visitors from cooler, drier places will be amazed at the tolerance levels of some of the locals. You can see people wearing long sleeve shirts, boots and jeans when the temperature is above 100°F (38°C) and dew points above 70°F. But it can not be stressed enough: this place is extremely hot and if you're not prepared or used to this type of heat, you're in for one rude awakening. But have fun!

By plane
Houston is served by two major commercial airports and two smaller regional airports (IATA code for all Houston area airports).

The large airports for commercial traffic are:
 * , . The larger of the two airports and is 23 miles (37 km) north of downtown near Beltway 8, between IH-45 North and US-59 North. It is the second largest hub for United Airlines and it serves 24 domestic and international airlines.
 * METRO bus line 102 departing from Terminal C runs to downtown, which it reaches in 1 hr 10 min for $1.25. From downtown, the easiest place to catch the bus is the Downtown Transit Center station of the METRORail. During the day, the bus runs approximately every 30 minutes. Be aware the bus stop at terminal C is exposed to the elements and subject to extreme heat, sun, and rain. The stop is on a traffic island three lanes from the door. Check the schedule and then wait indoors by the window for your bus. Step outside 5-7 min before the scheduled departure time.
 * Rental cars are off site at the IAH Car Rental Center. Frequent dedicated buses shuttle passengers, taking 5-7 minutes to travel between a given terminal and the IAH Car Rental Center.

Private aviation
Houston offers 27 airports within 50 miles, and although William Hobby is the most popular choice for private charter flights, there are several airports that focus on serving the business and luxury aviation community. Air charter companies including Tavaero, Houston Private Jet Rental, and Houston Jet Charter offer access to planes based at airports across Houston, ranging from twin-engine aircraft and light jets to luxury Gulfstreams and executive airliners.

 * , . It's southwest of downtown on TX 6, just north of U.S. 59. It is a popular choice among the well-heeled corporate aircraft set.
 * , . It's southeast of downtown, just off I-45. This former air force base is now used for general aviation, non-passenger commercial traffic, and government aviation (NASA, Texas Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard).
 * Houston Executive Airport . It's about 28 miles directly west of downtown Houston in Brookshire, Texas. Primarily caters to executives jets in the Energy Corridor area of Houston.
 * David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport . It's on the north side of Houston just off the Grand Parkway in Spring, Texas. It's the busiest general aviation facility in the state, and consistently ranks as one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States.
 * Pearland Regional Airport It's 17 miles (27 km) south of Downtown Houston just south of the Sam Houston Tollway and just east of US 35 in Pearland, Texas. The airport, formerly known as Clover Field, is managed by Texas Aviation Partners, LLC.
 * Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport . It's about 37 miles north of downtown Houston near I-45 and U.S. 105 in Conroe, Texas. Formerly known as Lone Star Executive, CXO is popular for international business jets, with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station on-site to serve international business travelers.
 * Houston-Southwest Airport . It's 15 miles (24 km) southwest of downtown Houston in Arcola, Texas, near State Highway 6 (SH 6), the South Freeway (SH 288), and the Fort Bend Parkway.
 * West Houston Airport . 15 miles west of downtown Houston on TX 6, just north of I-10. About 100,000 flight operations per year.

By train

 * Amtrak, 902 Washington Ave. Amtrak's Sunset Limited line is the only passenger train route with a stop in Houston on its way between New Orleans and Los Angeles (via San Antonio) three times a week. There is a daily Thruway Bus (operated by Lone Star Coach) that provides a direct connection from the Houston Amtrak station to the Texas Eagle in Longview.

By car
Houston's major highways include:
 * I-10.svg I-10 West ("Katy Freeway"): from San Antonio
 * I-10.svg I-10 East: ("Baytown/East Freeway", not to be confused with "Eastex freeway") from Beaumont
 * I-45.svg I-45 North ("North Freeway"): from Dallas
 * I-45.svg I-45 South ("Gulf Freeway"): from Galveston
 * I-69.svg & US 59.svg US Hwy 59 South ("Southwest Freeway"): from Victoria; signed as US 59 south of Rosenberg
 * I-69.svg & US 59.svg US Hwy 59 North ("Eastex Freeway"): from Lufkin; signed as US 59 north of Cleveland
 * I-610.svg I-610 ("The Loop"): loops around downtown (innermost beltway)
 * US 290.svg US Hwy 290 West ("Northwest Freeway"): from Austin
 * Texas 249.svg SH-249 North ("Tomball Parkway"): from Tomball
 * Texas 288.svg SH 288 South ("South Freeway"): from Freeport
 * Texas 225.svg SH 225 East ("Pasadena Freeway"): from La Porte
 * Texas_Beltway_8.svg & Sam_Houston_Tollway.svg BW-8/Beltway 8 ("The Beltway/Sam Houston Tollway"): loop about twice as far out as IH-610.
 * Texas 99.svg Grand Parkway: Houston's third beltway, about 10 miles further out than Beltway 8 (Sam Houston)

Approximate distance from nearby cities (in miles):
 * Austin: 160
 * Baton Rouge, LA: 270
 * Beaumont: 90
 * Dallas: 240
 * El Paso: 745
 * Galveston: 50
 * Lake Charles, LA: 140
 * New Orleans, LA: 350
 * San Antonio: 200
 * Waco: 180

By bus
Buses connect Houston to Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Baton Rouge and other cities in the southeastern U.S. to as far as North Carolina, Chicago and Florida in the U.S. Northbound buses from Mexico typically cross through Brownsville/Matamoros, Laredo/Nuevo Laredo or McAllen/Reynosa. Bus companies have many terminals and stops in different parts of the city. Several companies have terminals, one next to the other, along Harrisburg Blvd between 65th St and 75th St in the Magnolia Park neighborhood, in the eastside of town in addition to other locations. Some companies have multiple stops/stations in different parts of town. Check your tickets and reservations closely regarding your stop as their buses do not stop into all of the company's stop or stations in town:
 * Baytown Travel Center (East), 1901 I-10 East, Baytown
 * Handi Plus 42 Chevron (Southeast), 17230 Hwy 6, Manvel
 * Katy Food Mart (West), 653 Pin Oak, Katy
 * Southeast Bus Terminal, 7000 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston
 * Agencia de Autobuses (Southwest), 6590 Southwest Freeway, Houston
 * Baytown Travel Center (East), 1901 I-10 East, Baytown
 * Handi Plus 42 Chevron (Southeast), 17230 Hwy 6, Manvel
 * Katy Food Mart (West), 653 Pin Oak, Katy
 * Southeast Bus Terminal, 7000 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston
 * Agencia de Autobuses (Southwest), 6590 Southwest Freeway, Houston
 * Southeast Bus Terminal, 7000 Harrisburg Blvd, Houston
 * Agencia de Autobuses (Southwest), 6590 Southwest Freeway, Houston

Buses do not stop in all three stops listed in above. Check reservations and tickets closely as to which stop you bus will stop in.
 * Hillcraft METRO P&R, 6220 Southwest Freeway
 * Katy Mills Mall Entrance #8 (Katy), 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy, bus stop at south entrance (#8) of the mall by AMC 20 movie theater.
 * Northwest METRO P&R, 18502 Northwest Freeway
 * Northwest METRO P&R, 18502 Northwest Freeway
 * Southwest, 5800 Bellaire Blvd
 * Greater Heights (North), 1829 Airline Dr
 * Greater Heights (North), 1829 Airline Dr
 * Greater Heights (North), 1829 Airline Dr
 * Greater Heights (North), 1829 Airline Dr
 * Greater Heights (North), 1829 Airline Dr
 * Greater Heights (North), 1829 Airline Dr

By car
Houston's major highways make getting around the city fairly easy. (See list of freeways under the "Get in" section.) Obstacles, however, can make driving in Houston a less than pleasant experience. One is construction, which seems to be ever-present, and the other is traffic. Evening rush hour in Houston begins as early as 4PM and can last more than 2 hours. Morning rush hour is between 7 and 9AM. During rush hour, traffic on the highways can come to a halt. The strip of the West Loop near the Galleria, between IH-69 and IH-10, is an area you should definitely avoid during rush hour if possible.
 * Houston Traffic Map
 * The outstanding freeways system

Some of the freeways have an H.O.V. (High-Occupancy Vehicle) lane, which are limited-access lanes in the median strip of the highway. The HOV lanes are operational Monday - Friday in the morning hours (5AM - 11AM) in the inbound direction and in the outbound direction in the afternoon and evening (2-8PM). The HOV lanes are restricted to cars with 2 or more passengers, however some HOV lanes require 3 or more passengers during peak travel periods (6:45-8AM and 5-6PM, for IH-10 west; 6:45-8AM only for US-290). The HOV lanes are marked with signs bearing a white diamond on a black background. Highways with HOV lanes are: IH-45 North, IH-45 South, IH-69 North, IH-69 South, IH-10 West (Katy Freeway), and US-290. The Katy Freeway HOV lanes have been expanded into the Katy Toll Road, a 24-hour multi-lane HOV with paid Single-Occupancy Vehicle access cost-adjusted based on HOV usage.
 * HOV lane map & schedule
 * Katy Managed Lanes on Harris County Toll Road Authority website

By public transportation
Public transportation in Houston is operated by METRO, which runs light rail lines called METRORail, as well as bus lines. The cost to ride is $1.25 each way (Feb 2017).

If you pay using your METRO Q Fare Card, METRO Day Pass, or METRO Money, you get free transfers in any direction for up to three hours. METRORail provides 23 miles (37 km) of light-rail service to some of the region’s most popular destinations: There have been some extensions of the rail network in the 2010s and more are planned for the coming years.
 * Red Line (North Line) - Travels from NRG Park to the Texas Medical Center, Museum District, Downtown, Northline and numerous stops in between.
 * Green Line (East End Line) - Travels along Harrisburg from the Magnolia Transit Center through the Historic East End to a variety of downtown and entertainment and business destinations.
 * Purple Line (Southeast) - Travels from downtown along Capitol and Rusk to popular destinations such as Texas Southern University and the University of Houston.

By taxi

 * Taxis are easily found in Downtown, Uptown, Midtown, the Medical Center, the suburb of Galveston and both airports. Taxis in Houston are generally dispatched by various companies the largest being Yellow Cab,  or from their web page.

By limousine
Many Houston limousine companies offer full ground transportation options such as town cars, classic cars, stretch limos and luxury vehicles that can be utilized for special occasions like airport transportation, parties, school dances, business functions and weddings. Consider hiring a limousine service to handle your travel needs.

By bicycle
Houston is so spread out and (most of the time) hot and humid that bicycles are often best used for exercise or to get to somewhere that is close by. On the other hand, if you have a little bit of stamina and perseverance, Downtown, Midtown, Rice, Uptown and the Medical Center/Hermann Park/Museum District area are within a 30-minute ride. Multi-modal transportation is also possible, since most city buses have easy to use racks in the front that can get traveler and bicycle near to a final destination.

Houston has 290 miles (460 km) of marked bike routes, plus another 80 miles (130 km) of hike and bike trails in city parks, with concrete plans for even more expansion. For more information on the Houston Bikeway program, including a complete map of all marked bike paths, visit the City of Houston Bikeway Program website.

Talk
Houston is home to more than 100 languages. Signs can be found in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese, among others, but English is the lingua franca. Knowing some Spanish may help in certain neighborhoods, but most people will speak English.

See

Travelers planning to visit multiple attractions may benefit from the Houston CityPASS, which grants admission to 6 Houston attractions within 9 days of first use for a much reduced rate and includes expedited entry in some cases. The included attractions are: Space Center Houston; Downtown Aquarium; Houston Museum of Natural Science; Houston Zoo; Option Ticket One with choice of either Museum of Fine Arts or the Children's Museum of Houston and Option Ticket Two with choice of either George Ranch Historical Park or the Health Museum.

Parks

 * Buffalo Bayou
 * Eleanor Tinsley Park - The beautiful city skyline backdrops this scenic portion of the park. It remains one of the most popular outdoor spaces for recreation and relaxation.
 * Lost Lake - At this location, visitors can rent kayaks and discover the water trails.
 * Discovery Green
 * Houston Arboretum
 * Hermann Park
 * McGovern Centennial Gardens - Home to a diverse collection of gardens including an arid garden, a rose garden, a woodland garden, an interactive family garden, and more. Visitors can also enjoy walking the spiral path to the top of a 30-foot (9 m) mount.
 * Memorial Park - A large park near Uptown and I-10 Freeway. Many running and walking trails, fields, and more. A Smoothie King can also be found within the park.

Events & festivals

 * Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Reliant Park. March. HLSR is one of the largest live entertainment and livestock exhibitions in Texas. It runs for 20 days and includes activities for everyone. The rodeo in Houston is considered the city's "signature event" akin to "Mardi Gras" in New Orleans, the Texas State Fair in Dallas, Comic-Con in San Diego, and the "Ball Drop" in New York City.
 * McDonald's Houston Children's Festival, April. Quite possibly the largest children's festival in the United States. It runs for 2 days and includes activities for kids of all ages, including face painting, stage shows, and a whole lot more. The festival is usually held on the first weekend of April.
 * Houston Gay Pride Parade, Downtown. June. The Houston Gay Pride Parade and Festival is an annual event that celebrates the city's LGBT community. The parade is a colorful and campy affair. You see people of all ages and ethnicities including families, drag queens, and people dressed in campy, kitch, or costumes. Free
 * Texas Renaissance Festival, Todd Mission, October & November. An hour outside of Downtown Houston, the Texas Renaissance Festival ("Ren Fest") runs during the weekends from the months of October to November. Guests are welcomed to attend in costume. Tickets run from $20-40.
 * Houston Gay Pride Parade, Downtown. June. The Houston Gay Pride Parade and Festival is an annual event that celebrates the city's LGBT community. The parade is a colorful and campy affair. You see people of all ages and ethnicities including families, drag queens, and people dressed in campy, kitch, or costumes. Free
 * Texas Renaissance Festival, Todd Mission, October & November. An hour outside of Downtown Houston, the Texas Renaissance Festival ("Ren Fest") runs during the weekends from the months of October to November. Guests are welcomed to attend in costume. Tickets run from $20-40.

Professional sports

 * Houston Astros - the city's Major League Baseball team, playing at Minute Maid Park in Downtown.
 * Houston Texans - the city's National Football League (NFL) team, playing at NRG Stadium in the South Inner Loop area, next to the now-vacant Astrodome.
 * Houston Rockets - the city's NBA (basketball) team plays at the Toyota Center in Downtown.
 * Houston SaberCats - the city's Major League Rugby team (rugby union) plays at Aveva Stadium at the Houston Sports Park just west of the South Freeway (SH-288) between 610 and the Beltway.
 * Houston Dynamo (Major League Soccer/MLS) and Houston Dash (National Women's Soccer League/NWSL) play in Shell Energy Stadium, in Downtown across from Minute Maid Park.
 * The Houston Roughnecks (United Football League) play football in the spring at Rice Stadium on the campus of Rice University in the South Inner Loop area.

College sports
Houston has four universities whose sports teams play in the top-level NCAA Division I:

Theater
Houstonians like theater and the community supports many types of performing arts companies. Most professional theater is centered in the Theater District, but other companies are in different districts around town. The lively culture of Houston also includes numerous community theater organizations and several well regarded university programs.

The major downtown performing arts venues include The Wortham Center The Hobby Center Jones Hall and the Alley Theater.

Learn
Houston is home to one of the top universities in the country, Rice University. Its beautifully wooded campus is ideal for an afternoon stroll or jog with loved ones. Baylor College of Medicine is one of the nation's top medical schools, though it does not admit undergraduates. It is also home to the University of Houston, St. Thomas University, Texas Southern University, and Houston Christian University.

Buy
Many of the shopping malls are concentrated to the west of downtown in Uptown.

In general, prices in Houston are lower than in other major US cities.

A very popular place to go shopping in Houston is the Houston Galleria. The Galleria is the largest mall in Texas and the ninth largest in the United States. At the Galleria you can find people shopping at high end stores such as, Bebe, Coach, Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Gucci, Macy's, Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, The Sharper Image, Ralph Lauren Collection, Louis Vuitton and Houston's only Nordstrom. You can also find people ice skating in the ice rink on the bottom floor. Also, you will find nail salons, 375 stores, restaurants, and two Westin hotels.

Groceries and other basics
The major supermarket chains in Houston are Kroger, Randall's (which is owned by Albertsons), H-E-B, and Fiesta Mart. In addition the nation's largest discount store chain, Walmart, has several stores in Houston most of which are also open 24 hours and most Kroger stores in Houston are also open 24 hours as well. In addition many specialty and organic supermarkets such as Whole Foods Market, Central Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Trader Joe's can also be found throughout the area.

Due to its huge expat and immigrant population, Houston also features a large variety of ethnic grocery stores, including Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and of course, Mexican.

Eat
Houston has outstanding dining options, and is widely considered the most restaurant-oriented city in the United States, with a thriving community of ethnic restaurants, superb Tex-Mex, classic Texas steakhouses and Gulf Coast seafood, as well as chain restaurants. Houston's fine dining scene has exploded, with Downtown, Montrose, Midtown, and the Heights (including the Washington Corridor) as the epicenter of what's hot-and-happening now.

Although high-quality, authentic Mexican food can be found just about anywhere in the city (for some of the best surprises, stop by any nondescript taqueria and order nearly anything at random), the best ethnic dining is generally found in West Houston - in particular the area west of Highway 59 and south of I-10, with everything from Middle Eastern to Ethiopian to Bosnian. The bustling Mahatma Gandhi District around Hillcroft St. is the place to go for top-notch Indian and Pakistani cuisine. In years past, you'd go east of Downtown or to Midtown for your Chinese or Vietnamese fix (respectively); nowadays the new Chinatown (or sometimes "Asiatown") located between Westpark Drive to the North and Beechnut Street to the south, South Gessner Rd to the East and Eldridge Parkway South to the west; is the new one-stop shop for your cravings. Lying just north of I-10, Long Point Drive and between Blalock and North Gessner sport crowded Korean joints, fantastic taco trucks, and hidden Thai gems.

With hometown stars such as Monica Pope (T'afia) and Bryan Caswell (Reef, Little Big's, El Real) making their debut on TV shows such as Top Chef and on the Food Network, and more and more chefs and restaurants getting name-checked in media (such as the GQ magazine, Best Of lists, or the declaration by Bon Appetit of Houston as the best food city in Texas) and earning award nominations (Randy Rucker's Bootsie's Heritage Cafe was up for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant - the "Oscars of the restaurant world"), Houston's dining scene seems slowly but surely to be staking out room on the national stage.

Eating local
Like any city with a respectable, trendy food scene, Houston's top restaurants seem to be all about what's seasonal and local these days (oh, and Houston is just now getting into gourmet food trucks), as well as becoming increasingly prominent in stores as well. Fresh produce to seek out include tomatoes, sweet "1015" onions (not as sweet as the Hawaiian variety, but pretty impressive), watermelon, strawberries, peaches, corn, carrots, and squash blossoms. Look for local cheese from the Houston Dairymaids - who make just about any variety you can think of - and bread baked daily and shipped to restaurants from the Slow Dough Bakery. Houstonians are just as crazy for crawfish (no "crayfish" down here, Yankee) as Louisianans are, as well as catfish and Gulf seafood such as red snapper, blue crab, and shrimp; gaining in popularity are local species that were previously overlooked, such as blackfin tuna, tilefish, grouper, almaco jack, and black drum. Houston has always had a steady supply of oysters from Galveston Bay, but the program of oyster "appellations" has been revived, meaning high-quality specimens are labeled with their reef of origin, just like the well-known varieties from the east and west coasts - look for varieties such as Ladies Pass and Pepper Grove.

By phone
Houston has several telephone area codes and mandatory 10-digit dialing. For any number, even within your own area code, you need to dial areacode + number. For local calls, you do not dial a 1+ or a 0+ before the number. Some calls within Houston are considered long distance, and for those you need to dial 1 + areacode + number.

Houston's area codes are: 713, 281, 346 and 832. As of Oct 2023, the 621 area code was announced by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

WiFi
At the George Bush International Airport, the wireless connection is paid and organized by Boingo (wireless network Boingo Hotspot). From the Boingo welcome page, one can also choose (slow) sponsored free internet connection, which is good for an hour. Sometimes, after one hour the next sponsored connection could be opened.

Crime
While not as infamous as Detroit, Baltimore, or Memphis, the crime rate in Houston is high and the city has a reputation among Texans as a dangerous city. Houston is the largest hub for human trafficking into the United States and is also a major hub for drug and weapons trafficking. Certain areas of Houston are more dangerous than others, including the area within Loop 610 on the east side and some areas in Southwest Houston near Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway).

As a general rule, the areas of or portions of Spring Branch, Alief, Fondren Southwest, Sharpstown, Hiram Clarke, and Gulfton should be avoided during the night. Even during the day time, it is best that you exercise special caution in these areas as they have relatively large homeless populations and moderate levels of gang activity. The Third & Fifth Wards, and Southeast/South Central (South Park, Sunnyside, South Acres, Yellowstone) areas should be avoided during the day and night as violent crime is common in these areas. Criminal elements in Houston are known to target random people. The city center is relatively safe during the day time, but special caution should be exercised in the early morning and evening hours, and it is best to avoid the city center during the night, especially if you are alone.

Travelers to Houston should follow common safety procedures: stay away from deserted areas in the middle of the night, keep your valuables stored out of sight, keep purses and wallets in a secure location, and always put valuables in a car trunk. Call 911 for emergency assistance or report a crime in progress. For non-emergency assistance and for crimes not in progress such as minor assault, car theft, home invasion, property damage, and theft, dial 713-884-3131 and request police assistance. The Houston Police Department also allows citizens to file online reports for minor property damage and theft if they are under $5,000 in damages. Residents of Texas are allowed to carry concealed firearms after completing training and a thorough background check

Natural disasters
Like much of the Gulf Coast, Houston is very vulnerable to hurricanes. If a hurricane is forecast to make landfall anywhere near Houston, listen to officials and heed mandatory evacuation orders if applicable. Even if there isn't a mandatory evacuation order, consider avoiding the city if a hurricane is coming—officials may be hesitant to order an evacuation, even in severe situations, because the city is so huge. The last major hurricane to hit Houston was Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which caused historic flooding and widespread damage. Even tropical depressions and storms can pose a real threat, as Tropical Storm Imelda made landfall in September 2019 and brought flooding that rivaled or even exceeded that of Harvey in some areas. Hurricane season is June through November, peaking in September.

Houston is very hot and humid in the summer, with temperatures around 31-38°C (87-100°F), similar to tropical cities like Manila or Panama City during the summer. However, in the winter, Houston can be mild with temperatures ranging from -1-18°C (30-64°F), and winter climate is usually similar to winters in the rest of the Southern United States or in Southern California.

METRO Rail
METRO has never had the foresight to build more light rail on the west side of town where most of the population lives; politicians pandering to oil companies certainly don't help mass transit in Houston. Houston should have world class mass transit but the dumbasses who control it are against it.

Be careful when coming near the METRO Rail track, especially at intersections.

Follow the signs since the trains move very quickly and run at almost all hours of the day and night. It runs almost silently. At many streets, left turns are not permitted. Also watch the signs and signals, because some will change as trains approach. Do not drive on the tracks as there are large raised white domes that separate the roadway and the rail line. In some areas signs may indicate driving (or walking) on the tracks is permitted (only in the Texas Medical Center) but make sure it is safe to do so.

Drive across the tracks only when you are sure it is safe to do so, especially at night as an oncoming train may not be heard by a driver inside a car.

Cope

 * Meditation Classes for Beginners. Relaxation meditations and meditation classes to increase inner peace.

If that isn't your thing. try the simple thing most Houstonians do when they need to release tensions of big city madness: take a walk in the beautiful parks or go walking and shopping downtown. If you know someone who lives in Houston, you can have a lunch on a gorgeous spring day outside. Sometimes the most relaxing and peaceful things don't always involve money.

Consulates
Houston is home to many people of different nationalities and language backgrounds. Therefore, many countries have established full-service consulates (Consulate-General) in Houston to provide consular services for their nationals living in Texas and in the adjacent states in the southeast part of the U.S. as well as visa services for others seeking to visit their respective countries (if required). The Honorary Consu0ates are there for commercial and business purposes and offer limited or no consular services except in emergency situations. Most of the consulates are in or around the Galleria/Uptown area and the West Inner Loop neighborhoods, west of downtown. They can also be in other parts of town too:

 * 🇦🇴 Angola
 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇧🇴 Bolivia
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇱 Chile
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
 * 🇪🇨 Ecuador
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇸🇻 El Salvador
 * 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇬🇹 Guatemala
 * 🇭🇳 Honduras
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇮🇪 Ireland
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * the Netherlands
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇵🇦 Panama
 * 🇵🇪 Peru
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇵🇹 Portugal
 * 🇶🇦 Qatar
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * the United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇾 Uruguay
 * 🇻🇪 Venezuela
 * Vietnam
 * Vietnam

Go next

 * Galveston— Only about an hour's drive southeast from the city, Houstonians go to Galveston island for its beaches, the Strand, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston, and Moody Gardens.
 * Surfside— Another beach, less crowded than Galveston. About an hour from Houston.
 * Webster, southeast of the city, is the location of Space Center Houston, the visitor center of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
 * Schlitterbahn, in New Braunfels(about 174 miles west of Houston). Huge waterpark, rated #1 waterpark in America by the Travel Channel.
 * Kemah— Nice boardwalk with great restaurants and amusement rides that is south of Houston and on the way to Galveston Island.
 * Blue Bell Creameries— See the Texas countryside in Brenham and tour the creamery. About one hour (75 mi) north west of Houston along US 290.
 * A Taste of Coastal Texas— An itinerary leading you through sights along the Texas Coast down to Corpus Christi.

title: Houston


text:
Houston/Clear Lake

Clear Lake is a district of Houston. It is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. The area's boating opportunities are considered second only to those of Miami. Fishing, swimming, hiking, and history are also popular activities in the area.

Understand
Clear Lake lies to the southeast of downtown, towards Galveston. The Clear Lake area includes the communities of Clear Lake City, Clear Lake Shores, El Lago, Kemah, League City, Nassau Bay, Seabrook, Taylor Lake Village, and Webster.

A large sheltered bay and the area around it is a local recreation center. The area is home to a growing medical center, and seafood vendors.

Sail
There are several marinas that offer various yachting services. Consider chartering a sailboat for half a day, or looking into a weekend-long sailing certification course.

Fish
The area is renowned for its fishing. Red Drum are a popular hunt, as are croaker, flounder, and trout.

Eat

 * Pho 21, 2443 Bay Area Blvd., +1 281-990-8099 Vietnamese Pho noodle soup
 * Pho 21, 2443 Bay Area Blvd., +1 281-990-8099 Vietnamese Pho noodle soup

Go next

 * Alvin - About 10 miles down Route 528 is the hometown of famous baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan.

title: Houston/Clear Lake


text:
Houston/Downtown

Downtown is the central business district of Houston. It is bounded by the I-10, I-45, and I-69 freeways.

Understand
Downtown is, like many American cities, strictly a 9AM-5PM operation. Most restaurants close after business hours, but there have been some efforts lately to encourage more activity.

If you visit downtown during the day, don't be surprised to see fewer people on the street than a typical city. Most people use an underground walkway system that connects many buildings and food courts.

Just north of the core of downtown, across the Buffalo Bayou, is a warehouse district that has attracted unique music venues, artists, and Oxheart, a popular upscale restaurant. Houston's biggest brewery, St. Arnold's, lies just a mile from the UH-Downtown rail station, but the journey requires crossing a freeway and walking through a sleepy industrial area.

By car
Interstates 10 and 45 link together and form a tight loop around downtown. Many exits are marked as leading to downtown.

By public transit
The METRO Rail light rail has several downtown stops along the red line: Downtown Transit Center, Bell, Main Street Square, Preston, and UH-Downtown. Most of the restaurants and bars are located near Preston and Main Street Square.

By bus
Megabus, Greyhound and the Mexican bus services all have their stations located near the Downtown Transit Center light rail station.

By train
Long-distance Amtrak trains arrive just west of downtown. Services include the daily Texas Eagle route and the thrice-weekly Sunset Limited. Unfortunately, reaching downtown from the station includes crossing some streets with minimal pedestrian facilities.

title: Houston/Downtown


text:
Houston/East Houston

Rough-and-tumble East Houston is the city's beating, industrial heart - along with William P. Hobby Airport, you'll find the Houston Ship Channel and working-class neighborhoods (as made famous by John Travolta in the film Urban Cowboy) in the shadow of the somewhat alien landscape of oil refineries that line the shores. On closer inspection, though, East Houston is not so easily defined - here is also rich Hispanic culture (and eats!), Houston's namesake university (with surprisingly good student-run hotel and restaurant!), and off-the-wall live theater (bring the kids!).

EaDo (short for "East Downtown") and East End are two historic districts located just east of downtown Houston. EaDo is a trendy name given to several blocks of former warehouses and upscale townhomes centered around a newly-built Major League Soccer stadium. East End is a quieter, older suburb that hosts a racially diverse community. Two extensions to the METRO light rail system connect this area to Downtown.

By bike
Several BCycle bicycle rental stations have popped up around the city, one of which is at the George R Brown convention center just across the freeway from EaDo.

See

title: Houston/East Houston


text:
Houston/Greater Heights

The Greater Heights area includes some of Houston's most pleasant neighborhoods as well as a burgeoning restaurant and nightlife scene, especially on the Washington Street corridor.

Understand
Houston's first suburb, built around a streetcar line, The Heights today is centrally located compared to the far flung modern suburbs. It is a large district of gingerbread Victorian homes as well as early 20th-century bungalows.

title: Houston/Greater Heights


text:
Houston/Neartown

Neartown is a general name for the lively area that encompasses the neighborhoods just west of Downtown. It is bounded by I-69/US-59 to the south, I-45 to the east, and Allen Parkway (adjacent to Buffalo Bayou Park) to the north. The western boundary is approximately Shepherd Drive.

Understand
Both a street name and a neighborhood, Montrose is Houston's longtime home to a large portion of its LGBT community. Due mainly to gentrification, Montrose has slowly transformed from a quirky, artsy, affordable cluster of 1920s bungalows to a more upscale, commercial, artsy neighborhood (although there are still plenty of quirkiness and bungalows!). Montrose is one of the few places in the city where walking is common, but with an August average afternoon high temperature of 92 °F with 54% humidity, one might find a car the better solution during the summer.

Midtown experienced serious redevelopment in the 1990s and is now home to many of Houston's young professionals, newer restaurants and bars/clubs. The nightlife here is hip and very vibrant.

Do

Buy
Walk along Westheimer Blvd between Montrose Blvd. and Shepherd Dr. and browse the fashion resale shops, antique stores, and variety of eateries and watering holes. Empire Cafe is a popular brunch spot for local residents. Cafe Brasil serves salads, pizzas, coffees, alcoholic beverages in more in an urban European style cafe.

In reality, 'true' lower Westheimer embodies the now run down section of Westheimer between Montrose and Bagby (i.e., downtown).

Budget

title: Houston/Neartown


text:
Houston/North Houston

North Houston is known chiefly as the home of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, industrial parks, the busy office buildings of Greenspoint, and sleepy residential areas, but determined travelers will also find pleasant green spaces, cozy neighborhood eateries, and even a waterpark nestled among the towering pines of East Texas.

Get in
I 45 North and Highway 59 (soon to be I 69) and the Hardy Toll Road are your main arteries in North Houston. Beware that I 45 (also called the North Freeway) Is a traffic nightmare. Traffic information is at Transtar. Hwy 59 (Eastex Freeway) is usually less congested but again check Transtar before making plans. The Toll road is your best bet for a price. It uses the "Easy Tag" to prepay.

title: Houston/North Houston


text:
Houston/South Inner Loop

South and west of downtown, South Inner Loop is home to the Museum District, Hermann Park, the main campus of the University of Houston, Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, and NRG Stadium.

This district is bounded by freeways I-45 on the east, I-69 on the north, and I-610 (the "loop") on the south and west.

Get in
Best ways to reach this part of Houston are Metro light rail trains, Metro city buses, and by car.

Train
Houston's Metro light rail system is an easy, comfortable way to get to the Medical Center, Rice University, and Museum District. Trains run down the center of Main Street beginning as early as 4:30AM and running as late as 2:15AM.

Bus
Several Houston Metrobus routes run through this part of the city. Use bus lines 1, 8, 34, 65, 87, 292, and 298. There is also a local trolley service for the Medical Center. Bus lines for this area connect to the Metro light rail train line at the TMC Transit Center at Fannin and Pressler. Bus stop locations and schedules are on the Houston Metro web site.

Car
Houston is a sprawling city in which everyone drives everywhere. The Medical Center/Rice/Museum District area lies in between the Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59) and the South Freeway (TX 288).
 * From U.S. 59 southbound, exit Fannin, then head left
 * From U.S. 59 northbound, exit Greenbrier, then head right
 * From TX 288 either direction, exit McGregor
 * From I-610, exit Fannin and either head north, or use the Park and Ride lot and ride Metro

Street parking is available in much of this area, and there are public parking lots at the major museums, in Hermann Park, and around the Medical Center (the latter are most expensive).

title: Houston/South Inner Loop


text:
Houston/Uptown

Uptown is in Houston, though nobody in Houston has used that term since about 1970 - it's generally referred to as "The Galleria", or to motorists at I-610 and U.S. 59 as the highway to avoid.

title: Houston/Uptown


text:
Houston/West Houston

West Houston, at first glance, seems to be no more than urban sprawl at its worst: strip malls, gridlock, billboards, and more strip malls. Yet one need not travel far from the interstate to discover a trove of hidden gems: tranquil parks, the absolute highs and lows in both upscale and bargain shopping, and an endless variety of exotic, authentic eateries - as proof, look no further than New Chinatown.

Understand
Despite a plethora of rundown apartment complexes and a reputation for crime, Southwest Houston was the center of much of the city's suburban development from the 1940s through the 1970s, today it is one of its most diverse quarters and is also home to some of the city's most desirable neighborhoods, including Meyerland and the charming City of Bellaire. This area is almost completely outside of the 610 Loop, although the City of Bellaire is partially inside the 610.

New Chinatown (AKA Little Saigon or Asiatown) would be the largest Chinatown in the world area-wise, but the term Chinatown is misleading due to the fact that the majority of the shops and restaurants cater to Houston's large Vietnamese population. This area is outside the 610 Loop and near the Beltway, Houston's outer freeway loop.

The Mahatma Gandhi District located along Harwin Drive between U.S. Highway 59 (Southwest Freeway) to the south and the Westpark Tollway to the north has a large concentration of Indian and Pakistani shops and restaurants. The area is known for its many import shops and bargain emporiums.

Westchase is home to gleaming office towers housing tech companies and oil service firms. Located around Westheimer and the Sam Houston (Beltway 8), it's a busy area with shopping, restaurants, and garden apartment complexes.

City Center is a mixed use concept development at I-10 and the Sam Houston (exit Town and Country or Memorial). Shops, restaurants, hotels, and apartments fill this busy corner of town.

title: Houston/West Houston


text:
Houston/West Inner Loop

The West Inner Loop encompasses many of the poshest, most upscale neighborhoods and business areas in Houston.

Understand
Long known as Houston's most exclusive neighborhood, River Oaks is home to a large collection of eye-popping mansions.

Get in
This affluent neighborhood is easily accessible from Kirby, Willowick, Inwood, and River Oaks Blvd.

title: Houston/West Inner Loop


text:
Hout Bay

Hout Bay appears to be a little harbour village but is actually a suburb of the South African metropole Cape Town.

Get in
Hout Bay is situated at the west side of the Cape Peninsula. You can get there by car, following the road along the west coast of Peninsula. From the Cape Town city centre drive to Camps Bay and from there all along the sea. You can also get there from the east side of the Peninsula and from the Cape of Good Hope.

Park your car at the parking lot by the harbour.

See
The harbour is the main attraction. It is quiet and full of bustling fisher boats at the same time. There are also tall mountains that make Hout Bay special.

Do
Watch the fisherman unload their fresh fish, old ladies repairing the nets or go on a trip to Seal Island to see the local seal colony.

A visit to Hout Bay is incomplete without a visit to the World of Birds, a wonderful bird park, touted to be the biggest in the western cape. Make sure that you time your visit to coincide with the feeding of the Squirrel monkeys.

Chapman's Peak Drive starts just south of Hout Bay. This toll road offers spectacular views, especially at sunset. If you're a world class big wave surfer, Hout Bay is the location of Dungeons home to some of the worlds biggest surfable waves in winter.

Buy
There is an antique store next to the restaurant, which is definitely worth a visit!

Eat
Taste fresh lobsters or other seafood and fish at the local restaurant. It is cheap compared to prices in inner Cape Town, but can be bought for less at more quiet places.

Drink

 * Visit the Chapman's cigar bar at the foot of Chapman's Peak for a sun-downer, you would also be making no mistake tasting their pan-fried Calamari, possibly the best in the world!
 * Try the local sushi restaurant run by Bruce and his wife.
 * The Pirates den has DJs some nights, but many locals steer clear and thus the place can be very empty.
 * A local gem is the Work Shop, claimed to be the smallest (licensed) pub in Africa is serves as a good meeting place when the weather is good, drink is cheap and the local young folk enjoy meeting new people and will always talk to any new faces. Talk to William the resident barman for an introduction to the local crowd.

Sleep
Accommodation in Hout Bay consists mainly of smaller guesthouses and bed and breakfasts, prices vary and it is worth shopping around for the best option. Try searching to find accommodation to fit your budget and requirements, as more establishments offer their own websites and direct online booking facilities, securing the right accommodation is much easier. Booking in advance is essential over the peak periods and in particular over December and January.

title: Hout Bay