Several months before relocating to Houston, Texas, my husband and I spent a great deal of time, thought and effort researching the sort of place that we wanted to move to.  We even took an online test which, based on your answers, provided you with a list of cities and states where you would probably be happy living.  When we decided to concentrate our efforts on the Houston, Texas we truly did not realize what we were getting into. 

We wanted a place with a pleasant climate, variety of culture, activities, adventures, and travel.  We wanted to be able to take the children on day trips that would provide them with educational, entertaining and natural events and places, but all within the short course of a day or weekend.

Within just days of arriving in the Houston area, my mind was spinning with the wealth of opportunities available both in this area and across the state.  Historically there is the San Jacinto Monument, Museum and Battleground, a tribute to General Sam Houston and the Texas Army.  I can explore the Battleship Texas which survived two world wars, or visit the Port of Houston which is the third largest port in the United States.  Much of the history of this state includes Spanish, French, and English cultures as well as Native American. 

Parks abound, in the Houston area, or just a short drive away.  There are two arboretums, Houston and Mercer and several parks within the city such as; Memorial Park, Hermann Park, Buffalo Bayou Park and Sam Houston Park. Further out of town are Armand Bayou Nature and Brazos Bend State Park. There are a variety of places to rent a canoe, horse or sailboat. Cruises are available on Clear Lake, Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay Maybe best known are the parks and beaches available in nearby Galveston, but the Houston area also has numerous parks which offer forest, fauna, wildlife and water.  Whatever in nature I wish to enjoy, whether it be the forest or ocean it is available to me here. 

The museums I can visit vary from art to nature:  The Menil Collection and The Rothko Chapel; The Fine Arts Museum; the Museum of Modern Art; the Natural Science Museum. Downtown is also home to the oldest house in Houston, also available is the Heritage Society House and Museum at Sam Houston Park, where historic homes across the eras of Houston's history were transported to the park and restored. Bayou Bend is a former estate near River Oaks, and hosts a museum and walking gardens.

For my sports minded days there are professional baseball, arena football, men's and women's basketball and hockey (minor league) teams, as well as golf and tennis year-round.  One golf course that golf lovers should visit offers a re-creation of a famous hole from golf courses all over the world.  Other sports include:  Gulf Greyhound Park, the world's largest pari-mutuel dog racing complex; Houston Raceway Park with drag strip racing; The Sam Houston Race Track, which offers local horse racing; bike and jogging trails at Memorial and Hermann Parks and along Buffalo and Braeswood Bayous; the Equestrian Center for horses and Velocidrome for bicycling. If my family wants to get our feet wet we can try water skiing, surfing and wind-surfing along the coast.

Where else can I go?  There is the Williams Tower water wall and observation deck, the downtown Chase Tower with an observation deck, the historic tunnel system under downtown Houston has over 4 miles of connected tunnels, with stores and restaurants, drive through the River Oaks area and look at the mansions, or visit a gloriously designed Hindu temple in Pearland. I can also visit a wildlife sanctuary at Anahuac known for bird observation and if I’m there at sunset maybe able to see the waterfowl come in to nest.  For more wildlife adventures I can visit: the Texas State Zoo in Victoria were all the animals are native to Texas, Bayou Wildlife Park near Alvin has rhinos, buffalo, giraffe, that I can hand feed, the Big Thicket National Preserve is a dense forest with a wide variety of plant and animal life and the Alabama-Coushatta Indian reservation is nearby. There is Washington- on-the-Brazos, Lake Somerville, the Blue Bell Ice Cream Creamery, the Antique Rose Emporium, and a monastery that raises miniature horses.

In nearby Galveston, there are; the railroad museum, I can bicycle or skates and cruise along the 10 mile seawall; visit one of the county beaches; drive out to a deserted beach, visit Bishop's Palace, Moody Mansion or Moody Gardens.  For a free daytrip my family and I can take the ferry to and from Bolivar bringing crackers to feed the seagulls and possibly see some dolphins.

My opportunities are only as limited as I choose it to be.  I want to discover that which is unique to Texas and that which makes it so special. Much of that I have already discovered as that which is unique about Texas is not only what is available to do and see, but the people of Texas themselves.

Texas, because of it vast size alone allows travelers can be on a beach one weekend, a winery and bed and breakfast another and a sporting event the following.  To this unseasoned Texan, but one who is wholly embracing this new world of opportunities, I can not wait to experience all the remarkable and extraordinary things that Texas has to offer. These opportunities are as wide and varied as the big, blue Texas sky that I fully understand the beauty of, now that I am able to view it everyday.  I am sure that I will never grow tired of these discoveries that Texas has to offer.

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