Houston doesn’t get the same kind of tourist attention that other major cities in this country get. Think about it for a moment, when you think of New York you think Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building; Los Angeles has Hollywood and…um…other stuff, I’m sure. But when you think of Houston, you don’t have that automatic first tourist thought. So most tourists don’t make it their first choice for a destination.
Good.
That just means for those of you who do travel to Houston for a Texans game,
there’s so much to discover and love about the only city in Texas that matters. Because Houston is a truly fascinating place. And those who make the effort to explore the fourth largest city in the country are in for a great time.
Because there’s something for everybody in Houston. It’s a vast city with diverse interests, cultures, and ideas and I would bet money which I don’t have that when you come to Houston, you will find something to love about it.
The only regret I have about writing this guide is that I can’t list all of the attractions and restaurants that Houston has to offer; so I offer instead a starter’s pack for things to do when you’re not going to a Texans game.
Places to stay in Houston
First, let’s start with places to stay in Houston. Ideally, you’ll want to be close to the stadium, but that’s not always possible. If you can, the Wyndham Houston is walking distance to Reliant Stadium.
Looking for something a little larger and more family-friendly (not that the Wyndham isn’t, I just needed a transitional phrase here), the Doubletree Hilton in the Galleria is on the west end of town by the largest mall in the city. So when you aren’t checking Houston out, you can stroll through the Galleria and window shop.
If money truly is no object to you, first of all I’m jealous, and second, the place you want to go is the Post Oak Hotel which is also near the Galleria and the only five-star luxury hotel in the city built by Houston Rockets owner (among other things) Tillman Fertitta. If you have money to burn, they have an incinerator waiting for you.
Things to do in Houston
Houston is Space City. Never mind what Orlando would have you believe. It’s home to NASA’s Space Center Houston, which is one of the largest STEM learning centers in the country. It is the home to countless artifacts from previous lunar missions like lunar regolith (moonrocks and moondust), spacesuits, mission flight simulators, and so much more. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon in H-Town.
For those of you who want to take in some culture while you’re in town, the Menil Collection is for you. It’s a 30-acre campus set in a residential neighborhood just north of the Museum District (also a good time), and has one of the largest collection of surrealists paintings in the country and the single largest collection of Rene Magritte’s work outside of his native Belgium.
But we can’t forget to find someplace fun for the kids to unwind. For that, your best bet is to go to the Kemah Boardwalk. Located on Galveston Bay, Houston’s outlet into the Gulf of Mexico, it has roller coasters, zip lines, carnival games, a stingray pond, and several dining options to please every palate.
Best places to eat in Houston
Houston has one of the most diverse populations in the country, and that is one of the city’s greatest strengths. Why? Because no matter what kind of cuisine you are looking for, Houston almost certainly has it.
It’s best known, obviously, for its barbecue shops, Tex-Mex (and classical Mexican too), and Cajun food. But if you don’t feel like eating the specialties of the town, there are other options for you.
If you’re looking for a place that’s family friendly or an attraction that’s fun for kids, you can kill two birds with one stone at the Downtown Aquarium. It’s a fun day out with the family with a restaurant (I cannot confirm one way or another whether you should get the seafood there).
If you’re looking for something a little more formal and classy (like me), Brennan’s is a can’t-miss. Brennan’s is a Houston institution that’s been around since 1967 and serves Cajun classics and original Cajun-influenced creations.
And of course, no restaurant guide, not even one as short as this, is complete without mentioning Mama Ninfa’s on Navigation. This is where tacos al carbon (fajitas) were born, at least according to them. It’s a fun, festive environment with all the authentic Tex-Mex staples you know and love. If you can’t make it to Mama Ninfa’s, El Tiempo Cantina is a great option, and fun fact: El Tiempo was founded by one of Mama Ninfa’s sons, Roland Laurenzo.
Word of advice: If you go to El Tiempo, the margaritas are delicious and STRONG. Consider yourself warned.
Reliant Stadium parking, rideshare, and transit options
One of the things about Houston is that it’s big. Really big. I don’t mean just because it’s the fourth largest city in the country, but the city itself is enormous. Houston is known for its urban sprawl. With that in mind, I am going to level with y’all and say your best bet for enjoying a Texans game is to drive to the stadium.
Parking passes are available for purchase on Ticketmaster and it’s going to make your life so much easier (if you have a car or have rented one) to just drive to the game yourself.
If you do, the fine folks at Reliant Stadium have a page on their website that shows you how to navigate the various stadium lots, how long the lines are at each gate, and how long the lines are to get into the stadium itself.
The stadium opens four hours before kickoff, but in order to avoid the longest lines, I recommend you arrive at least an hour and a half before kickoff. After that, the roads become jammed and a nightmare to navigate.
If you do not have a car or don’t feel like renting one, Metro does have park and ride options and a light rail to get to the stadium. Your best bet would be to take one of the various park and ride lots to the light rail, which goes directly to Reliant Stadium. It’s a complicated mess, but it’ll save you a lot of money on cars and parking passes.
There is also a rideshare drop off point in front of the yellow lot on Main Street, but unless you are staying (or live) pretty close to the stadium, this is going to cost you a fortune. It can be done, mind you, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Tailgating at Reliant Stadium
Texans fans take their tailgating seriously. But they’re also incredibly friendly people who will adopt you as their own if you bring along something to contribute to tailgates. It doesn’t have to be much, bring some brats or soda or even paper plates, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. The lots open four hours prior to kickoff (except for the platinum lot which opens five hours before kickoff) so if you really want to take in the tailgate experience, to smell the cooking meats, the blasting of chopped and screwed hip hop or unchopped and unscrewed country music in the air, watch fans toss the football around, you can wander to your heart’s content.
If you want to take in the tailgating experience, without all that fuss of buying a ticket to the Texans game, they do sell tailgate-only tickets which will allow you to roam the tailgates and, presumably, find a party to watch the game with.
There are so many options for tailgating, but a favorite of mine is Lone Spot Tailgaters, who are very welcoming, have foods and spirits that you might not encounter anywhere else other than Houston (well, maybe other parts of Texas, but we don’t care about those right now). They can be found in the Platinum Lot very close to the stadium itself.
If you don’t feel like going through the tailgates, there is also the Bud Light Plaza experience where you can listen to live music, get autographs from cheerleaders, watch the Texans’ radio pre-game show live, shop for souvenirs at the team store, and get a pre-game bite to eat at one of the many food trucks who camp out there for the game.
The Reliant Stadium Experience
The single best thing about watching a Texans game at Reliant Stadium is that there is no bad seat in the stadium. The seats are built so that they’re practically on top of the field. They have multiple concourses with Houston favorites like Trill Burgers, a burger stand owned and operated by Houston rapper Bun B (the Trill OG).
If you want something more substantial, more Houston, than burgers, the stadium also plays host to two of Houston’s most pre-eminent barbecue franchises: Truth BBQ and Goode Co. Barbeque (yes, they spell it that way on purpose).
There’s also an El Tiempo Cantina on the premises (please be warned again that the margaritas are very strong if you choose to imbibe) if you want some great Tex-Mex.
But you’re there to watch the Houston Texans play. As such, please leave time, if you do choose to tailgate or stroll the stadium, to get back to your seat in time for kickoff. Historically, fans are slow in arriving to their seats because they’re having too much fun at the tailgate parties and lose track of time.
So get there, be loud on defense, shut up on offense, and put on your battle red and steel blue finest, you’re gonna have a great time.
