Houston

The fourth largest city in the United States, Houston offers all the excitement and cultural opportunities of a major metropolitan area, along with a southern climate that permits year-round outdoor recreation both in the city and in the many easily accessible nearby natural attractions. Within walking distance from the Texas Medical Center (TMC) are Hermann Park and the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Miller Outdoor Theatre. Houston's light rail line connects TMC with the downtown area, the museum district, and Reliant Park.

Art exhibitions can be enjoyed at a variety of local museums and galleries, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection, and the Bayou Bend Collection. Other notable museums include the Children's Museum and the Holocaust Museum. Downtown Houston has the second-largest theater district in the country. Performing arts attractions include symphony, opera and ballet at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts and the Wortham Center; drama at the Alley Theatre; Broadway theatre, concerts, and musical revues at the Music Hall; and other special events at the Sam Houston Coliseum or the George R. Brown Convention Center. Performance companies in residence include the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ballet, and the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Basketball fans follow the Houston Rockets and Houston Comets at the Toyota Center sports and entertainment arena. The Houston Astros baseball team plays major-league home games at Minute Maid Park. Reliant Stadium is home to football's Houston Texans and is also the site of The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Space Center Houston, the official visitor's center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, and nearby Kemah Boardwalk are fun family destinations. Within short drives from Houston are facilities for sailing, surfing, swimming, camping, canoeing, fishing, and hiking along area rivers and lakes and in national forests and state parks.