Top 10 Reasons Why Beyonce Knowles’ Houston, Texas Is A Must-see Post-COVID Destination – Gulf of Mexico
Port of Houston, Texas
The 10th world’s largest port, serving the metropolitan area of Houston, Texas is the 50-mile-long complex of expanded public and private facilities Port of Houston. Just a few hours sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico, this is the busiest port in America in terms of foreign tonnage. Situated along the Buffalo Bayou (bayou is a slow moving body of water) and Galveston Bay in the western area of the Gulf of Mexico, this is a sovereign government entity and the 2nd busiest port in the US.
The Port of Houston plays a big chunk in the development of the city since around 7,800 vessels call to the area each year. Cereal products, natural stone, iron and steel, petroleum products as well as organic chemicals are the foremost cargoes handled by this port. It is well connected through interstate highways and railroads allowing it to access inland markets in continental US, Mexico and Canada.
Brief Overview on Houston:
After Texas won its independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto, the Allen brothers – John Kirby and Augustus Chapman – bought a 6,642 acres of land for less than $10,000 along Buffalo Bayou for a new settlement. They would become the founders of Houston on August 30, 1836 and named the area after their friend Sam Houston who was a member of the Texas House of Representative at that time. What started as a struggling commercial post would one day become the 4th largest city in America.
On June 5, 1837 Houston became the capital of Texas until 1839 with the first steamship named The Laura visited the area. By the 1850s, the town became a trading center with the construction of its first railroad and Buffalo Bayou was developed. The rest of the 19th century saw more improvement of Houston’s infrastructure, the creation of its first telecommunication and one of the 1st cities in America to build electric power plants, the construction of the 1st general hospital in 1887 and its city park opened in 1899 now called Sam Houston Park.
Oil was discovered at Spindletop in 1901 that created a reversal of fortune for the city of Houston. More infrastructures were built while technology improved the way of life of its residents. The city airport opened in the 1940s while the Texas Medical Center opened its doors which turned the city a center of health care and cutting-edge medical treatment option in America. In the 1960s it became the center of space activity with the opening of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center and into the 21st century, the city continued to experience a boom especially with the peak of oil prices in 2013.
Welcome to Houston, or Space City, “H-town”,Bayou City or in any way you call it. This is a diverse city in Texas as the capital of many things like space exploration, culinary scene, energy capital and all that jazz. I quickly fell in love with the place which is one of the most interesting cities I’ve ever seen for a number of times during my sailing years, the last being on August 2016 aboard the IVS Leopard Moon and if you’re considering to visit this city soon, I’ve highlighted top 10 reasons why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination.
1. It’s the culinary melting pot of America.
From food trucks to ramen houses, a top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination is it has the best culinary scene in America. No doubt its residents eat out more times a week than in any other city in the U.S. with all the 11,000 restaurants to choose from, who can blame them?
2. Around 145 languages are spoken including…would you believe..Tagalog?
That’s right, after New York City and Los Angeles, another top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination is Houston is the 3rd city with the largest number of languages spoken in U.S. While English and Spanish are the two major languages in the area, you will hear residents speaking Mandarin, Hindu, Vietnamese, German and well..even Tagalog, “kumusta kabayan?”
3. It has an underground pedestrian tunnel 20 ft. below ground level parallel to a mini mall.
Linking top city buildings, restaurants and shops, this top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination, is your chance in Houston to stroll on its network of underground pedestrian walkways. Constructed 20 ft. below the ground, it almost look like a mini mall down there.
4. Home to Texas’ largest mall.
Speaking of malls, a top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination is the Houston Galleria,the largest mall in Texas and the 9th biggest in this nation. With over 375 stores to pick out in your shopping that fill the 4 floors, The Galleria surely has it all for you.
5. Where you can find the unique Beer Can House covered of course with 50,000 beer cans!
Who says you can’t recycle empty beer cans for house siding? In 1968, John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer started his project The Beer Can House, a top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination found at an ordinary neighborhood in Houston. A story goes that Milkovisch hated throwing anything away and at some point after years of drinking his beers, the attic and garage of his house were in no time full of empty cans and that’s where he came up with the idea that these “trash” can be recycled into a good house siding. Voila..a folk-art home was born out of the 50,000 empty beer cans where you can explore and see for yourself this incredible show of craftsmanship close-at-hand.
6. The city that gave us Queen Bey a.k.a. Beyonce Knowles.
She’s one of the most celebrated stars of all time, Beyonce Knowles-Carter or Queen Bey may have amassed 28 Grammys, shone out in acting/producing/directing, then launched an active wear collection but her singing prowess started out while sweeping hairs at her mom’s salon as a young girl in Houston. A top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination, Beyonce sang there and was paid tips after people would listen while sweeping. Born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, she would later conquer the public eye as the vocalist of Destiny’s Child before establishing on her solo career with her first album, Dangerously In Love.
7. Once called the “8th Wonder of the World” its Astrodome has been world’s 1st domed stadium.
Opened in 1965, the W.R.G. Astrodome in Houston was the first domed stadium in the world, a top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination. Nicknamed the “8th wonder of the world”, it was built to protect the entire sports center tailor made for baseball and football and has a seating capacity of 60,000. The best example of Modernist architecture, it has a space-age appearance where notable events were held but in 2005 the Astrodome was used as a shelter for displaced Hurricane Katrina victims and it has been closed in 2009.
8. Yee-haw!!! The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the biggest on earth.
This is the dusty, rowdy and phenomenal jewel of Texas. If New Orleans has the Mardi Gras, in Houston it got the Livestock Show and Rodeo, the biggest in the world and a top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination. An event that has been going on since 1931, it has survived wars and recessions and beyond from being a month-long entertainment in this city, it is also a charitable institution wherein they reward students with scholarships as well.
9. Known to many as the “Energy Capital of the World.”
This is the city of the flowing black gold and for the longest time, Houston has been and continues to be the epicenter of energy industry that include oil and gas exploration, production, refining, marketing, supply and technology. A top reason why it’s a must- see post-COVID destination,1/3 of America‘s job in oil and gas extraction are in Houston, it has 9 refineries producing 2-3 million barrels of crude oil a day making it one of the highest in oil production in the world.
10. Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center on the planet is found in Houston.
Well yes, Texans love to brag but Houston‘s claim to have the largest medical center in the world is true. A top reason why it’s a must-see post-COVID destination, this medical complex does not only house 54 state-of-the art hospitals and surgical centers but home to several research facilities that are the cutting edge of life science innovation. It receives an average of 7.2 million visits a year especially this pandemic.
“The city of no limits” in Houston there’s so much to do and explore. I hope you know it a little better now and I’m sure you’ll love this city a lot more when you go and visit the place one day. With its endless activities and attractions to enjoy, these are the top reasons why magazines like Travel & Leisure or Conde Nast Traveler have hyped Houston as a must-see post pandemic destination.
Reference: Wikipedia