Moving to Houston? You are in for a real treat! With a population of just over 2 million, Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States and is known for its dynamic energy, gorgeous surroundings, and optimistic spirit. And it is no wonder that Houstonians are so optimistic, considering that they were named “America’s Next Great Global City” by Forbes and the “Best City in America” by Business Insider. As a bustling, growing metropolis, you will find Houston a great place to live.

Things to Do in Houston

As you’d expect from a large metropolis, Houston is chock full of things to do and see. Houston can boast a very strong arts culture and has numerous performance halls where you can enjoy ballet, theatre, symphony orchestras, and opera. There are also numerous museums and galleries, such as the world-renown Contemporary Arts Museum and Houston Museum of Natural Science.

For sports fans, there are numerous stadiums and arenas. The most famous one is the Toyota Center downtown where the NBA Championship-winning team the Rockets play. You can go to Minute Maid Park to see the Astros play. You can find a list of the top sports venues in Houston here.

Every year, Houston hosts many celebrated events which showcase the city’s diverse culture. Some of the most popular events are the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston Greek Festival, Houston Auto Show, and Art Car Parade. To find out more about Houston events, see the Houston events calendar.

Navigating Around Houston

There are many small towns and suburbs which surround Houston. There is actually a ring-shaped road encircling Houston called “The Loop”. Neighborhoods are often referred to as being “in the loop” or “outside of the loop”. Because of all of these suburbs, Houston metro area is very large (the 5th largest in the US) and the population density is very low (you won’t feel crowded in Houston!). However, the downside is that traffic can be a nightmare because of all of the people commuting into the city center on a daily basis.

If you are moving outside of the loop, be prepared to spend a lot of time in your car battling traffic. Even people living inside the loop tend to have cars and use them, resulting in even more traffic. Of course, Houston does have another option: public transportation. Despite the fact that the lines are very convenient and clean, public transport in Houston isn’t very popular. However, ridership is slowly growing. Commuters are now allowed to bring their bikes on the buses, which has helped increase ridership with cyclists. There are also park-and-ride centers surrounding the city. You can find out more at the Houston Metro Transit Authority website.