Texas Bowl

We may be coming to Houston for the Texas Bowl. Where is a good place to stay? What resturants would you reccomend? What is there to see and do in Houston? Do you need to rent a car?

Is it s safe city?

Texas Bowl

Texas Bowl will be held at Reliant Stadium. There is public transportation via light rail, bus and taxi to the stadium, but if you stay for a long time or want to explore the city, you will need to rent a car. Light rail/bus available from the Galleria and Downtown areas to the stadium

Some of the most interesting attractions are NASA/Johnson Space Center and musuems for all interest. As with any big city shopping and nightclubs are always there. For more information, look at www.houston-guide.com.

Safety is good for the most part. As with any big city (Houston is 4th in the country), there are good and bad areas of town and common sense is important.

Where you stay would be important to what you will be doing here most of your stay, as the city is very spread out.

Texas Bowl

KNR is right some areas are safe and others aren%26#39;t. I wouldn%26#39;t stay in the Reliant Park Area, however if you want to be along the rail line then med center, museum area, downtown, midtown are all fine.

There isn%26#39;t much shopping along the rail line so if you want to do some of that - then the Galleria area would be better. You can%26#39;t get a rail ride from Galleria to Reliant and I am unfamiliar with the routes or if they have direct routes without you having to stop and change buses at a transit center. IIf you are thinking about bus transportation then you might want to google Metro Houston and take a look at their schedules, etc. It%26#39;s really best to have a rent car if you plan on attending the Texas Bowl and sightseeing because Houston is large and spread out -- all the tourist sites are also spread out all over the city. Have fun.

Houston has some of the best restaurants ever and a huge variety. Where people recommend might depend upon what area of town you plan to stay in or visit. Definitely try some Tex Mex - while Pappasitas is highly recommend (and good), personally I think it is pricey and overrated. Ninfa%26#39;s on S. Post Oak is still good, Cyclone Anaya%26#39;s in midtown Houston or on S. Shepherd are both good and a cool people-watching atmosphere at the midtown location. El Patio in midtown is good too - extremely strong margaritas - too strong. Tastes like a glass of pure tequila -- and you%26#39;ll feel like you had straight tequila too. You might like Goode Co. Barbecue on Kirby. Barbecue is just so Texas - so if that is what you are looking for - then give it a shot.

What type of dining do you like upscale, casual, moderate priced, pricey? Any particular cuisine?

Many of the hotels around Reliant are old and beat up. There are some in the Medical Center area that are close and in better shape. Look at the Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, %26amp; Springhill Suites in that area. Or go for something around the Galleria - there%26#39;s anything from a Hilton Garden Inn to a JW Marriott - it all depends on how much you want to pay.

Rent a car. Houston is very spread out and public transit is spotty.

Is it a safe city? There%26#39;s definitely some rough parts of town. All the places you%26#39;d go as a tourist or Reliant Park itself will be safe. Some of the neighborhoods bordering on the stadium are a little sketchy. But overall, it%26#39;s a safe city.

Thanks locals. My family of four (kids of 6 and 3) will be attending the game. Thus, I think that a suite is probably our best bet. We%26#39;d like to be in a decent area where we can walk around. Do you have any suggestions on where to stay?

Thanks locals. My family of four (kids of 6 and 3) will be attending the game. Thus, I think that a suite is probably our best bet. We%26#39;d like to be in a decent area where we can walk around. Do you have any suggestions on where to stay?

I would suggest the Galleria then, based on your need to walk around, plus you%26#39;ll have all types of restaurants. There is the Sheraton Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, Comfort Suites, Drury Inn %26amp; Suites, Staybridge Suites and it seems there is a Hampton Inn %26amp; Suites also.

thanks knr . The game is affiliated with Doubletree and Embassy. Are they nearby?

We are going to the Bowl game from NJ and are staying at the Doubletree at the Galleria. The Bowl website said there is not availability but you can get rates directly at hotels site for $129 a night.

I have 3 kids coming and this is one of the only hotels that would accomodate all 5 of us comfortably. GO RU!!

Like everyone said, get a car and stay in the Galleria Area. My favorite is the Intercontinental but there are many great hotels in the area. Also there are great Restaurants too. Go to www.b4-u-eat.com for reviews of Houston restaurants. My personal favorite in the Galleria area is Maggiano%26#39;s. Great family style Italian. You will probably want to get down to the space center which is south of Houston going toward Galveston. Especially if you have kids.

Touristy stuff aside, as a football fan I am very excited to have Rutgers come to town. I have purchased my tickets and will be attending the game and I hope other fans around Houston will do the same. From what I understand there will be some good pre-game activities as well as holiday fireworks after the game. We are very lucky to get a team with the quality of the Scarlet Knights at the inaugural Texas bowl. K State isn%26#39;t bad either. Should be a good game.

There is the Hitlon Houston Post Oak, formerly the Doubletree and the Embassy Suites on Sage, both in the Galleria area. Look at hilton.com and do a search under their partner hotels (top right corner) and it%26#39;ll have all the hotel info there.