There's a lot to love about Houston, but when you've just moved here, the thought of trying to take in all of its history, culture, and community—not to mention all of the great sporting events, the thriving business environment, and the beautiful outdoor recreation areas—can be a little overwhelming. When you're new to Houston, it's okay to let yourself live like a tourist for a while. See the sights. One of the best ways to get a feel for your new city is to take a walking tour. There are many tours available, so you're sure to find one to match your interests, taste, and pace. Here are a few of the walking tours available in Houston:
Walk with a Tour Group
Guided group walking tours are available from several companies, and for many interests. To get a taste of downtown Houston, try Bayou City Tours. To learn more about our city's history, try a tour of a specific neighborhood with the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, or look to Houston Historical Tours for a tour of historic downtown Houston, a more general city tour, or a tour of Houston's haunted places. Discover Houston Tours also offers a look at Houston's haunted history, as well as a pub crawl, and a tour of the tunnel system that lets Houstonians get around downtown while avoiding the summer heat. Are you interested in architecture? The Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects offers its own group walking tour of the city's finest buildings.
Tour on Your Own
If you'd prefer to discover Houston at your own pace, you still have plenty of options. If you're an Apple user, you can download GPSmyCity.com's Houston Map and Walking Tours app to your iPod, iPhone, or iPad for $4.99. For any smartphone, you can download a free audio-guided walking tour of downtown Houston, the Museum District, or Discovery Green from Audissy Guides. A variety of free, downloadable audio tours are also available from the Downtown District and Houston First Corporation.
Unique Tours
If you'd like to dig deeper into Houston's unique personality, visit Hear Our Houston. It's a community project that encourages people to share their own views of a Houston's neighborhoods. Anyone can record an audio tour and upload it to the site, and anyone can download the tours for free. This article from Culturemap Houston explains more about the Hear Our Houston project. You can find all kinds of ideas about the city here, including insider tips and personal memories. Get to know your new city and your fellow Houstonians at the same time. Welcome to Houston!
Posted by Melanie Belasco Levy on 09/15/11
