Houston doesn’t get the same kind of tourist attention that other major cities in this country get. Think about it for a moment, when you think of New York you think of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building; Los Angeles has Hollywood and…um…other things, I’m sure. But when you think of Houston, you don’t automatically think tourist first. So most tourists don’t make it their first choice for a destination.
That just means for those of you traveling to Houston for a Texans game, there’s so much to discover and love about the only city in Texas that matters. Because Houston is a truly fascinating place. And those trying to explore the nation’s fourth largest city are in for a great time.
Because there’s something for everyone in Houston. It’s a vast city with diverse interests, cultures, and ideas and I’d bet money I don’t have that when you come to Houston, you’ll find something to love about it.
My only regret about writing this guide is that I couldn’t list all the attractions and restaurants that Houston has to offer; so I’m offering instead a starter’s pack for things to do when you’re not going to a Texans game.
Places to stay in Houston
First, let’s start with places to stay in Houston. Ideally, you’ll want to be close to the stadium, but that’s not always possible. If you can, the Wyndham Houston is walking distance to Reliant Stadium.
Looking for something a little bigger and more family-friendly (no Wyndham no, I just need a transitional phrase here), the Doubletree Hilton at the Galleria is at the west end of town the largest mall in the city. So when you’re not checking out Houston, you can walk through the Galleria and window shop.
If money really isn’t your thing, first of all I’m jealous, and secondly, the place you want to go is the Post Oak Hotel which is also close to the Galleria and the only five-star luxury hotel in the city built by Houston Rockets owner (among other things) Tillman Fertitta. If you have money to burn, they have an incinerator waiting for you.
Houston is Space City. Don’t think what Orlando would have you believe. It is home to NASA Space Center Houstonwhich is one of the largest STEM learning centers in the country. It is home to countless artifacts from past moon missions such as lunar regolith (moonrocks and moondust), spacesuits, mission flight simulators, and much more. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon in H-Town.
For those of you who want to take in some culture while you’re in town, the Menil Collection is for you. It is a 30-acre campus located in a residential neighborhood just north of Museum District (good timing too), and has one of the largest collections of surrealist paintings in the country and the single largest collection of Rene Magritte’s works outside of his native Belgium.
But we can’t forget to find a fun place for the kids to relax. For that, your best bet is to go to Boardwalk Tent. Located on Galveston Bay, Houston’s outlet to the Gulf of Mexico, it has roller coasters, zip lines, carnival games, a stingray pond, and several dining options to please every palate.
Best places to eat in Houston
Houston has one of the most diverse populations in the country, and that is one of the city’s greatest strengths. Why? Because no matter what type of cuisine you’re looking for, Houston almost certainly has it.
It is best known, obviously, for its barbecue shops, Tex-Mex (and classical Mexican too), and Cajun food. But if you don’t want to eat the town’s specialties, there are other options for you.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place or an attraction that’s fun for kids, you can kill two birds with one stone at Downtown Aquarium. It was a fun day out with the family with the restaurant (I can’t confirm one way or the other if you should get the seafood there).
If you’re looking for something a little more formal and classy (like me), to Brennan is a can’t miss. Brennan’s is a Houston institution that has been around since 1967 and serves Cajun classics and original Cajun-influenced creations.
And of course, no restaurant guide, even one as short as this one, is complete without mentioning it Mama Ninfa is in Navigation. This is where tacos al carbon (fajitas) were born, according to them. It’s a fun, festive atmosphere with all the authentic Tex-Mex staples you know and love. If you can’t make it to Mama Ninfa’s, El Tiempo Cantina is a good option, and fun fact: El Tiempo was founded by one of Mama Ninfa’s sons, Roland Laurenzo.
Word of advice: If you go to El Tiempo, the margaritas are delicious and STRONG. Consider yourself warned.
Reliant Stadium parking, rideshare and transit options
One of the things about Houston is that it’s big. It’s really big. I don’t mean because it’s the fourth largest city in the country, but the city itself is huge. Houston is known for its urban sprawl. With that in mind, I’m going to put you all on a level playing field and say that your best bet for enjoying a Texans game is to drive to the stadium.
Parking passes are available for purchase at Ticketmaster and will make your life easier (if you have a car or rent) to drive to the game yourself.
If you do, the good people on Reliant Stadium have a page on their website that shows you how to navigate the different stadium lots, how long the lines are at each gate, and how long the lines are to get into the stadium itself.
The stadium opens four hours before kickoff, but to avoid the longest lines, I recommend you arrive at least an hour and a half before kickoff. After that, the roads become jammed and a nightmare to navigate.
If you don’t have a car or don’t want to rent, Metro has park and ride options and a light rail to get to the stadium. Your best bet is to pick up one of the various parks and ride the light rail, which goes directly to Reliant Stadium. It’s a complicated mess, but it will save you a lot of money on cars and parking passes.
There’s also a rideshare drop off point in front of the yellow lot on Main Street, but unless you’re staying (or live) fairly close to the stadium, it’s going to cost you a fortune. It can be done, mind you, but I don’t recommend it.
Tailgating at Reliant Stadium
Texan fans take their tailgating seriously. But they are also incredibly friendly people who will adopt you as their own if you bring something to contribute to the tailgates. It doesn’t have to be much, bring some brats or soda or even paper plates, and you’ll be welcome. The lots open four hours before kickoff (except for the platinum lot which opens five hours before kickoff) so if you really want the tailgate experience, to smell the meats cooking, the blast of chopped and screwed hip hop or unchopped and unscrewed country music in the air, watch the fans throw footballs around, you can wander to your heart’s content.
If you want to experience the tailgating experience, without the hassle of buying a ticket to a Texans game, they sell tailgate-only tickets that will allow you to wander the tailgates and, perhaps, find a party to watch the game with.
There are so many options for tailgating, but my favorite is Lone Spot Tailgaterswhich is very welcoming, with foods and spirits you might not find anywhere else but Houston (probably, in other parts of Texas, but we don’t care about those right now). They are located in the Platinum Lot near the stadium itself.
If you don’t want to go through the tailgates, there’s also the Bud Light Plaza experience where you can listen to live music, get autographs from cheerleaders, watch the Texans’ live pre-game radio show, shop for souvenirs in the team store, and grab a pre-game bite to eat at one of the many food trucks camped out there for the game.
The Reliant Stadium Experience
The single best thing about watching a Texans game at Reliant Stadium is that there are no bad seats in the stadium. The seats are built so that they are almost on top of the field. They have many concourses including Houston favorites Trill Burgersa burger stand owned and operated by Houston rapper Bun B (the Trill OG).
If you want something bigger, more Houston, than burgers, the stadium also hosts two of Houston’s most popular barbecue franchises: Truth BBQ and Goode Co. Barbeque (yes, they spelled it on purpose).
There is also a El Tiempo Cantina in the area (please be warned again that the margaritas are very strong if you choose to drink) if you want good Tex-Mex.
But you’re there to watch the Houston Texans play. As such, please allow time, whether you choose to tailgate or walk around the stadium, to return to your seat in time for kickoff. Historically, fans have been slow to get to their seats because they’re having too much fun at tailgate parties and losing track of time.
So get out there, be strong on defense, quiet on offense, and put on your battle red and steel blue best, you’re going to have a great time.