Houston Car Hire

Geography

Located in southeast Texas, America, near the gulf of Mexico, Houston was originally a small growing Town for cotton shipping. Now the City thrives as the fourth largest City in the USA, and the second fastest growing City right behind New York! It's home to NASA, famous singer Beyoncé, and is argued that "Houston" was the first word heard on the moon! Controversial topic - but many argue that Neil Armstrong's first words were "Houston, Tranquillity Base Here", but you can form your own opinion on this matter!

Climate

Houston is classified as humid subtropical climate, and weather wise, has only two seasons - wet or dry. June to August is very hot & humid with temperatures hitting 37 °C (99 °F) and often scattered with afternoon showers & thunderstorms. Monsoon season is from May to October, with thunderstorms sometimes bringing tornados to the area. The dry season is November to April. January is the coldest month with the average highest temperature of 17.2 °C (62.9 °F) and the lowest being 6.2 °C (43.2 °F). Late Autumn & Spring are great times to visit as there isn't the concern of extreme rainfall, and temperatures are very pleasant. Autumn - Highest 20-28°C (68-82°F) Lowest - 10-17 °C (50-62°F) Spring - Highest 24-28°C (75-82°F) Lowest - 13-18 °C (56-54°F)

Culture

Houston's motto is: "The City with No Limits". It has been described as America's most racially and ethnically diverse major City, with over 145 different languages spoken among the residents! You'll enjoy mingling with the locals, as Houstonians (as they like to call themselves) are a very cultured bunch. Over 61% of them over the age of 25 hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and many are thriving in industries such as medicine, engineering, oil, gas and aeronautics.

Things to Do in Houston

Houston Space Centre

Houston being the home of NASA, it's only crucial that you pay a visit to the area's number 1 attraction! It's an educational complex & space museum featuring over 400 space artefacts, exhibits and experiences, and theatres related to the future & past of America's human space flight programme.

Diversion Immersive Cocktails

Now don't be misled by the title, because this isn't just a cocktail bar! It's an immersive experience and one of the coolest things to do in Texas right now! You'll feel as though you've entered a Harry Potter World, with mixologists artistically stirring up magic in a Laboratory style bar, using the finest ingredients. Their outrageously creative concoctions make it a fantastic content creation & instagrammable location.

National Museum of Funeral History

Out of Houston's 150 museums, this is one of the most popular ones. Now, this may not be your idea of an upbeat time, but it sure is an interesting & engaging experience. The real must-see here is the enormous 1916 Packard graveyard bus, which was created to "eliminate funeral processions." It could carry a coffin, pallbearers and 20 mourners, but was quickly retired after the immense weight in the back caused it to tip over on a San Francisco hill, sending both dead & living bodies bouncing down the street!

Eating Out

If you're a Foodie, then this City is the place for you! With over 10,000 restaurants, representing over 70 different cuisines, Houstonians eat out more times a week than in any other city in America! The saying goes that "one can travel the world without ever leaving Houston just by dining out". You really are spoilt for choice with dining options ranging from cafes, food trucks (Houston has the most food trucks in the entire USA) & fine dining. Some of the hottest tables in Houston right now are Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers, where you can sink your teeth into some fried chicken, fish, and gumbo. Dinette, a modern Vietnamese restaurant and Amrina, an upscale Indian restaurant run by a Michelin star chef from Kahani Social Group. The word 'kahani' translates to story, and 'Amrina' translates to Princess. It was given this name as the restaurant has a theme of a modern Princess who has travelled the World. Houston is known for having the best fajitas. The Original Ninfa does not only sell the most succulent fajitas but is also famous for having introduced the entire Country to this Mexican dish. It was here that the national craze for fajitas began!

Transport in Houston

Houston is one of the country’s major transportation hubs, with extensive trucking, rail, and air connections. The two major airports are George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. The Port of Houston is now the second largest in the United States

You don't really need to hire a car to get around Houston because the City has fantastic transport links but if you’re planning on adventuring outside the city, a car is your best bet. The Metro Light Rail spans 7 miles from Downtown to Reliant Stadium. The rail passes through midtown, Hermann Park, Museum District, Rice University, Medical Centre and Reliant Park. It's $1.25 per person each way.

You don't really need to hire a car to get around Houston because the City has fantastic transport links but if you’re planning on adventuring outside the city, a car is your best bet. The Metro Light Rail spans 7 miles from Downtown to Reliant Stadium. The rail passes through midtown, Hermann Park, Museum District, Rice University, Medical Centre and Reliant Park. It's $1.25 per person each way.

Last but not least, the Wave is a jitney service that shuttles folks around Houston's primary nightlife areas, including Midtown, Montrose, Downtown, Uptown, Rice Village and the Washington Avenue corridor.