APCO’s Texas Chapter is proud to welcome you to Houston for this year’s APCO Annual Conference & Exposition! There are many things in and around Houston to see and do. If you’re traveling by car to get here, take your time and enjoy the many sites across the state. Below, I have outlined just some of what Houston has to offer and provide tips for navigating the city.

For those attendees who are bringing their families to the conference, if you find that you have need of a babysitter to enjoy after-hour activities, a nanny service has been recommended by the hotels. To make arrangements, visit www.morningsidenannies.com/services.html#hotel.

Things to See & Do in Houston

The most visited site in Houston is the famed Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (www.spacecenter.org). But the city is also home to a variety of museums, many of which are located in Houston’s Museum District. Fine choices include the Museum of Fine Arts (www.mfah.org), the Museum of Natural Science (www.hmns.org), the Health Museum (www.mhms.org) and the National Museum of Funeral History (www.nmfh.org).

For the family: Kids of all ages can explore the Houston Zoo (www.houstonzoo.org) and Aquarium (www.houstonzoo.org/KippAquarium). Many visitors head to Brenham to view the picturesque springtime bluebonnets or tour the oldest working ranch in the U.S., George Ranch Historical Park (www.georgeranch.org). Visit nearby Galveston, a major cruise ship destination, with its many beaches, Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark.

Attendees planning to hit up these locations might want to consider purchasing the Houston CityPASS. This dollar-size booklet contains tickets for six famous Houston attractions. With one quick purchase, you own admission to Houston’s must-see attractions. Pricing is $39 for adults and $29 for kids three to 11 years old.

Find more sightseeing information at www.houston.com/attractions.

Transportation
Getting around Houston is fast and easy. The taxi cab fare anywhere downtown is $6. Houston has authorized a flat fare for all trips in the downtown area. It applies to the Central Business District, bounded by Interstate 45, Interstate 10 and U.S. 59. No surcharges apply to the fare, and it accommodates multiple riders.

METRORail is another way to get around. It is accessible from downtown Houston and Reliant Park (www.reliantpark.com), as well as the Museum District. One-way fare is $1.25.

The METRO bus system offers several types of bus service in Houston. Local service runs mostly on city streets, stopping at every other corner along its route. One-way fare is $1.25.

Other City Highlights
Consider visiting the Blue Bell Ice Cream plant (aka “The Little Creamery in Brenham”). Founded in 1907, you can tour the plant, which produces 20 million gallons of ice cream per year for a fee. Tours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and children six to 14. The tours are 45 minutes and include a serving of ice cream. For more info, visit www.bluebell.com.

Another fun site is the Lynchburg Ferry at 1001 S. Lynchburg Rd., Baytown, Texas. This historic ferry service was vital to the Texas fight for independence in 1836. Now, the ferry provides transport for the Baytown area at no charge. This short, 10-minute ride allows visitors to enjoy the local scenery. After the ride, you can visit the Baytown Nature Center or Houston Raceway Park.

Market Square Historic District has been the geographic centerpiece of Houston for more than 150 years ago. The streets are lined with entertainment venues, nightclubs and restaurants, surrounded by ninetieth century architecture.

Houston’s Memorial Park is another popular spot. Spread across more than 1400 acres, it offers a variety of activities and excursions, including six miles of recreational trails along the bayou and the Memorial Park Golf Course. The park also offers tennis courts equipped for night play, a driving range and picnic areas.

Texas Facts
I recently came across a great article listing fun facts about Texas. To read the full article with more fun facts, visit http://lonestarbay.tribe.net/thread/cbbbf984-8c7a-4f90-88a4-e9dc959b45e3.

An excerpt:

• The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was “Houston.”
• The world’s first rodeo was held in Pecos on July 4, 1883.
• Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by treaty, allowing the Texas state flag to fly at the same height as the U.S. flag.
• Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. (Note: There’s really no period after Dr in Dr Pepper.)
• The name Texas comes from the Hasini Indian word “tejas,” meaning friends.
• Texas has had six capital cities: Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco, West Columbia and Austin.

Learn more about what Houston has to offer at www.houston.com. See you at the conference.