Houston is widely considered to be one of the safer big cities in America, this isn’t entirely correct.

Houston’s violent crime rate is 150 percent higher than the Texas average, which makes it a worryingly 170 percent higher than the rest of the US. However, this high level of crime is typically isolated to the ‘bad’ parts of Houston, with the more central and tourism focussed parts remaining areas to watch out for pickpockets and other more expected hazards. Areas to avoid include Sunnyside, “the Track,” and the dangerous neighbourhood that centres around the intersection of Dowling and McGowen Streets. Feel free to explore the city but plan your excursions first and maybe ask a local to advise on anywhere in particular you should keep clear of.

Treating most of Houston with the same caution you would use when in any other larger American city should see you fine throughout your trip.

Houston is one of Americas top ten riskiest places to visit in terms of natural disasters.

Due to its proximity to the coast, the Gulf of Mexico and residing just beneath Tornado Alley, Houston is subject to a lot of storms, hurricanes and tornados. The mixture of humidity and fluctuating temperatures means that there are a  lot of thunderstorms too.

If there is a storm or hurricane warning, the usual advice is to shelter in place. Unplug electrical items, stay away from windows and, depending on severity, take stock of what food and clean water you have access to. Ultimately, you should keep up to date with the local emergency news and follow their advice. As the weather changes, new information may come up so pay attention.

If you are told to evacuate, then do so immediately.

Houston is a south-easterly coastal city and has a humid subtropical climate. Therefore, it has very changeable weather: it can be humid and very hot, experience large amounts of rain and is subject to storms. Its proximity to the sea also increases humidity. It rains quite often, especially in July.

The average summer temperature is 29 °C whilst the average winter temperature is 13 °C.

For the most reasonable weather, visit in spring and summer but be prepared for a range of weather conditions.

Dress and plan accordingly.

Houston offers a huge range of day passes for multiple attractions. A good example are passes that will allow you entry to a number of museums of your choice (they include food and sightseeing passes too). There are genuinely more museums of art, culture, history and science than can be feasibly included so here is a whistle stop list:

Holocaust Museum Houston– learn something truly important about the past to set up for a better future.

Houston Museum of African American Culture– discover things that weren’t covered in school about the accomplishments and lives of African Americans.

DiverseWorks’– witness never-seen-before artistic endeavours in this creative space created for experimentation.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston– appreciate the artistry and skill of celebrated painters, sculptors and other creative talents.

The Health Museum– explore the body up close as you’ve never seen it before in this multimedia personal experience.

Houston Museum of Natural Science– engage with the exhibits and the world around you, be it animal, mineral or extra-terrestrial.

BB’s Tex-Orleans

A local business that has locations all over the city, BB’s Tex-Orleans is a Cajun restaurant and New Orleans-themed café with a distinctive Texas twist. Dishing out food they like to call Tex-Orleans cuisine, there is a lot on offer: NOLA-style po’ boys, homemade gumbo, boiled crawfish, oyster bar, seafood boil choices, fried seafood, Texas and Louisiana inspired cocktails and traditional favourites! BB’s is especially famous for their po’ boys, they are award winning, in fact. French bread, shipped from a specific bakery, stuffed till the filling falls out with crawfish, fried shrimp, oysters and catfish to roast beef, fajitas and vegetables- anything you could possibly want!

Brookstreet BBQ

This is BBQ for every occasion. Got cravings on the way home for work? There’s a drive through. Need somewhere for a family meal? Come in and sit down in the restaurant. Just heading past whilst feeling peckish? You can grab a sandwich to go. There are even private rooms to hire out for a very special occasion that will make a meat lover’s day! You can even take a bit of Brookstreet home with you as their BBQ sauce is for sale to spice up your cooking or just add some life to your usual sandwich. With feasts, sides and salads, they’ve got everything covered.

Space Centre Houston

One of Houston’s top attractions and the area’s no. 1 attraction for international visitors, Space Centre Houston is a leading science and space exploration learning centre. It’s the closest your average person will ever get to space as this is the Official Visitor Centre of NASA Johnson Space Centre. It will truly be a unique experience with more than 400 space artifacts, permanent and traveling exhibits, attractions and theatres related to America’s human space-flight program – both its past and (more excitingly) its future! Designed to engage adults and children alike, there is so much to see. I challenge any adult to not be equally excited as a child about literal rocks from the moon!

Texas Custom Boot History Tour & Bootmaking Class

Can you think of a truer Texas experience than a fun and informative 30 minute session teaching you about the history of custom cowboy boots in Houston, plus a personal custom boot design session? This authentic workshop is headed by people who take pride in the knowledge and craftsmanship required to make the humble cowboy boot. You will learn the 6 key elements of building a custom boot and walk away with a Certificate of Completion, now an expert too!