Texas - Houston Living and Riding?

Hi all. I am looking for a place to move in a year and considering multiple options. I am seriously thinking Texas, but more importantly the Houston area. My field of work is the restaurant industry, I am a chef...hence the name. My wife is graduating from Berea College in one year (next december/janurary) and her major is Theater with a minor in Child and Family Studies.

So....who here thinks Houston is a good choice? How is the cycling there? Also where are good affordable places to live around the area. I ride my bike everywhere so I would like a bike commuter friendly area if possible. Thanks for the help.

BTW I have done some research and found that Houston is about 8 percent more expenisve cos of living wise than Berea is, so I think in that case it should be fairly smooth for me to move there. Thanks again.

Houston is not what most would call bike-commuter friendly across the board. Some areas will be better than others. Remember Houston is a BIG city.

Would you be renting or buying a home?

Also as a bike commuter, you might want to figure out approximately where you wil be working before picking somewhere to live - the greater Houston area takes over an hour and a half to traverse by car on the freeway.

Most likely renting at first. Well ok maybe this would be the best question(s) to ask:

What would be a good city in Texas to move my family of 4 to so I can advance my career in the culinary industry while still allowing my wife to have a career as well? Also what cities are affordable and bike commuter friendly?

I was hoping Houston would do because it is close to the water...I like water...and it isn't that expensive of a place to live...but I am open for other options.

Most Texas cities will be about the same cost-wise. Culinary-wise, Houston is one good choice; I will let other Texans tell you about other places as I don't have enough experience there.

Does your wife want a career in theater, or what do you do with Child and Family studies?

No not theater, she wants to be a social worker or work with kids. She just already has completed all the core courses to have a theater major and now she has changed her mind and can't go back on it.

No problem with social work/with kids in Houston. Probably not a problem in any Texas city.

I would recommend checking Denton out. It's north of DFW, so a different vibe than Houston. And it's a college town. I worked with a lady a few years ago that worked with CPS there as a volunteer and quit working with us for a paying gig at CPS. Dunno how it is for the restaraunt biz though.

Dallas is pretty much nothing but malls, strip malls, churches and restaurants. In fact we may have one of the highest percentages of restaurants to people in the country.

That said if I could live in any major city in Texas I'd pick Fort Worth.

Chris

I lived in Dallas for 3 years and Houston for 2....which leads me to recommend Austin.

You can cycle 12 months of the year in Houston. You have to get out of the city to see anything that looks like hills. Houston is very hot and humid in the summer. Its an almost intolerable to commute in July-August. We have some stunning days for cyling from late october through April. Its not hard to find a cycling group in Houston. Triathlon racing has a large following here.

Since you like the water, you would probably get a kick out of riding along the coast around the west side of the bay. Wind is a constant companion many months of the year.

Austin is a very nice city if you can make a living there. I have no opinion about Dallas. I've never lived there.

I've been in Houston 36 years. I like it. I went to school in Austin. I love it.

Bob

I am excited to see people who actually advocate moving to an area. I talked to people who live in California and they were the exact opposite of the way you guys are. Giving me reasons NOT to move there...so I won't I guess.

I really think I want to move to Texas, the unbearable summer months scare me, but everywhere you go there is going to be something I guess. I need to visit some places before I make my decisions I guess. If I can figure out what the culinary scene has to offer me down there I will be closer...also what kind of money I can/possibly will make would be helpful.

I am not talking about Mcdonalds or Applebees when I talk about restaurants though...I am talking actual run by a chef and a few cooks, owned locally, and food worth a dime restaurants...any suggestions?

I am excited to see people who actually advocate moving to an area. I talked to people who live in California and they were the exact opposite of the way you guys are. Giving me reasons NOT to move there...so I won't I guess.

I really think I want to move to Texas, the unbearable summer months scare me, but everywhere you go there is going to be something I guess. I need to visit some places before I make my decisions I guess. If I can figure out what the culinary scene has to offer me down there I will be closer...also what kind of money I can/possibly will make would be helpful.

I am not talking about Mcdonalds or Applebees when I talk about restaurants though...I am talking actual run by a chef and a few cooks, owned locally, and food worth a dime restaurants...any suggestions?

Clear Lake, Webster, Seabrook, Kemah would be good for you.
We have Air Condition here for the Hot Months.

You can get used to the heat in three days of riding.
The First Day you Cook...
The Second Day you realize you didn't die or melt. Drink more and cover up your head.
The Third Day you have it all figured out.
We ride all Year Round.

From what you describe, Austin sounds like the best bet.

To me, the problem isn't so much that it's too hot to ride in the summer, just that whenever you do ride on a bike, you're going to be totally soaked in sweat when you get there. That's true in Dallas, in Houston, in Austin. If you're out for exercise, no problem. If you're going to work, kind of a problem. Austin seems to be kind of a cyclist Mecca here in Texas, as is Plano in the Dallas area.

I am not talking about Mcdonalds or Applebees when I talk about restaurants though...I am talking actual run by a chef and a few cooks, owned locally, and food worth a dime restaurants...any suggestions?

Houston has lots of quality restaurants to serve up to the upper middle class and wealthy clientele. New, posh restaurants seem to be growing in number. I don't know how that translates to how much money you can make or how easy it is to enter the market.

Bob

The ONLY reason you should consider coming to Houston is for the money. Not the quality of life. That being said, I love Houston and have no plans to move.

I just checked out the location of your home town in Berea, Ky and the contrast will be dramatic. As mentioned already Houston is a very BIG city as it spreads out in all directions with not many natural limitation on its geographic growth. Having a car is a MUST in Houston and all cyclist are targets. In almost any circumstance when riding on the streets of Houston most drivers consider cyclist at fault and just getting in the way of where they are trying to go.

I have lived in Houston over 30 years. I ride over 4,000 miles a year on the streets and roads around Houston and I never allow myself to feel confident the next car won't take me out. Can a cyclist survive in the Houston area? Yes. You just have to stay focused and realize you are in the big city.

If you are considering moving to the big city as your chef talents may only be appreciated in such a location, Houston is a great option. Everyone eats out and there is an eating establishment on every corner.

I will check out Austin as well. I understand that it is a huge city, but sometimes to advance a career that is what you need. I know people in Atlanta that live car free, so I am sure Houston is possible...

I will check out Austin as well. I understand that it is a huge city, but sometimes to advance a career that is what you need. I know people in Atlanta that live car free, so I am sure Houston is possible...

Some of the popular places to live with young professionals are the historic heights area and downtown. you can live and work downtown carfree.

Bob

AUSTIN. Plenty of culinary going on, extremely bike-friendly (which I discovered on a recent bike vacation there), and what better place than the state capital for a prospective social worker?

By the way, I live in Houston. If you're set on Houston, its do-able. There are a ton of restaurants here, and cost of living is great. I bike-commute. If you intend to bike-commute, you will likely want to live inside the Loop. Almost every Metro bus is now equipped with a bikerack. As far as jobs available, Houston is in the top 5 job markets right now, along with Miami and some others. For restaurants, look in Midtown, where a bunch of new restaurants keep opening. But there's plenty downtown, Shepherd area, etc.

Here's a map of Houston inside the Loop. In Red areas proceed with caution. Blue is expensive. Green is going to be your sweet spot, if you want to live inside the Loop. Light Green is Shepherd, Montrose, Richmond area. Dark Green is Heights and Washington and etc. The former is a little cheaper than the latter.

Austin is very into the "local scene" regarding restaurants, bars, music, etc. Austin is WAY smaller than Houston and DFW though growing at a good clip. Lake Travis and Lake Austin are great water-wise. I'm more of a lake person than a beach person though... I have a couple friends that do social work here so there's also opportunity for that. For cycling, there are actual hills here! Lots of cyclists too so cars are more aware. Good MTB trails in the area as well if you like to play in the dirt.

Austin is the only city in Texas I can see myself living in and being happy. Good luck in your (re)search!

Oh yeah, har.com and Craigslist are the best places to look for housing in Houston. :)

Oh yeah, har.com and Craigslist are the best places to look for housing in Houston. :)

Here's a map of Houston inside the Loop. In Red areas proceed with caution. Blue is expensive. Green is going to be your sweet spot, if you want to live inside the Loop. Light Green is Shepherd, Montrose, Richmond area. Dark Green is Heights and Washington and etc. The former is a little cheaper than the latter.
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Thank You Kylejack...very nice of you. I will definitely make this of some use. I'll check out the shepherd area...

I will also check out Austin...I have heard that Lance lives there, so cycling has to be somewhat ok...

Would someone who lives in Austin be able to tell me about these condos?

10616 Mellow Meadows -- $745

Austin, TX 78750


Property Description

Hike & Bike Trails Just Outside Front Door! Features Include - Free Cable, Washer/Dryer, Fireplace, Walk In Closets, Fitness Center, Pool, Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, Playground, Hot Tub & More! Walking Dist. To Westwood High & Shopping!


Only a picture of the outside areas...seems nice...definitely affordable

I lived in Dallas for 3 years and Houston for 2....which leads me to recommend Austin.

Gotta agree there. If we were up for a move, I'd love to live in Austin.

Here's a map of Houston inside the Loop. In Red areas proceed with caution. Blue is expensive. Green is going to be your sweet spot, if you want to live inside the Loop. Light Green is Shepherd, Montrose, Richmond area. Dark Green is Heights and Washington and etc. The former is a little cheaper than the latter.I've gotta take a bit of issue with your red areas. I live in the middle of the larger one, within walking distance of the UofH campus. I have lived here for 17 years. I am less than 1/4 mile from the Braes Bayou bikepath, and this is a nice area.

I do agree that you can go a couple of miles and be in some kinda scary territory tho.

So my wife has almost succumbed to the idea of Austin...there are some really nice places in Austin that are pretty affordable...I am thinking Austin would be the place...

I've gotta take a bit of issue with your red areas. I live in the middle of the larger one, within walking distance of the UofH campus. I have lived here for 17 years. I am less than 1/4 mile from the Braes Bayou bikepath, and this is a nice area.

I do agree that you can go a couple of miles and be in some kinda scary territory tho.
I didn't say "bad", I just said to exercise caution, because while there are decent spots there are also spots where some people would not feel safe, and most of those areas are not very family-oriented. Don't sweat it, I live in the red area on St. Emanuel. :D

So my wife has almost succumbed to the idea of Austin...there are some really nice places in Austin that are pretty affordable...I am thinking Austin would be the place...
If you can afford it, take a bike vacation to Austin and you will be so sold on it. Either pack your bike or there are places there that will rent you one. Take the Shoal Creek trail, a nature-oriented trail inside the city. Try riding around Town Lake. I was really impressed. Even on the streets they have bike lanes EVERYWHERE.

I am planning a trip to Austin around the end of March (my wife's spring break) to check it out, but I am already sold on it. I have done some research and the area looks so beautiful, warm all year round, and some of the best cycling in the USA according to some. Plus the restaurant industry is doing very well there and it has some really nice restaurants. I think it is going to be the place for us to go. Also living in the city, or around the city doesn't seem too bad...the apartments look pretty nice. I found a gated community of Condos that cost about 200 dollars more a month than my current place and they look really nice--which is completely do-able when my wife actually gets a job.

I am planning on having jobs lined up for the both of us, but at least myself before we make the move, but that is a year away...so I have time. I am starting a savings fund for the move starting in January though...a separate account at my bank that I am not allowed to touch...this will provide the money needed when it comes time to go.

Where to live in Texas:

#1 South/Central Austin

#2 Ft Worth

#3 West Houston or Clear Lake

#4 Dallas / Plano / West of DFW Airport

#5 North Austin

#6 San Antonio

#280 El Paso


There are other cities worth considering like Abilene and Lubbuck but the cites are not of size for higher end restaurants.

To me, one of the attractions of Austin is the area outside of Austin - the Texas Hill Country. You can do some online research and find some of the great cycling routes between Austin and places like Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Johnson City, etc. A very nice place for weekend rides or longer tours.

Honestly - it mostly depends on the particular neighborhood you choose to live in. I lived in Austin for 5 yrs near Mopac and Parmer (near IBM, National Instruments, and close to the Domain mega development), and the cycling there sucked. It was the type of place where you had to drive to get to the grocery store a mile away. The Domain was billed as a walkable mixed-use development, but it only had high-end big box retailers and, while you could easily walk within the Domain, the only way to get there from other parts of the city was to drive. The automobile traffic on Mopac and Parmer during rush hour and the weekends was just awful and it was like living in an exurb even though we were < 10 miles from downtown. I hardly ever saw any bikers during my time there.

On the other hand - the neighborhood I live in now (Richmond / Shepherd / Montrose in Houston) is awesome for cyclists. I've seen more cyclists here in half a year than I did in 5 yrs living in NW Austin. I know of a few people living in this area who get by just fine without a car. The only reason I still have a car is because my and my wife's families both live 20+ miles away in opposite suburbs (Copperfield and Alief). In fact, if it's just me (and not my wife) visiting I just ditch the car and ride my bike the entire 27 miles.

Metro has already approved an expansion of the light rail on Richmond connecting downtown Houston to the Galleria; it should be completed in about 4-5 yrs. A few months ago ZipCar also started a trial service for Rice U students - if they ever expand that to the general public I am selling my car ASAP.

Also - about restaurants: Austin and Houston both have some very good restaurants. Austin has more of a laid-back, local, small-town restaurant scene (true to its small-town feel and "Keep Austin Weird" mentality). The international food in Austin is not that impressive, though - the Chinatown is pretty much non-existent (my friends and I jokingly refer to it as "China block") and there is just not a big population of international ex-pats in Austin like there is in Houston. I've traveled all around the US, and Houston probably has one of the top 2 Chinatowns. The international Vietnamese, Indian, Pakistani, and Nigerian populations in Houston are also extremely large.

Houston is the Wall Street of the energy industry and that's why it attracts such a diverse ethnic mix. It truly is an international city and the culinary scene reflects that (Houston doesn't earn the label of Fattest City in the US for nothing). Austin's mantra is "Keep Austin Weird" - Austinites have been vigilant in defending their small-town feel and have vehemently rejected efforts to "make Austin normal" and be labeled a big-time American city. As Austin's population expands, I've observed it having sort of a mini-identity crisis about who it is and what it is about to become. As you can expect - Austin as a whole is more liberal and progressive than Houston. But again, it depends on the neighborhood you reside in - during the election campaign there were Obama signs all over Montrose and Neartown Houston. Shepherd / Montrose has been labeled the "Haight-Ashbury" of Houston and I've had friends from San Francisco visit and say it has entirely changed their view of Houston.

So in summary, I guess what I'm saying is that while Austin is indeed overall rated higher for cycling - there are bike-friendly parts of Houston just like there are bike-unfriendly parts of Austin. Just be sure to visit the community beforehand and a get feel for it before you sign a lease. Both Austin and Houston are awesome cities and you can't really go wrong with either one. But keep in mind that both are very different from each other, and there really isn't a "best" option - each has its own merits and drawbacks. It's all about what you want and how you think you'll fit in.

And one last thing - buying a house in Houston is cheaper than buying in Austin (not sure about renting, though). Austin has land-use zoning laws that restrict the amount of available residential land in the city; Houston has no zoning whatsoever.

Honestly - it mostly depends on the particular neighborhood you choose to live in. I lived in Austin for 5 yrs near Mopac and Parmer (near IBM, National Instruments, and close to the Domain mega development), and the cycling there sucked. It was the type of place where you had to drive to get to the grocery store a mile away. The Domain was billed as a walkable mixed-use development, but it only had high-end big box retailers and, while you could easily walk within the Domain, the only way to get there from other parts of the city was to drive. The automobile traffic on Mopac and Parmer during rush hour and the weekends was just awful and it was like living in an exurb even though we were < 10 miles from downtown. I hardly ever saw any bikers during my time there.

On the other hand - the neighborhood I live in now (Richmond / Shepherd / Montrose in Houston) is awesome for cyclists. I've seen more cyclists here in half a year than I did in 5 yrs living in NW Austin. I know of a few people living in this area who get by just fine without a car. The only reason I still have a car is because my and my wife's families both live 20+ miles away in opposite suburbs (Copperfield and Alief). In fact, if it's just me (and not my wife) visiting I just ditch the car and ride my bike the entire 27 miles.

Metro has already approved an expansion of the light rail on Richmond connecting downtown Houston to the Galleria; it should be completed in about 4-5 yrs. A few months ago ZipCar also started a trial service for Rice U students - if they ever expand that to the general public I am selling my car ASAP.

Also - about restaurants: Austin and Houston both have some very good restaurants. Austin has more of a laid-back, local, small-town restaurant scene (true to its small-town feel and "Keep Austin Weird" mentality). The international food in Austin is not that impressive, though - the Chinatown is pretty much non-existent (my friends and I jokingly refer to it as "China block") and there is just not a big population of international ex-pats in Austin like there is in Houston. I've traveled all around the US, and Houston probably has one of the top 2 Chinatowns. The international Vietnamese, Indian, Pakistani, and Nigerian populations in Houston are also extremely large.

Houston is the Wall Street of the energy industry and that's why it attracts such a diverse ethnic mix. It truly is an international city and the culinary scene reflects that (Houston doesn't earn the label of Fattest City in the US for nothing). Austin's mantra is "Keep Austin Weird" - Austinites have been vigilant in defending their small-town feel and have vehemently rejected efforts to "make Austin normal" and be labeled a big-time American city. As Austin's population expands, I've observed it having sort of a mini-identity crisis about who it is and what it is about to become. As you can expect - Austin as a whole is more liberal and progressive than Houston. But again, it depends on the neighborhood you reside in - during the election campaign there were Obama signs all over Montrose and Neartown Houston. Shepherd / Montrose has been labeled the "Haight-Ashbury" of Houston and I've had friends from San Francisco visit and say it has entirely changed their view of Houston.

So in summary, I guess what I'm saying is that while Austin is indeed overall rated higher for cycling - there are bike-friendly parts of Houston just like there are bike-unfriendly parts of Austin. Just be sure to visit the community beforehand and a get feel for it before you sign a lease. Both Austin and Houston are awesome cities and you can't really go wrong with either one. But keep in mind that both are very different from each other, and there really isn't a "best" option - each has its own merits and drawbacks. It's all about what you want and how you think you'll fit in.

And one last thing - buying a house in Houston is cheaper than buying in Austin (not sure about renting, though). Austin has land-use zoning laws that restrict the amount of available residential land in the city; Houston has no zoning whatsoever.

WOW...so much information...:thumb: thank you. I think the small town feel of Austin will be good for my family, mainly because my wife has always lived in a small town and doesn't feel comfortable with the idea of moving to a large city. However I do realize that Houston has a larger more diverse ethnic population and also realize the opportunities restaurant wise that come with that. I do believe in the spring we will probably visit both places but spend more time in Austin...maybe a day or so in Houston.

I will most likely be flying down from KY rather than driving, there is no way my wife, 2 kids, and I plus luggage, snacks, etc. are all going to fit in our tiny Kia Spectra. So flying will probably be the best option, and with Southwest Airlines it is pretty cheap 300 bucks round trip, both the kids are free.

Is there adequate public transportation in Austin? I will most likely bring a bike, or rent one to ride around, but for family trips we will need public transportation...since I am not 25 and not able to rent a car.

Also anyone have any favorite places to stay in Austin? I found a really nice resort for around 1000 dollars a week, but that is kinda pricey, maybe not out of the question, but still I would like cheaper and still nice if possible.

Thanks---Ian

FWIW, I live in Bellaire, which is surrounded by Houston. Well, one side borders Southside Place and West University, but as a whole, these three cities are surrounded by Houston. It is a very nice area, but I would rather live in the Austin area than the Houston area, for better cycling and better lakes, and quite a bit less humidity. The western Gulf of Mexico is muddy, nothing like the blue water of something like Pensacola and points eastward. Heaven on earth, to me, is the Texas Hill Country. My wife and I both work in public service, so we stay where we are for now; my seniority is at a point where I would be crazy to cut and run now.

I live in West Houston, work on the South Side, and spend most of time in the Clear Lake area. I think that the Clear Lake area is probably one of the best areas to live as far as suburbs go. The Woodlands and Katy are good choices as well.

Cycling in Houston isn't bad once you get use to being a defensive rider, which you have to do whether your riding a motorcycle, bicycle, or driving a car. I've rode through the streets of Downtown and the West Side during heavy traffic and found it to be fun. 90% of the time you'll actually be moving faster than the local traffic in some places.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each city and there is really you should maybe come down and explore each city for yourself. What one person likes isn't what someone one else is going to like. A good magazine to check out about Texas is Texas Monthly, but each of the big three cities have a good food scene. I would also suggest looking at San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Fort Worth.

-Nate

I have been calculating costs and using orbitz I'll be able to fly down and stay in a 3 star hotel in north Austin for 1000 dollars for two people, I believe I'll go with that rate.

I have been considering a trip to Houston during my stay in Austin. Is there a train that I could take from one city to the next? Also if I fly down with my bike, will I be able to get around Austin solely on the bike? Thanks everyone.

Anyone know of any apartments near Zilker park?

I don't know of a direct passenger train service between Austin and Houston. Amtrak stops in Houston, the route that goes from coast to coast, but I am not sure how close it passes to Austin.

I have been considering a trip to Houston during my stay in Austin. Is there a train that I could take from one city to the next? Also if I fly down with my bike, will I be able to get around Austin solely on the bike? Thanks everyone.

You can take a bus from Austin to Houston. That's the cheapest way.

Your question about bringing your bike and seeing Austin on it, indicate you may not realize how big things are in Texas, even Austin. If you've only got a week to look over a potential place to live, you would be hard pressed to do it justice by riding a bicycle. It takes time to get around to see the area. Also what if the weather is bad? I highly recommend you budget the money for weekly rental rate econo-car.

Bob

You can take a bus from Austin to Houston. That's the cheapest way.

Your question about bringing your bike and seeing Austin on it, indicate you may not realize how big things are in Texas, even Austin. If you've only got a week to look over a potential place to live, you would be hard pressed to do it justice by riding a bicycle. It takes time to get around to see the area. Also what if the weather is bad? I highly recommend you budget the money for weekly rental rate econo-car.

Bob

I am not old enough to rent a car...you must be 25...and I am not. So that leaves me with a bike. I realize that Austin is big, but there are public buses with bike racks on them, no? So if I must get around and can't get there fast enough, I'll take public transportation.

Is the weather in general bad? Because it will probably be warmer than it is in KY at the time, and a little bit of rain won't kill me...

Maybe another BFer would be able to rent a car for me, I'll pay. Thanks.

I am not old enough to rent a car...you must be 25...and I am not. So that leaves me with a bike. I realize that Austin is big, but there are public buses with bike racks on them, no? So if I must get around and can't get there fast enough, I'll take public transportation.

Is the weather in general bad? Because it will probably be warmer than it is in KY at the time, and a little bit of rain won't kill me...

The weather is likely to be mild, if not gorgeous. It will be very rideable, especially if you can deal with some occasional rain, which isn't that frequent in Austin.

I forgot about bike racks on buses. I know of them but have never used them. You mentioned earlier about the infeasability for you to rent a car and i had forgotten about it. Please don't get tied up with someone else renting a car for you. That could expose them to liability.

Best regards and good luck.
Bob

The weather is likely to be mild, if not gorgeous. It will be very rideable, especially if you can deal with some occasional rain, which isn't that frequent in Austin.

I forgot about bike racks on buses. I know of them but have never used them. You mentioned earlier about the infeasability for you to rent a car and i had forgotten about it. Please don't get tied up with someone else renting a car for you. That could expose them to liability.

Best regards and good luck.
Bob

This is a very good point, thank you. I am doing a lot of research on places to live, though it would be nice to know where I am going to be working, I'll assume downtown. I am picking 4 or more places to look at and spending at least two days just doing so.

I am hoping that someone will know of a nice place to live near zilker park, which is where my wife wants to be close to. I have found a few places on mynewplace.com that seem nice and affordable, but I am hoping to hear some word of mouth recommendations...

I am so excited and can't wait to get down there...11 months until I move...13 until the wife and kids meet me...

I am not old enough to rent a car...you must be 25...and I am not. So that leaves me with a bike. I realize that Austin is big, but there are public buses with bike racks on them, no? So if I must get around and can't get there fast enough, I'll take public transportation.

Is the weather in general bad? Because it will probably be warmer than it is in KY at the time, and a little bit of rain won't kill me...

Maybe another BFer would be able to rent a car for me, I'll pay. Thanks.
Incorrect, you can rent a car at 18 from Enterprise in Texas. Rate discount at 21, bigger rate discount at 25.

Anyway I disagree, you can see plenty of Austin on a bike.

Really?!?!? Well I am still taking my bike regardless, I HAVE to ride...but that is good to know thanks Kylejack!

This is a very good point, thank you. I am doing a lot of research on places to live, though it would be nice to know where I am going to be working, I'll assume downtown. I am picking 4 or more places to look at and spending at least two days just doing so.

I am hoping that someone will know of a nice place to live near zilker park, which is where my wife wants to be close to. I have found a few places on mynewplace.com that seem nice and affordable, but I am hoping to hear some word of mouth recommendations...

I am so excited and can't wait to get down there...11 months until I move...13 until the wife and kids meet me...

The public transit system in Austin is not that bad (as far as Texas goes). The buses run fairly regularly during the week for the city core (downtown + UT campus + streets numbered 51st or lower). If you're staying downtown during your visit you should be able to take the bus (along with your bike) to most places within that area. Check Capitol Metro/ (http://www.capmetro.org/) to be sure. Traveling to some of the outer areas of Austin (> 10 miles from downtown) may require a car. However, Capitol Metro does runs a free UT student shuttle (http://www.capmetro.org/riding/schedules_ut.asp)) to some of these areas. Austin is also planning to build a light rail (similar to Houston) in the next few years.

Zilker Park is a beautiful place to live/hang out. It's also very close to downtown Austin and many of the higher-end restaurants in the city. I have a few friends who live in downtown Austin (less than 2 miles northeast of Zilker Park) and another who lives in South Austin a few miles further south. They like it a lot, although downtown Austin can get a bit noisy late at night on the weekends and the parking is non-existent. Austin downtown is nicer than Houston's - there are more restaurants/shops/nightlife located throughout the downtown area so there is always a steady stream of people at all hours of the night. Whereas in Houston, restaurants/bars/nightlife are spread out in different pockets of the city and the central business district is pretty much deserted after 6 pm.

Austin downtown is nicer than Houston's - there are more restaurants/shops/nightlife located throughout the downtown area so there is always a steady stream of people at all hours of the night. Whereas in Houston, restaurants/bars/nightlife are spread out in different pockets of the city and the central business district is pretty much deserted after 6 pm.

Have you spent anytime in downtown Houston since the last super bowl? Things have changed dramatically. Downtown is one of the more popular places to live for younger people these days.

Bob

Yes - I frequently go to Astros and Rockets games during the season, and driving/cycling through the heart of downtown late at night I see zero foot traffic except for the fans going to and from the game. On Friday and Sat. there is plenty of action going on at the bars/clubs on the north side of downtown, however.

When you refer to young people wanting to live downtown I believe you're referring to the Midtown area (south of the central business district). Lots of nice restaurants and shops there. I have some friends who live downtown but it's only because of work - they end up going elsewhere (usually by car, sadly) in Houston (Midtown, Upper Kirby, River Oaks) to eat and shop.

Don't get me wrong - I would love for Houston downtown proper to become more lively and fulfill its potential. But it's just not quite there yet. I like Austin downtown better because it's more compact - their "Midtown" and business districts are pretty much within the same few square miles. Whereas Houston downtown is much larger and still has large swathes that are deserted at night. I rarely get that feeling when walking anywhere in downtown Austin.

The Red Line down Main Street and opening up the Discovery Green park are important steps to revitalizing downtown Houston. People need good reasons to visit downtown Houston other than work or sports. All of my friends who live downtown end up doing their grocery shopping in River Oaks or Midtown because there isn't even a grocery store in the business district. By the time they open the new Downtown Plaza built in a few years (east Downtown), hopefully things will change for the better.

Yes I have done some research and found a few apartment complexes within 4 miles of Zilker park, and close to downtown. My favorite so far is by Town lake. I believe this is the area we will move to...it isn't too far from downtown, and it is close to a great park for my kids/my mountain biking needs ;)

If you're still keen on taking a trip to check out Houston, there is a Greyhound bus that runs about 4-5 trips between Austin and Houston every day. The early morning and evening buses will get you there in about 3 hrs, whereas the mid-day buses make a few more stops and take 3.5 hrs. I used to take this bus every week when I was living in Austin and working in Houston. The bus company that operates the Houston-Austin route is Kerrville Bus Company (Greyhound contracts out to them). Here is a link (http://iridekbc.com/schedule.asp) to the KBC schedule.

The Greyhound bus station in Austin is right next to Highland Mall (north side of the city, near 183 and I-35). There are several Capitol Metro bus routes that you can take from downtown Austin to Highland Mall.

Once you get to Houston, the Greyhound bus station is just a a few blocks south of the Metro Downtown Transit Center. From the Transit Center you can take the Red Line light rail to the Museum District, the Houston Zoo, and Hermann Park. The light rail is just $1, but Metro rarely enforces the fares so 99% of the people just ride for free.

The Galleria shopping/dining/entertainment district can be reached via the 81 and 82 Westheimer bus routes. The 81 and 82 both make stops in downtown Houston - here are links (http://ridemetro.org/SchedulesMaps/BusSched.aspx) to their schedules and pickup/dropoff locations.

If your family wants to bring their bikes on Greyhound, that should be fine (just call ahead and ask to be sure). All Metro buses in Houston have bike racks, but bikes aren't allowed on the light rail during peak rush hour and at other times it may be really packed (probably because everyone rides for free). I read somewhere that the Red Line carries the highest number of passengers per mile of rail length of any light rail in the world.

I do a lot of cycling to and from downtown Houston (just returned from the downtown Central library, in fact). So if you're curious about routes to get in and out of downtown feel free to ask.