Lawrence J. Reaves

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest city in Texas and is also credited as a global city. It is a vibrant metropolis with a broad based economy and an enormous range of cultural activities and recreational opportunities.

Two brothers who had made their fortune in real estate in New York founded Houston in 1836 on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou; Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen purchased approximately 6,500 acres with the intention of creating their own city and named the new settlement after General Sam Houston who had fought and won the decisive battle of San Jacinto close the site.

Houston is one of the largest cities in the United States and you are not going to be able to take everything in one trip which is why so many people probably keep coming back again and again. Here we give you our top six pick of the best attractions Houston has to offer for visitors so you can shortlist which you want to see while you are enjoying your vacation.

The Texan War of Independence was started as a result of Mexico reasserting control over the Texan frontier in what had become known as the Runaway Scrape. Mexico sent in the army and thousands of settlers joined General Sam Houston in declaring independence and fighting for their freedom.

In March 1836, the war was not going well for the Texans and many were sick and poorly trained while they were facing superior Mexican numbers who were better equipped, better trained and numerically superior.

Houston may be better known as a thriving metropolis with a deep water port and huge oil industry but the image of longhorns and cowboy boots is a misnomer. Houston boasts one of the most culturally diverse and active communities in the United States and the world - in fact, Houston is one of the few places west of the Mississippi which has permanent, year round resident companies in all of the major performing arts!

The wealth that has been created by oil, shipping and more latterly, aerospace and biotechnology industries has not simply been allowed to build a bold city of the future.

Houston is one of the largest metropolis' in the United States and has a long cultural history given its huge wealth and multicultural diversity. Many people fail to understand just what a culturally diverse city Houston truly is until they discover the reality for themselves and here we are going to take a look at some of the best museums in Houston providing one of the very best and interesting days out for you and your family when you come to visit.

Looking for that something special to do when you take a trip to Houston - well here we are going to preview four of the top rated attractions for a family day out which will help you plan your trip and show you what is on offer.

Houston Space Center

The Houston Space Center is repeatedly ranked as the top tourist and visitor attraction in Houston.

Houston may be the home of big oil and cowboys but there is also a very lively comedy scene going on as part of the backdrop of provided by Houston's nightlife. Comedy clubs have sprung up in the last ten years or so as audiences have demanded better comedies and more performances than the restricted venues were able to provide but it is the older clubs which still dominate the scene in Houston.

Originally the founder wanted to name the old settlement in honor of the Civil War general, but the early settlers would have none of it. Lord Dappa hit upon the suggestion that the town was rising from the ruins of the ancient Hohokam settlement and so Phoenix was baptized and the name stuck.

Phoenix is now the state capital of Arizona and the only state capital that boasts a population in excess of a million.

Settlement in the Valley of the Sun (known locally as simply "The Valley") has been documented as far back as 1,200 years when Native Americans known as the Hohokam Indians settled in the area.

The Hohokam were farmers and created the irrigation channels and pathways that the modern city was founded upon but unfortunately, around the 1400's they simply disappeared from the area.

The Society for Performing Arts in Houston is the largest non-profit organization of its kind in the entire Southwest and brings to Houston players and arts from around the world to complement the significant resident performing arts companies who call Houston home.

Jones Hall is the primary venue for SPA performances and was created thanks to the generosity of Jesse Jones, a notable Houston philanthropist and patron of the arts.