Memorial Drive

1) Just go drive or walk as far as you can! It's just a beautiful drive as you wind through the neighborhoods the farther you get away from downtown.

2) The park! Memorial Park has so much to offer, public tennis courts and a golf course. A restaurant or two, the most wonderful running trail. There are sand volleyball courts, soccer and softball fields. You can easily spend the entire day out there.

3) If you are driving West on Memorial drive toward the 610 Loop from downtown you can see some amazing wild flowers. The piece of land that makes up the median before you go under the train bridge is COVERED SOLID in Indian Paint Brushes! It's so beautiful! I only hope I have time to get some pics before they are all gone.

Galleria Area

1) Not many people know about the restaurant in Neiman Marcus. It's on the 3rd floor and they only serve lunch! Make sure to try the tortilla soup and the roll with handmade stawberry butter. It's slap your momma good! =) BUT! They only take amex and nm credit card so make sure to take cash if you don't have those!

2) The Waterwall next to the Galleria and the Transco Tower...as old Houstonians know it, newbies call it the WIlliams Tower. It's the tallest building outside of a metro-downtown area in the world!

Downtown

1) The best theatre district outside of New York! Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Houston World Famous Ballet. The Alley Theatre, The Wortham Centre and so much more. There is always something to feed your cultural side every night!

2) The Sabine Street Bridge walking area. It's so pretty =)

3) The running trail around the bayou. When it's not been rainy, it's really a gorgeous run. Sometimes I will get 1/2 way through my run and sit down on the Bayou to watch the sunset. It's beautiful.

Westheimer/Shpehard Area

1) St. Theresa's bells.

Rice Village

1) The walking/running track around Rice University. The stadium is a great place to run and change up your training.

2) Rice Village has wonderful food options. They've done a great job keeping the food different. You can have Indian, Thai, Italian, Wings, Sushi, South American, and burgers. Plus, there is a pub crawl at your toe tips.

3) I really dig that there is a Half Price Books there.

4) There is a candy store. A real old fashioned candy store! It's amazing! You have to go check it out.

5) The shopping is eclectic. You can get name brands and a little strip of local tailors cranking out some great fashions. One of those people is Chloe Dao, A really successful contestant on Project Runway!! 

6) I like how this area feels like a small town. Recognisable faces, laid back places to hang out, old trees, the restaurants and bars all have outside patios. It just so laid back and relaxing.

Memorial Heights

1) In the mornings and evenings you can smell the Sunshine Bakery baking fresh bread. YUMMY!

2) I'm right across Memorial Drive from the bayou running trail. It's just beautiful. Trees, wild flowers, the water. It's so relaxing and pretty. You can't not want to stay outside after your exercise.

3) Living in this area give you the opportunity to see the city fireworks without having to get in the car and go somewhere. You just walk to the bridge and watch!

4) The Waugh Bat Bridge! Every night just after the sun dips below the herizon, the bats come out.