I can’t believe Thanksgiving has come and gone already. The remainder of the holiday season is in full swing and 2009 is quickly wrapping up. Wow! And as the temperatures continue to drop, I am reminded of a mid-October jaunt to Houston, where the weather was unseasonably hot.

My colleague and I were shocked when we stepped out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Heat hit us in the face like a ton of bricks. Temperatures were reaching the mid-90s while our friends and family at home in PA were experiencing chillier than normal, wet weather. I had attempted to pack for the heat and have warm clothes for the return, but I just ended up getting it all wrong.

Houston, in my opinion, is an odd city. It does not have a very city-like feel because of its widespread area. The downtown is far less populated than in other cities, and it seems more city action takes place outside of the city’s center. Our trip started with a visit to the downtown area, where the convention center, baseball stadium and several hotels and restaurants reside.

A trip down the highway took us to the Galleria section, where high-end shopping reigns supreme. The area is full of hotels, stores, restaurants and shopping centers. It seems to me this is also a more popular residential area than downtown. To be honest, downtown seemed dead. No one was wandering around, but we later learned this is because of an underground tunnel system that allows people to move around the area and avoid the oppressive heat. Apparently, underground is quite abuzz with activity.

Our hotel, the brand-new Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE, took us to the newest up-and-coming area of the Texas city, located across from the Energy Corridor. The area is full of restaurants, business, condos and activities. People from all over the city flock to the new sushi place, high-profile chefs are moving restaurants into the area, and I suspect that on my next visit, the CITYCENTRE will be packed with people.

Having sampled each of these three areas, I see the appeal of each and I understand why people rave about Houston, but I think the city’s layout would definitely take some adjustment. One thing that takes no getting used to is the hospitality and kindness of the Houstonians. Everyone I met was so friendly and more than willing to help or chat. I will return to Houston in August for the annual NBTA Convention. I look forward to learning more about the city. However, I have to admit, I am not looking forward to the summer temperatures!

 – Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive