Houston/East Houston

Rough-and-tumble East Houston is the city's beating, industrial heart - along with William P. Hobby Airport, you'll find the Houston Ship Channel and working-class neighborhoods (as made famous by John Travolta in the film Urban Cowboy) in the shadow of the somewhat alien landscape of oil refineries that line the shores. On closer inspection, though, East Houston is not so easily defined - here is also rich Hispanic culture (and eats!), Houston's namesake university (with surprisingly good student-run hotel and restaurant!), and off-the-wall live theater (bring the kids!).

EaDo (short for "East Downtown") and East End are two historic districts located just east of downtown Houston. EaDo is a trendy name given to several blocks of former warehouses and upscale townhomes centered around a newly-built Major League Soccer stadium. East End is a quieter, older suburb that hosts a racially diverse community. Two extensions to the METRO light rail system connect this area to Downtown.

By bike
Several BCycle bicycle rental stations have popped up around the city, one of which is at the George R Brown convention center just across the freeway from EaDo.

See