Hotspot Houston: abounding with new things to see and do, this Texas-size metropolis blends Western flair with international style - City Of The Month - travel United States

THE CITY'S COME A LONG WAY since its founding more than 160 years ago. When Augustus and John Allen navigated their way up Buffalo Bayou from Galveston Bay in 1836, there was little to indicate that this swampy coastal land could be a thriving metropolis. But the New York brothers had faith in their new home and what it could become.

Today, Houston is the nation's fourth largest city, home to 1.9 million people and a hub of international businesses. Houston's leaders are also focusing their attention on the tourism industry and working hard to show the world that not only is the city a great place to live, but a great place to visit as well.

Houston combines cutting-edge attitudes with the open spaces and can-do spirit of the West. It's the city that sent a man to the moon. And it's a city that is constantly re-inventing itself. Houston is home to advanced technological breakthroughs and warm, old-fashioned welcomes, the world's best barbecue and award-winning theater.

It's a Western city. After all, Houston is home to one of the world's largest rodeos--the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. But it is also an international city known for its space program, diverse population, and the Texas Medical Center. Houston offers family amusements and celebrity chefs, trend-setting clubs and a vibrant downtown theater and entertainment scene.

Those that choose to visit Houston are likely to be pleasantly surprised by its lush green landscape, its urbane attitudes, and the volume and variety of things to do. A revitalized downtown is the spot for dozens of restaurants, clubs, galleries, and retail shops along with the well-respected Theater District and the new Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. The new Hobby Center for the Performing Arts has brought additional dazzle to the Theater District, while a new multi-purpose arena for the Houston Rockets basketball team, Comets (women's pro basketball), and Aeros hockey team is nearing completion. The new Downtown Aquarium complex just opened with restaurants, an observation tower, fountains, and amusement rides.

Downtown visitors can stay in a boutique hotel like the Lancaster in the heart of the Theater District or in one of the many major hotels like the Hyatt Regency, Doubletree Hotel, or the new Hilton Americas-Houston, scheduled for completion this fall. And until the city's new light rail line is completed in 2004, visitors can use the extensive trolley system to get around downtown.

Just south of downtown, you can see how Houston is booming despite the constraints of a slumping national economy. The Reliant Astrodome, the world's first domed stadium, is still an architectural and engineering marvel. But it now sits next to the city's next great wonder--Reliant Stadium. The 69,500-seat, retractable-roof stadium, completed last August, is home to the city's new Houston Texans football team and the rodeo, the city's biggest annual event. The stadium is also part of Reliant Park, a new convention facility.

Reliant Park is neighbor to one of the city's largest attractions--Six Flags AstroWorld and WaterWorld. The theme parks draw millions of visitors annually. But AstroWorld and WaterWorld share the spotlight with several other major attractions. Splashtown is the biggest water park in Texas and offers hours of cool fun in the summer months. At Space Center Houston, visitors explore the past, present, and future of manned space flight through hands-on exhibits.

The outstanding Houston Zoo is found in scenic Hermann Park. The centrally located park also offers a recently renovated public golf course, the Japanese Gardens and the Houston Garden Center, and free performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Recently restored and enlarged McGovern Lake gives urban visitors a chance to enjoy a beautiful environment complete with bird islands, native landscaping, and paddleboats. A fishing pier is available for visitors ages 12 and younger and over 65.

The Museum District, within walking distance of Hermann Park, gives visitors a taste of Houston's impressive cultural scene. The city is home to more than 500 cultural, visual, and performing arts organizations, including The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Houston Museum of Natural Science; the Children's Museum of Houston; the Menil Collection; and the Contemporary Arts Museum. Other institutions include the Holocaust Museum Houston, the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

For those who like to get in plenty of shopping when they travel, SpaceCity is an excellent vacation choice. Its best-known site is The Galleria, a collection of hotels, restaurants, and shops centered around a giant indoor ice skating rink in Uptown Houston, a hub for high-end shopping and luxury hotels.

Sports fans are already making plans to visit in 2004, when they will have two major events available along with the city's new hotels and entertainment venues. Houston is hosting both pro football's Super Bowl and baseball's All-Star Game. And with the Houston Rockets now boasting their new center Yao Ming, hopes are high for another championship for the two-time world championship basketball team.