Katharine Shilcutt

Take in the stunning skyline from different vantage points. Image: aitcheeboy-stock.adobe.com Sure, it’s not the Manhattan skyline. But there’s something about seeing Houston’s staggered Downtown silhouette come into view while driving on the highway that stirs up a feeling best described as nostalgia and pride. The towers catch the light differently depending on the hour—golden at sunset, moody at dusk, electric after dark—and the vantage point matters as much as the timing.

We all love to declare that a certain event or holiday is the most wonderful time of the year. But when it comes to crawfish season, Houstonians really mean it. While Louisiana can take the credit for supplying us with a steady stream of mudbugs, and for popularizing the tradition in the US in the first place, Houston has an undeniable place in crawfish culture.

IF YOU LEFT THE LAST BUFFALO BAYOU REGATTA feeling inspired to do some paddling of your own, you’re in luck: Although Houston is not always thought of as a city with ample outdoor recreation activities, there is actually plenty of canoeing and kayaking to be done.