On the Road

A Bay Area Houston getaway promises 4 times the fun

Bay Area Houston’s laid-back Southern charm, combined with its prime location on Galveston Bay, are just two ingredients in a delectable feast of culture, cuisine, and good old-fashioned family fun.

Discover the four cities that make up the Bay Area and start planning your trip to this waterside gem.

League City
Bayou vibes and Southern charm
Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature by exploring the scenic Clear Creek Paddle Trail by kayak or canoe, and spot wading birds — like the great egret — fishing for their next meal.

Visit Founder’s Square in the Historic District for a charming shopping experience, where each boutique is housed in a beautiful historic home.

Kemah
Exciting amusements and waterfront fun
Get your adrenaline pumping at Kemah Boardwalk. Ride the thrilling wooden rollercoaster, see Galveston Bay from atop the 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel, and experience a heart-pounding speedboat ride on the Boardwalk Beast.

The boardwalk also features an aquarium (where you can even feed and pet stingrays!), live performances, and dining. While you’re here, book a charter boat for a day of fishing, sailing, and soaking up some sunshine.

Seabrook
Nature escapes and spectacular trails
Enjoy sweeping panoramas of Galveston Bay at Pine Gully Park, where kids will love the large playground and adults can relax to the soothing sound of gentle waves. Bring a fishing pole and cast your line from the 1,000-foot-long fishing pier, or simply walk to the end and look for dolphins jumping in the distance.

With an extensive trail system, Seabrook Wildlife Refuge and Park is ideal for hiking, biking, and viewing nature. Search for deer, wading birds, and even alligators in the creeks and bayous.

Nassau Bay
Outer space and scenic strolls
A sophisticated waterfront city, Nassau Bay is also across the street from Space Center Houston, the most popular attraction in the Houston Metro region. Take a tram tour to visit Historic Mission Control, get up close to the enormous Saturn V rocket, and walk beneath a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Stop by Nassau Bay Peninsula Wildlife Park, a 76-acre wetland, for an easy stroll with rewarding views of Clear Lake.

Clear Lake Shores
The yachting capital of Texas
Live a life of leisure while you're here, with waterfront shopping and dining (plus ogling all those huge yachts).

Favorite hangouts for locals and visitors alike include Opus Ocean Grille, Soulfreak Studio Cafe, Skipper’s Cafe, Shafer’s Coastal Cuisine, and Okies YardHouse.

Where to eat
Houston's Bay Area has something for every foodie. For tasty Thai food, try Merlion in the heart of Seabrook, then satisfy your sweet tooth with decadent dessert waffles at Seabrook Waffle Company.

When in Kemah, stop by Tookie’s, a Bay Area staple with mouthwatering burgers, and T-Bone Tom’s, where you can dine like a local under the giant palapa with cold drinks, hot food, and live music.

Mediterraneo Market & Cafe in Nassau Bay offers up Greek classics along with live music and belly dancers on the weekends. In League City, try Craft 96 and Main St. Bistro for imaginative modern twists on your favorite dishes.

Where to stay
From lakefront locales to elegant accommodations, you have plenty of options throughout Bay Area Houston.

South Shore Harbour Resort in League City has stunning views of Clear Lake and a pool with a swim-up bar.

For waterfront lodging just minutes away from Space Center Houston, try the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake.

Seabrook has several quaint bed-and-breakfast options, including the Pelican’s Nest and the Old Parsonage Guest House. Or go traditional with the conveniently located SpringHill Suites.

If you’re staying in Kemah, you can’t beat the Boardwalk Inn, located in the center of the Kemah Boardwalk. It features private balconies boasting spectacular views of the bay.

For more information to plan your ultimate Baycation, scope out Visit Bay Area Houston.

Get your adrenaline pumping at Kemah Boardwalk.

Photo courtesy of Visit Bay Area Houston

Get your adrenaline pumping at Kemah Boardwalk.

vacation promoted texas

MOVING ON UP

Texas rises through the ranks of most innovative states, says new report

Photo via Getty Images

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The Lone Star State has again taken a step up on an annual report that ranks the most and least innovative states in the country — this time cracking the top 15.

Texas ranked No. 15 in personal finance site WalletHub's 2023’s Most and Least Innovative States ranking. It's a steady improvement for the state, which ranked No. 16 in 2022 and No. 17 in 2021.

The report analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia and how each performed across 22 key metrics, including population of STEM professionals, venture capital investment activity, number of technology companies, patents per capita, and more. The data was pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation, National Center for Education Statistics, United States Patent and Trademark Office, and other records.

Here's how Texas performed at a glance:

No. 18 – for share of STEM professionals
No. 16 – for projected STEM job demand by 2030
No. 25 – for eighth grade math and science performance
No. 21 – for share of science and engineering graduates aged 25 or older
No. 13 – for share of technology companies
No. 31 – for R&D spending per capita
No. 18 – venture capital funding per capita

For the 11th year, Texas won Site Selection Magazine's Governor's Cup, the governor's office announced earlier this year. The award, which Texas has won 19 times since its inception in 1978, recognizes the nation’s top-performing state for job-creating business relocations and expansions.

"Texas truly is America’s economic engine, and we stand apart as a model for the nation. When choosing where to relocate or expand their businesses, more and more innovative industry leaders find themselves at home in our state," Governor Greg Abbott says in a news release about the award.

"I congratulate the exceptional economic development teams at the local, regional, and state level who have worked so diligently to attract and retain these growing businesses and the jobs they create in diverse communities across this great state," he continues.

The most innovative states included the District of Columbia, which ranked at No. 1, followed by Massachusetts, Washington, Maryland, and California, respectively. The least innovative state was identified as Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Arkansas, respectively.

Source: WalletHub

Access to quality education is a significant contributor to each state's innovation economy, the experts say in the report.

"Investing in education, particularly K-12 but also at the University level, it is no accident that innovative ecosystems develop in states with strong education systems and research universities," says David L. Deeds, professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. "These institutions build strong capable modern workforces that attract capital, and jobs and create innovations. The benefits do not happen overnight, in fact, they take years if not decades, but consider what The UC’s or the University of Texas at Austin have meant for the development of premier innovative ecosystems."

texas wallethub innovation