You're in your early 30s, you're set financially, you're moving to Texas. Which city do you go to? (Houston: university, live)

[AK123]

Originally Posted by cBach

They find Houston to just be plain ugly and industrial but they like the pubs there, they find Dallas to be a strange fairy tale city that they can't understand, this sprawling mess where it takes two hours to go across town to see a baseball game

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Most everything in Dallas that would appeal to Londoners (IMO) is within a two-to-three mile radius around Downtown Dallas. No need to traipse two hours around the suburbs. Dallas has the big city amenities but also East Dallas and North Oak Cliff adjacent to downtown for the Austin laid-back friendly and mom-and-pop nature vibe.

Likewise, the only real industrial part of Houston is the east side. Have to really wonder where these people were and what they were doing to find the entire city ugly and industrial, if that's what was even said.

Austin has the same strip malls, exposed power lines, freeway access roads and associated clutter most outsiders dislike about Texas... not as much to the degree, but it's there. Elevation changes and the related scenery is the only major difference.

[AlGreen]

Originally Posted by Spade

It would be awfully hard to find any place in Houston or Dallas to look and feel more big city than any part of London. I don't think any part of Houston or Dallas have any areas that feel bigger than NYC which is the little brother of London.

I disagree. There are parts of London that don't seem all that big at all.

But even to say that Houston looks and feels small town, coming from anywhere, is utter bull.

[johnrex62]

I think it is well agreed that no place in Texas will provide a total replacement of the London nightlife and living experience. That said, if Texas is your chosen destination, and I personally have been quite pleased in making it my home, I would suggest Austin.

My rationalization is that Austin being a college town has a active nightlife and music scene, suitable for young and old; is centrally located such that day trips or weekend travel to each of the other metropolitan areas is less than a 3 hour drive; is less stressed by drought than San Antonio (marginally); is less stressed by snow than Dallas; is less stressed by mosquitoes (at least in size) than Houston; and is economically stable with a advantageous cost of living.

There is enough of an urban living environment that one can live downtown and enjoy some measure of contemporary urban life. Perhaps not as much as Dallas or Houston, but more than San Antonio.

[Metro Matt]

Both Dallas & Houston are pro-big business cities while Austin fights tooth & nail to keep the franchises/big chains out & just have everything local hence the "Keep Austin Weird" saying. Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't.

Those are the main differences.

Oh & Houston is on the coast while those other cities are landlocked hundreds of miles from the water.

[feufoma]

Houston is in fact industrial. And, you know, what? That's why it's clearly the economic power house of Texas. It's the smell of money you know... Without us the state would grind to a halt.

[dallasboi]

Originally Posted by feufoma

Houston is in fact industrial. And, you know, what? That's why it's clearly the economic power house of Texas. It's the smell of money you know... Without us the state would grind to a halt.

I highly doubt it would grind to a halt.....but if you say so.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by feufoma

Houston is in fact industrial. And, you know, what? That's why it's clearly the economic power house of Texas. It's the smell of money you know... Without us the state would grind to a halt.

Yes there is a very distinctive smell in Houston.

[feufoma]

Originally Posted by dallasboi

I highly doubt it would grind to a halt.....but if you say so.

Do you know what taking 1/4 of the nation's refining capacity off line would do? Do you even have an idea? Very, very bad...

[AK123]

Originally Posted by feufoma

Houston is in fact industrial. And, you know, what? That's why it's clearly the economic power house of Texas. It's the smell of money you know... Without us the state would grind to a halt.

Too much of a generalization. Unless one makes the effort to drive to the east side suburbs or Texas City, one will probably never see a refinery.

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Yes there is a very distinctive smell in Houston.

I've been here over a decade and never noticed... with the exception of the Mexican fires, which caused even worse effects in Austin when I lived there.
The bulk of Houston's population is west of town... while the bulk of industrial areas are east.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by AlGreen

I disagree. There are parts of London that don't seem all that big at all.

But even to say that Houston looks and feels small town, coming from anywhere, is utter bull.

Still if you want that consistent big city feel, London is going to win that over Houston in most if not all parts. On your second point, I agree. I hate the term, big city with a small town atmosphere. Just a stupid phrase. If you wanted a small town atmosphere, you should have remained one.