Order your free copy now and learn all you need to know about living the good life in the nation's fourth largest city!
| Houston Highlights |
— Racquetball
There are numerous clubs to play racquetball throughout the Houston region, with the largest facility located at the downtown YMCA. There you’ll find 17 courts available for play, of which 10 courts have glass sidewalls. Check other YMCA locations at www.ymcahouston.org. Additional facilities include The Houstonian Club, the Metropolitan Club, Northwest Fitness Center and Alvin Community Center.There are numerous clubs to play racquetball throughout the Houston region, with the largest facility located at the downtown YMCA. There you’ll find 17 courts available for play, of which 10 courts have glass sidewalls. Check other YMCA locations at www.ymcahouston.org. Additional facilities include The Houstonian Club, the Metropolitan Club, Northwest Fitness Center and Alvin Community Center.
— Soccer
Representing an eight-county area, the South Texas Youth Soccer Association (www.stxsoccer.og) is a member of the US Youth Soccer organization whose mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition.
The Houston Youth Soccer Association (www.hysa.us) is one of the governing organizations for Youth Recreational and Competitive Soccer in Houston and supports a range of programs for young people in the region. It’s part of a hierarchy of organizations that govern recreational and competitive youth soccer in the United States, providing a reasonably uniform set of rules and levels of play for players.
— Swimming
Thanks to the mild South Texas temperatures practically year round, swimming is among one of the favorite family recreational activities. It wasn’t more than nine years ago that Laura Wilkinson of the The Woodlands, Texas, emerged to make regional history several times – 2000 Olympic in Sydney, Australia; 2004 World Cup; and 2005 World Championship.
Check your neighborhood or subdivision to learn about the closest swimming pool near you. In Houston, The Houston Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains 39 outdoor swimming pools and 13 water playgrounds. To learn more, call 713-670-5501. In addition, the department operates a heated indoor natatorium for citizens with disabilities located at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center 1475 West Gray. At the YMCA of Greater Houston (www.ymcahouston.org), aquatic programs include swim lessons for all ages and all levels of skill and interest, water exercise, lifeguard certification and water safety. Visit the Web site to find a YMCA in your neighborhood.
— Tennis
Tennis is a favorite sport in the Houston Area and home to the Houston Tennis Association (HTA), which has served the Greater Houston area since 1952. Among its goals is to encourage and promote amateur tennis in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area for all members of and to encourage and promote good health and sportsmanship through the game of tennis. In partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, it supports the free year-round National Junior Tennis League, an introductory tennis program held at neighborhood recreation centers and parks reaching thousands of boys and girls.
Another local institution is the Westside Tennis Club, owned by Linda and Jim McIngvale, also known as Mattress Mack and founder of Gallery Furniture. As a result of the McIngvale’s involvement in the sport, the club has hosted numerous professional tennis events, including the Women’s Legends event, Men’s Nuveen Tour, US Davis Cup Semi Final, the ATP international event, The US Men’s Clay Court, the ATP Men’s event, The Mater’s Cup, as well as hosting a World Team Tennis pair for two years. These events have brought top-name tennis players from across the world to the tennis club. Broadening its services, the club is now positioned as a premier family sports and fitness facility for people of all ages.
Landscaping And Gardening
Horticulturally, the Houston region is at the southern edge of plant-hardiness zone 9, where plants can withstand 20 to 30 degrees. Since the area is on the southern edge of zone 9, our winter lows generally do not dip below the freezing mark with any frequency.
While winters can be unpredictable, summer temperatures are usually quite warm, making them potentially more devastating than other seasons. Cool weather-loving plants cannot survive our prolonged summer heat, so don’t waste any money buying these plants.
Rainfall can vary considerably. Long-time residents know that rainfall can vary from year to year and even season to season. Although averages tell us little, in most years gardeners can anticipate about 36 inches of precipitation with the summer months having short dry spells. Supplemental watering, particularly during summer, is generally essential for the survival of most landscapes and gardens.
There are numerous clubs to play racquetball throughout the Houston region, with the largest facility located at the downtown YMCA. There you’ll find 17 courts available for play, of which 10 courts have glass sidewalls. Check other YMCA locations at www.ymcahouston.org. Additional facilities include The Houstonian Club, the Metropolitan Club, Northwest Fitness Center and Alvin Community Center.There are numerous clubs to play racquetball throughout the Houston region, with the largest facility located at the downtown YMCA. There you’ll find 17 courts available for play, of which 10 courts have glass sidewalls. Check other YMCA locations at www.ymcahouston.org. Additional facilities include The Houstonian Club, the Metropolitan Club, Northwest Fitness Center and Alvin Community Center.
— Soccer
Representing an eight-county area, the South Texas Youth Soccer Association (www.stxsoccer.og) is a member of the US Youth Soccer organization whose mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition.
The Houston Youth Soccer Association (www.hysa.us) is one of the governing organizations for Youth Recreational and Competitive Soccer in Houston and supports a range of programs for young people in the region. It’s part of a hierarchy of organizations that govern recreational and competitive youth soccer in the United States, providing a reasonably uniform set of rules and levels of play for players.
— Swimming
Thanks to the mild South Texas temperatures practically year round, swimming is among one of the favorite family recreational activities. It wasn’t more than nine years ago that Laura Wilkinson of the The Woodlands, Texas, emerged to make regional history several times – 2000 Olympic in Sydney, Australia; 2004 World Cup; and 2005 World Championship.
Check your neighborhood or subdivision to learn about the closest swimming pool near you. In Houston, The Houston Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains 39 outdoor swimming pools and 13 water playgrounds. To learn more, call 713-670-5501. In addition, the department operates a heated indoor natatorium for citizens with disabilities located at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center 1475 West Gray. At the YMCA of Greater Houston (www.ymcahouston.org), aquatic programs include swim lessons for all ages and all levels of skill and interest, water exercise, lifeguard certification and water safety. Visit the Web site to find a YMCA in your neighborhood.
— Tennis
Tennis is a favorite sport in the Houston Area and home to the Houston Tennis Association (HTA), which has served the Greater Houston area since 1952. Among its goals is to encourage and promote amateur tennis in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area for all members of and to encourage and promote good health and sportsmanship through the game of tennis. In partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, it supports the free year-round National Junior Tennis League, an introductory tennis program held at neighborhood recreation centers and parks reaching thousands of boys and girls.
Another local institution is the Westside Tennis Club, owned by Linda and Jim McIngvale, also known as Mattress Mack and founder of Gallery Furniture. As a result of the McIngvale’s involvement in the sport, the club has hosted numerous professional tennis events, including the Women’s Legends event, Men’s Nuveen Tour, US Davis Cup Semi Final, the ATP international event, The US Men’s Clay Court, the ATP Men’s event, The Mater’s Cup, as well as hosting a World Team Tennis pair for two years. These events have brought top-name tennis players from across the world to the tennis club. Broadening its services, the club is now positioned as a premier family sports and fitness facility for people of all ages.
Landscaping And Gardening
Horticulturally, the Houston region is at the southern edge of plant-hardiness zone 9, where plants can withstand 20 to 30 degrees. Since the area is on the southern edge of zone 9, our winter lows generally do not dip below the freezing mark with any frequency.
While winters can be unpredictable, summer temperatures are usually quite warm, making them potentially more devastating than other seasons. Cool weather-loving plants cannot survive our prolonged summer heat, so don’t waste any money buying these plants.
Rainfall can vary considerably. Long-time residents know that rainfall can vary from year to year and even season to season. Although averages tell us little, in most years gardeners can anticipate about 36 inches of precipitation with the summer months having short dry spells. Supplemental watering, particularly during summer, is generally essential for the survival of most landscapes and gardens.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
