With This Ring: August 05, 2016

With This Ring 137
“Houston we have a
problem” is Apollo XIII’s
unforgettable one liner, but
getting to Houston is no
problem for New Zealand
travellers.
With Air New Zealand’s direct
route to this Texan city, travellers
have a new geographic wonderland
to explore because Houston opens
the gate to the southern United
States and some seriously exciting
cruise destinations.
Houston is the fourth largest
city in the USA, sprawling from the
coastal Gulf of Mexico towards the
oil rich plains of Texas. Founded in
1836, remnants of Houston’s early
history associated with cotton are
to be found in the charming Market
Square Park and the heritage
precinct along Buffalo Bayou.
But modern Houston has
become home territory for NASA.
The launch pads of the LB Johnson
Space Centre are here and at the
“must visit” Space Centre Houston,
you’ll be immersed in things
astronaut-ical from space shuttle
replicas and Apollo capsules to
artefacts and interactive displays that
will literally space you out!
In a city of glitz and glass there
are fast paced attractions with allure
for adventurers; indoor skydiving
with the thrill of the plummet
without the plane ride; laps on
the Fittipaldi Racetrack, ranch and
rodeo experiences, a ball game at
the famous Astrodome or a retail
adventure at outlet malls the size of
a small New Zealand town!
But there are also softer sojourns
to taste the region’s emerging wine
industry, or a daytrip to Galveston
Island where heritage buildings like
the ante bellum beauty of Ashton
Villa take you back to the
days of the Civil War.
The cotton industry
had established
Galveston as the
leading cotton port
in the world until
the hurricane of
1906. The imposing
architecture of the
Bishop’s Palace
and Grand Opera
House are evidence
of Galveston’s
importance to
Texas.
The warm waters of the
Gulf of Mexico are home
to bottlenose dolphins and
numerous water sports. But
Galveston is also a cruise port
where exotic destinations like
Mexico, Central America and
the Caribbean are within easy
reach.
Cruise itineraries from four
to fourteen days can take you in
love-boat luxury to Acapulco,
Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, the
Bahamas, Grand Cayman, the
British and US Virgin Islands
or Puerto Rico. With early
bird discounts and affordable late
availability deals, a cruise is the
perfect mix and match option for a
Texan honeymoon.
If a road trip has appeal, there’s
plenty of Texas to see; Dallas,
Austin, San Antonio or the charm
of Corpus Christi. Austin is the state
capital of Texas and manages to mix
up business acumen with wild-west
ambience. You’ll find pick-up trucks
next to state of the art sports cars,
Stetsons worn with business suits
and cowboy culture in suburban
malls.
San Antonio has created a 15
mile tree lined river walk that
incorporates a 5 mile city boardwalk
through its parks, gardens and
historic precinct. Lined with
barges if you prefer to sightsee on
the water or bike trail if you like
wheels, San Antonio is one of the
most visitor friendly destinations in
Texas. The city’s Alamo was once
an 18 th century mission, now a
museum and marks an infamous
battle for Texan independence from
Mexico in 1836.
Alternatively you could head
for Texas’ border with Louisiana
and experience paddle steamer
journeys on the mighty Mississippi,
or discover the jazz and pizzazz
of New Orleans. On the way, let
your taste buds loose on southern
cuisine; Cajun or Creole, gumbo
and jumbalaya, shrimp or crawfish
and cornbread.
If Elvis is more your style, road
trip north to Memphis or Nashville
or turn south for Florida sunshine
and the thrills of Orlando’s theme
park metropolis, the wildlife of the
Everglades or the laid back beach
resorts of Key West.