Greater Hobby Area Houston, TX

Greater Hobby, named after the 26th governor of Texas, William Pettus Hobby, has always been an important transportation hub for Houston. Before Houston's oldest airport, William P. Hobby Airport, opened, the International-Great Northern Railroad ran 2 miles from the neighborhood in the 1800s.

Today, you can visit the 1940 Air Terminal Museum to learn about the rich aviation history of Houston and see several historic aircraft. The museum is located in the original 1927 art-deco building adjacent to the present William P. Hobby Airport. In addition, several of Houston's art and culture epicenters can be found nearby, such as the Museum District and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Delight your taste buds with the variety of Greater Hobby's cuisine, from Vietnamese and Chinese to Tex-Mex and Cajun-Creole. While the area provides a host of chain restaurants to satisfy William P. Hobby Airport travelers, residents favor the unique flavors of local eateries.

Start your day with coffee, tea or a refreshing blended drink at iBubble on Gulf Freeway. The cozy, bright space and rainbow pastel palette of ice cream, bubble teas and smoothies lifts anyone's mood. The impressive menu features a variation of milk teas, a sweet, blended Asian tea drink with tapioca pearls or flavored jellies. Try drinks such as lavender, salted caramel or passion fruit milk teas, with your choice of tapioca, egg pudding, fruit or coffee jelly. iBubble also serves flavored tea and coffee — sip Vietnamese coffee or mochas for a pick-me-up or relax with honey or peppermint tea. The fresh fruit smoothies make the perfect treat and feature flavors such as strawberry, avocado, lychee and taro-coconut.

Sip margaritas and sample authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex fare at Don Carlos Restaurant on Broadway Street. Start your meal with guacamole prepared fresh at your table or chili con queso dip considered the best in Houston. The menu features a variety of Mexican and house specialities from enchiladas and fajitas to fresh seafood. To sample a bit of everything, try one of the combination plates such as the Tex-Mex Special that includes chicken fajitas, a tamale and a chili-gravy smothered sirloin enchilada. Affordable prices and happy hour specials ensure you leave satisfied within a reasonable budget.

To placate fresh seafood and oysters cravings, head to The Crawfish Pot & Oyster Bar on Gulf Freeway. The restaurant serves Cajun and Creole fare inspired by the culinary flavors of Louisiana. Watch a sports game on TV while you sample fresh-shucked oysters and crawfish in the establishment's signature Blazing Cajun Sauce. Down ice-cold beer with your dinner, and be sure to indulge in fried-to-order beignets for dessert.

For when you want to order in, Greater Hobby locals rave about Shan Hu Chinese Restaurant on Bellfort Street. The restaurant has been serving authentic Chinese cuisine for over 30 years and provides local delivery. Find Chinese staples on the menu, including fried rice, egg rolls, wonton soup, lo mein and sweet and sour pork. The impressive menu also features a host of chef specialities such as Korean barbecue beef, crispy duck and Crystal Shrimp, an entree of lightly battered shrimp sauteed with broccoli, carrots and peas in a garlic and white wine sauce.

For nightlife and entertainment, travel less than 10 miles to Downtown Houston or stay in the neighborhood and have a drink at a local bar. The Cockpit Bar and Grill provides a dive bar experience that every Houston-area visitor or resident should have. Get a cold beer and a doctored-up frozen pizza until closing time at 2 a.m.

Almost all Greater Hobby residents rely on their cars for commuting to work and running daily errands due to a lack of bike lanes and sidewalks. However, commuting by car proves convenient and effortless with major roads such as Telephone Road and primary highways such as Interstate 45. Since William P. Hobby Airport services the area, traveling out of state by air is extremely easy.

In addition to driving, Greater Hobby residents can take public transportation or use the smartphone-based car service Uber. Several bus lines service the neighborhood such as Route 088 which brings you directly to Downtown Houston in about 35 minutes, as well as other destinations including Hobby Airport, Hobby Transportation Center and University of Houston.

Locals can enjoy several nearby community parks perfect for spending some quality time outdoors. Visit Reveille Park and take advantage of the multipurpose field and trails. The park also offers basketball courts, a playground and a public swimming pool ideal for cooling off on hot summer days.

The whole family can enjoy the parks near Greater Hobby, from Garden Villas Park to Tom Bass Regional Park. Besides a lighted sports field, basketball pavilion, volleyball court and playground, Garden Villas Park provides a half of a mile of hike-and-bike-trails, perfect for cyclists or runners. The large, multipurpose Tom Bass Regional Park offers something for everybody, including your four-legged friends. The off-leash dog parks at Tom Bass are a favorite among locals. There are plenty of other activities you could do at the park; play golf, fish, picnic or take advantage of the walking and jogging trails, just to name a few.

Residents of Greater Hobby can enjoy a much lower cost of living compared to the Houston average. Housing costs sit below both local and national averages and a one bedroom rental averages $521.

A ride on public transportation costs about $2, and gas prices typically stay at about 5 percent below the national average. While a beer at a local bar should run you an average of $4 to $5, several local bars and restaurants provide generously discounted happy hour specials.

Residents can shop at nearby Almeda Mall on Gulf Freeway. The shopping center provides familiar stores such as Macy's, Burlington Coat Factory and Palais Royal alongside speciality and jewelry stores. For Western ware for the whole family, shop at Amigos Western Wear inside the Almeda Mall. The family-owned speciality store sells cowboy boots, hats, accessories and apparel for women, men and children.

For unique, one-of-a-kind items, shop at one of Greater Hobby's antique, consignment or international stores such as National Market Place on Gulf Freeway, a market that sells goods from more than 300 vendors. Adorn your home with a special antique from Almeda Antique Mall on Almeda Genoa Road. The large antique store sells everything from jewelry to handmade furniture to vintage paintings.

Arlene’s Apparels & More on Broadway Street sells new and used clothing, accessories and home furniture and decor. Find discounted name brand items, unique vintage home goods or fashionable new apparel.

For grocery shopping, locals can choose between Kroger supermarket or the Texas-based Fiesta Mart Inc. In addition, Hong Kong Family Market on Gulf Freeway sells Asian speciality goods alongside fresh produce and a vast seafood department. While Hobby does not host any farmer's markets, you can visit one of the many markets throughout the Houston area. Nearby Rice University Farmer's Market sells local produce and handmade goods from dozens of local vendors. Take home farm-fresh eggs, organic kombucha, artisan breads, nuts, honey, meats and organic fruits and vegetables.