Southeast Houston - Houston, TX

Southeast Houston is located within La Porte, Texas. It was originally purchased in the late 1800's by an investment group and named Sylvan Grove and quickly became a premier tourism destination for Houstonians. They quickly recovered from two major hurricanes and a fire in the early 1900's. The 20's and 30's were the area's golden era as they became nationally recognized for their amusement park and amenities. Beachfront erosion and World War II gas-rationing slowed tourism and the 1943 hurricane ended it altogether. Residents experienced a cultural shift, becoming reliant on the shipping and industrial plants established during WWII.

Celebrating Sam Houston's victory, the San Jacinto Museum is a local treasure featuring free admission and a small fee for special attractions such as the Texas Forever-Interactive Experience. The Moonlight Express-Train Depot, which ran from Houston, is now the free Old Sylvan Beach Depot Museum.

Southeast Houstonians enjoy a wide variety of Mexican restaurants like Tortilla's, El Ranchero's, Las Hadas and El Toro. A local favorite is Gringo's Mexican Kitchen. Here you will find amazing Tex-Mex grub such as the highly-recommended Veracruz -- brochette-style shrimp stuffed with cheese and jalapeno, wrapped in bacon, and served with fajitas.

Enjoy fine dining without commuting to the big city: Main 101 Grill and Bar is an upscale restaurant that serves quality food. Dine on a fillet of Scottish salmon glazed in a tomato, basil, and butter sauce and served on a bed of haricot vert and pecan wild rice. Or bite into a juicy pork tenderloin stuffed with apples and mushrooms.

Try the classic comfort foods made from scratch at Southern Komfort Kitchen. Here you'll find down-home, affordable grub for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from biscuits covered in creamy sausage gravy to their famous banana pudding.

A friendly bar that serves great beer, jamming music, and draws in an eclectic group of people is the recipe for a great night out. Locals of Southeast Houston can tell you it can all be found at the Neon Moon Saloon.

There is no need to wrestle with Downtown Houston traffic when you have options throughout downtown La Porte, from pubs, bars, taverns, lounges, and clubs, this area has it all. Just head down highway 146 and you will find great joints such as Mainly Drinks, Brooks Flagstop, Shacks Club and Pub, and more.

The Fuqua Metro Park and Ride is the closest Metro station. However, Harris County has established a Fixed-Route Bus to service Southeast Houston, (Pasadena/La Porte). You can view the times and pick-up locations on the La Porte city website. There are no taxi services in the immediate area, so your alternatives would be to use online options such as Uber or pull from taxi services in the nearby communities such as Designated Dave in Pasadena or Polarbear's Taxi in League City. The closest one, the C.A.B. Company located in Baytown, is owned and operated by women and accepts payment by either credit or Paypal.

Enjoy the easy pace and small town feel found in Southeast Houston. Park you car without stressing about meters and take a stroll around the lovely neighborhood. Here it is not uncommon to see bikers out and about the town, enjoying the sights. Though the area is biker-conscience with plenty of hike and bike trails, they do not yet have bike lanes.

For a small fee you can drop a line off the 1,100 ft. fishing pier as you watch the sunset and reminisce at Sylvan Beach Park or simply run and play along sandy beaches and playground with your little ones. During the summer if Sylvan Beach Park gets too crowded, check out Glen Meadows and Sea Breeze Park. Cool off at the Northwest Park's or Fairmont Park's Public Swimming pools. Or catch some waves with your family at the Little Cedar Bayou Wave Pool; only $5 for non-residents. Named by the Dallas Morning News as one of the top 20 municipal golf courses in Texas, La Porte Bay Forest Golf Course is an affordable challenge for both amateurs and pros alike. Bike, walk, jog or sprint your way through the scenic 7 miles of paved trail that starts at Five Points. The trails are dog friendly, and the La Porte Dog Park, conveniently placed in downtown, will allow your canine to run and play with in an open park with other pups. There are lots of community events paired with the Sunset Sip and Stroll Farmers Market and hosted on the historic Main Street. It's easy to get involved with events such as Mardi Gras on Main Street, the Airing of the Quilts and Hoppy Easter.

The cost of living within the Southeast Houston area is almost 10 percent less than the national average. While it is not uncommon to see rent go well over $1,000 in some parts of Houston, here you can find one-bedroom residences for an average of $650 a month. Beer in Southeast Houston will cost close to the national average, at a little under $9 for a fresh draft. On the plus side, you will save money on gas, as it's almost 6 percent less than the national average.

Stroll through historic Main Street in downtown La Port to find dozens of little shops that catch the eye. Vicki's Antiques on Main houses multiple small shops filled with collectible, antique, and vintage items. Right next door you'll find Abbi's Treasure Boutique filled with upscale, fashionable clothing, as well as Shop Therapy, a great little resale shop.

Although the area has a small town feel, there remains access to the big name groceries such as Kroger, Walmart, and HEB. Many still prefer the local varieties such as the Food Fair Grocery Center, open 24/7 and known for their butcher department, affordable prices and friendly customer service.

If you have been out shopping in the historical downtown La Port, you can access the Sylvian Beach Grocery, conveniently located right next to Sylvian Beach Park. La Port also hosts the Sunset Sip and Stroll Farmer's Market the third Saturday of every month, were you can sip wine, sample gourmet food, purchase fresh produce, and ooh and ah over the vender's trinkets, local artists' works, and a Texas beach sunset. If you can't wait that long, the Nassau Bay and Clear Lake Shore's Saturday Farmer's Markets are just a stone's throw away.