Houston Tours by E J Jolivet

Not every Houston tour can give a you a nostalgic architectural view of how Houston looked during the Victorian era at the turn of the century, the roaring 20's and the fabulous 50's in a single day. But, the tour of the Historic Heights gives you more than that, it's warmth gives you a feeling of how the one-time small town was merged and morphed into one of the largest cities in the South. The Home Tours The first Saturday of every month the city's best known neighborhood kicks open it's doors, to the community, for the Heights First Saturday tour. The Houston tour takes you to see some of the eclectic architecture that dominate the streets near downtown Houston. The Heights, are appropriately named because of its elevation, that's almost 23 feet higher than downtown Houston. The area offered it's first residents a promise of a sanctuary of health and well-being. Businesses on The Houston Tour The tranquil journey takes visitors to an array of small antique shops, clothing boutiques and specialty restaurants that thrive along the boulevards and streets in the area. Many of them operate out of former Victorian style homes built in the early parts of the 20th century. Many of the antique stores are located along 19th street. You'll be enamored by the trendy chic fashion stores and cozy restaurants interspersed throughout the bustling neighborhood. Facts About The Historic Heights The Heights, is one of the States first planned communities. It's original inhabitants included Indians, led by Chief Canos of the Orcoquisacs, who controlled most of this area. Since the 1890's the Heights has become a place where successful entrepreneurs and other hard working people live and work, as a community. The majority of these current young, new residents are not moving to Houston Heights to build new homes but to restore the historic homes built by others. They are part of a national trend to buy old houses with all its charm and architectural distinction and restore it. The sightseeing route is too far to walk, so a plush trolley carries you past places that despite their whimsical names are rich with old school southern charm. Fast food franchises and major retailers take a back seat in this community, where laid-back owners operate their own businesses and know most of the customers by name. The Trolley Route The sightseeing route is too far to walk, so a plush trolley carries you past places that despite their whimsical names are rich with old school southern charm. Fast food franchises and major retailers take a back seat in this community, where laid-back owners operate their own businesses and know most of the customers by name. The Houston tour through this historic area is only held from 11- 4:00 pm. The excursion last approximately 30-40 minutes roundtrip depending on the pace of the visitors. That's just enough time to browse, shop, or grab a bite to eat and decide which of the quirky and offbeat places you'll like to inspect on your next Houston tour.