HOUSTON - For the culture!
Spring is by far my favorite time of year. Not only because of my birthday but because of the weather, vibrant colors, and just the vibe it brings preparing you for summer. This spring break I wanted to plan a trip with the homies & go somewhere unexpected... Texas here we come. Once the plan was finalized and everything was booked, everyone's response to our trip location was, "Why are you going to Texas...?" Well, that's an easy call, Houston for the culture! Since Houston is located near the Gulf I know the weather fluctuates between hot, humid, and rainy but luckily we were blessed with perfect weather during our 4 day stay. The moment we stepped off the plane it was a little overcast with mild sprinkles but the rest of the trip would be sunny and in the low 80's. Post baggage claim and rental pick up we headed straight to our Airbnb which was located in the West End, just minutes away from Downtown Houston and conveniently located near the I-10, so everything was super accessible.
The South has a reputation for good food and the first stop we made solidified that statement. Gatlin's BBQ was over the top with flavors, the food quality was superb and all of the associates were welcoming once we told them we were visitors from Cali. To be honest, everyone in Houston seemed polite and easy going no matter where we went, true "southern hospitality". The second day was my birthday so I wanted to hit the city and explore before we went out later that night. Our first stop of the day was the Houston Galleria (pictured above). The grandest mall I have ever stepped foot in with hundreds of stores ranging from high fashion to common retailers and even an ice rink; I was blown away by the architectural presentation and shopping variety. It was so inviting we ended up there the next day, I couldn't leave Texas without a new pair of vans.
Since I was the only photographer on the trip I had to make sure spots we visited were user friendly and no longer than a 10 minute trek haha. Buffalo Bayou Park was the perfect location, offering a spectacular view of Houston's cityscape along with trails that led to different art pieces positioned on the land. I feel as if Texas doesn't get enough credit for how beautiful it is because the scenery was full of greenery... but that could just be the spring effect. Overall the trip went well, offering a different culture from what we were used to. I'll end it on this note...If there is fried alligator on the menu try it, the night scene can definitely turn into a rodeo, and everything IS in fact bigger in Texas LOL
Words and photos by: Marrice Hill
See more of Marrice's work on his website - everythingpositive.gallery
