Coming from the peaceful, small-town vibes of Clinton, Mississippi, Houston at first seemed a bit overwhelming. As the fourth-largest city in the nation, the scope of the opportunities here is staggering. So over the last four years, I’ve made it a priority to explore Houston as thoroughly as possible!

A significant advantage of living in Houston, especially at Rice, is the wide availability of public transportation. Before coming here, I didn’t have access to public transit, so it was great to be able to explore without worrying about driving or parking. As a Rice student, you have access to a METRO Pass that provides free access to transportation. The METRORail runs adjacent to the Rice campus, so it’s very easy to hop on the Red Line and go midtown or downtown. There are also buses you can take to get to other parts of the city. Along the Red Line, there are several restaurants and cafés, as well as two of Houston’s largest concert/athletic venues. Back home, I had to drive a couple of hours to go to a large concert, but here, concerts are only a 15-minute ride away! I went to my first concert in Houston with my roommate, and it was amazing!

Another fun activity in Houston is visiting all the museums! With the Museum District only a metro stop or two away from Rice, this is a fun way to spend a free afternoon. Whether you feel like wandering around artistic masterpieces at the Museum of Fine Arts or admiring stunning gems at the Museum of Natural Sciences, I highly recommend taking advantage of the free admission offered to all Rice students. I had never been to an art museum before coming to Houston, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed it very much!

And of course, no post about Houston is complete without mentioning the fantastic food! As the most ethnically diverse city in the nation, there are so many cuisines to try. In Bellaire, Houston’s Chinatown, you can find boba, dumplings, ramen, and more. Hillcroft is known as Little India and is home to many South Asian food spots. Having SO many options was new for me, and I loved discovering many cultures through food.

Coming to Houston has opened my eyes to so many new experiences. From going to random cafés, basketball games, and even the rodeo, I’ve learned to take in all that I can and live life in H-Town to the fullest. Four years later, and I’m grateful to call Houston home! 

-Abigail, Sid Richardson ‘26 (Published on 2/24/26)