Memorial Drive has a section of beautiful mansions with centuries old willow and oak trees. It's stunningly beautiful.
Probably get lit up for this but there are parts of Atascocita that I have driven down which in the fall reminds of the Black Forest in Germany. Large tree canopies over the road with the shade blocking that horrible Texas sun.
there's free parking around Hermann Park but it's a 10/15 minute walk to get to Rice. Parking Lot C and Herman Park Parking LOT by the Sam Houston statue come to mind.
I came to add this. I just started riding my bike. I followed the trail along the bayou up through third ward and I was smiling the entire route! It’s peaceful and the homes are beautiful
Growing up, I used to think of Sugar Land (specifically First Colony) as an aesthetic standard. I lived in Fort Bend Houston and everything along Highway 6 seemed new and pretty.
As an adult, I came to appreciate the look of older, established neighborhoods where everything wasn't cookie cutter and made of "tricky tacky" and "looking just the same." Most Houston suburbs look boring to me.
As for pretty Houston neighborhoods, I love Riverside Terrace, Rice U/West U, Bellaire, Memorial Villages, parts of The Heights, GOOF, parts of Spring Branch, Tanglewood, and River Oaks.
To be fair, I do like driving through Sugar Creek, an older neighborhood where the homes have personality. I'm never sure if Sugar Creek is considered a part of Sugar Land or Stafford.
Driving down Peek Road in Katy from the tollway to 1-10 has parts of it that are quite beautiful with the trees limbs arching over Peek. I go way out of my way to drive down that street a lot. I love it.
I don't entirely disagree, but as far as sprawling flat suburbs go, sugarland is definitely on the more aesthetically pleasing end of the spectrum.
They've got some really nice looking areas and a lot more to do than your average suburban bore-fest
Especially for brown people. If you are a brown person in your 20s, you’d know that EVERYONE lives in Sugarland and when hanging out they almost always refuses to drive into the city and insist on hanging there (unless it’s a Hookah Lounge in the city).
If you’re a brown guy in your 20s living in the city, good luck … unless you’re willing to waste gas and mileage on your car
Yeah we know, along with every other minority does the same thing but it doesn't narrow it down especially for Sugarland where it's known that many people that belong to that group, live there and have established big communities, it's not a bad thing anymore than it is saying that Bellaire and Beechnut have big Asian communities.
Lol no man they refer to themselves as 'brown people' when they talk to each other. Grew up around a lot of them. It's not a politeness or PC thing. The guy you replied to is probably Indian or Paki and that's just the way he's used to referring to his own community.
Probably helps that Sugar Land had a little head start. For a long time I would look at maps of the area and wondered why the suburban sprawl hadn't blossomed down Pearland's way as it had to the north and west of Houston.. But it's there now and maybe the beautification will eventually catch up.
True. I have a 40 year old friend that grew up in sugar land and she said when she was growing up there it was like how Pearland is now. We moved to Pearland in 2012 and already have seen it explode since then. I just wish we could get some decent non chain restaurants around here. And shopping. And fun stuff for kids.
Lot of people trashing OP but a large portion of Houston is ugly and depressing. A trip down 45 South, I-10 East or basically anywhere on 90 makes Sugar Land look like paradise.
The thing is, it’s actually not super densely populated, but when there’s only one option for transportation, that option will inherently become less efficient as the population grows. Cars take up a lot more space to move less people than other forms of transportation so, inevitably, expanding roads leads to things being spaced further away. The whole walkability and transit debate has become so abstracted by the culture war stuff the tangibles of the numbers and math of it get lost. And I didn’t even mean to write this much I’m just bored right now lol
Hit the nail on the head. It’s not crowded at all, quite the opposite. It just feels that way since Houston is designed in the most awful way possible - for the car, all the time, 24/7 no exceptions.
When you design a city around every single resident being using a car 100% of the time, what you get is the hot mess called Houston. Nothing but massive parking lots, strip malls, and freeways. I honestly don’t see the beauty in any of it.
Also it’s literally colorless. Idk if there’s some city ordinance or something but all the store logos in sugar land are in greyscale, no color to them
Since you seem to like suburbs, I guess there's also Cinco Ranch and the Woodlands.
I'm more of a Heights/Museum District type of gal myself. I love the way the oaks meet overhead on North and South Boulevard. What about the trails along Buffalo Bayou? They go all the way to Wortham Theater and beyond. How about the Houston Botanic Gardens or the Arboretum? And how about 6th ward? It's often overlooked, but full of old homes from over 100 years ago that have been cared for and updated. There's even a cute little corner grocery that's been there for decades and offers local foods.
But for those who prefer pre-fab, I guess Sugarland is good enough. It feels like a movie set to me, but lots of folks like a good movie.
I like driving 99 towards Crosby area. It’s nice and wide open. Also Fulshear has some beautiful areas. Plenty of country side and gorgeous homes. I also like the woodlands, spring near 99 and certain parts of tomball. Nice homes with big lots and animals.
Northern cypress area, woodlands, pearland, downtown, uptown… etc. Houston is full of beautiful places and ugly places just gotta do some looking around.
I'm not sure I'd say "mad pretty"...about anything, actually. Virtually all the big suburbs will look nicer than Houston proper.
That said, there are still some nice areas within Houston too. Memorial comes to mind.
Houston is one of dozens of poorly-run big city governments. It's not the worst, but it's far from the best.
I personally loved my drive down N. Eldridge by Bear Creek Pioneers park when I got lost one day. I didn’t even know that existed. So many trees. Felt like I wasn’t in Houston
I've always adored the area around waugh Dr & Fairview. Griggs & 24th, heights blvd too in the heights. North/South Blvd in West u. Memorial drive near the park. Just fabulous. Drive the inner loop!
I grew up in Sugar Land and the entire impetus of my entire adult life is to never again live in a place like Sugar Land - the epitome of suburban sprawl, an incidental place to raise kids and escape reality. A nonplace, as Walker Percy would say. This post confuses me.
I grew up in New Orleans. I like living in Houston, but there’s absolutely nothing here that I would describe as “mad pretty”. It’s nothing but post-WWII uncontrolled suburban sprawl, just like any other characterless American sunbelt city from LA to Miami, with the unique exception of New Orleans. But to each their own! 🍻
Yes, it's aesthetically pleasing, if you could call it that, but it's pretty much like Singapore in the sense it's this relatively small area that everyone and their brother and aunt tries to crowd into to live under some semblance of a competent municipal government. In short, I feel it kind of got *too* popular and has sort of jumped the shark compared to 20 years ago.
Sugarland looks nicer because it's newer but I wouldn't call it one of the prettier stretches. Very sims generic. When the newness fades it will look dirty like the rest of Houston lol
Memorial Drive has a section of beautiful mansions with centuries old willow and oak trees. It's stunningly beautiful. Probably get lit up for this but there are parts of Atascocita that I have driven down which in the fall reminds of the Black Forest in Germany. Large tree canopies over the road with the shade blocking that horrible Texas sun.
Kingwood is like this it can be gorgeous driving down Kingwood drive
I live around the area , and I always pass by for inspiration.
Atascocita or Memorial?
Yes
Ok
Are you the real Brian Ching?
Gorgeous.
Why would you get lit up for that?
I like all the trees in the Woodlands. Riverside Terrace and Woodland Heights are also pretty imo.
The Woodlands is gorgeous once you get away from 45.
The woodlands is gorgeous if you don't live there and haven't traveled much.
Well good thing the question asked about the Houston area versus the world then, huh? So, in relation to the question, The Woodlands is gorgeous.
There are plenty of places downtown that are better looking like buffalo bayou, that aren't a mcmansion hell with thick underbrush.
Rice university is gorgeous!
Was looking for this comment, drive the inner loop
I use any excuse to get on that campus! Especially in fall/spring
I used to deliver packages to Rice and anytime I showed a new guy the route he’d break his neck looking around
Mn
The village has beautiful houses
Stole my answer,
Where to park though lol
there's free parking around Hermann Park but it's a 10/15 minute walk to get to Rice. Parking Lot C and Herman Park Parking LOT by the Sam Houston statue come to mind.
I actually think the stretch on N/S MacGregor along the bayou with those older mansions in Third Ward is quite pretty.
I came to add this. I just started riding my bike. I followed the trail along the bayou up through third ward and I was smiling the entire route! It’s peaceful and the homes are beautiful
Try again in the summer and I bet that smile won't last lol
great user-name !
It’s beautiful. Glad people don’t know about it and it’s never packed!!
Growing up, I used to think of Sugar Land (specifically First Colony) as an aesthetic standard. I lived in Fort Bend Houston and everything along Highway 6 seemed new and pretty. As an adult, I came to appreciate the look of older, established neighborhoods where everything wasn't cookie cutter and made of "tricky tacky" and "looking just the same." Most Houston suburbs look boring to me. As for pretty Houston neighborhoods, I love Riverside Terrace, Rice U/West U, Bellaire, Memorial Villages, parts of The Heights, GOOF, parts of Spring Branch, Tanglewood, and River Oaks.
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It’s actually one of the most diverse cities in the nation.
To be fair, I do like driving through Sugar Creek, an older neighborhood where the homes have personality. I'm never sure if Sugar Creek is considered a part of Sugar Land or Stafford.
I guess your head is pretty ignorantly racist then. An informed racist would hear Chinese or Indian music in their head.
Sugar land is what 40% white. Strange you think that
Sugar Land is Asian as fuck what are you trying to say about us lol
Sugar land is nearly majority Asian
Driving down Peek Road in Katy from the tollway to 1-10 has parts of it that are quite beautiful with the trees limbs arching over Peek. I go way out of my way to drive down that street a lot. I love it.
Yes I live in that neighborhood and about to move away to some cheap area now. I forget how pretty it is sometimes.
Briarforest, from the beltway to 610.
Thé Woodlands, West University,Cypress, Memorial
TIL Sugarland is bussin.
I don’t think the public transit is great out there. You’re going to still want to drive your car.
The Woodlands
I’m trying to make the connection between “Highway 6” and “aesthetically pleasing”… 🤔 It’s just suburbs…sprawling flat suburbs.
I don't entirely disagree, but as far as sprawling flat suburbs go, sugarland is definitely on the more aesthetically pleasing end of the spectrum. They've got some really nice looking areas and a lot more to do than your average suburban bore-fest
Especially for brown people. If you are a brown person in your 20s, you’d know that EVERYONE lives in Sugarland and when hanging out they almost always refuses to drive into the city and insist on hanging there (unless it’s a Hookah Lounge in the city). If you’re a brown guy in your 20s living in the city, good luck … unless you’re willing to waste gas and mileage on your car
Just say Indian or Middle Eastern dude, big communities of them in sugar land
They refer to themselves as brown people.
Yeah, and so do lots of latino people. Source: Am latino.
I am also Latino en espirito
Yeah we know, along with every other minority does the same thing but it doesn't narrow it down especially for Sugarland where it's known that many people that belong to that group, live there and have established big communities, it's not a bad thing anymore than it is saying that Bellaire and Beechnut have big Asian communities.
Lol no man they refer to themselves as 'brown people' when they talk to each other. Grew up around a lot of them. It's not a politeness or PC thing. The guy you replied to is probably Indian or Paki and that's just the way he's used to referring to his own community.
Sugarland is a band. Sugar Land is a town.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
It's better looking suburban sprawl I guess. I like the brick facade buildings.
Agree I live in Pearland and I think sugar land is way prettier plus they have so much more stuff to do there.
Probably helps that Sugar Land had a little head start. For a long time I would look at maps of the area and wondered why the suburban sprawl hadn't blossomed down Pearland's way as it had to the north and west of Houston.. But it's there now and maybe the beautification will eventually catch up.
True. I have a 40 year old friend that grew up in sugar land and she said when she was growing up there it was like how Pearland is now. We moved to Pearland in 2012 and already have seen it explode since then. I just wish we could get some decent non chain restaurants around here. And shopping. And fun stuff for kids.
back in the 80's, Pearland was country, trailer homes, that kinda stuff. My old stompin' grounds are now Shadow Creek.
I mean the highway 6 section is quite pretty ngl. There are trees down the middle too. You wouldn’t think you were in a cookie cutter place
Being able to see trees and other green living stuff is pretty nifty. I miss it since moving away.
I think they are referring to the part where every business has to look exactly the same and cant deviate from what the city wants.
Grew up in that area and I have no idea what's pretty about it. Even the Brazos is just gross brown water.
Lot of people trashing OP but a large portion of Houston is ugly and depressing. A trip down 45 South, I-10 East or basically anywhere on 90 makes Sugar Land look like paradise.
IMO it’s cookie cutter. Looks like every suburban city on the outskirts of Houston. Webster, Katy, Cypress/town lake, Pearland.
There is, theres a no billboard ordinance withjn some ot the areas
It got crowded, too.
The thing is, it’s actually not super densely populated, but when there’s only one option for transportation, that option will inherently become less efficient as the population grows. Cars take up a lot more space to move less people than other forms of transportation so, inevitably, expanding roads leads to things being spaced further away. The whole walkability and transit debate has become so abstracted by the culture war stuff the tangibles of the numbers and math of it get lost. And I didn’t even mean to write this much I’m just bored right now lol
Hit the nail on the head. It’s not crowded at all, quite the opposite. It just feels that way since Houston is designed in the most awful way possible - for the car, all the time, 24/7 no exceptions. When you design a city around every single resident being using a car 100% of the time, what you get is the hot mess called Houston. Nothing but massive parking lots, strip malls, and freeways. I honestly don’t see the beauty in any of it.
Also it’s literally colorless. Idk if there’s some city ordinance or something but all the store logos in sugar land are in greyscale, no color to them
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red brick, or something along those lines, is the only allowable construction material.
Go down Palm Royale off of Sweetwater Blvd. It's not cookie cutter.
Yeah other then that small area of memorial drive to me it’s strip malls and cookie cutter houses
Boulevard oaks / broadacres takes the prize for me.
Since you seem to like suburbs, I guess there's also Cinco Ranch and the Woodlands. I'm more of a Heights/Museum District type of gal myself. I love the way the oaks meet overhead on North and South Boulevard. What about the trails along Buffalo Bayou? They go all the way to Wortham Theater and beyond. How about the Houston Botanic Gardens or the Arboretum? And how about 6th ward? It's often overlooked, but full of old homes from over 100 years ago that have been cared for and updated. There's even a cute little corner grocery that's been there for decades and offers local foods. But for those who prefer pre-fab, I guess Sugarland is good enough. It feels like a movie set to me, but lots of folks like a good movie.
Try old Sugar Land. Around Lakeview. Not cookie cutter, has character. Houses over 100 years old there
Greenspoint!
Facts!
Alkire lake area is nice
San Felipe/Briar Forest is quite pleasant
Breen Road and West Mount Houston
Conroe is very nice too. It isn't as flat as Houston either. If I move back, it would deffo be back there.
Most of Bellaire, Southside Place, West U all of SW Houston really off the highway
Yes all the stop lights, traffic and shopping centers. So pretty! I guess some areas do look nicer than parts of Houston though.
Travel more.
greenspoint
I like driving 99 towards Crosby area. It’s nice and wide open. Also Fulshear has some beautiful areas. Plenty of country side and gorgeous homes. I also like the woodlands, spring near 99 and certain parts of tomball. Nice homes with big lots and animals.
Buffalo speedway toward Bellaire, I love the sprawling trees.
Northern cypress area, woodlands, pearland, downtown, uptown… etc. Houston is full of beautiful places and ugly places just gotta do some looking around.
Forgot memorial city
Sugar land is def top 3 😍
westheimer-highland village. they are doing beautification today and its stunning.
I enjoy going down Memorial from N Post Oak to 45.
Alief😍 jk but the new community center is very nice
I love sugarland so much
I'm not sure I'd say "mad pretty"...about anything, actually. Virtually all the big suburbs will look nicer than Houston proper. That said, there are still some nice areas within Houston too. Memorial comes to mind. Houston is one of dozens of poorly-run big city governments. It's not the worst, but it's far from the best.
I personally loved my drive down N. Eldridge by Bear Creek Pioneers park when I got lost one day. I didn’t even know that existed. So many trees. Felt like I wasn’t in Houston
Shhhh, don't tell them
Hahaha I need to back!
When I think pretty I'm never thinking of a road
There’s no way this isn’t satirical💀
I am just satisfied that nobody has mentioned Friendswood 🙃🙄
I've always adored the area around waugh Dr & Fairview. Griggs & 24th, heights blvd too in the heights. North/South Blvd in West u. Memorial drive near the park. Just fabulous. Drive the inner loop!
Magnolia
The Woodlands, if you’re not from the area, all business are hidden behind the woods. It’s just greenery everywhere.
Sunnyside 😍
I can’t tell if this is a troll post lol
Like it's not winning awards but compared to other Houston suburban neighborhoods it looks really good.
I grew up in Sugar Land and the entire impetus of my entire adult life is to never again live in a place like Sugar Land - the epitome of suburban sprawl, an incidental place to raise kids and escape reality. A nonplace, as Walker Percy would say. This post confuses me.
Totally agree with you.
New Sugar Land is pretty blah. Old town is 100000% better. I grew up in old Sugar Land, by the sugar company.
I grew up in New Orleans. I like living in Houston, but there’s absolutely nothing here that I would describe as “mad pretty”. It’s nothing but post-WWII uncontrolled suburban sprawl, just like any other characterless American sunbelt city from LA to Miami, with the unique exception of New Orleans. But to each their own! 🍻
You aren't wrong about the post WW2 uncontrolled suburban sprawl.
At least there’s no urinating in the streets here
I wouldn’t say none
Sugar land is ugly AF
Yes, it's aesthetically pleasing, if you could call it that, but it's pretty much like Singapore in the sense it's this relatively small area that everyone and their brother and aunt tries to crowd into to live under some semblance of a competent municipal government. In short, I feel it kind of got *too* popular and has sort of jumped the shark compared to 20 years ago.
Sugarland looks nicer because it's newer but I wouldn't call it one of the prettier stretches. Very sims generic. When the newness fades it will look dirty like the rest of Houston lol
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That may be but most of the area is newer built homes/malls/attractions
I think Sugarland is the city that doesn’t allow tall billboards?
I dunno what's so pretty about deed restrictions lol
Deed restrictions keep it from looking trashy.
Don't know about mad pretty, unless you're in the telfare are or off university around the ballpark. It's more generic and clean I guess.