Houstonist: Yay for a new feature: Top 10ist!

Andrew

Mon, 28 May 2007 05:06:25 -0600

Sunset Avenue going through Rice is fantastic as well, passing all the houses and trees.

Andrew

Mon, 28 May 2007 05:05:07 -0600

Allen Parkway drive is certainly fantastic, I prefer going towards downtown. There are many great streets to cruise in the Heights as well. My favorite being down Bayland going from Studewood towards Houston Ave. The drive down Memorial is great as well as Main by Rice.

sara

Sat, 26 May 2007 15:38:26 -0600

My vote is also for the 610 ship channel, but only at night when it's all lit up. During the daytime it's not even remotely attractive. As to how long it takes to drive the entire 610 loop, I timed it once many years ago (mainly out of boredom). Late at night and driving pretty close to the speed limit (max of 5 miles over) it took about 40 minutes.

jim

Thu, 24 May 2007 14:04:17 -0600

I think the whole sequence along I-45 from the North Loop into downtown is pretty amazing — from the time you come around the curve headed south and see the skyline to the point where you actually drive past all the skyscrapers. It's one of my favorites.

Alex

Thu, 24 May 2007 13:16:22 -0600

I-45 past downtown is good. The ramp from 288 N to 59 S gets you a nice skyline view too. But how much fun is the ramp from the Westpark Tollway, heading east, to 59 N? It's like a roller coaster.

Christof Spieler

Thu, 24 May 2007 10:55:03 -0600

Agreed on Allen Parkway, the 610 ship channel bridge, 288, and the Hartman bridge. Another: the HOV ramp from the Katy Freeway into Downtown, inbound. Kinda scary, incredible view. And somehow nobody's mentioned I-45 past Downtown.

Jeanette Chinelli

Wed, 23 May 2007 11:40:59 -0600

Seeing the downtown skyline after the rain.

Highway6

Wed, 23 May 2007 10:25:18 -0600

I. First in line at the stoplight northbound on Shepherd at West Gray. Light turns green, floor it, take the Shepherd S curve way too fast, break into daylight past W. Dallas and enjoy the wonderful view to the east as you bridge over Memorial / Allen Pkwy. II. Early on a Sunday morning, drive the West Loop northbound from 59 to 10. With no traffic, you can enjoy being in the Urban Uptown Canyon.

Steelsun / ShootHouston / Brian

Wed, 23 May 2007 07:17:51 -0600

Driving with your windows down and being comfortable. Usually about 1 week in April and 1 in October.

lauren

Tue, 22 May 2007 16:03:49 -0600

i'll second the fred hartman bridge, heading south/southwest on 146 at sunset - of course, hold your nose, it usually smells like death around there

Urban Houstonian

Tue, 22 May 2007 15:52:49 -0600

I did some searching, the Fred Hartman Bridge, and it's not on the Beltway, it's Texas 146. My apologies.

Urban Houstonian

Tue, 22 May 2007 15:46:01 -0600

Has anyone ever seen the bridge across the Ship Channel on the East Belt? Truly one of the most maginificent structures in our area, if not the state.

Mamacita

Tue, 22 May 2007 14:53:54 -0600

Seriously, the Loop only takes 20 minutes, going something close to the speed limit, if you do it after 9 p.m. You try it and tell me how long you take. Jack: the scenario you describe is science fiction, and thus ineligible for the contest, I believe.

Jeff

Tue, 22 May 2007 14:06:53 -0600

I'LL HAVE TO AGREE- MEMORIAL DR. FROM 610 TO DOWNTOWN,ALLEN PKWY SHEPHERD TO DOWNTOWN- REALLY SHOWS OFF THE SKYLINE. ALSO - MAIN FROM MECOM FOUNTAIN TO THE MED CENTER- OR ANY OF THE TREE COVERED MUSEUM AREA STREETS- A LITTLE HEAVEN ON EARTH ! MY OLD FAVE RIDE WAS ON MY BIKE - I WOULD TAKE THE BAYOU TRAIL FROM SHEPHERD & MEMORIAL TO DOWNTOWN,HEAD SOUTH DOWN MAIN STREET, WATCHING THE SKYLINE DISSAPPEAR BEHIND ME , THEN TAKE NORTH OR SOUTH BLVD WEST AND THEN ZIG-ZAG MY WAY HOME FROM THERE.

jack

Tue, 22 May 2007 12:57:39 -0600

Driving in the left lane on Shepherd between Richmond and West Gray without running into a single person turning left.

jack

Tue, 22 May 2007 12:55:46 -0600

Driving in the left late on Shepherd between Richmond and West Gray without running into a single person turning left.

brentabousko

Tue, 22 May 2007 11:51:49 -0600

river oaks

jim

Tue, 22 May 2007 11:32:11 -0600

I'm with Mamacita: The Ship Channel bridge on the East Loop is a great drive. Headed north, you get to look out over all the port activity and the acres and acres of imported cars on the lots as you come down on the north side of the bridge. And in either direction, the skyscrapers of downtown, the Med Center and Uptown line up to make a very Manhattan-esque skyline. But 20 minutes to drive the whole Loop? Yikes.

dale

Tue, 22 May 2007 10:34:18 -0600

The most satisfying driving experience to me in Houston: Arriving in my driveway and garage safely. The most satisfying driving experience to us all in Houston: 1. Driving east on Memorial Drive towards Downtown. 2. Driving north on Main from TMC to Mecom Fountain

Mamacita

Tue, 22 May 2007 10:27:57 -0600

Anytime I need to sort myself out, I drive the whole Loop. It takes about 20 minutes, so sometimes I have to do it more than once. The ship channel bridge is especially nice.

Urban Houstonian

Tue, 22 May 2007 10:12:16 -0600

There are two great rides in Houston. 1. Memorial Drive from 610 towards Downtown. The way the skyline unfolds for you as you weave back and forth is just one of the best drives in Houston. 2. Main Street, near Rice University under the canopy of oak trees.

Ben

Tue, 22 May 2007 10:08:05 -0600

Driving towards downtown on South Main from University (the Med Center) to Binz (the Museum District). You have Herman Park on the right, Rice University on the left, and the Mecom Fountain waiting for you at the end. Even during rush hour, the beautiful canopy of live oak trees, covering the entire drive, always seem to make the traffic bearable.

Lisa

Tue, 22 May 2007 09:52:19 -0600

Driving down Main Street past the Wortham fountain and underneath the gorgeous trees. Out of town visitors couldn't get over all the beautiful tress in our city.

Bryan

Tue, 22 May 2007 09:32:24 -0600

I am a fan of the new "super ramps" they built on and off of 610 in the galleria area - specifically the Westheimer exit off 610 northbound that flies you over 59, and the 610 South on ramp from the feeder that also flies you over 59. Very cool.

Steelsun / ShootHouston / Brian

Tue, 22 May 2007 06:42:07 -0600

Driving on the Southloop during the Rodeo cook-off and smelling all the cooking going on. Yummmmmmm.

sss

Mon, 21 May 2007 22:47:22 -0600

Memorial/Woodway flyover on 610 coming from the north at 8-9 am rush hour. There's no traffic on the ramp, but you see all of it 2 stories below.

Kevin C

Mon, 21 May 2007 20:30:44 -0600

Heading down Allen Parkway away from downtown. Moving into the right lane right before you get to Shepherd and blowing by all of the people stuck at the light trying to get into River Oaks. Cruise up Shepherd and into the Heights.

Jane

Mon, 21 May 2007 19:27:57 -0600

A clear day, driving up 288 north from Pearland, seeing our World Class Medical Center on teh horzon, our state of the art Reliant Stadium in teh distance, and approaching our beautiful Downtown Houston skyline. All three things that make Houston great, and all in one view. Ahhhhh.

T.

Mon, 21 May 2007 18:58:21 -0600

No longer a Houston resident, but the most satisfying Houston driving experience is going from downtown to the Galleria/Uptown area via Memorial Drive, not getting pulled over cops and then having your friend call you and say "what? you're there already? i'm stuck on 59 south"