PHOTO: (TOP) BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP / KATYA HORNER; (BOTTOM) LEFT: LINDSEY PETERS; RIGHT: BAYOU CITY OUTDOORS
HEARTBEAT OF HOUSTON
The Cooler Side of Houston While winters in many other cities have residents EVEN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, pulling out their parkas, shoveling themselves out of H O U STO N I A N S LOV E TO V E N T U R E their homes and defrosting their windshields each OUTDOORS morning, Houstonians welcome the cooler temperaBy Lindsey Peters
W
ould you believe me if I told you that the average temperature in Houston is 69.5 degrees Fahrenheit? “The City With No Limits” truly lives up to its name in some of the coldest calendar months of the year, because you will find Houstonians doing things that residents of a lot of other cities couldn’t even dream of doing in the dead of winter.
tures with bike rides and leisurely floats along our scenic bayou. January typically ranks as Houston’s coldest month, with an average temperature in the low 50s, making it a fairly warm place to hang your hat during the wintertime. Now, most people wouldn’t think floating along the bayou in December was a very bright idea, but in Houston, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll find yourself in jeans and a T-shirt at some point in December, so when I got the chance to tour my hometown in this unique way, I jumped on it. In 2011, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP), a local organization that
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PHOTO: (TOP) BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP / KATYA HORNER; (BOTTOM) LEFT: LINDSEY PETERS; RIGHT: BAYOU CITY OUTDOORS
focuses on revitalizing and transforming the 10-mile stretch of Buffalo Bayou from Shepherd Drive to the Port of Houston Turning Basin, began a series of Buffalo Bayou Foodie Floats to draw in the ever-growing foodie population. The Foodie Floats offer a smallgroup, twilight setting for Houstonians and visitors alike to enjoy the tastings of local chefs and food vendors while seeing the city from a different perspective. I had the good fortune of getting to experience a Foodie Float hosted by Cuchara Restaurant, which has some of the most authentic-tasting ceviche I have ever tasted. One of the things that I loved most about my float was the history lesson. (That, and the delicious margarita served on board!) BBP did such an excellent job of pointing out details about the bayou, the city, and their history that even a native Houstonian and chamber of commerce stat hound like me
69.5˚F Average Temperature In Houston learned new things about the city. I highly recommend grabbing a spot on one of BBP’s Foodie Floats or any other bayou tour event in 2015 if getting outdoors and learning more about our city is on your bucket list. Because, after all, 60 degrees in December—with a margarita in hand—wasn’t too bad. If you are more of a land dweller but still like to
Foodie Float prepares to launch for a twighlight sail on Buffalo Bayou
Biking along Buffalo Bayou trails enjoy Houston’s great weather, then add to your calendar one of the hundreds of events hosted by Bayou City Outdoors (BCO). BCO is the largest outdoor activities and social club in Texas. It hosts 80 to 100 events each month and the best part is that no matter what outdoor activity you prefer (biking, hiking, kayaking, etc.), there is something for you. Memberships start as low as $24.40 a month for an individual and $30.50 for a family, but a handful of the events each month are open to the public and free of charge. The next adventure on my to-do list is one of BCO’s Farmers Market Bike Rides, which typically take place once a month. These rides have been fan favorites for about 10 years and have had more than 165 riders at a time. Even better is that they are free to the public; I love that it puts a new spin on the foodie scene! According to BCO’s website, rides are usually 12 to 15 miles long and last about three hours. The secret to a successful trip is to bring a backpack to hold all of the fresh produce, sauces, jams and bread you will want to buy at each stop. The moral of the story is if you’re lucky enough to live in Houston, take advantage of the enjoyable yearround temperatures and bike, hike, kayak and climb your way outside!
A stop on the Bayou City Outdoors Farmer's Market Ride OPPORTUNITY HOUSTON | 37
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