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Every city has its own unique personality and things to do that you just can't do anywhere else - or it just wouldn't be the same somewhere else - and Houston, Texas is certainly no exception. From museums to parks to nightlife, Houston has something for everybody. Here are just a few things to do in and around Houston in the great state of Texas.

George Ranch Historical Park

This 23,000-acre working ranch allows you to see what life was like in the Richmond, Texas area in the 1800's and early 1900's. Costumed presenters teach history in a hands-on way. Visitors can help harvest crops, grind corn and see livestock at the Jones Stock Farm. Historic meals are offered at the Ryon Prairie Home on Wednesday evenings (for adults only) and Saturday at lunchtime (for everyone). The Historical Park is part of the Fort Bend County Museum Association.

Kemah Boardwalk

On the Trinity Bay southeast of Houston sits the wildly popular Kemah Boardwalk. Fun opportunities include boating, shopping, dining, amusement park rides, midway games and arcades, sting ray reef and more. This is a great place to spend a day with friends or family. Many of the venues offer group activities like field trip and parties. Check out their events schedule for things like laser shows, concerts and charity runs.

Toyota Center

For concerts, circus performances, wrestling, hockey games and more, the Toyota Center is the place to go. This facility that covers six city blocks is the home of the Houston Aeros and Houston Rockets. You can see upcoming events and buy tickets online at their website. Park in the Toyota Tundra Garage at 1515 Jackson Street in Houston.

Sam Houston Race Park

There's nothing quite like a day with the ponies. Races take place on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturdays. Their website has a page on wagering and you can view the stats on the horses. Make a whole day of it, including a meal at the Winner's Circle restaurant. Other events, including concerts are available. Check the schedule online. The Sam Houston Race Park is located just 15 minutes from downtown.

Bayou Bend

Visit the historic home and garden of Miss Ima Hogg (yes, you read that right!). This home built in the 1920's includes furniture and other objects collected by Miss Hogg. The Bayou Bend collection is one of the nation's foremost collections of decorative arts dating from 1620 through 1870. Today the home and grounds serve as a museum of colonial American life. Tours are offered for visitors of all ages. Educational and summer camp program teach kids about history. Bayou Bend is located just west of the downtown Houston area.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

Just five miles away from downtown Houston lies a 155-acre paradise. The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center has 5 miles of hiking trails, which are open from 7 am to dusk seven days a week. The Interpretive Center, including a Discovery room with hands-on activities and exhibits, is open 10 am to 4 pm most days. A variety of science, art and yoga classes are offered for children and adults, including a summer camp program. This is a great place to visit for a date or a family outing. Admission is free, but they do accept donations.

Whether you're a local or just visiting Texas for the first time, there are plenty of things to do. If you're looking for an activity for the whole family or a special date, Houston will not disappoint.

Written by Hannah Valez

Southwest Houston Infiniti
Bay Area Toyota Dealer

Scottish rugby: Fever pitch

IF TIMING is everything in comedy it's also proving pretty important in the field of sporting endeavour and Richie Vernon has yet to master it. The Glasgow player exploded on to the international scene during the autumn Tests with some superb displays off the bench, but the big breakaway looks set to miss the Six Nations, or at least the start of it, after blood tests last

Wednesday proved he had contracted glandular fever.

This can sideline a player for anything from three weeks to a year and obviously Vernon is hoping that his dose is at the bottom end of that scale. As a one-time medical student, the Glasgow man knows that glandular fever causes the spleen to expand and, if he returns to action too early, there is a danger it will burst.

It's a huge loss for Scotland and a blow to coach Andy Robinson, although at least he has less of a selection headache when it comes to picking his No.8, which may be a blessing of sorts.

Brian Moore once claimed that Robinson was a poor selector and Jake White has stated that 85 per cent of his job with the Boks was picking the right team. You have to hope one of them is wrong.

The thinking is that Robinson must he better off in Scotland where there are far fewer players to pick from and therefore fewer potential pitfalls. One of England's main strengths is also one of their weaknesses – the sheer number of quality players available to the coach can be a bit bewildering. How many times do the men in white actually field their strongest XV? Not when Ayoola Erinle shows up in the midfield, that's for sure.

Martin Johnson announced his Six Nations squad last week and Robinson will follow suit on Wednesday with what is expected to be a 32-strong group of players or, put another way, two players for each position with three scrum-halves and hookers.

In the outside backs it's more a matter of who to leave out than who to include. Robinson likes muscular players who can win the contacts so the Lamont brothers will be there because of that bias and the Evans brothers will get the nod despite it. Simon Danielli continues to impress for Ulster, Chris Paterson marches towards his 100th cap and Hugo Southwell proved his versatility yesterday afternoon. These are all old heads. If there is to be a surprise it could take the form of Edinburgh's uncapped utility back Jim Thompson, who has impressed in his recent outings.

In the absence of Euan Murray, the front row almost picks itself. The only real question is whether Gloucester's Ally Dickinson gets the nod ahead of Edinburgh's Kyle Traynor to fight Allan Jacobsen for the loosehead spot. In the second row, youngster Richie Gray is a live possibility to make his Scotland debut off the bench.

The third row is intriguing, with Jonnie Beattie the favourite to fill the No.8 shirt if only because he is the last man standing. Simon Taylor is injured and, in any event, made himself unavailable for the autumn Tests. It's not clear whether he wants to participate in the Six Nations should his injured bicep allow but that is academic right now.

Ally Hogg underwent surgery on his hip in recent weeks and Beattie's flatmate Vernon will be unbeatable at Call of Duty by the time is out of his sick bed. Until Dave Callam can depose the world's shortest No.8 in the form of pocket rocket Roddy Grant he can't hope to supplant Beattie in the Scotland No.8 shirt.

With Jason White breaking a leg, the No.6 place is a straight fight between Alasdair Strokosch and the much-improved Kelly Brown. The Melrose man looked out of sorts at times last season, perhaps unhappy at being shuffled about the back row, but he was arguably the best forward on the pitch in the twin derby matches against Edinburgh and he is right back in the running.

In similar fashion, John Barclay may not have things all his own way. The Glasgow man is ahead in the rankings right now but he must feel the hot breath of Ross Rennie on his shoulder. The Edinburgh flanker has watched more rugby than he has played over the past two years but has shown enough in two comeback games to suggest that he might make an appearance at the back end of this Six Nations tournament.

Much will depend on the medics. If they insist that his gammy knee needs more time then Robinson will surely grant that wish. Rennie has waited for two long years for a return to Test match rugby – his one and only cap came against Ireland in 2008 – he can wait a little longer if needs be.

As usual much of Robinson's focus will be on the Scottish midfield, where his main concern is the same as it ever was, picking the right playmaker. Phil Godman is a sure thing and Robinson will probably want back-up in the form of another specialist, either Dan Parks or his young understudy Ruaridh Jackson, who had a rare start against the Dragons on Friday night.

While Parks bossed the 1872 derby matches against Edinburgh, he remains a one-dimensional player in attack and a liability in defence. Glasgow hide him at full-back when the opposition has the ball, but at international level he would be found out. A barrage of high balls would rain down on Parks at full-back and the Aussie is not the most committed when it comes to retrieving them.

The All Blacks (against France) and Australia (against Wales) proved that it is perfectly possible to play 15-man, running rugby and score tries under the present laws. If Scotland want to develop their game and, especially, their attacking play, they need a fly-half who creates opportunities for his outside backs by playing flat and keeping the defence honest. At his best, Jackson does just that.

When he comes to picking the midfield to face France, Robinson has a tricky task. He must choose between three fly-halves (Parks, Godman, Jackson), three inside centres (Morrison, De Luca and Grove) and four outside centres (De Luca, Grove, Cairns and Evans). If my maths is right (Grove and De Luca obviously can't play in both positions at the same time) that amounts to a total of 32 different midfield combinations for the national coach to ponder. He may have fewer selection decisions to make than he did as England boss, but Robinson still has some serious head scratching to do before 7 February.

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Help, my snake won't eat!?

My husband and I have a year old hypo hogg island boa who doesn't seem interested at all in the male mouse we bought for him to eat this week. We have always gotten females in the past, and I was wondering if the scent of the male is too strong or something. He didn't get food last weekend, because he was blue phase, but shed on Friday.

The sex of your mouse / rat won't make a difference. If your snake isn't eating it's because of 1 of 2 reasons. Either he / she isn't hungry or she's stressed out. He / She may not be hungry for MANY reasons i.e. - Is it a new animal and had time to get acclimated? Is he/she in shed or the beginnings of? Is the prey live or frozen? Does the animal have any kind of infection? What are the temps. in the enclosure (hot spot, cold spot & ambient temps). and keep in mind the time of year. Some snakes eat better during "warmer" temps like we experience in summer. Bottom line, there is no RIGHT answer as to why your snake is not eating; as there are MANY different variables (mentioned above) which could account for the lack of appetite. In addition to the questions I asked you, do a little research on Hogg Isle. Boas and you'll find some interesting info. to say the least. I would also ask when was the last time you took your animal to a GOOD herp. vet. Not just a regular vet, but one that has specialization in herps, too. A good check-up sure couldn't hurt. Good luck!

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