Uptown is in Houston, though nobody in Houston has used that term since about 1970 - it's generally referred to as "The Galleria", or to motorists at I-610 and U.S. 59 as the highway to avoid.

See

• Williams Tower, 2800 Post Oak. The 3rd largest skyscraper in Houston and largest in the world outside of a downtown or central business district. A short walk from the Galleria, also check out the ever-romantic Water Wall. 

Do

• St. Arnolds Brewery, 2000 Lyons Ave.. Weekdays: 3PM, Saturday: 11AM. Houstonians looking for a fun Saturday afternoon head to Saint Arnolds at 11AM when they do their weekly brewery tour and open up the taps for the thirsty locals. Great local vibe! Weekday tours are offered at 3PM. $7.00 per person (includes tasting glass). 

• Memorial Park. Located just inside the I-610 Loop along Memorial Drive, this expansive slice of urban greenspace has some wonderful trails and paved paths, good for jogging, rollerblading, and bicycling. There's an arboretum, a nature center, picnic areas, and sports fields. This is one of Houston's nicest parks. 

Buy

• The Galleria, Westheimer at Post Oak. Huge shopping mall filled with high end retail stores and restaurants, several hotels and even includes an indoor year-round ice skating rink used by Tara Lipinski. Free parking (if you find the right lots). 

• Marq*E. Outdoor shopping mall with many attractions including a giant movie theater. 

Eat

• America's Restaurant, 1800 Post Oak Blvd. The menu draws from the foods and cooking techniques of North, Central and South America, to make one New World Cuisine; as you pass under its Mayan-inspired door, you quickly realize that nothing about this place is ordinary. 

• Cafe Annie, 1728 Post Oak Blvd, ☏ +1 713-840-1111. Insanely expensive prices, but very good American cuisine. Reservations required. 

• Mystery Cafe, 2400 West Loop South (Sheraton, IH-610 at Westheimer), ☏ +1 713-944-2583. "Where MURDER is always on the menu!" $52.95/person. 

• Ragin' Cajun, 4302 Richmond Ave., ☏ +1 713-623-6321. This is the world's best cajun kitchen that hasn't been destroyed by a hurricane. Gumbo, jambalaya, and crawdads are served up in a funky, downhome casual restaurant where the zydeco music never stops. 

Drink

• The Tasting Room, 1101 Uptown Park Blvd, ☏ +1 713 993-9800. With more seating then any other bar in Houston, the Tasting Room is a unique experience and is an ideal spot for a great night out. Choose from over 200 wines priced from the reasonable $15 per bottle to the indulgent $1,000 per bottle. 

• Wild West, 6101 Richmond Ave, ☏ +1 713 266-3455. 

Sleep

Mid-range

• Courtyard - Galleria, 3131 West Loop S. 

• Fairfield Inn - Galleria, 3131 West Loop S. 

• Houston Marriott Westchase, 2900 Briarpark Dr. 

• Houston Marriott West Loop by The Galleria, 1750 West Loop South. 

• Hyatt Summerfield Suites, 3440 Sage Rd. Pet-friendly, all-suite hotel. 

Splurge

• Granduca Houston, 1080 Uptown Park Blvd, toll-free: +1-888-472-6382. Luxury hotel offering the ambiance of an Italian palace along with the upscale touches of a five-star hotel. 

• Hotel Derek, 2525 W. Loop South, ☏ +1 713 961-3000. 

• The Houstonian, 111 North Post Oak Ln, ☏ +1 713 680-2626. Located on a wooded 18-acre site, the hotel includes a fitness club and full-service spa. 

• Omni Houston Hotel, 4 Riverway, ☏ +1 713 871-8181.