Clear Lake, Texas

Article by Lisa Ferguson
Photography by George Hosek

Clear Lake is an extraordinary place to live or visit. A city within a city that has much to offer. Friendly people, sunny weather, beautiful sunsets and cool, clear water. So get ready to set sail and have the time of your life!

The recreational activities at Clear Lake are endless, sailing, boating, jet skis,  water skiing, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, photography, just to name a few.

Not to mention, the shopping at the countless antique and souvenir shops and dining at the delicious seafood restaurants and luxurious hotels or just relaxing under the nearest shade tree.

Boating enthusiasts can choose from 19 marinas and over 7,000 boat slips in the Clear Lake area, the third largest concentration of pleasure boats in the United States.

 

Kemah Boardwalk

Children and adults a like will love the 36-foot Carousel, 65-foot Ferris Wheel, CP Huntington train, Pharaoh’s Fury, rock climbing wall and the high speed boat thrill ride, Joe’s Boardwalk Beast!
 

Plus! You don’t want to miss the newest rides The Kemah Boardwalk Tower (right photo), Inverter, Aviator, Balloon Wheel, Red Baron, Boardwalk Bouncer and Crazy Submarine.
 
 
Situated on West shoreline of Galveston Bay sits the greater Clear Lake area, a community of 10 small cities plus the south end of Houston, with a  population over 400,000.
 

"Our region now extends well beyond the shores of Clear Lake", says Jim Reinhartsen, president & CEO of the Clear Lake Economic Development Foundation. " We decided to change the name to Bay Area Houston, which gives a clearer image of our territory".
 

 Once dependant  on NASA and the Johnson Space Center for much of it's economic growth & development, the Clear Lake area ( now part of Houston )  has a much broader and diverse group of business.

A recent report by Angelou Economics indicates that aerospace, technology and specialty chemicals have been the strongest contributors to Bay Area Houston's economy.

However, tourism, recreational boating and biotechnology are broadening the region's economic base.

Due to this expanding base, a healthy Real Estate market continues unabated, apartments, condominiums, town homes, resale and new luxury homes are in demand and show no signs of slowing, although interest rates and other factors could change this.

Bay Area Houston has evolved into a diverse, vibrant component of the greater Houston metropolitan area. 

Recreational boating accounts for about 10 percent of all gross sales in the Bay Area - more than $200 million annually. 

 
Bay Area Park located in the heart of Clear lake, offers many recreational activities, kayaking, fishing, birding are just a few of the things to do at the park.

Baseball and softball fields dominate the interior of the park, two boardwalks meander into the marsh area, picnic tables with bar-be-que pits are located throughout.

 Clear Lake Park offers many activities including a children's playground, softball field, picnic tables, fishing piers and more. The Bay Area Museum is located in Bay Area Park.
 
 
The Houston Space Center is one of Clear Lake's most popular tourist destinations, kids love the amusement park  like atmosphere while adults enjoy the educational aspect, there really is something for everyone.

Exhibits, attractions, special presentations and hands-on activities, make the Houston Space Center a premier educational experience.

The $70 million, 180,000-square-foot, Disney-designed facility is  something to behold, a truly spectacular complex, filled with incredible rides, exhibits and attractions.

 Voted Houston's #1 Attraction for two straight years!

Space Center Houston
 

Restaurants

Aquarium Restaurant Kemah
Babins Seafood House
Cadillac Bar
Cellar Bar
Clear Lake Dining
Crab House Seafood
Crawdaddy's Bayou Grill
Circus Club
Duke's Original Roadhouse
Joe's Crab Shack
Kemah Waterfront Restaurants
Landry's Seafood
La Familia Mexican Restaurant


Logan Farms Honey Hams
Mogul Indian Restaurant
 Molly's Pub
Outpost Tavern
Red River Bar-B-QUE
Saltgrass Steak House
 Scout Bar
Sherlock's Pub
Sicilian Grille
Tommy's Patio Cafe
T-Bone Tom's
Texas Roadhouse
Third Base Sports Bar

Transportation

Metro Bus - Bay Area Park & Ride
Bay Area Transportation Partnership
CareAvan Transportation
Clear Lake Express
Houston Airport System
Ellington Field
Hobby Airport

Bay Area Houston
 Clear Lake Directory
 South Shore Harbour
The Boater's Directory

Kemah Visitor Center, 603 Bradford, 281-334-3181
Kemah Shopping

All About Interiors, 501 9th Street, 281-478-5725
Aquarium Gift Shop, Kemah Waterfront, 281-334-9011
Archipelago, 503 Bradford, Suite A, 832-620-7464
Aroma Garden Creations, 507 Bradford, 281-538-2800
Ber-Dan's, 503 Bradford, Suite A, 281-535-0190
Blayne's, Kemah Waterfront, 281-334-9938
Boardwalk Fun Shirts, Kemah Waterfront, 281-334-9938
Boardwalk Spa, 605 6th Street, 281-538-SPA3
Boardwalk Supply, Kemah Waterfront, 281-334-6732
Byrd's Snow Ball Etc, 407 Bradford, 281-867-1783
Caribbean Blues, 609 Bradford, 281-538-3422
Christmas at Kemah, Kemah Waterfront, 281-334-3677
D'Vine Wine, 609 Bradford, 281-334-8300
Eagles Nest Gallery, 511 Bradford, 281-538-1606
Eg-quisite Christmas Cottage, 510 Bradford, 281-535-8777
Fire & Ice on the Boardwalk, 281-538-5613
Flo's Treasure, 503 Bradford, Suite A, 713-834-2589
The Gold Mine, 281-538-8600
The Hula Hut, 505 Bradford, 281-334-4466
Images Everywhere, 281-538-8600
Kemah Candles & Soaps, 601 6th Street, 281-538-5561
Kemah Coach Sportswear, 600 9th Street, 281-334-6191
Kemah Kandy, 281-538-4077
Kemah Outfitters, 281-538-6629
Kemah Psychic Boutique, 601 5th Street, 281-535-0627
Kemah Souvenirs, 281-334-9988
The Last Iguana, 609 Bradford, 281-535-2552
Magnetude, 713-858-7892
Perfect Presence, 505 Bradford, 281-LET-GOD2
Richard's Fine Cigars, 281-538-0075
Saltgrass General Store, 281-538-5514
The Scrapbook Junkie, 609 Bradford, # 103, 281-538-6569
The Silver Touch, 281-538-5928
Spa Warehouse, 401 Bradford, 281-538-5690
Sylvia's Cozy Corner, 601 Kipp, 281-538-1048
Kemah Country Store, 281-334-4600
Thomas Kinkade Gallery, 281-334-4808
Toy Crossing, 281-334-9938
Tradewinds, 603 6th Street, 281-538-9727
Tropical Express, 403 Bradford, 281-334-1871
Violets are Blue, 281-535-2224
 

 Refreshments & Bars

Boardwalk Fudge, 605 6th Street, 281-538-4165
Kemah Coffee House, 281-334-5351
Marble Slab Creamery, 281-334-6226
The Monkey Bar, 605 6th Street, 281-334-7800
Palapa's, 606 6th Street, 281-334-3746
Starbucks, 301 Kipp, 281-538-0100
Zone 504 Sports Bar, 504 Kipp, 281-538-8123

Dining

Aquarium Restaurant, 281-334-9010
Babin's, 201 Kipp Street, 281-334-0192
The Burger House, 600 6th Street
Cadillac Bar & Grill, 281-334-9049
Claudio's, 700 Kipp, 281-334-7744
The Flying Dutchman, 281-334-7575
Ichibon's Japanese Restaurant, 406 Texas, 281-538-0788
Joe's Crab Shack, 281-334-3360
Kemah Crab House, 281-334-3360
Landry's Seafood Restaurant, 281-334-2513
Molly's Pub, 400 Texas Avenue, 281-334-2777
The Pizza Oven, 281-334-2228
Saltgrass Steakhouse, 215 Kipp, 281-538-5441
T-Bone Tom's, 705 Hwy 146, 281-334-2133

Accommodations

Awhite Texas Pelican, 408-A Bay Avenue, 281-538-3900
Boardwalk Inn, 281-334-9880
Brass Lantern B&B Suites, 603 6th Street, 281-334-4466
Captain's Quarters Inn, 701 Bay Avenue, 281-334-4141
Clipper House Inn, 710 Bradford, 281-334-2517
Courtesy Inn, 909 Kipp, 281-538-9648
Days Inn, 1411 Hwy 146, 281-538-0077
Edgewater Inn, 1447 Bayshore, 1-800-423-6288
Heron House Coastal Cottage, 603 6th Str, 281-334-4466
John Kipp House, 707 7th Street, 281-334-3636
Kemah Bay Breeze, 1325 Kipp, 1-888-425-0152
Kemah Escape, 617 9th Street, 832-594-1132
Kemah Gardens, 1019 Lewis Drive, 281-334-0501
Little Seagull, 707 Bradford, 281-334-5746
Passport Inn & Suites, 601 Texas Avenue, 281-334-4855
Seaside Inn, 503 Bay Avenue, 281-334-3636

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