Top 5 Reasons Healthcare Travelers Choose Houston

Houston skyline at night

If you’re a travel nurse or healthcare traveler, then you know that Houston, fourth largest city in the Unites States, is one of the best cities for travel nurse assignments. There are many travel nurses love Houston, from its vibrant culture and booming economy, to the world-famous Texas Medical Center. Not to mention all the amazing recreational activities and shopping options!

Here are the top 5 reasons to choose Houston for your next travel assignment:

1 – Texas Medical Center

Medical workers
Houston’s Texas Medical Center attracts healthcare professionals from around the world.

Houston is home to the world-renowned Texas Medical Center (TMC), an unparalleled healthcare destination for travel nurses around the world.

Texas Medical Center by the numbers:

  • #1 medical complex in the world
  • 10 million+ patient visits per year
  • 120k+ jobs
  • 9k+ beds
  • 100+ research institutes, academic centers and supporting facilities
  • 21 hospitals, including MD Anderson, Texas Children’s Hospital, DeBakey, Memorial Hermann, Methodist Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hermann, and Texas Women’s
  • 6 nursing schools
  • 3 medical schools (University of Texas, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas A&M College of Medicine)
  • 2 dental schools

With world-class health care and top-notch medical research taking place every day, travel nurses have a greater chance of landing the exact assignment they’re looking for with ease.

2 – Shopping in Houston

Rice Village

Houston is a great destination for shopping, offering both a wide variety of stores and plenty of entertainment options. The city offers something for everyone, including high-end shopping malls, smaller boutiques, art galleries and specialty shops. The Galleria Mall is the most famous shopping destination in Houston, but newer indoor-outdoor experiences hold sway with locals.

Houston’s Shopping by the Numbers:

  • 2.1 million sf of shopping at the Galleria Mall, with 375 stores and an ice rink
  • 1.3 million sf of shopping at the Woodlands Mall, with an outdoor waterway and waterfront dining
  • 700k sf of shopping at Houston Premium Outlets
  • 600k sf of shopping at City Centre in a mixed-use setting with bougie restaurants and outdoor spaces
  • 460k sf of shopping and restaurants at Rice Village, including independent boutiques and mall staples

Shopping in the historic Heights neighborhood is harder to quantify, but always popular choice for travel nurses looking for quaint boutiques and local shops.

The bottom line? If you’re looking for the perfect pair of jeans, a cute new dress, or the latest trend in home décor, Houston has all your shopping needs covered. Whether you’re looking to splurge or just browse – and sometimes both – there are no shortage of stores to explore while living as a healthcare traveler in Houston.

3 – Houston Parks and Recreation

park in Houston

Outdoor activities abound in the city’s parks and trails, such as biking, hiking, kayaking and more. From biking the Buffalo Bayou to kayaking the San Jacinto River or strolling along the trails and gardens in the Houston Arboretum, travel nurses can find plenty of outdoor activities and attractions to keep them entertained during their stay.

Houston’s Green Space by the Numbers:

  • 500+ parks and green spaces
  • 40k+ acres of parks
  • 20+ lakes and reservoirs, as well as along miles of rivers and bayous.
  • 12 acres of park, playground and gardens at Discovery Green
  • 10+ miles of kayaking on Buffalo Bayou

As one of the greenest cities in the country, Houston provides ample opportunity for travel nurses looking for a break from work or some fresh air.

4 – Year-Round Events and Celebrations

Houston is one of the most vibrant cities in the US and offers travel nurses plenty of ways to experience the city’s culture and entertainment. From jazz festivals, cultural art events, and outdoor concerts, this diverse city has something to offer everyone.

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Travel nurses who are looking for a true Texan experience should definitely attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This 3-week event honors Houston’s western heritage with rodeos, livestock shows, concerts, barbecues, carnival rides, and shopping. Along with the Houston International Festival celebrating different cultures from around the world, travel nurses can explore their curiosity about new places and people. (See our post about the top 10 things to do at Rodeo.)

Bayou City Art Festival

Travel nurses looking to explore Houston’s diverse cultural scene often join the locals at the Bayou City Art Festival in the spring and fall. Boasting works from over 300 juried artists and exhibitors, the Bayou City Art Festival showcases traditional media such as painting, photography, and sculpture alongside more modern mediums such as street art and digital media.

Houston’s Events by the Numbers:

Houston’s Events

Every year, roughly 4 million people in Houston celebrate nearly 1,500 events and festivals each year, including:

  • 470 major citywide and community events
  • 400 concerts and performing arts events
  • 220 sports and outdoor recreation events
  • 210 food and wine celebrations
  • 125 multi-cultural events, including several Lunar New Year festivals and the Polish Festival

Houston is a city that loves to celebrate. With an event happening nearly every day, it’s no wonder healthcare travelers flock to the Bayou City for some fun! And with so many different types of events, there’s sure to be one that will interest you – whether you’re into food and wine or sports and outdoor recreation.

5 – Global Cuisines in Houston

As if great healthcare opportunities and a rich cultural experience weren’t enough, travelers who visit Houston can also take advantage of its amazing culinary scene. Houston is a travel destination that’s full of delicious eats. It boasts an array of restaurants and cuisines to choose from, ranging from the classic Texas barbecue to Indian, Mexican, and even French food. With so many cultural influences, you’ll never be bored when it comes to trying out new dishes.

Houston’s Restaurants by the Numbers:

  • 8k+ restaurants in Houston
  • 1200+ restaurants serving East Asian or Southeast Asian food
  • 1k+ Mexican restaurants
  • 270+ seafood restaurants
  • 200+ barbecue joints
  • 66% of Houstonians say that they eat out at least once a week
  • 60% of all restaurants in Houston are independent

These stats make Houston the perfect travel destination for a travel nurse or healthcare traveler looking to expand their taste buds. With so many diverse restaurants, you’ll never get bored of trying something new and exciting every day. Plus, since the Texas Medical Center is right in Houston, you can easily find food that caters to your dietary needs.

Exploring Houston

Houston METRORail at Ensemble Station
Houston’s light rail system is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to access TMC.

If you’re a travel nurse or healthcare traveler looking for your next travel nurse assignment, Houston has something to offer everyone. With its vibrant culture, diverse attractions, and state-of-the-art medical facilities, travel nurses can enjoy all that the city has to offer while still making a difference in the healthcare field. Whether you’re looking for adventure or just a place to settle down for a few months, Houston is perfect for your next travel assignment.

To find fully-furnished apartments in the Texas Medical Center for travel nurses and other healthcare travelers, check out our Healthcare Traveler Guide to Extended Stay Housing in Houston and our post on using the METRORail to get around Houston and TMC without a car.

Learn about why travel nurses book flexible housing and the safety features travel nurses should look for in their next TMC furnished apartments. To make things easier, Lodgeur offers monthly payment options for stays over 30 nights.

Our Houston City Guide is a great resource for the best food, drink and attractions near Houston’s TMC.

Learn more about exploring Houston:

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