Hey, Houstonians...

[JohnT]

Someone I know is stuck on a four-hour layover at Houston Hobby. Is there anything interesting she can do for the next three hours or so, in or close to the airport, to kill time?

[ronocnikral]

kill time...or get killed. i always urge caution going/coming from hobby. i most certainly wouldn't leave by foot. downtown is probably the closest. she could come sit at my desk and i could go home....

[venchka]

LOL. Sad but true. Make the best of the Hobby Terminal. Look at the construction work going on in the terminal. A great time to have a quality small camera handy. You could create a wonderful photo essay in 3-4 hours.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

kill time...or get killed. i always urge caution going/coming from hobby. i most certainly wouldn't leave by foot. downtown is probably the closest. she could come sit at my desk and i could go home....

Ok. Thanks. I will advise her to stay put. :)

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by venchka

LOL. Sad but true. Make the best of the Hobby Terminal. Look at the construction work going on in the terminal. A great time to have a quality small camera handy. You could create a wonderful photo essay in 3-4 hours.

Great idea. I just Tweeted her back. :)

[KJ Smith]

Isn't the 1940's air terminal close by?

John, there is a thread about it, a quick search should find it.

[LEO III]

Wayne beat me to it - again!

Even with a four-hour layover, I don't think I'd want to leave the secure area. Hobby just got scanners, and from what I've read online, they've really slowed down the screening process, going from eight to four lanes. That's just anecdotal info, though. I've not seen it first hand.

I haven't flown out of Hobby since January, and I always fly out early in the morning, but even early in the morning, security took awhile. (Of course, back in January, all the tu-ers were going to some football game that they lost, so it was extra crowded. Hope they don't do that again this year! Oh, wait! They're all playing golf this year instead.)

Also, there's not any easy way to get to and from Hobby, except by cab.

The Houston Airport System is pretty tolerant of airplane spotters and photographers. We have a group here (HoustonSpotters.net), and we have developed a great relationship with HAS. If she is a photographer, particularly an aviation photographer, she might be able to get some neat photos. I've never done any inside the terminal, so I don't know the protocol. If you'd like, I'll check with the Houston Spotters honchos tomorrow, and I'll be able to report back tomorrow night.

Otherwise, she can just while away the time with a good book and a fairly good meal (there are a couple of decent restaurants there).

Yes, the 1940 ATM is close by. That's where I'd go, if I were going to leave security. It's closed on Mondays, though:

The 1940 Air Terminal Museum - 713-454-1940

Let me know if you want more info.

What day is she going to be here?

[JohnT]

Thanks, Leo. She's there right now. She likes to make pictures so I suggested staying put and making use of her iPhone. Haven't heard back from her.