Business is booming in Houston, the Lone Star State’s wealthiest and most populous city. While oil and gas constitute the backbone of the economy, industries ranging from tech to healthcare to aerospace thrive in Houston. Seamlessly marrying Southern hospitality, cosmopolitanism and business-friendly policies, Houston lures entrepreneurs and corporations from around the globe; in fact, each day nearly 300 transplants move here. Besides the white- hot job market, Houston’s perennial warm weather, dynamic sports franchises and sensational culinary scene make it easy to understand why it’s one of America’s fastest-growing cities.

Automobiles provide the best way to get around Houston. Geographically larger than New York, Chicago and Los Angeles combined, Houston is very much a driving city. Gas remains relatively cheap in Texas, and Ubers and Lyfts offer affordable and quick transportation. If you’re staying in Downtown Houston, the METRO ($1.25 per ride) works fine for getting around, but lines are limited and do not extend far beyond the downtown core. Many neighborhoods, including Downtown and Midtown, prove highly walkable or bikeable; Houston BCycle, a bike share program, has convenient docking stations throughout the city.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston’s largest, lies about an hour from downtown by car, or slightly longer on the METRO’s 102 bus. Smaller than Bush but much closer to Downtown, William P. Hobby Airport offers great deals on flights from New York, Atlanta, Denver and other domestic hubs. One can easily reach other Texas cities from Houston, too: You can drive to Dallas and Fort Worth in about three hours, while it takes roughly two hours to get to San Antonio or Austin.

PHOTO: © DUC HOANG

Rapidly garnering recognition as a culinary hotbed, Houston was, in fact, one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite U.S. cities for dining. Yes, those quintessential Tex-Mex and barbecue dishes are sensational, but H-Town also incubates some of the nation’s finest Vietnamese, South Asian and Mexican kitchens. If you want to dazzle out-of-town clients at a flamboyant Texas chophouse, book a reservation at Georgia James, helmed by celebrity chef Chris Shepherd. Xochi, in downtown Houston’s Marriott Marquis, crafts some of the most soulful Oaxacan dishes this side of Mexico. Xochi offers gorgeous private dining rooms for lunch and dinner, but make sure to book a reservation well in advance for these. Le Colonial, an upscale French-Vietnamese restaurant near the ritzy River Oaks neighborhood, remains a Houston stalwart for delicious vegetarian (and plenty of non-vegetarian) fare.

Common Grounds Uncommon Coffee, a downtown go-to for power breakfasts, serves expertly poured lattes to keep you razor-sharp during meetings. Guard and Grace, a sleek and dressy modern American restaurant, is a mainstay for downtown business lunches. If you’re up for a splurge, Steak 48, in River Oaks District, promises luxurious meals for both lunch and dinner.

In its heart of hearts, Houston remains an exuberant Texas boomtown, and you’ll have no trouble finding post-sunset entertainment for your clients. From thumping nightclubs to sprawling patio bars and swank cocktail lounges, Houston’s nightlife runs the gamut. Midtown, adjacent to Downtown, could well have been designed with late-night revelry in mind: The neighborhood buzzes until the wee hours with food trucks, alfresco bars and nightclubs of all sizes and stripes. For a venerable Houston drinking tradition, watch the Turtle Races at Little Woodrow’s in Midtown. They’re exactly what they sound like — live turtles racing — and the enthusiasm of the crowd could shame even Super Bowl fans. Cle, in Downtown, might be H-Town’s most glamorous nightclub, a speaker-lined sanctuary dominated by stilettos, metallic credit cards and Champagne service. And if you’re in the mood for a classy nightcap, Anvil Bar and its new sister bar, Refuge, frequently land on lists of America’s best cocktail bars.

While the Port of Houston closed to cruise ships in 2016, nearby Galveston continues to see ample cruise traffic, including major lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line. Galveston, a quaint and historical seaside city, is well worth exploring. Once a busier immigration port than Ellis Island, Galveston is allegedly one of the nation’s most haunted cities. Ghost tours offer a fun way to learn about the city’s rich history. Houston is only about a 50-minute drive from the Port of Galveston, so you can easily go back and forth in a single day. Many cruisers disembark in Galveston, explore the city’s quirky boardwalk, and then spend the evening in Houston. The 247 bus line shuttles passengers between Galveston and Houston, and Ubers and taxis usually cost about $75.

Whether business, cruising or just plain curiosity brings you to town, Houston, welcoming Texas belle that she is, will surely treat you right.