<p>As someone who lives in the Northeast, I was very impressed when we traveled to Rice for the first time. The campus is about 3 miles from the downtown area, but Houston is a very spread out, sprawling city! The weather during the school year is great! S has been golfing a lot (his passion). It’s been in the 70’s. The people seem great - it’s as cosmopolitan as NYC, has all sorts of cultural attractions, seems fairly liberal (or somewhat left of center), as opposed to the rest of Texas. People are friendly. I’m from the Northeast, and the “Southern hospitality” was noticeable! RE: transportation - it’s a very sprawling city, with much less public transporation than we’re used to in the northeast. There is a light rail that runs back and forth between the Reliant Center (former astrodome area) and downtown, and Rice students can ride for free. </p>
<p>In terms of the immediate campus, it’s surrounded by the Texas Medical Center, a large park with its own zoo and golf course, a museum district, and a residential area that looks very upscale suburban, complete with a nice outdoor shopping area (Rice Village). </p>
<p>What did strike me as odd in Houston is the zoning (or lack thereof?). You’ll see a mansion on a corner near a gas station, with an apartment building nearby. </p>
<p>I always love to visit!</p>