Fine, maybe it’s the schools and the home prices that draw eight out of ten Newstonians to choose life outside the Beltway. But that’s far from all the areas surrounding the city have to offer.

In recent years, the suburbs have become destinations in their own right, drawing even the staunchest inner loopers away from their usual haunts to explore our region’s other centers of activity, each with its own opportunities for recreation, culture, shopping, dining and family fun. As for those of you who haven’t been to Katy, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, Sugar Land or Pearland lately—trust us, they’re worth the trip.