TOUR Wife Travels: Perfect week for a trip to Houston

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Hello and welcome to TOUR Wife Travels! My name is Erin and I am the wife of PGA TOUR player Jimmy Walker. My husband and I make it a point of exploring every city we visit, whether it's our first visit or our 10th, and finding new places to eat, shop, stay and explore has become our hobby. And now, TOUR Wife Travels would like to share those spots with you. If you ever find yourself in one of our "TOUR Stop Cities," I want to give you the insider information on all the places the pros, their wives and kids enjoy while they are in town.

Walker

I graduated from the University of Colorado in 2003 with a B.A. in Journalism and I am very excited that I am finally able to put my education to some use while traveling with my husband.

Jimmy and I met in 2004 in my home state of Utah, where he was playing a Nationwide Tour stop and I was a tournament volunteer. I am an avid sports fan and thought that volunteering would be a great way to see the pros in action. I had absolutely no intention of meeting, dating, then marrying a golfer but six years later it obviously was meant to be.

I don't travel on TOUR every week, as I am also a competitive horseback rider that takes me around the country, but I promise to give you as many fun and useful tips as I can when I am on the road. Visit my site tourwifetravels.com and follow me on Twitter @tourwifetravels for all up to date tidbits from me and other golf families.

After a few frustrating weeks for Jimmy in Florida, we are really happy to be back in the Lone Star State. I admit, after growing up in Utah and going to college in Colorado I never thought I would call Texas home. But after six years here I have really grown to love this State, its people, and I too have a sense of pride when I see the Texas flag. (I assure you my mother is having a heart attack as she reads this. Don't worry mom, Utah will always be home!)

You couldn't engineer a more perfect stop for the Walker family than Houston. There are not many weeks out of our hectic year where the stars align, and both our passions take place in the same city at the same time, but this week is one of them. And with Jimmy's long-time sponsors, Insperity, calling Houston home, it makes this week even more special.

With Houston being the fourth largest city in America, to say it's easy to get lost here is an understatement. Two main freeways circle Houston like big racetracks -- the Sam Houston Tollway and the 610 Loop. Between the 610 Loop and Downtown are some of Houston's most exclusive and historic neighborhoods and prime real-estate for shops and restaurants. I am going to focus on a few special spots that are "inside the loop" to make this big city feel a bit smaller.

EAT

LA. Chicago. New York. These cities will gasp in horror when I say Houston can beat them all, or at the very least, go toe-to-toe when it comes to spectacular cuisine.

First off is Ibizia, located between midtown and downtown. (2450 Louisiana St #200 Houston, TX 713- 524-0004) The goal of owners Grant Copper and Chef Charles Clark was to create a sleek and sexy setting where the patrons, chefs and servers could all interact and enjoy an amazing dining experience. The open kitchen, contemporary décor and the 4,000 bottles of wine ensconced on the wall do just that. The first time I was fortunate enough to eat at Ibiza was when I was an intern at Compaq during college. I remember the food being amazing but, let's face it, I was a starving college student so at the time Cup-o-Noodles was amazing. But ten years later, Ibiza is still in the same location and Cooper and Clark are still creating Mediterranean cuisine truly worth remembering.

Considered by many to be the Holy Grail of Houston dining, the fact that Mark's American Cuisine is located in a renovated 1920's church is appropriate. Winner of numerous culinary awards, including the #1 rating since 2001 by Zagat's Houston Restaurant Survey, the list of Chef Mark Cox and his restaurants achievements are endless. Houston resident and TOUR player Chris Stroud and his wife Tiffany are big fans of the restaurant, and they will be the first to tell you that Mark's lives up to the hype. The recommended menu of the chef's personal choices changes daily and use the freshest seasonal ingredients. On your next trip to Houston, be sure to make a reservation at Mark's for a meal you will not forget.

SHOP

Located at the Westheimer and Drexel streets just off 610, be sure to check out Highland Village. For more than 50 years, Highland Village has been a Houston shopping tradition. Today the center is a mix of carefully selected national retailers and unique boutiques. Be sure to check out Tootsies, an upscale boutique that carries shoes, denim and contemporary and classic collections from American and European designers. Valobra, a spectacular southern jewelry and antique store located in Highland Village, is a big sponsor of this week's Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. (More on that to come!)

Highland Village is perfect for late afternoon shopping paired with an evening dinner in one of Houston's unique districts.

STAY & GOLF

The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa is situated on 18 acres of wooded bliss in the heart of Houston and sits just outside the 610 loop. The 289 guest rooms are elegant and offer floor-to-ceiling wooded views that offer guests the chance to relax and have all the city stress melt away.

Whether you choose to de-stress via the spa or the workout route, The Houstonian has two amazing facilities for guests. The 125,000-square foot workout facility has been voted as one of the nation's top-10 fitness centers, and guests have access to three resort-style swimming pools, a rock climbing wall, a boxing ring, tennis courts, 30 certified personal trainers and group exercise classes.

At Trellis, the spa at The Houstonian, guests will be treated to one of the most beautiful and functional spas in the country. With 17,000 square feet of space and over 100 wonderful treatments, Trellis is definitely worth a visit while staying at The Houstonian.

Also, while a staying at the hotel, guests have access to Redstone Golf Club's Tournament Course, where the Shell Houston Open is played. Although it is a bit of a drive from the hotel, the Tournament course at Redstone, which was designed by Rees Jones and David Toms, is well worth it. At over 7,400 yards from the tips, the course is one of the longer ones on TOUR and is always in meticulous shape, especially in the spring when the TOUR heads to town.

ETC.

This week is a special week for me because not only is Jimmy playing golf in our home state, but I am also riding in the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. The show is one of the oldest and most prestigious charity horse shows in the country and a social and fundraising event that is unique to Houston. The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show benefits the Texas Children's Hospital, one of the country's leading pediatric hospitals and a hospital in the top three in the nation for cardiac care, as well as the Ronald McDonald House.

After our son was born last year, he was quite sick and spent 10 days in the NICU. While we were there, we became friends with some very special people named the Johnsons. The Johnsons' son, Field, was born with some heart problems and has undergone a few surgeries to correct those issues. His latest was done at Texas Children's Hospital and Field's mom, Lisa, raved about how wonderful the doctors and the staff are. The Ronald McDonald House really helped them feel welcome while staying in Houston.

So, not only do I get to participate in something I love, but it also benefits a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. And, by the way, little Field is doing amazing and our boys will be friends for life.

I hope I have helped make this large city feel a bit smaller. Head out to Redstone to support the golfers and be sure visit the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy to watch some of the best equestrian athletes from around the country. The $15,000 Hunter Derby takes place at 7:30 PM on Friday evening and the $35,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix starts at 7:45 PM on Saturday.

Cheers!