Buffalo Bayou, Houstons most storied body of water. In 1836, the Allen brothers speculated that, yup, there might be potential for building a city on the muddy banks of the bayou. You can see what they saw albeit with a bit different scenery while gliding along the waters on the Looking Back: History Boat Tour. Your guide for this two-hour jaunt is Louis Aulbach, historian and author of Texas river travel guides. Aulbach is also a debunker of the myth that the bayou was named by a homesick New Yorker. Aulbach says that it was actually named either for buffalo fish (which were once plentiful) or for the bison that roamed the area. You probably wont see either during todays float-along, but you will see the citys birthplace, a waters-edge view of Houstons skyline and lots of lush greenery on the bayous banks. 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 3 p.m. Allens Landing, 1001 Commerce. For information, call 713-752-0314 or visit www.buffalobayou.org/boattours.html. $50.
Sat., Jan. 3, 10 a.m.-noon. & 1 p.m., 2009
This article appears in Jan 1-7, 2009.
