Houston's 10 Best Spots to Go Two-Stepping

If you didn't make it out to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and feel like kickin' up your heels to two-step the night away, Houston has plenty of hot spots for a little dosey-do dancing. So if you're daydreaming of twin fiddles and a steel guitar, pull up your boots and grab a dancing partner! There's plenty of country swing in Houston at these local spots where the folks love to boot-scootin' boogie.

Note: List is in alphabetical order.

BIG TEXAS DANCE HALL & SALOON With locations on either end of the Greater Houston area, Big Texas has a lot to offer. Both sites prove that everything really is bigger in Texas, with giant circuit dance floors and an equally impressive number of dancers lining them. The crowd is a variety of ages, shapes and sizes, but they all go on Wednesday nights for cheap drinks and dance lessons. Whether in Webster or Spring, you're sure to have sore feet the next day from all the boot-scoots and Southwest swings.

803 NASA Road 1, Webster/19959 Holzwarth Road, Spring, bigtexassaloon.com

FIREHOUSE SALOON As a true Texas country dance hall that offers live music, the Firehouse invites up-and-comers to perform for a truly Texan crowd, so throw on a pair of boots and flannel shirt. Grab a shot of whiskey and when you're done, find a partner and two-step across the club's giant wooden dance floor around the elevated stage. It could always use a few more scuffs.

5930 Southwest Freeway, firehousesaloon.com

GOODE'S ARMADILLO PALACE When you pull up to a place with a giant armadillo out front, you know you're in for a wild night. If you're looking for dinner and dancing, Goode's Armadillo Palace is the place for you. Saddle up on a barstool for a burger or dabble on the dance floor, but either way you'll have a helluva good time.

5015 Kirby, goodecompany.com

MO'S PLACE If you're headed to Mo's Place, get there early to find a spot because this is one of the most happening hangouts in Katy. Mo's is an old country bar that sticks to tradition -- the bar does allow smoking and won't allow you to take a drink on the dance floor, but that doesn't stop anyone from drunkenly dancing the night away. Mo's always has live music on the weekends, top-drawing regional (plus some nationals, too) and incredibly talented cover bands, and mixes country music with modern hits to get everyone on the dance floor.

21940 Kingsland Boulevard, Katy, mosplacekaty.com

NEON BOOTS DANCE HALL & SALOON As a dance hall that embraces diversity, Neon Boots waves its rainbow flag proudly. The best part about this place is that everyone comes for one thing -- to dance. The atmosphere is laid-back and the waitstaff incredibly helpful. Also, Neon Boots is not just great for dancing; the venue also has bingo and steak nights on the regular.

11410 Hempstead Road, neonbootsclub.com

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REBELS HONKY TONK Rebels seems misplaced in the midst of the Washington Avenue nightlife, but it's one of the few country bars inside the Loop and one where you are guaranteed to have a good time. Because it's in the Washington area, don't expect it to be all belt buckles and boots; instead, Rebels' mix of college crowd and true honky-tonkers makes for a mixed-age crowd full of men and women who can throw back drinks and get down on the dance floor. Speaking of that floor, it may be smaller than many of the other venues here, but it is always full of rowdy twentysomethings ready to shake their honky-tonk badonkadonks.

5002 Washington, facebook.com/rebelshonkytonkhouston

SSQQ DANCE STUDIO For Texas transplants or the native men and women who just want to perfect their two-step, SSQQ is an affordable dance studio that teaches Houstonians how to swing Southwestern style. From salsa to two-step, SSQQ offers a range of classes that you can take with or without a partner. The instructors are great and after a few lessons (if you do repeat parallel lessons, they are free!), you'll be ready to boot-scoot with the best of the best.

1431 West 20th, ssqqdance.com

WHISKEY RIVER Hold onto your bootstraps and hop on a mechanical bull at Whiskey River, which boasts a big ol' dance floor that is always full of pros and regulars who can whirl and twirl with the best of them. Fast and friendly bartenders keep the brewskis flowing when you need a cold one to catch your breath, but for all you Crown connoisseurs, Thursday is your night to throw a few back for $2 a pop.

7637 FM 1960, whiskeyriverhouston.com

WILD WEST When a dance hall's motto is "Two' Steppin' and Longneckin,'" you know you're in the right place. Wild West has been in the Houston area more than 30 years and sure knows how to show Houstonians a helluva good time. True Texans and transplants alike are often caught slinging one another around on the dance floor every Sunday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., when Wild West offers free dance lessons and a complimentary fajita dinner.

6101 Richmond, facebook.com/wildwesthouston

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