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Houston is a diverse city with residents who both enjoy the bustling life of central Houston and the more leisurely pace of the suburbs. Surrounding Harris County is full of unincorporated towns and planned communities where people choose to live. One of these areas is Clear Lake, a region located in southeast Harris County and within the borders of the Bay Area of Greater Houston.

The Clear Lake area began as a home for employees at Johnson Space Center. Decades later, it has grown and expanded, becoming a home to a diverse population looking to enjoy life outside of the city while remaining within a short drive of Houston. The Clear Lake area is composed of nine cities all within close distance of one another. If you’re looking for somewhere around the Houston suburbs to move to, here are five reasons you might want to consider Clear Lake. 

Shoreline Views

One of the big draws for people moving into the area is Clear Lake itself, which connects to Galveston Bay on the east and splits into various creeks further inland. Clear Lake Park provides easy access to Clear Lake. Guests can not only enjoy the shores but launch onto the waters through the park’s boat ramp. There are also numerous marinas, harbors, and boat centers located all around the shores of the lake. 

Residents who head further east will find themselves on the shores of Galveston Bay. A short drive to the south leads to Galveston Island, where guests can hit the beaches. Residents who would rather stay closer to home can head to the Kemah Board Walk, which is packed with carnival rides, games, restaurants, shops, and live music. There are countless ways to enjoy the surrounding lake and ocean shores when living in the area.

Green Spaces

Anyone living in Clear Lake also has access to the numerous parks that fill the area. Clear Lake Park is only one of these destinations. Further inland, Sylvan Rodriguez Park offers guests plenty of places to jog, picnic, and even play lacrosse. On the south end of the Clear Lake area, residents will find the Nassau Bay Peninsula Wildlife Park. This rugged areas consists of 76 acres of wetland. Guests can walk the nature trail and read about the surrounding animal and plant life on the numerous information signs. However, the largest natural area in the area is Armand Bayou Nature Center. Located north of Clear Lake, this area is full of forests, wetlands, prairies, and plenty of wildlife. 

Dining

One of the perks of living so close to the coast is the abundant amount of fresh seafood that’s available. From the Kemah Bay Boardwalk to the south shores of Clear Lake, there are plenty of places to grab some of the freshest seafood in the area. Of course, this is still Texas, so there are plenty of steakhouses in the area as well. The kinds of restaurants are diverse though, with some of the best including T-Bone Tom’s and Topwater Grill.

Culture

The Clear Lake area is home to historically and culturally significant destinations. At Space Center Houston, visitors can see how spaceflight was born. Exhibits include various space artifacts, spacecraft, and shuttle replicas. The Clear Lake Art Gallery is part of the local branch of the University of Houston and features the work of many local artists. The gallery also features regular performances from local performing artists. Residents can also travel to the League City Historic District, which is filled with shopping and dining among unique buildings that date back to the Victorian era.

Communities

As mentioned before, there are nine cities encompassed in the Clear Lake area. In addition, there are multiple master-planned communities throughout the region. While no individual city is very large, together they form a network with plenty to offer residents. Anyone living in the area has the option of living in one of the notable planned communities, such as Magnolia Creek in League City, The Reserve at Clear Lake City, and Edgewater in Webster. With so many homes available and communities to choose from, there’s a place for everyone to live in the Clear Lake area.