Bay Area Houston is made up of a group of coastal cities and towns, bordering or near Galveston Bay.  Bay Area Houston communities include the Clear Lake Area and all of Galveston County.  

Boating and water sports

As anyone might guess, boating is extremely popular in Bay Area Houston.  Boating is a way of life for many area residents, and some even call their boats home.  The area is serviced by marinas and yacht clubs along Clear Lake, catering to boating enthusiasts and tourists alike.  A short channel from Clear Lake takes boaters past the Kemah Boardwalk out to Galveston Bay.

Kemah is adjacent to Seabrook, Texas, and is well known as a tourist destination due to the Kemah Boardwalk, but also has a marina that can accommodate large or small boats with deepwater berths.

Natural areas

Area nature enthusiasts enjoy a number of natural areas preserved for wild life or maintained by local municipalities and county services for hiking, biking, picnicking, or just hanging out by the bay and enjoying nature.   

An area favorite is Armand Bayou Nature Center.  The nature center was the target for a planned housing development in 1970, prompting the county flood control commission to make plans to utilize the area as a storm sewer. Fortunately a group of highly-driven environmental enthusiasts saved this vital natural area by putting up a fight their opponents couldn't win.  The center was named for Armand Yramategui, who was the head of the Texas Conservation Council and lead the battle to preserve the important marsh lands along Galveston Bay.  Tragically, "Armand" was murdered only two days before he was to appear before the county commission to make his case against development of the area now known as Armand Bayou (after having a flat tire, he was shot to death by a group of teens along the highway).  A local "housewife" (Hana Ginzbarg) appeared in his place and is now credited for the ultimate victory and saving a vital wildlife sanctuary and Galveston Bay estuary. 

Consumer services and entertainment

The area has a number of hospitals and other medical care facilities that not only provide excellent care for area residents, but are also one of the area's major employers.  With medical facilities like Clear Lake Regional and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), there's really no need to travel outside the area for most of your needs.  Retail and big box stores are located near communities, and there are excellent child care and private schools to choose from.  There's an amazing selection of fine and casual dining restaurants to satisfy every taste.  Fresh Gulf seafood is of course very popular here, and diners come from miles away to enjoy seafood at area restaurants.

On Galveston Island, residents and tourists enjoy the Moody Gardens, the Galveston Strand, beaches, water parks, and of course more restaurants serving fresh Gulf seafood right off the boat!  If you enjoy theater, museums, zoos, ballet, the area is only a short distance from downtown Houston and the Houston Museum District. 

Economy, employment, and affordable housing

Communities like League City and Webster (and other Bay Area cities) are attracting new businesses and adding jobs at a rate that surprises many area residents, helping to keep our unemployment rate at a minimum (below the national average.)  NASA/Johnson Space Center and space industry contractors are currently working on the Commercial Crew Transportation System which is scheduled to resume U.S.-based flights to space in 2017.  Boeing has been awarded the contract and which is the first contract awarded by NASA for commercial human space flight.

Other area employers include the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) which has specialty care facilities throughout the area.  Residents in the area are employed at the many refineries and marine and petroleum-related businesses along upper bay Galveston Bay, the Ship Channel, and the Port of Houston.  The Kemah Boardwalk is one of the area's largest employers.  (Learn more at Largest Galveston and Bay Area Employers.)

As for affordable housing, home buyers from out of state are sometimes surprised at how much home they can purchase here as compared to states on the east and  west coasts.  As an example, I performed the following search for League City homes:

Homes priced between $300,000 and $350,000 in League City 

The League City search located 53 listings (as of 1/21/16 the link provided above will search current listings) in this price range with square footage from approximately 2200 to nearly 4000, 3 to 6 bedrooms, and up to 4 baths.  Some of these homes are new construction.  Other areas within Bay Area Houston MLS offer similar homes at affordable prices.  The active market is helping drive small business growth and start-ups.

Highly rated school districts

Clear Creek ISD is a highly rated and desirable district for families that want to send their children to great schools.  The district opened the first of it's kind campus in League City in 2010, the Education Village.  The campus combines high school, middle school, and elementary schools all in one location, creating convenience for families with children of all ages.

Friendswood ISD is consistently graded at the top or very near the top of the Greater Houston area school districts.   

Other Bay Area Houston school districts include Dickinson, Texas City, Pasadena, Galveston, and La Marque.

For higher education, the University of Houston has a campus located in Clear Lake and the San Jacinto College system has campuses in the Clear Lake Area and Pasadena.  Texas city is home to the College of the Mainland.

Bay Area Houston is a great place to call home.  There's never a shortage of things to do; it's very easy to have a "staycation" here and save the expense of travel and hotel by enjoying the amusement parks, water slides, museums, Space Center Houston, Moody Gardens, swimming, boating, and just about anything water related you can think of.  And I have to mention the fresh Gulf seafood one last time!

As a native Houstonian, I've lived in the Bay Area for almost 20 years and I have no plans of living anyplace else.