Houston
From swampland settlement beginnings, an air-conditioned, petroleum-soaked energy drives this Texas metropolis to reach for the stars. A lack of land-zoning laws facilitates a diversity of shops and business alongside each other, as fascinating as its famous icons, from Beyoncé to billionaire Howard Hughes. Its ambitions also sparked a multi-ethnic influx, giving Houston a unique heritage, combining everything from Creole to Cajun. Eyes fixed upwards; Space City continues to soar.