If You Go: The Atlanta Falcons Fans' Guide to Houston

ATLANTA, GA -- Football fans from Georgia will soon be flocking to Houston to witness the Atlanta Falcons whip, er, play the New England Patriots.

Houston and Atlanta are very similar cities, with H Town referencing itself as "the largest city in the South," and ATL proudly wearing the moniker "largest city in the Southeast."

If you plan on making the journey to Super Bowl LI, there are a few things you should know before signing the dotted line per se. Where to stay? Where to eat? What to do? Consider this your "If you go" guide to Houston:

Best route to take if you're driving: The 11-hour, 21-minute journey from Atlanta to Houston offers beautiful scenery straight out of the Southern classics for those who love the road. The route suggested by Google takes you on Interstate 85 South to I-65 then into Alabama, where you'll get on Interstate 10 West. After a brief passage through Mississippi, on Interstate 10 you'll pass right through Baton Rouge (you'll have the option to bypass New Orleans by getting on Interstate 12, then hopping back on I-10) before the homestretch into Houston. That route is 793 miles, according to Google.

If you're flying: If you arrive Friday, Feb. 3 and left on Monday, Feb. 6, the cheapest flight on a major airline is in the $500 to $700 range, as of Jan. 25. More flights may become available in the next week or so or a sale may emerge and we'll update, but as of now this is how it's looking for nonstop flights surrounding Super Bowl weekend:

United -- 2h 15 m -- from $549

Southwest -- 2h 20 m -- from $705

Delta -- 2h 15 m -- from $556

American -- 2h 15 m from $559

Where to eat in H Town: It has been said that Houstonians eat out more than any other city, and it's no wonder why: There are a glut of great places to chow in the city and surrounding areas. One Atlanta favorite, Pappadeaux, has been mesmorizing patrons in Houston years before the Pappas brothers-founded eatery entered the Georgia market. The company's Pappas Bros. Steakhouse has been voted the top steakhouse in Houston -- and that's saying something, if you consider the many brisket- and mesquite-lovers in the Lone Star State.

If you want high-end Italian, there's none greater than Tony's. If you want more traditional fare, Pax Americana is great food plus the coolness. For more great Houston eats, see Houston's Patch.

Where to stay: Houston's hotels are filling up fast, but there are plenty of rooms left in the nation's fourth-largest city. Some of the staples downtown include the Crown Plaza Suites, the Doubletree by the Galleria, and the Omni Hotel.

Fun facts about Houston:

Population: Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States (behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago), with a population of just more than 2.2 million. For perspective, Atlanta ranks No. 39, with just more than 447,000. If you count the metro area though, Atlanta and its surroundings make up major ground, coming in at 5.7 million, to rank No. 9 nationally. Meanwhile, metro Houston is No. 5 with 6.6 million.

Attractions: Houston has many places to visit with your family and friends, if you're in town for the weekend. One of its most venerable institutions is the Space Center Houston, a must-see. Also of note is the Houston Museum District, a cultural showpiece for the city. Since you'll be in town for the game, you might want to check out some of the events catering to Super Bowl fans, including Super Bowl Live, a free 10-day festival. Oh, and Bruno Mars.

Where the teams will play: The 71,700-capacity stadium hosting the Super Bowl is NRG Stadium, formerly Reliant Stadium. The NFL's first venue with a retractable roof, Reliant opened its doors in August 2002 for a Houston Texans preseason game. The stadium has undergone many upgrades since then. The football field was manufactured by TurfNation, a Dalton, Georgia, company.

The Atlanta Falcons play the New England Patriots on Feb. 5 in Houston's NRG Stadium.

Image via Pixabay