The beautiful piney forests of The Woodlands is an enchanting location to spend a long weekend and will make you forget you are right next door to the 4th largest city in the country. There is so much to see and do both indoors and out that you’ll want to extend your stay or at least plan another visit.

The Woodlands Resort is a fantastic destination with everything you need for a great stay. The Woodlands Resort was named one of the Top 75 Golf Resorts in America by Golf Digest and whether or not you are a golfer, you can’t help but admire the beautiful tree lined golf courses. The resort also boasts a fantastic water area with slides, a lazy river and multiple pools. There is also a poolside restaurant so you don’t even have to dry off  for a great meal. There are three additional restaurants on the property; The Woodlands Dining Room offers breakfast and lunch buffets, The Bistro has casual dining with a bar-like atmosphere, and Robard’s Steakhouse offers a more high-end dining experience with top-of-the-line steak and seafood options. During my visit, I ate at The Bistro and enjoyed the tasty Blues Burger with baked potato fries. The atmosphere was quiet, laid back and the food was delicious – I highly recommend trying it out with the whole family.

The Woodlands Resort has so many great amenities you might not want to leave, but if you do venture out, there is a whole city to explore. Start out with the Waterway District area which has free trolley transportation to all of its great destinations – you can hop on and off as many times as you’d like. Waterway Square is a perfect place for the kids to splash around in fountains. Make sure to check out the concert schedule so you can catch some live music while you are there.  My kids loved the hidden Koi Pond, but Town Green Park was their favorite area. The park has a large open green space, perfect of playing ball or having a picnic. There is also a labyrinth with life-size Aesop fables books to read. If you’d rather travel on the water, you can also take a 1.4 mile long cruise on the Waterway Cruiser to take in all the sites.

Both the Waterway District and the neighboring Market Street area have many great shops to browse in and restaurants ; you will definitely find something to eat for everyone in your family.  We loved the food and New York atmosphere at Grimaldi’s Pizza and of course the Nestle Toll House Café is always a favorite dessert location.

The Woodlands isn’t all about shopping and dining, you can get back to nature there, as well. The area lives up to its name, surrounded by beautiful Texas Piney forests and the George Mitchell Nature Preserve is in the middle of it all with miles of both hiking and biking trails. The trails are marked and will be easy to navigate for even the littlest hikers in your group.  Renting a kayak or paddle board is another great way to experience nature in The Woodlands. Riva Row Boathouse offers both kayak (tandem and single) and standup paddle board rentals.  My whole family had a blast in the kayaks. You can spend more than an hour traversing the whole lake or take a quick ride in as little as 20 minutes.

There are so many great things to say about The Woodlands – it has all the amenities of a big city but with a small town atmosphere. It is the perfect place to spend a long weekend with the family and you’ll want to go back.