The Woodlands Resort Blog

The Best City For Young Families in Texas

2013-05-21T19:43:48+00:00

You guessed it – The Woodlands was just named the best city for young families in Texas. With cost of living, public schools and economic growth the main factors for consideration, The Woodlands came out tops. According to the number crunchers at NerdWallet.com, The Woodlands ranks highest for its 69% population increase from 2000 to 2010, its exemplary public schools and its median home value. “The Woodlands is the first master-planned community in the United States. On the outskirts of Houston, this burgeoning city’s population increased by 69% between 2000 and 2010. The city houses several corporate campuses, including Chevron Phillips and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. Most public schools in The Woodlands are rated exemplary by the state of Texas, and both The Woodlands High School and The Woodlands College Park High School were on Newsweek’s 2012 list of the best high schools in the United States. Public schools in The Woodlands received a Greatschools rating of 9/10. While the median home value is pricey for Texas, the property is very likely to appreciate—the population grew by 22.6% between 2010 and 2011.” We can’t help but think…if The Woodlands is so perfect for families to live, imagine how much fun it is to visit! We hope to see you soon!

Celebrate Mom

2013-05-20T19:04:31+00:00

It’s time to celebrate Mom and let her know how much her love means to you. So give her a break from the kitchen and take her out to celebrate in decadent style. Overlooking Lake Harrison on The Oaks golf course, families will enjoy the natural beauty of The Woodlands while listening to live music, sipping champagne and experiencing the elaborate offerings of the resort’s culinary team. Featured selections include made-to-order omelets, Belgian waffles and a pancake bar; seasonal antipasto bar and fresh marinated salads; sushi and a fresh cold seafood display; hand-carved meats, seafood and poultry entrees with spring vegetables; sautee station; flambéed dessert and an elaborately extensive dessert presentation of pies, tortes, mousse and miniature pastries created by the resort’s award-winning chefs. Adults are $52, children 6-12 years old are $22, children 2-5 years are $15 and children under two years are free. Mom is sure to be delighted! What else are you doing for your Mom this Mother’s Day?

Resort-inspired Summer Crafts For Kids

2013-05-15T15:47:02+00:00

The end of school is just around the corner and that means summer fun is about to commence. Crafting is always a fun activity for those long summer days, and we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites that play off the resort’s natural setting. Nature Mobile Give all those treasures you find on your nature hikes a proper showcase with a nature mobile that can be planted or carried around. You’ll just need a large branch, your favorite nature finds, yarn and tape or glue. Just anchor the large branch and hang your leaves, small rocks, pinecones, acorns and other fun finds from the branches. Rock Necklace Create nature-inspired jewelry for girls or boys with a colorful or brown leather strap. Just wrap a small stone in wire and attach it to enough leather to fit around your neck and voila! A rock necklace! Spoonful.com recommends kids using them as friendship necklaces where best friends will write their names on the back of the stone pendant and trade them with their bestie. Towel Cover-ups Turn your poolside towel into a stylish cover up! While this craft requires some sewing skill, you can have fun picking out a colorful towel and the embellishments and buttons to match to create a one-of-a-kind look for the pool this summer. Click here for more detail on this craft that is great for girls and their friends. For 40 cool summer crafts for kids visit Spoonful.com for more ideas for kids of all ages! What is your favorite summertime craft?

Happening This Weekend: Family Adventure Day

2013-04-30T23:29:20+00:00

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, the community is invited to reconnect with nature and experience outdoor adventure at the free Family Adventure Day at the new Creekside YMCA! Grab the kids and explore the world of nature, take a hike, sharpen your archery skills, take a ride on the 30-foot giant swing or challenge yourself on the 55-foot Alpine Tower. Younger kids can also enjoy nature crafts. Family adventure Day begins at 9:30 a.m. and goes until 3p.m. Pack a lunch and enjoy experiencing new things with your family in a teepee or tree house. Registration is not required. The new Creekside YMCA Outdoor Adventure Center is located at 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, 77389 and can be reached by phone at 832.698.1283. Read here for more information!

Spring Veggie Recipe

2013-04-18T14:43:16+00:00

As each new season rolls around so do a whole new crop of in-season vegetables. Here’s a fun recipe the whole family can enjoy including artichokes, a springtime favorite. Pizza is always a family favorite for dinner, so why not incorporate some good-for-you veggies on top, which might delight even your pickiest eaters. This Spinach and Artichoke Pizza from RealSimple.com is an easy, made-from-scratch recipe that your children might even enjoy helping you prepare. Here’s what you will need: 1 pound pizza dough at room temperature Cornmeal to sprinkle on the pizza sheets 2 cups marinated artichoke hearts, drained and quartered 2 cups baby spinach (approx 2 ounces) 8 ounces mozzarella, grated (1 cup) ½ 8oz bar of cream cheese, cut up ½ cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces) Kosher salt and black pepper Directions: Heat oven to 475 degrees. Shape the dough into 4 rounds and place on 2 cornmeal-dusted baking sheets Dividing evenly, top the rounds with artichoke hearts, spinach, mozzarella, cream cheese and Parmesan; season with ¼ tsp each of salt and pepper. Bake until crust is golden brown, 18-20 minutes. Can you name other vegetables in season right now? Perhaps you need a cheat sheet?!

What To Do In The Woodlands: Dosey Doe Big Barn

2013-04-16T14:44:11+00:00

Looking for great live music off the beaten path? Texas two step right over to Dosey Doe’s The Big Barn featuring nationally recognized artists from contemporary to country and jazz to bluegrass. Located at 25911 North Freeway, The Big Barn venue is set within a 165-year-old structure, which was originally built as a tobacco barn and is well-known for not only its beautiful room but for the stellar acoustics. The Big Barn takes its down-home feel a step farther with award-winning Executive Chef Dan McEachern overseeing the preparation of his cooked-from-scratch menu items. All entrees are seasonal and special entrees are designed to theme with the evening’s entertainment. Interested in a fun night out at Dosey Doe? Check out the full list of entertainers stopping by in April and May at this Texas treasure of a destination. Think Shawn Mullins, Collin Raye, Scooter Brown Band, Lisa Loeb and throwback band, Air Supply. Fun times to be had! Share your Dosey Doe memories with us!

We Couldn’t Have Said It Better!

2013-04-12T14:23:43+00:00

We love seeing what you have to say about us, so when we came across Ata-Girl’s blog, her take on a recent resort experience made us really smile. Like many of our guests, she was surprised at how the resort is so accessible from downtown Houston, yet it feels completely secluded. Even though she was visiting with three children in tow and her sister, she couldn’t help but notice what a picturesque setting the resort would be for a wedding. And we agree! See what expert photographer Ata-Girl had to say here. What do you look for in a wedding venue?

Look Who’s Talking…About Houston?

2013-04-11T20:13:45+00:00

This week has unleashed a trifecta of unbelievable national press about Houston…key word being unbelievable. Food and travel writers visiting the greater Houston area for the first time in decades are finding pretty cool things to say about our city – it’s walkable, it’s got incredible restaurants and it’s better than Austin. For real. Check out the good news! 10 Terribly Overrated Destinations (And Where To Travel Instead) – Travel writer David Landsel filed a story for Huffington Post Travel claiming that some bucket-list destinations really aren’t all they are cracked up to be. For instance, San Francisco. Lansdel suggests instead of hitting SF directly, instead focus on the Bay Area at large. Not a bad idea. And instead of Buenos Aires, try Rio de Janeiro. Instead of Berlin, try Prague. Then he got to the number one overrated city on his list – Austin. And where does he suggest instead? HOUSTON! Making Houston A Destination, Restaurant Review: Oxheart and Underbelly – Famed New York Times food critic Pete Wells recently visited Houston to review two restaurants helmed by recently nominated James Beard chefs, Justin Yu and Chris Shepherd. While positive comments about the city’s food are believable, the fact that the typically snarky Wells had nearly NO negative comments about his experience while in Houston is pretty unbelieveable. Houston Dubbed the No. 1 Most Walkable City: No, Really – Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising headline of the week – that Houston is THE most walkable large city in Texas, as reported by CultureMap from a study by Walkscore.com. The study was based upon the amount of amenities available within a quarter mile of any given address. Houston ranked No. 23 overall in the United States. That sounds a little more believable. What’s the most surprising thing you find about the city of Houston?

Feed Your Inner Foodie in The Woodlands

2013-04-08T17:36:07+00:00

While The Woodlands is a hot spot for acclaimed national chain restaurants, the town also is host to many one-of-a-kind restaurants that can not be found anywhere else. Expand your dining horizons and delight in these exceptional, local restaurants. Jasper’s – This popular Texas restaurant makes its Houston-area home in The Woodlands offering a casual design with a modern outdoors theme. The menu focuses on the best of America’s regional cuisine, including rotisserie chicken, fish, steak, salads and pizza. What more could you want? Tommy Bahamas – The only location in Texas, this restaurant (and store) epitomizes sophisticated coastal living just as the designers clothes do. The casually elegant restaurant offers seasonal seafood and wonderful American favorites. Time to sit down, relax and enjoy the day away. Schilleci’s New Orleans Kitchen – Authentic Cajun cooking can be found in The Woodlands at Schilleci’s. With a focus on traditional Creole and Cajun cuisine, the restaurant hosts live music each Wednesday night this month for guest to enjoy. Uni Sushi – Not your typical sushi restaurant, Uni Sushi gives its diners an unparalleled experience in taste and ambiance with its sophisticated Japanese/European fusion cuisine. With many non-sushi entrees to try, there’s always something cooking at Uni Sushi Luca & Leonardo – There’s always a reason to treat yourself to fine Italian dining, and Luca & Leonardo’s delivers. The restaurant’s chefs are inspired by authentic traditional Italian recipes such as seafood, steak, veal, risotto, pasta and pizza dishes. Foodies will find beautiful plate presentations and a generous wine list. What’s been your favorite food find in The Woodlands?

April Brings Big Concerts To Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

2013-04-07T22:14:36+00:00

If this delightful spring weather makes you want to spend as much time as possible outdoors, try checking out one of the great concerts coming later this month to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Kicking off on April 18, the Houston Symphony will introduce Symphony of Dinosaurs, an Earth-shaking adventure that will bring you back to pre-historic times. Guests explore the Mesozoic Era when dinosaurs roamed the Earth with accompanying music from such notable films as “Jurassic Park” and “The Lost World.” This classical performance is tailored for children and families, and is presented free on the lawn by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. For the alternative music crowd, Buzzfeset 30 will go live on April 20 with a roundup of alt-artists including Shinedown, Bush, Papa Roach, Stone Sour, Sick Puppies, Hollywood Undead and more. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. And for top-40 music lovers who are into the folk rock genre, the red hot Lumineers will take the stage on April 24. Best known for their radio hit Ho Hey, the Lumineers’ tickets are available starting at $25 for lawn seating up to $49.50 for the general admission pit. The summer concert schedule has shaped up to be quite spectacular – who are you most looking forward to see in the next few months? For a complete list of concert dates at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, click here.