aquabanas are back!

Texas' largest crystal lagoon dives into Memorial Day weekend with floating cabanas and more

Set sail on the crystal lagoon.

Photo courtesy of Lagoonfest Texas

Dallasites ready to dive into Memorial Day weekend with a refreshing road trip can aim their cars toward Houston, for Texas’ largest Crystal Lagoons amenity. Lagoonfest Texas returns for its third year with crystal-blue water, white beaches, and the favorite aquabanas — the floating cabanas.

Lagoonfest Texas’ comeback launches Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29 and runs through Labor Day at 13900 Crystal View Blvd. in the Houston suburb of Texas City.

Visitors can expect cabanas on the beach and on the water, the largest inflatable obstacle course in the nation located on a crystal lagoon; and ride bumper boats, kayaks, sailboats, stand-up paddleboards, and aqua trikes.

More weekend fun features a catapult swing; the five-story Titan Slide; water jousting; and a game lawn with corn hole, spike ball, volleyball, a giant Jenga, Spider Pong, and Banzai Ball, per a press release.

Ticket options include day pass for $22 and introductory Lagoon Passes, which offer unlimited admission through the end of October for $69. A $99 Xtreme Pass guarantees unlimited admission through the end of October, an unlimited aquaplay activity pass, and discounts on food, beverages, and rentals.

The aquaplay activity pass includes access to the largest inflatable obstacle course on a lagoon, slides, and watercraft such as bumper boats.

“This is your entertainment-packed resort vacation that you can enjoy again and again — without the hassle of airline travel,” said Uri Man, CEO of The Lagoon Development Company, the festival’s parent company, in a statement. “Our white-sand beaches and turquoise waters rival any that you might find at a tropical oasis. Add in all the things to do, and you have an ultimate beach vacation right here. Why go to ugly brown beaches when you can enjoy crystal clear water?”

The 12-acre lagoon, opened in 2020, is the signature feature of a 100-acre mixed-use entertainment district being built at the entrance to the Lago Mar master-planned community. The destination saw more than 8,000 visitors last year.

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Lagoonfest Texas’s grand opening runs Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29. Hours are 10 am to 8 pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets start at $22; children aged 2 and under free. For tickets and more information, visit www.lagoonfesttexas.com.

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go rural

This tiny Texas town is one of Airbnb's top 'off-the-map' destinations

Matador, Texas, Airbnb, best rural destinations

Photo courtesy of Airbnb

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More Texas travelers are shying away from tourist traps for their vacations and instead embracing the calming roadside with increasing interest in rural areas of the state, according to Airbnb, and one tiny Texas city in the Panhandle is generating buzz atop a brand-new list of under-the-radar rural destinations in America.

The vacation rental marketplace's inaugural "Off-the-Map" list features 20 rural destinations across the country where short-term rentals are bringing in "new opportunities for local tourism."

"From coastal fishing villages to Cajun bayou towns and alpine mountain escapes, America Off-the-Map invites travelers to discover something new and helps support local economies and communities across the country," the report said.

Matador, a small town about 80 miles northeast of Lubbock and 290 miles from Dallas, was named the No. 1 hidden gem vacation destination in Texas. The report described Matador as a part of Texas that tourists "haven’t found" yet, which is what makes it all the more rewarding as an undiscovered treasure.

"Welcome to the seat of Motley County – where the wind is constant, the skies are enormous, and the history is deeper than the caprock beneath your boots," the report said.

Visitors can explore the Motley County Historical Museum, which explores the building's history as the Traweek Hospital that was originally built nearly a century ago. The museum also sheds light on Native American history, the life of ranchers, and other historical facts about the town and county.

Local restaurants like Chelle's Garden or TC's Ponderosa in nearby Dickens are good spots for travelers to eat like a local, while the Coffee Mill and Mercantile in Quitaque is the place to be for breakfast, lunch, and a cup of joe.

Matador is also less than an hour away from the newly expanded Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, a popular Texas state park known for its roaming bison herd and bat colony.

According to Airbnb's website, there are over 130 short-term rentals in Matador and the surrounding Motley County area, with some homes available for $172 for an overnight stay in April 2026.

travel airbnb panhandle vacations

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go rural

This tiny Texas town is one of Airbnb's top 'off-the-map' destinations