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    On the Road

    How to get the most out of small-but-spectacular Shenandoah

    CultureMap Create
    Jun 4, 2025 | 11:56 am
    With its distinct Venetian-style architecture, the Portofino Shopping Center is a pretty place to browse.
    With its distinct Venetian-style architecture, the Portofino Shopping Center is a pretty place to browse.
    Photo courtesy of Visit Shenandoah

    Looking for a destination for an overnight trip, weekend getaway, or family vacation? You might want to consider Shenandoah.

    Situated in the booming North Houston area and adjacent to Conroe, Spring, and The Woodlands, Shenandoah packs a punch with more than 60 restaurants, 13 well-reviewed and affordable hotels, nine family-friendly entertainment venues, five shopping centers, and a variety of outdoor amenities such as four city parks, all in an easy-to-navigate, compact footprint of 2.2 square miles.

    Here’s your short list for how to best enjoy Shenandoah:

    Browse and shop
    If you like to shop, Shenandoah is your mini mecca, with a multitude of options. You’ll love the Portofino Shopping Center, with its distinct Venetian-style architecture and mix of nationally recognized stores, specialty boutiques, and salons.

    The Sam Moon Center is home to the eponymous Sam Moon Trading Company, which is renowned for its tremendous selection of affordable women’s handbags, jewelry, and accessories, as well as being home to a number of upscale resale shops including Once Upon A Child, Plato’s Closet, and Style Encore. Be sure to check out Space Cadets and Violet K-Pop, stores that are sure to appeal to the anime, comic book, K-pop, and plushie toy-lovers in your family.

    Adjacent to the Sam Moon Center is the city’s Metropark Square, which is quickly gaining awareness for its collection of Asian and women-owned restaurants, shops (like Daiso Japanese dollar store), and along with the Sam Moon Center, its breadth of family-friendly, indoor entertainment venues.

    Shenandoah also has a variety of locally owned specialty shops worth exploring, including Bikeland and Bike Lane, each with a vast selection of road, mountain, and ebikes.

    There's also Precision Camera & Video, one of the largest camera stores in Texas, which offers a variety of classes for the public.

    Pop into Picket Fences, located just down the road in the city’s Research Plaza Shopping Center. It’s renowned for its stylish selection of furniture, home decor, gifts, and accessories, as well as its constantly rotating seasonal merchandise.

    Dish and dine
    Foodies, take note: There are actually two, twice-nominated James Beard semifinalists in town.

    Le Cordon Blue-trained chef Ronnie Killen operates Killen’s Texas Barbecue, his nationally renowned barbecue joint known for its succulent smoked Texas meats and delicious sides. It’s sister location just received a Bib Gourmand designation in the inaugural edition of the Texas Michelin Guide.

    Fellow Beard semifinalist chef Levi Goode operates his two upscale establishments, Goode Co. Fish Camp — known for its fresh Gulf seafood and robust cocktail program — and the Tex-Mex gem Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina. Be sure to ask about their Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie, twice named best mail-order pie in the U.S. by Bloomberg News.

    New restaurants that opened in Shenandoah this past year include Adriatic Cafe, Gloria's Latin Cuisine, Kyu Ramen (featuring TBaar drinks), and Munch Munch Mochi Donut, Tea & Dessert, an Instagram-worthy mochi donut and creme puff shop that foodies won’t want to miss. Also coming to Shenandoah soon are Knead Me Bakery, KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, and Pluckers Wing Bar.

    On the fast-casual front, be sure to check out Califa’s Tacos and Beer. This family-owned restaurant features Cali-style tacos and burritos made with the freshest ingredients, and has even been voted the best tacos in The Woodlands area.

    Late-night cravings can be filled at Katz's Never Kloses deli, also recognized for having “The Best Sandwich in Houston” by the Houston Press' Readers’ Choice Awards.

    Be sure to leave some room for dessert! Ice cream lovers are sure to find a treat at The Sweet Swirl, a shop that makes both soft and hand-scooped ice cream featuring Asian-inspired flavors, floteas, and coffee drinks; and SomiSomi, a new Korean-style ice cream and taiyaki store in Metropark Square.

    See and do
    Shenandoah is now home to nine family-friendly, indoor entertainment venues, and is gaining recognition as an entertainment and gaming mecca in the greater North Houston/Woodlands area.

    In the past year, five new venues have opened in the Sam Moon Center and Metropark Square, and they include: BRKTHROUGH, Cheeky Monkeys, Color Me Mine, Escapology, and Game Show Battle Rooms. They join the city’s four other indoor entertainment venues: AMC Cineplex with IMAX, Dave & Buster's, Main Event, and Urban Air Adventure Park.

    Looking to pamper yourself? Consider booking an appointment at the Aveda Institute, one of Aveda’s largest training centers in the country. You can get a variety of hair and body treatments for less as you help support students with their education (just be sure to allow a little extra time). Master trainers work alongside students as part of their training.

    Shenandoah is home to four outdoor parks, including Vision Park, the city’s newest, which is home to Shenandoah Veterans Point at Vision Park, a lovely outdoor plaza and memorial honoring residents that have served in the armed forces. Outdoor enthusiasts can also connect with nature at the W.G. Jones State Forest, which is one of the nation’s largest working urban forests, or the George Mitchell Nature Preserve, with its miles of hike and bike trails across 1,800 acres — both are just minutes away.

    For a full list of places to see, shop, stay, and savor, head over to Visit Shenandoah.

    The Sweet Swirl
      
    Photo courtesy of Visit Shenandoah
    Ice cream lovers are sure to find a treat at The Sweet Swirl.
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    Where to travel right now

    Gulf Coast mural festival + 10 more Texas travel ideas in June

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 2, 2025 | 3:53 pm
    Mural Fest in Corpus Christi
    Photo courtesy of Visit Corpus Christi
    Mural Fest will take place during the first week of June in downtown Corpus Christi.

    Texas, it's time to make those summer vacation plans. June is shaping up to be a big month full of travel ideas, from fun wine tastings in Austin to a lively mural festival on the coast. There's also plenty to explore at home in Dallas, such as visiting the new children's museum at the Perot Museum, or taking a pasta-making class at a posh Frisco hotel. Here are our top picks for summer travel events, hotel deals, and more in June.

    Austin

    The Loren Hotel is introducing two new wine programs this summer, open to all visitors. The "Boxed or Bougie" wine tastings will be offered on the first Saturday of each month, starting June 7, where guests can taste different wines to discover if fine wine is worth the price tag. On the second and third Saturdays of each month, the hotel will host "Varietal Wine Tastings" with different themes to spotlight wine regions, flavor profiles, and winemaking styles. Since June 14 is National Rosé Day, the first varietal tasting will focus on rosés. Both programs are free to the public and events will be held from 3-5 pm in the hotel lobby.

    Nearly 30 participating Texas Hill Country Wineries will hit the highway for an Austin Road Show at the Austin Central Library. Attendees will get to meet the owners, winemakers, and managers behind some of the Hill Country's most successful vineyards while tasting new wines and dining on charcuterie. Guests will also receive a take-home event wine glass. The Austin Road Show event will be held from 5:30-8 pm on Friday, June 27. Tickets are $60 per person.

    Central Texas

    Floating down the Comal, San Marcos, or Pedernales Rivers while enjoying the scenery and the cool water is a perfect way to spend a hot afternoon this summer. People travel to the Central Texas area every year to tube, and locals love it, as well. However, it's not without dangers, rules, and guidelines that should be observed. Before setting off down the river, check out CultureMap's five essential tips for tubing this summer.

    There's a unique new spa making a splash in the small town of Gonzales: Ottine Mineral Springs is finally celebrating its grand reopening after undergoing an extensive renovation. The 40-acre historic site was previously home to two private mineral-fed pools, but now the property is dotted with five new pools of varying adjustable temperatures, outdoor dining options, saunas, cold plunges, cabanas, fire pits, and much more. Day passes are $65 on weekdays and $75 on weekends.

    Ottine Mineral Springs pool Ottine Mineral Springs' pools can be adjusted in temperature to be enjoyed year-round. Photo by David Brendan Hall

    Fredericksburg's beautiful new Albert Hotel, whichopened in January, is adding a new barbecue restaurant inspired by the area's German heritage. Junebug's BBQ will open Friday, June 6, serving barbecue classics such as brisket, pork ribs, house-made sausages, and more. Junebug's BBQ will have limited hours from June 6-9, serving food from 2 pm until it’s sold out. Starting June 12, Junebug’s will operate regular hours from Thursdays through Sundays, from 11 am until sold out.

    TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines' signature restaurant Magnolia Table in Waco has introduced a new summer menu, featuring dishes like a brunch slider flight and a spicy peach fizz mocktail. The nearby Silos Baking Co. and Magnolia Press café have also added new items on their seasonal summer menus, including a peaches and cream cupcake and a ham and cheddar croissant sandwich. Reservations for Magnolia Table can be made via OpenTable.

    Houston

    Texas-based luxury bus service Vonlane will debut daily service between Dallas and The Woodlands on Friday, June 13. The new route will pick up travelers at Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center and drop off at Dallas' Doubletree Love Field hotel. The ride will take 3 hours and 15 minutes. This will be a second Houston-area destination for Dallas, as Vonlane already offers service to downtown Houston. Tickets can be booked online; fares are a flat rate of $125 for one-way trips with advance purchase. No taxes, baggage fees, or change fees apply.

    Tokyo X, one of Houston's premier celebrations of Japanese culture, is returning to NRG Center from June 14-15, promising celebrities, food, martial arts, anime, and more. Highlights of the festival include the Hot Import Nights Japanese car show series, a ramen showdown, and an anime convention featuring cosplay contests, panels, and voice actor appearances. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite. Saturday tickets are $36.22 per person, Sunday tickets are $ 30.48 per person, and two-day badges are $59.21 per person.

    Tokyo X FestivalHot Import Nights will display tricked-out Japanese rides. Courtesy of Tokyo X

    Gulf Coast

    The coastal city of Corpus Christi will celebrate its annual Mural Fest during the first week of June, showcasing its colorful large-scale murals in the Marina Arts District. During the Artist Week days from June 2-5, visitors can take self-guided tours to watch artists paint murals live throughout downtown, and collect "artographs." The festival will draw to a close on Saturday, June 7, with a block party on South Chaparral Street from 3-9 pm. More information about daily events during Mural Fest can be found via Visit Corpus Christi.

    Across Dallas-Fort Worth

    A long anticipated Fort Worth hotel and restaurant have arrived: The Nobleman Fort Worth, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and the hotel’s in-house restaurant Duchess, have opened at 503 Bryan Ave., with fabulous accommodations and food from celebrity chef Casey Thompson. The property has 121 guest rooms and 32 extended-stay suites with kitchenettes. Hotel amenities include a pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, and 2,000 square feet of meeting and outdoor event spaces, along with terraces. Nightly rates begin at $162 in June.

    Dallas' Perot Museum of Nature and Science recently reopened the Moody Family Children's Museum, unveiling an extensively renovated 11,000-square-foot space sprawling with educational and science-centered activities. Among the new areas for children to explore are an immersive multi-sensory Imaginarium, an expanded toddler area, a hands-on maker area, an open-air outdoor space, and a fiber art playscape created by Toshiko MacAdam. Non-member general admission to the Perot Museum ($15 for children aged 2-12, and $25 for adults and children 13 and older) also includes access to the children's museum.

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