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Hit the waves in Waco + 9 more Texas travel destinations for May

The summer season at Waco Surf begins May 10.

Photo courtesy of Waco Surf

Summer is nearly upon us, and now is the time to plan those getaways before the heat gets too overwhelming. We've got some brilliant ideas for May, from a Hill Country winery and brewery tour to a pirate-themed festival on the Gulf Coast. If hitting the road seems a bit much, there are ways to kick back in Dallas including checking into two hotels that have just won awards.

Here is our big monthly roundup of top travel tips around the state:

Throughout Texas

Great Wolf Lodge – which has two parks in Dallas and Houston – is taking "It's Gonna be May" to the next level by partnering with *NSYNC members Lance Bass and Joey Fatone for the resort's Summer Camp-In celebration from May 24 through August 25. Special programming will include campfire sing-a-longs, family trivia, and more. For one day only on May 1, guests can save up to 51 percent on their upcoming stays using promo code "BEMAY". Pricing varies by date at each location.

Lance Bass and Joey Fatone at Great Wolf Lodge There are two types of people: Those that want to relax at Great Wolf Lodge, and those that want to float on the lazy river for hours.Photo by Mark Ashman

Waco

North Texans that want to catch a wave this summer will get their chance starting May 10, when Waco Surf's water park opens for its 2025 season. This popular water park boasts a surf lagoon spanning two and a half acres, new mini slides for young swimmers, and new dining options at its three on-site eateries. Water Park day passes start at $39 for adults and are $14 for children, or $99 for a family with two children from 6-16 years old. Surf session pricing varies by date and skill level.

Houston

Houston's chic Hotel Saint Augustine has been raking in award after award over the last month. It was the only Texas hotel to earn acclaim on Esquire's list of the Best New Hotels in the World 2025, and most recently landed on Travel + Leisure's list of the 100 Best New Hotels of the Year. Both national publications noted the hotel's historical details and its sophisticated-yet-approachable feel. Room rates begin at $429 per night.

Gulf Coast

Pirates and buccaneers in Corpus Christi are getting ready to celebrate the Buc Days Festival from May 1-11. The extravaganza will be full of family-friendly activities like the Stripes Carnival, parades, vendor market, a robotics rodeo, and a barbecue competition. Rodeo Corpus Christi will also take place from May 6-10. Single-day gate entry admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, and tickets for the rodeo and concert series can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

Austin

The downtown-based W Austin hotel has finally completed its $40 million renovation, and has unveiled its upgraded premium penthouse suites – the largest in the city. The Penthouse I spans nearly 1,800 square feet and includes two bedrooms with king-sized beds, plus two marble-accented bathrooms with a large tub, where guests can enjoy a bubble bath while soaking up the views of Lady Bird Lake. Curious and cash-flush visitors can now book stays starting at $1,800 per night.

W Austin Penthouse suite W Austin features a 1,798-square-foot penthouse suite, the largest in the city. Photo courtesy of W Austin

The Loren Hotel is offering travelers a sweet deal on its most luxurious accommodations with its new "Spring Suite Room" package for two-night stays. Guests that use the code "SPRINGSUITE" will receive a bottle of chilled sparkling rosé and Matok Bakery treats in their room upon arrival, as well as a chef-prepared picnic. Guests will also have access to premium e-bikes to explore downtown, and a 2025 Lexus convertible to take on a drive through the Hill Country. Nightly rates for the package begin at $453 in May.

San Antonio

The historic Hotel Emma was just named one of the top 10 best hotels in the U.S. in Tripadvisor's annual Travelers' Choice Awards. Tripadvisor praised the hotel's "unique blend of history and luxury," and gave nods to its numerous nearby dining and shopping options at Pearl. Room rates start at $447 per night.

The Hill Country

Charleston Taylor Estate Winery and Black Chapel Brewing Co. will celebrate their grand opening on May 3 in Johnson City, about 240 miles from Dallas. Both venues are located on the same estate at 6212 W. U.S. Highway 290. The winery will host haunted tours, tasting events, and workshops, while the brewery will have an indoor taproom with games and big screens, outdoor seating, and offer access to the rest of the 30-acre property.

The new winery will host cooking classes to pair with its Cabernet wines. Photo courtesy of Charleston Taylor Estate Winery

Dallas-Fort Worth

The award-winning Bowie House hotel in Fort Worth is amping up for pool season with weekday access pool passes and a "Day Escape" package that includes access to the pool terrace, Whinny's poolside restaurant, and a spa treatment at Ash Spa. Pool passes are $75 per person, and prices for the Day Escape package vary. Both experiences are open to the public Monday-Thursday with complimentary valet. Reservations can be made by calling Ash Spa.

Two DFW hotels were recently lauded among Travel + Leisure's list of the "Top 500 Hotels in the World." The Omni PGA Frisco Resort and Hotel Drover in Fort Worth were selected for the 2025 list based on their recognition in the 2024 World's Best Awards, chosen by T+L readers in a worldwide survey. Rates at the Omni PGA begin at $454 per night in May, and $391 per night at the Hotel Drover.

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BACKSTAGE PASS

Universal Music unveils new hotel and amphitheater near Texas Hill Country

UMusic Hotel & Private Residences Austin

Rendering courtesy of UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle

A rendering of the property, with another building extending off-screen to the right.

Texas travelers who want to make sure their next weekend trip takes full advantage of the “Live Music Capital” have an upcoming community to consider: UMusic Hotel & Private Residences Austin, an effort owned by White Rocks and developed in partnership with Universal Music Group, will bring 150 hotel rooms, 600 private residences, and a new amphitheater to a 71-acre site at the edge of the Hill Country.

A representative says an opening is projected for the first quarter of 2029, with construction beginning in the first quarter of 2027. Residences are on sale now. Different units cost $850-$1,450 per square foot, depending on variables like locations, views, and more.

There is already one UMusic Hotel operating in Madrid, Spain. The Austin location will introduce private residences for the first time.

The keystone of the property will be White Rocks Amphitheater, an open-air venue that takes advantage of the natural surroundings. More than 70 percent of the site will "remain green open space," the release says. There will also be a performance venue inside the hotel, plus professional recording and content studios.

Music is the central force of the property, but it's not the only thing to do at the hotel. There will also be a bar, a nightclub, a comedy club, dining, a rooftop pool and fitness center, and a spa and wellness center.

At the spa, visitors can get traditional treatments like massages, facials, hair, makeup, and manicures, while the wellness center offers weight training, steam rooms, hammam (a Southwest Asian or North African bath), plus more advanced technologies including red-light therapy, peptide therapy, cryogenic chambers, and more. Sometimes the amphitheater will host yoga, weight training, and other physical events.

Similarly, the residences will have access to their own set of amenities including, a private pool and fitness facilities, underground parking, and common areas, the release says. They can visit the hotel anytime and enjoy the culture there, too.

"The result is a living environment that offers the peace of a private retreat alongside the vibrancy of an international cultural hub," the release says.

Since nature is such a big part of the plan, the developer has a number of sustainability commitments going into the project. Those include a mostly hidden plant for hot and cold water and power, microgrid energy tech, a closed-loop water system that developers say complies with a 100 percent water reuse goal set by the city, and DarkSky-compliant practices that help reduce light pollution, which is better for wildlife and seeing stars. That will help at monthly stargazing events held at the amphitheater.

The developers have also committed to the creative community that made them want to work in Austin to begin with; things like allocating a portion of ticket sales to a perpetual endowment for local artists and nonprofits, setting up paid gigs for emerging talent, and partnering with schools and other cultural institutions, sometimes for mentorship opportunities.

“Our vision is to create places where culture is made, shared, and celebrated," said UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle president Jordi Solé in the release. "This property combines performance, wellness, nature, and community into a single living ecosystem, reflecting Austin's creative spirit on a global stage.”

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