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    Glamping Hits New Heights

    These amazing Texas treehouses take glamping to new heights

    Lauramay LaChance
    Jun 12, 2017 | 10:00 am

    Yurts in the dirt are cool and all, but what about having breakfast with the birds? Pack your bags for a night in one of these Texas treehouses. From a treehouse built around a 100-year-old cypress tree just outside of Austin to a spa treehouse featured on the Animal Planet series Treehouse Masters, these spots take glamping to new heights.

    Casita Roja in Austin
    Those looking for a touch of Austin’s quirkiness should definitely check out this “treehouse.” Not a traditional one, because it’s not suspended in the trees, it’s a little oasis completely surrounded by trees with views of a magical backyard in the popular Travis Heights neighborhood. Close to South Congress Avenue, Casita Roja has an artistic feel to it and is a much cooler option than a traditional hotel stay.

    Treehouse Spa Room outside Austin
    Featured on Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters the Treehouse Spa Room is a custom-built treehouse on the 40-acre Davis Ranch Retreat. The tiny treehouse goes from a relaxing spa to your home for the night, complete with a queen-sized bed, steam shower, and a private porch. While the house is quite small, you do have the entire ranch to enjoy, including the pool and fire pit at the base of the footbridge, ponds filled with fish, and trails. Ride around in the "Green Machine" (think super quiet golf cart), stopping to visit with cows and horses, butterflies and birds, flowers, and even the Texas Longhorns. At night, sit around the fire and gaze at the star-filled sky while you master the art of making s’mores. This ranch is literally a slice of heaven and only an hour from Austin.

    Luxury glamping in Spicewood
    This place is the crème de la crème of treehoues in Texas with each of the four (the fifth is in the works) being unique. You have to cross a suspended footbridge to get to Lofthaven II at Cypress Valley Canopy Tours. The treehouse looks like a modern-day yurt with a wraparound porch and an ancient cypress tree growing in the middle of it. It sleeps two, so it’s the perfect spot for a romantic getaway. There’s also a bathhouse across the bridge that has a waterfall tub and views out to the ravine.

    The Nest is by far the most impressive, with ample space for the whole family, outside decks and exploration lookouts, two bedrooms, a lounge, and a kitchenette/dining room, all nestled above the beautiful creek ravine beside a small waterfall. The decor is whimsical meets rustic. You can also rinse off under the stars in the outside shower or head across the small bridge to a private bathhouse complete with a bath and shower.

    River Road treehouses near New Braunfels
    Walk across an elevated footbridge to your private cabin perched over a seasonal river creek bed surrounded by 80-foot-tall cypress trees. The six treehouses are far from roughing it, as they’re fully furnished with all the conveniences of modern-day living, including indoor bathrooms with showers or claw foot tubs, fully stocked kitchens, Wi-Fi, TV with satellite and Amazon Fire, king-sized bed in the master bedroom, and two queen beds in the loft. The entire property spans over 1.5 acres and you have 400 feet of direct access to the Guadalupe River just across River Road.

    Geronimo Creek Retreat close to New Braunfels
    The Texas Hill Country is home to wineries, small towns, swimming holes, and this oasis. Close to New Braunfels but tucked away enough that you’ll feel off the beaten path, the treehouses at Geronimo Creek are perfect for families, large groups, or even a romantic weekend. The cabins are surrounded by lush pecan trees and situated on a corner of Geronimo Creek, allowing you to have private access to the calm water. The treehouses are fully furnished, and the property has all the water toys needed. There are fire pits and outdoor seating areas scattered about the property, so bring groceries and take full advantage of the grills. Once you get to Geronimo Creek, there’s really no reason you would need to leave.

    Frio River Treetop in Rio Frio
    What’s a vacation in Texas without a little river recreation? Nestled along the banks of the cool and clear Frio River, the Frio River Treetop not only sleeps the whole family but the neighbors too (lodge sleeps 14 and cottage sleeps four). Less of a glamping experience and more of a house on the river setup, it comes stacked with everything you need in a vacation rental. At night, roast s’mores by the fire in the treetop deck that sits in a tree 40 feet above the river.

    Coming soon near Houston
    Hung 30-feet high in the trees over a private spring-fed creek near Columbus, about 75 miles west of Houston, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another place like this. Expected to be completed by the end of summer, the trees almost completely engulf the top of the treehouse, and while you can easily see down the creek and across the fields, it is almost impossible to see into the structure itself.

    Inspired by his love of nature, Matt, owner and star of Discovery Channel’s show Fire in the Hole, is creating this treehouse and campsite as a labor of love to share his unique adventures with guests. From the wood-fired hot tub to the pizza oven and fire pit (yes, you can actually have a fire here), this place is all about slowing down and living in the moment. It also offers private access to the river, complimentary kayaks, tons of shade, room to explore, and one of the only treehouses in Texas that is dog-friendly. Come here to recharge, enjoy nature, and get back to a slower pace of life.

    Frio River Treetop.

    Frio River Treehouses
    Photo courtesy of Frio River Treetop
    Frio River Treetop.
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    a walk to remember

    Walking tours offer insights into historic Houston neighborhoods

    Emily Cotton
    May 22, 2026 | 10:30 am
    Preservation Houston Avondale home walking tour
    Photo by Emily Cotton
    Some stops on the tour have helpful QR codes for those who enjoy a deep dive into history.

    A lot has happened since the Allen brothers founded Houston in 1836, and there is no one who loves telling her story more than the folks at Preservation Houston. Their perpetually-sold-out architecture walks delve into the city’s oldest and most interesting neighborhoods and landmarks, giving participants lessons in history, architecture, culture, and even highlighting a scandal or two.

    “Preservation Houston has been offering walking tours since 1979. The tours were one of the first programs we launched, because we’ve always believed that it is important to give Houstonians a way to learn more about and connect with the history and architecture around them,” Jim Parsons, director of programming and communications, tells CultureMap. “When we understand the city’s past, we appreciate how important it is to remember it.”

    Recently, this author attended a tour of Avondale, one of the city’s oldest residential neighborhoods. While we won’t be giving away too much from this highly-recommended tour, one neat fact is that one of Avondale’s original residential east-west streets, Hathaway Avenue, is what Houstonians now know as the very commercial Westheimer. In the 1870s and 1880s, most of lower Midtown was the Texas State Fairgrounds (it moved to Dallas in 1879) and ballpark — who knew?!

    Tour sizes tend to vary, depending on the location and terrain, but they stay fairly quaint. The Avondale tour had approximately a dozen people and one very adorable longhaired dachshund named Alfie, which made a perfect little party. Questions are encouraged, which helps with any initial awkwardness.

    “Come as strangers, leave as friends,” is most decidedly applicable here. Several stops along the tour — 29 stops in total — are recipients of Preservation Houston’s esteemed Good Brick Awards, including The Marlene Inn, which readily hosted half of the tour group for impromptu, post-walk refreshments. “Leave as friends,” remember!

    It’s important to note that these are all exterior architecture tours — there is no interior access to any of the homes or buildings. It’s best to think of the architecture walks as just that, a walk through a neighborhood. Only, on these particular walks there, it’s led by someone who knows just about everything there is to know about the neighborhood and points out fun and interesting things that people may not usually notice on their own — like remaining hitching posts outside some of the homes. Many of the stops are clustered together — think two or more neighboring houses and one across the street. So, while 29 stops may seem like a lot, it’s a very relaxed walk that covers five short blocks.

    “What I like most about the walking tours is getting to tell the stories behind the neighborhoods — how architectural styles developed and adapted to Houston, who the people were who built the houses and buildings we talk about,” says Parsons. “We focus on history and architecture, but we also add in social context and some offbeat stories to keep things engaging. Our docents are all great storytellers, so they do a fantastic job of interpreting a lot of information and making it accessible.”

    From June to September, architecture walks move to the much more summer-appropriate time of 6 pm. Otherwise, they are usually at 2 pm (save, one or two), and no tours are offered in December. The tours often sell out, so buying tickets early is highly recommended.

    If architecture and Houston history is something of a continuous interest, get on board with a Preservation Houston membership. The benefits are fantastic, and it’s a great way to meet likeminded folks.

    “Annual memberships in Preservation Houston start at $60 for individuals and $100 for couples,” explains Parsons. “All our memberships include free or discounted admission to PH events, including walking tours, as well as news and updates on preservation-related issues and invitations to members-only events (which are almost always in interesting historic places!). One of the biggest benefits of membership, though, is joining a community of people who love Houston.”

    Join an upcoming tour:

    • Saturday, May 23, 10 am: Glenwood Cemetery Part I: Houston Before Oil
    • Sunday, June 14, 6 pm: Market Square
    • Sunday, July 12, 6 pm: Rice University

    General tickets $15; PH members & student tickets $10; children 11 & under may attend for free.

    Private tours are also available for groups of almost any size — just ask!

    Preservation Houston Avondale home walking tour

    Photo by Emily Cotton

    Some stops on the tour have helpful QR codes for those who enjoy a deep dive into history.

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