like a hallmark movie

Book a Hallmark Channel Christmas holiday experience downtown with new immersive hotel suite

It's that time of year again, when the airwaves are flooded with that holiday staple known as the Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.

Legions of fans know the plots by heart. Big-city gal returns to her small town, finds love and saves Christmas. Or the family business. Or a lost kitten. Two colleagues who can't stand each other discover they have more in common than ever imagined and find love. And save Christmas. Or the family business. Or a lost kitten. Three generations of family at loggerheads re-connect after finding themselves stranded in a cozy cabin in the woods. And save Christmas. Or the family business. Or a lost kitten.

Photo by Christy Radecic

Stay inside a Hallmark holiday movie by booking a room in the "Haul Out the Holly" suite at the Hilton Americas-Houston, part of the ultra-exclusive, limited-time Hallmark Channel “Countdown to Christmas” Holiday Suite by Hilton experience.

And all with a lot of heart and holiday cheer. (Note: We at CultureMap kid because we love.)

Now, fans who love the genre for its uplifting messages and smiles-through-tears can experience the movies in a whole new way. The Hilton Americas-Houston is offering a limited-time Hallmark Channel “Countdown to Christmas” Holiday Suite by Hilton, available starting November 1 and running through January 1, 2024. The hotel is one of only three Hilton properties across the country to offer this one-of-a-kind festive dreamscape.

In H-Town, guests can book the Hilton Americas-Houston's "Haul Out the Holly" suite, which offers a cascade of seasonal cheer., and is based on the all-new, original Hallmark holiday movie of the same name. Look for jaw-dropping holiday designs and light treatments throughout the suite, including enchanting light pillows, a light-up holiday village that will dazzle the world’s biggest Christmas enthusiasts, a custom holiday light decorating station, a gingerbread bar, and more.

Expect special surprise-and-delight moments like a festive oversized game, a custom Hallmark Channel light-up marquee, and even a twinkling Christmas light ceiling. This exceptional stay will allow guests to embrace the essence of the sequel film, starring beloved Hallmark star Lacey Chabert and centering on the iconic residents and ongoing HOA decorating competitions – and infamous citations – of the ever-festive Evergreen Lane.

"We're thrilled to partner with Hallmark for a collaboration that embodies the joy of the holiday season and brings to life the light and warmth of hospitality we show our guests every day,” said Matt Schuyler, chief brand officer, Hilton in a press release announcing the initiative. “This is a great representation of Hilton’s commitment to delivering immersive and unforgettable experiences during every stay. Our collaboration with Hallmark allows us to leverage timeless storytelling to bring an added level of excitement during the holidays.”

The "Haul Out the Holly" suite, like its counterparts the “Hallmark’s Holiday Sweetest Suite” at the Hilton New York Times Square and the “Santa Summit” at the Hilton Chicago, includes a custom-decorated Christmas tree and complimentary hot cocoa station.

To keep the holiday cheer going all season long, each of these special guest suites also include Hallmark Channel-branded takeaways that guests can enjoy with their loved ones during or after their holiday stay. Think Hallmark Channel Wine, Bissinger’s cocoa mix and hot cocoa bombs, Republic of Tea products, wine glasses, mugs, and more.

Rates start at $1,050 per night. Reservations can be made online.

salute to service members

Texas improves rank on 2025 list of best states for military retirees

Photo by David Valentine on Unsplash

Retired veterans in Texas

Military veterans looking to settle down in their retirement years may find happiness in Texas, which just ranked No. 21 on WalletHub's annual list of the "Best and Worst States for Military Retirees."

The Lone Star State has made significant improvements over its 2024 placement, when it ranked a middling No. 28.

Ever year, WalletHub's analysts examine all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on each state's capability of providing a comfortable lifestyle for the nation's military retirees. States were ranked based on three categories: Economic environment, quality of life, and healthcare.

Texas has the sixth best economic environment for its military retirees, the report said. Factors that influenced the state's rank include housing affordability, job growth, and tax-friendliness.

The presence of veteran transition programs is also an important factor for readjusting to civilian life, the report says.

"Many retirees also face major struggles including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, disability and homelessness, which are especially difficult to deal with during this period of economic difficulty," the report's author wrote. "These veterans must also consider how state tax policies on military benefits vary, along with the relative friendliness of different job markets and other socioeconomic factors, when choosing a state in which to settle down."

Texas still has room for improvement when it comes to improving its quality of life and healthcare for its military retirees. Texas' quality of life for veterans only ranks 32nd, while its healthcare ranked 36th.

The quality of life metric was determined based on factors like the share of veterans, the share of VA facilities per number of veterans, the quality of each state's public universities, each state's "idealness of weather," among others. The healthcare rank covered the quality of VA hospitals, the number of mental health counselors per capita, and veteran suicide rates.

South Carolina maintained the top spot as the No. 1 best state for military retirees, thanks to its multiple programs and laws that help transition veterans back into civilian life and provide retirement aid.

The remaining top five states for veterans to retire were all located on the East Coast: Maryland (No. 2), New Hampshire (No. 3), North Dakota (No. 4), and Virginia (No. 5).

Meanwhile, veterans should avoid retiring in states like Oregon (No. 51) and Washington (No. 50), which both ranked at the bottom of the list as the worst states for military retirees this year.

rankings texas wallethub veterans