bahamas bound

New nonstop flight makes quick Houston-to-Bahamas getaway a breeze

When Houstonians crave a coastal getaway, there are myriad quick and easy flights to Mexico’s various beaches. But if you’re ready to try a different beach this year, a jaunt to The Bahamas just got a whole lot easier.

Getting to Nassau
Thanks to the all-new nonstop flights from Bahamasair directly into Nassau's Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS) from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), channeling your inner Bahama Mama (or Bahama Man) is easier and more affordable than ever. You’ll be on the beach sipping on daiquiris in no time after the quick three-hour flight, enjoying the 21 miles of tourist paradise. (United also offers a season nonstop flight from IAH on Saturdays.)

Make it a long weekend
Houston travelers can now enjoy Bahamasair convenient nonstop service to The Islands of The Bahamas, with twice-weekly flights departing IAH at 8 am every Monday and Thursday, arriving in Nassau by 11:10 am, and departing from Nassau at 4 pm every Wednesday and Sunday, arriving in Houston by 7:10 pm.

The airline is offering a special introductory rate of $445 (round trip including taxes), making the island getaway inexpensive and convenient. If you’re in the mood to explore beyond the white sand beaches of Nassau, the airline also offers connections to thirteen Bahamas Out Islands including Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Bimini and Exuma (home of the famed swimming pigs).

Staying in Nassau, from kid-friendly to luxe
Boasting some of the Caribbean’s best resorts, there are plenty of all-inclusive, family-friendly, ultra-exclusive and other options when visiting Nassau.

One of the most familiar and kid-friendly is the sprawling Atlantis, but the latest and greatest to hit the island is the $4.2 billion integrated beachfront resort development Baha Mar, which redefines adult luxury. Located along the beaches of New Providence, this grandiose hub is comprised of three hotels — Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood (set to open spring 2018) — with 2,300 rooms, 40 restaurants and lounges, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Royal Blue Golf Course, more than 30 luxury retail outlets (Rolex, Tiffany & Co., and Hublot to name a few), and more.

Baha Mar is also home to the largest casino in the Caribbean — Baha Mar Casino — with 100,000 square feet of gaming space, featuring state-of-the-art slot machines, table games, race and sports betting, plus five reserved and exclusive high roller gaming salons.

The pools and beaches at Baha Mar are pristine, expansive, and breathtaking. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar boasts five large resort pools, luxury poolside cabanas, swim-up bars, and endless Instagram photo-opps. Customize and tailor your experience to best suit your needs.

If you’re in desperate need of rumrunners and relaxation, grab a spot in the sun then meander down to El Jefe, the beachside retro-styled airstream featuring open-faced corn tortillas and more. If you’re looking for something more upscale and fancy, make a dinner reservation at Katsuya where you’ll be treated to Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi’s classics along with sleek and sultry interiors. Afterwards, finish off the night with a glass of bubbly at the casino. If you’re into the late-night scene, you’ll surely become acquainted with The Swimming Pig, which is open 24/7 to satisfy your cravings, no matter the time.

Exploring Nassau and Paradise Island
Guaranteed if you stay at Baha Mar you’ll have no reason to leave the property once, but if your curiosities get the best of you and you want to explore the island and culture a bit more, here are a few spots you’ll want to check out

John Watling’s Distillery
Located in historic downtown Nassau, you can tour the distillery and taste the namesake rum (if you’re not a big rum fan, try their frozen pina coladas). Not only are the famed grounds picturesque, a bottle of the “Spirit of the Bahamas” makes for a perfect souvenir or keepsake to bring back.

Downtown, Straw Market
If you’re looking for a truly authentic shopping experience, this world-famous market has an unseemingly endless supply of handmade Bahamian crafts, gifts and souvenirs. Open seven days a week, the local vendors are friendly, willing to negotiate — and persistent. Be sure to bring cash (U.S. or Bahamian).

Graycliff Hotel
Keeping with the theme of authenticity, this colonial mansion is a must-see. Located next to the Government House, you can meander around these historic grounds where the two pools and gardens are worth the trip alone. Don’t miss Graycliff Restaurant — the Caribbean’s first 5-star restaurant, which also happens to be where Jay-Z reportedly popped the question to Beyoncé.

Queen’s Staircase
Easy to miss, but you’ll be glad you didn’t. Located in the Fort Fincastle Historic Complex, this awe-inspiring staircase (it’s only 65 steps, but a fantastic background for a photo) is a major landmark with its captivating beauty.

Houston pro travel tip
Visitors returning home to the U.S. go through customs in Nassau at Lynden Pindling International Airport, saving on time once you land — making it an even quicker and more enjoyable experience. Even though the kiosks at IAH are fast, this is key for maximizing your coveted vacation time.

The view from the Baha Mar cabana.

Courtesy photo

The view from the Baha Mar cabana.

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New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

san antonio tejano music museums hall of fame music openings