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Flying High

Southwest Airlines adds new international destinations from Hobby Airport

Marcy de Luna
Marcy de Luna
May 13, 2015 | 4:08 pm

Amid a wave of bouncing beach balls at Houston City Hall, Southwest Airlines announced two new international destinations from Hobby Airport this fall.

Flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Liberia, Costa Rica, will begin Nov. 1 out of Hobby’s $156 million international terminal, currently under construction. The airline previously announced flights to Mexico (Cancun, Mexico City, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta), Belize and San Jose, Costa Rica, that will begin from Hobby on Oct. 15.

“2015 is all about Houston. You’ll have more choices and lower fares," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told an enthusiastic crowd.

Tickets to all international destinations will go on sale Thursday on Southwest's web site.

“2015 is all about Houston. You’ll have more choices and lower fares. It’s a great opportunity for all us to boost travel and tourism here in Houston, and that creates jobs," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told an enthusiastic crowd that included Mayor Annise Parker and Southwest employees. "We are just getting started. This is only the beginning.”

Southwest won the right to begin international flights out of the new Hobby terminal in the face of determined opposition from United Airlines three years ago. Parker alluded to the battle when she paraphrased a quote from Lyndon Baines Johnson that "sometimes it’s hard to figure out what the right thing is."

"This is a situation that it wasn’t hard at all to figure out that the right thing was to allow more competition for international flights," she said. "And it wasn't hard to do the right thing because the increased competition for international flights and a major investment in Hobby Airport will not only make this more convenient for the traveling public but it is also a huge stimulus to the area around Hobby Airport. We are excited at the possibilities."

Earlier this week, Parker was at George Bush Intercontinental Airport as United broke ground on a new Terminal C North concourse. The $244 million project will create a 265,000 square-foot concourse with floor-to-ceiling windows offering soaring tarmac views, expansive gate-lounge areas and 20 new dining and retail options near boarding gates.

Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Airlines announces the launch dates of inaugural international flights out of Houston Hobby.

Houston, Southwest Airlines Beach Bash, May 2015, Gary Kelly
Photo by Marcy de Luna
Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Airlines announces the launch dates of inaugural international flights out of Houston Hobby.
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lets go camping

Texas llama ranch roams onto America's 50 favorite camping spots

Amber Heckler
Jul 13, 2026 | 2:00 pm
Llama Land Ranch in Tool, Texas
Courtesy of Hipcamp
Camp where the llamas roam.

A family-owned, llama roaming ranch in North Texas was just declared one of America's 50 favorite camping spots in 2026.

The field guide was compiled by online marketplace Hipcamp following a review of campsite ratings from users, regional trends, cultural relevance, and a "spirited debate" of Hipcamp experts. Campgrounds were chosen from 35 different states and organized into seven regions: the Pacific Northwest; California and Hawaii; the Southwest; the Mountain West; the Great Plains and Midwest; the Northeast; and the Southeast.

Llama Land Ranch in Tool, Texas — about 3.5 hours from Houston — was one of nine total campgrounds featured in the Southwest region. The ranch is the perfect place for families to go on core memory-making excursions like meeting the free roaming llamas or watching out for other wildlife like wild boars. The ranch spans 101 acres, and a 50-foot deep creek also flows along the property lines for fishing and swimming.

"The llamas will come to greet you and so will many more things in this wonderful place," the ranch's listing says. "We are conveniently located in a secluded area, but just a short drive from many local conveniences."

The listing also specifies that the pastures are only mowed three times a year and some of the property is on rough terrain, so campers are welcome to bring their own machetes if they want to explore the area thoroughly.

There are 14 sites available for guests to set up camp, with a mix of tent-only, RV/tent, and RV-only sites. The ranch is also very affordable; sites can be booked for as little as $15 per night.

Many reviewers enjoy getting out into the country to reconnect with nature, and many also praise the ranch's owner, Judy, who says the ranch has been in her family since 1987.

"I went with a group of women for an overnight camp at the pond," one reviewer wrote. "It was so beautiful and a much needed break from city life. The host was wonderful and kind. She was also very accommodating to our group."

A second Dallas-Fort Worth-area campground tucked away in Texas' newest state park was also highlighted in the report. Warbler Ridge Campground, located in Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, was the only other Texas representative on the list.

The pet-friendly campground's listing doesn't offer many details, but it says there are 22 RV and tent campsites for visitors, as well as showers, toilets, potable water, and picnic tables. There are activities galore for visitors, including a 68-acre lake for swimming, fishing, and boating, and over 16 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says campsites at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park start at $13 per night (plus a daily entrance fee) for hike-in primitive sites. Walk-in campsites with water are $15 per night and campsites with electricity are $30 per night.

camping travel vacations ranches campgrounds
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