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    Summer flavor

    Schlitterbahn water parks make a splash with new over-the-top treats

    Brandon Watson
    Jul 4, 2018 | 12:00 pm
    Schlitterbahn mermaid funnel cake
    Dive into Schlitterbahn's new Mermaid Funnel Cake, available at the Corpus Christi park.
    Schlitterbahn/ Instagram

    When you think of Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resorts, you probably think of the lazy river, the giant slides, or maybe one of those fringed and beaded T-shirts you can really only get away with wearing on vacation. But thanks to the mad scientists in the company’s kitchens, you have a whole new reason to dive in: the over-the-top food.

    The New Braunfels-based chain began teasing new dishes at all five locations during its annual food week, starting June 25. According to a release, each of Schlitterbahn’s Texas parks is getting its own distinctive treats, which will be available throughout the summer. (And strictly based on aesthetics, let's just say these snacks will look great on your Instagram Stories this summer.)

    On Galveston Island, Schlitterbahn has introduced a loaded waffle cone that may give KFC and Taco Bell’s outrageous creations a run for their money. Filled with chicken tenders and your choice of mashed potatoes or mac ’n’ cheese (we bet if you ask nicely, they’ll give you a little bit of both), it’s the perfect on-the-go snack when you are taking a break between attractions.

    The Galveston location also has a new spicy Southwest burger loaded with black beans, corn salsa, nacho cheese, and jalapeños. You can’t go wrong with pairing it with a mangonada-like mango chili lime Icee.

    In New Braunfels, try a Cookie Blaster Funnel Cake, a beastly fried dough masterpiece topped with whipped cream; a scoop of Blue Bell’s Blue Monster (Smurf-colored vanilla with cookies, cream, and chocolate); a fried Oreo; and a chocolate drizzle.

    Need a drink? Order the American Colada. The traditional piña colada is swirled with blue rum and red sangria for a patriotic sipper essential for your selfies.

    Schlitterbahn South Padre Island has some Tex-Mex-inspired flavors courtesy of the Cheetoslote, a dressed corn on the cob crusted with Hot Cheetos. That location also offers a pretzel stuffed with caramel and sprinkled with sea salt that’ll make you say, “Auntie Anne? Never heard of her.”

    Finally, the Corpus Christi park is all-in with pulled pork. Get it on a pizza with blended cheeses, red bell pepper, and barbecue sauce, or add it to ballpark nachos. And don’t miss the very of-the-moment Mermaid Funnel Cake crowned with electric blue ice cream and topped with swirly iridescent bark.

    The treats will be available all summer long. As with Pokemon, you’ll want to catch them all.

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    tourism news

    Houston rises on new list of best summer travel destinations

    Amber Heckler
    May 14, 2025 | 4:00 pm
    Houston skyline downtown at night
    IdeasLaboratory.com
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    Not even triple-digit heat will deter tourists from visiting Space City this summer: The Houston metro has climbed into the No. 35 spot on WalletHub's list of the "Best Summer Travel Destinations" in 2025.

    The report annually ranks 100 U.S metros based on attractions, safety, activities, weather, local costs, and travel costs and hassles. Factors that determine each city's ranking include flight costs, the number of affordable restaurants with high ratings, crime rates, and more.

    The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area in Florida is the No. 1 most sought after summer travel destination this year.

    Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land moved up 10 spots from its 2024 rank, and it previously ranked 38th in 2023.

    Here's how WalletHub broke down Houston's ranking in each of the six main categories:

    • No. 7 – Attractions rank
    • No. 16 – Local costs rank
    • No. 26 – Activities rank
    • No. 50 – Weather rank
    • No. 88 – Safety rank
    • No. 89 – Travel costs and hassles rank

    Houston ranked the highest in the attractions and local costs categories, proving that the city's affordability is a major benefit for visitors as well as locals. There's surely no shortage of things to do in the city, from dining at a new steakhouse, to checking out a local bookstore, or enjoying a summer concert series at Meow Wolf.

    But there's so much more that goes into choosing the right place for a memorable summer trip, says WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. Creating and sticking to a vacation budget that considers all costs of a trip, such as meals and local transportation costs, is a good place to start.

    "[C]hoosing a destination that’s not only entertaining but also affordable is important when travel, dining, and activity costs have surged so much in recent years," Lupo says. "It can also allow you to have a longer, more relaxing trip."

    The study's scope isn't just limited to just Houston proper, which also means tourists may flock to suburbs like The Woodlands to explore its inviting new restaurants. It also includes Conroe, where tourists can relax with a drink in hand at the popular Margaritaville resort.

    Other top Texas summer travel destinations
    Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown (No. 5) and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington were the only two Texas metros to earn spots in the top 10 summer travel destinations.

    Surprisingly, El Paso (No. 31) ranked four spots ahead of Houston. The final two Texas metros that earned spots in the study are Corpus Christi (No. 80) and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission (No. 97).

    The top 10 best summer travel destinations in 2025 are:

    • No. 1 – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
    • No. 2 – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia
    • No. 3 – Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia
    • No. 4 – Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
    • No. 5 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
    • No. 6 – Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana
    • No. 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah
    • No. 8 – Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland
    • No. 9 – Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida
    • No. 10 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
    wallethubrankingssummer vacationtravelsan antonio
    news/travel

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