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    Can I get a watt watt?

    The best places in Texas to see spectacular Christmas light displays

    Justine Harrington
    Dec 15, 2017 | 11:17 am
    San Antonio River Walk Christmas Lights
    The River Walk is transformed during the holidays.
    San Antonio River Walk/Facebook

    When the December weather goes from 38 to 70 degrees, but you really, really need to get your holiday fix, we’ve got two words for you: holiday lights. Texas is filled with huge holiday light displays that are an instant cure for the holiday blahs. Here are six of the biggest and brightest.

    Zoo Lights in Houston
    Every year, the Houston Zoo undergoes a wintertime makeover to become a holiday lights attraction the likes of which you’ve never seen — we’re talking 15 miles of lights; a 1958 Cadillac festooned with a musical light show; an enchanted forest; and an interactive, rather chatty zebra.

    Know before you go: Zoo Lights runs from December 1 through January 15; check out ticket pricing and times here.

    Light Show Spectacular in Grapevine
    They don’t call it the Christmas Capital of Texas for nothing, y'all. The much-beloved Light Show Spectacular in Grapevine’s historic downtown features the famed Grapevine Christmas Tree, millions of lights, and more holiday activities than the North Pole.

    Know before you go: We recommend checking out both of Grapevine’s light parades — the Parade of Lights boasts more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands, while the Twinkle Light Boat Parade takes place on the water and is visible from the shores of Lake Grapevine.

    Santa's Ranch in New Braunfels
    If you’d rather keep the kids corralled in the car while you gaze at holiday lights, Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels is your best bet. For just $22 per vehicle, you’ll cruise through numerous impressive displays, including lit-up nativity scenes, giant gingerbread houses, and even a Christmas dinosaur or two.

    Know before you go: If you’re not in the mood to sit in traffic, we highly recommend heading to Santa’s Ranch during the week. However, if you’ve become used to traffic after sitting on I-35 for years of your life, check it out anytime through December 31 (Sunday through Thursday, 6 to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday, 6 to 11 pm).

    The River Walk in San Antonio
    San Antonio’s ever-popular River Walk is also one of the best places in Texas to get into the holiday spirit, thanks to the explosion of lights that drape over every square inch of this area. Now would be the time of year to take a gondola ride up and down the river to properly take in this festive spectacle.

    Know before you go: This year, the lights will remain on through January 7, starting at 5:30 pm every night.

    Lights Spectacular in Johnson City

    If your idea of a good holiday lights display involves feeling like you’ve stepped into an old-fashioned Christmas card, you’re in luck: the Lights Spectacular in Johnson City is exactly that. Every year (for the last 28), the Blanco County Courthouse and its surrounding trees have sparkled brighter than the night sky, thanks to over 100,000 twinkly white lights. Nearly every home and business in the town square joins in on the action, rendering this one of the loveliest, quaintest spots in the state to enjoy a holiday lights show.

    Know before you go: The Lights Spectacular runs every weekend through January 2, from 6 to 9 pm.

    Austin Trail of Lights in Zilker Park
    As every good Austinite knows, it isn't really Christmas time until you've taken a leisurely stroll through the city’s Holiday Lights Bonanza 2.0, otherwise known as the Trail of Lights in Zilker Park. The official grand opening this year is scheduled for Saturday, December 9, and the Trail will remain open until December 23. Gather up your crew and take your time strolling through the 2 million lights and 40 displays — just don’t chug eggnog or drink too much spiked hot chocolate before taking a twirl under the Zilker Tree.

    Know before you go: The Trail of Lights is open from December 9 through December 23, from 7 to 10 pm. General admission is just $3, but there are some free nights as well.

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    a major award

    Art-filled boutique hotel in the Heights earns coveted Michelin Key

    Eric Sandler
    Sep 18, 2026 | 11:30 am
    Hotel Daphne lobby
    Photo by Julie Soefer
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    A boutique hotel in the Heights is one of seven Texas properties to earn a coveted Michelin Key. The Hotel Daphne, a Bunkhouse property that opened in 2025, joins these other Texas stays on the list:

    • Four Seasons Hotel Austin
    • The Frances Modern Inn (Austin)
    • Hotel 1928 (Waco)
    • Missing Hotel (Marble Falls)
    • The Ritz-Carlton Dallas (Las Colinas)
    • Sophie’s Gasthaus (New Braunfels)

    In its entry on the Michelin website, the Guide’s inspectors hail the five-story, 49-room property, which is also home to Hypsi, an Italian restaurant led by Houston chef Terrence Gallivan, and Bar Daphne, an art-filled cocktail bar. The hotel's walls are adorned with more than 160 pieces from the Ackerley Family Collection, which focuses on works created by living Texas artists.

    A bohemian Bunkhouse hideaway and One-Key in Houston’s The Heights, with 49 rooms, a library, and a restaurant serving house-made pasta. Select suites come with a balcony; unexpected details include stitched floral headboards and funky soap dishes. A lobby shop sells locally produced jewelry and home décor.

    “Being awarded a Michelin Key is a testament to our wonderful team and all the hard work they have put in to make Daphne what it is,” owner Ben Ackerly tells CultureMap. “The Heights community has been great in how well we’ve been received, and now that is being recognized on a broader scale with this accolade.”

    Announced Friday, September 18, Michelin added 65 properties in America to its list of Key-worthy stays, bringing the overall total to more than 350 hotels nationwide. Hotel Daphne is the fifth Houston hotel to earn One Key status, joining The Post Oak Hotel, Hotel ZaZa Houston (Museum District), Hotel ZaZa Memorial City, and the Hotel Saint Augustine, a Bunkhouse property in Montrose. The Carr Mansion in Galveston also holds one Michelin Key.

    Similar to the famous Michelin Stars awarded to restaurants, hotels may receive one, two, or three keys, which is defined as follows:

    • One Michelin Key for hotels that offer "very special" stays with service that "provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments."
    • Two Michelin Keys for "exceptional stays" where memorable guest experiences are "always guaranteed" with a special emphasis on the hotel's design or architecture.
    • Three Michelin Keys for hotels that provide "extraordinary stays" for "the ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance."

    No properties in Texas hold three Michelin Keys. The state’s only two key properties are the Commodore Perry Estate (Austin), the Bowie House (Fort Worth), and Hotel Emma (San Antonio).

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