Residents living in Baytown and The Woodlands have some of the best attractions in the state, offering some of the most unique experiences that every traveler should see for themselves. That's according to the 2023 Texas Travel Awards.

The Texas Travel Awards were created by Austin Monthly, San Antonio Magazine, and Texas Music publishers, and the winners are decided by a panel of industry professional judges, travel journalists, and a musician. 60 categories were chosen and split between statewide best attractions, and best attractions by population into three groups: small market, mid market, and big market.

In all, the Houston area won a total of five awards this year, which highlights just how positively travelers perceive the region.

The coastal city of Baytown, which is just 20 miles east of Houston, earned three accolades in this year’s awards. The Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom, which will take place from 5-10 pm on June 17, won the Best "Mid Market" Community Event. "Welcome 2 Houston" rapper Slim Thug is expected to perform at this year's festivities.

The winner of the Best "Mid Market" Under the Radar Activity is the Birding Boat Tour, and the Baytown Visitor Information Center won the Best "Mid Market" Visitor Center.

The Woodlands took home one award each in the by population and statewide categories. The city's annual Waterway Arts Festivalwas deemed the Best "Big Market" Art Festival or Event, and Market Street was named the Best Shopping District in the state.

For the second consecutive year, the Texas Travel Awards created People's Choice awards for the public to vote on the best destinations in four categories: arts and culture, families, foodies, and outdoor adventures.

Unfortunately for Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth-area cities swept in the People's Choice category. Dallas won the award for Best Destination for Arts and Culture, and Grapevine won the Best Destination for Families award. The outlying towns of Granbury and Mineral Wells took home the awards for Best Destinations for Foodies and Outdoor Adventures, respectively.

Elsewhere in Texas, the Hill Country city of New Braunfels just outside San Antonio took home 12 awards, the most out of any Texas city in this year's rankings.

The full list of winners in the 2023 Texas Travel Awards can be found on their website.