• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Houston First
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    where to travel right now

    Indulge in an epic spa retreat and 9 more Texas travel tidbits for January

    Amber Heckler
    Jan 10, 2024 | 1:11 pm
    Hiatus Spa + Retreat

    May the new year bring more relaxing spa days.

    Photo courtesy of Hiatus Spa + Retreat

    Texans who've resolved to take more vacations in the new year can start with a quick getaway this month. From blockbuster art and theater to wine, rodeos, and hotel and spa deals, there a plenty of ways to fill an itinerary in all of Texas' hot spots. Here are 10 events and happenings to help plan a fun-filled getaway in January.

    Along the Gulf Coast

    The Margaritaville Beach Resort on South Padre Island is already earning a name for itself after its summer 2023 opening. The tropical resort was recently named one of the best new hotels in the nation by USA Today, whose nominees were chosen independently by editors, travel experts, and readers. It was the only Texas hotel on the list – ranking No. 6 – with USA Today praising the chain's on-site restaurants, bars, and its "over-the top" fun atmosphere. Swimming in the year-round heated pool and relaxing at the resort's Sapphire Spa are undeniably enticing winter escape activities. Room rates at Margaritaville begin at $140 per night.

    At home in Houston

    Houston's bustling art scene gets bigger and better with every year, and 2024 has kicked off with with a surge of can't-miss new art exhibits and galleries. Choices include centuries of African American art in a special traveling exhibition on display at the Holocaust Museum, provocative contemporary art at the Blaffer Museum, and a mixed arts festival at the MATCH. Ticket prices vary, so make sure to check CultureMap's event calendar and museum websites for more information.

    If the ideal getaway involves a shopping spree, The Sale Houston's 10th anniversary extravaganza should be on your can't-miss list. The three-day weekend event at the Bayou City Event Center, from January 11-13, will feature over 50 popular Houston stores offering discounts that start at a tempting 20 percent and soar up to 75 percent off, making it easy to score stylish finds at prices that won't break the bank. One-day general admission begins at $30 ($40 at the door), and two-day general admission is $50. A Thursday VIP preview shopping event with re-entry access for the remaining days is $250. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.

    Around Texas

    In anticipation of the new Mean Girls musical, Hotel ZaZa properties in Austin, Houston, and Dallas are debuting a Mean Girls "Fetch" package for travelers booking stays January 12-28. Guests will receive a $50 credit for room service mimosas, a "burn book" in-suite game, a "Regina's Radiant Renewal" facial from the hotel spa for two guests, and two bright pink robes which guests can take home. Guests can use the code "FETCH" while booking directly on Hotel ZaZa's website. Nightly rates for the Mean Girls "Fetch" package start at $785, and decrease as more nights are added.

    Hiatus Spa and Retreat – with locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston – are going all in on the "new year new you" ethos of January. Their "The Winter Fire Epic Retreat" features a rejuvenating facial, a calming body treatment, and a manicure/pedicure special. Guests can also take advantage of the spa's "Peel Deal," which grants a free add-on service if a guest purchases a medical grade chemical peel, or the ultra-gentle "29 Again Facial" ($129-$205), or deep-cleansing "Best Facial Ever" ($159-$205). Services under the "Winter Fire Epic Retreat" range from $109-$205. Guests can book at their preferred location on Hiatus Spa's website.

    In San Antonio

    Tim Burton fans only have until Sunday, January 14 to catch the McNay Art Museum's The Nightmare Before Christmas exhibition in celebration of the stop-motion film's 30th anniversary, but there's still plenty to see to keep visitors coming back for more. New exhibitions include "Eye of a Collector: The John M. Parker Jr. Bequest," which details a San Antonio native's journey collecting minimalist and conceptual art; and "Latin Exoskeleton" by brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre, which transforms the museum's AT&T Lobby wall by combining trompe l’oeil wallpaper with lenticular images. General admission ranges from $10-$20, with free admission for museum members, veterans and their families, and children aged 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased via the museum's website.

    Around Austin

    A breathtaking Italian circus is splashing into Austin with high-flying mermaids and pirates at Barton Creek Square from now until Monday, January 15. Cirque Italia's new production begins with Ringmaster “Clown Rafinha” fishing when he unexpectedly catches a bottle with a treasure map stuffed inside. Rafinha's journey continues as he faces storms on the high seas, dreams of angelic aerialists, and more. Ticket prices range from $15-$55 with discounts available for children ages 2-12, and can be purchased online via cirqueitalia.com.

    In the Hill Country

    Popular Texas winemakers Wine for the People and William Chris Wine Company teamed up to open a new tasting room in Fredericksburg this month, at 113 East Park St. Wine for the People founder Rae Wilson has been making wines for nearly a decade, and has previous experience as a sommelier and wine educator, making her one of the few female wine experts in the state. WCWC is also incorporating Wilson's Dandy Bubbles and La Valentína brands into its portfolio of wines. Reservations ($25 per guest) are now open, and can be made online via Wine for the People's website.

    In North Texas

    The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is returning Friday, January 12 for three weeks of Western experiences. One of the city's biggest events of the year draws crowds to Cowtown for livestock and horse shows, bull riding, midway rides, and more, but no rodeo is complete without a slate of talented live music acts. This year's concert series includes country stars Tanya Tucker, Jamey Johnson, Sammy Kershaw, Old Crow Medicine Show, Trace Adkins, and Motown legend Smokey Robinson. Tickets begin at $44, and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

    Dallas takes command of theater arts this month, with must-see concerts, musicals, and shows throughout January. Notable productions include Dog Man: The Musical by TheaterWorksUSA, which runs January 11-28 at Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, and Theatre Three's I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change from January 18-25. AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Jagged Little Pill, based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music, and then Broadway Dallas presents Tina: The Tina Turner Musical January 23-February 4. Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue rounds out the month, January 30-February 4 at the Wyly Theatre. Ticket prices vary per show and seating arrangement.

    traveltexasrodeospasartstheatersouth padre islandresortshotelsvacations
    news/travel
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.

    H-E-Buzz

    H-E-B delights Texas travelers with airport vending machine pop-ups

    Brandon Watson
    Dec 12, 2025 | 10:15 am
    H-E-B vending pop-up
    Austin-Bergstrom Airport/ Instagram
    H-E-B says it will bring surprise Texas travelers with more holiday pop-ups.

    New H-E-B stores seem to be getting bigger and bigger, but its newest locations is taking the opposite track. The beloved San Antonio grocery store is surprising holiday travelers with tiny vending machine pop-ups, offering free swag at Texas' major airports, including Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport on December 14 and Hobby Airport on December 16.

    The Texas staple first surprised travelers at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) on December 10 with a tiny vending machine pop-up. Delighted visitors were given a “H-E-B boarding pass,” redeemable for some of the store’s most coveted merch. Among the finds stocked were cushy concha slippers, Cafe Olé coffee, and the ever-popular flour tortilla blanket.

    “No store does what? More!” wrote the airport in an Instagram post. “Our passengers were obsessed!”

    Already cherished by Texans for its prized pre-made foods and its “Texas FEMA” efforts through its in-house disaster response team, H-E-B has become a viral sensation in 2025. In June, TikToker Anna the Colossal Titan racked up hundreds of thousands of views for a video showing her smuggling 200 H-E-B tortillas in her backpack.


    @annathecolossaltitan goodmorning austin #happyinternationalbaggettersday ♬ Easy - Commodores


    In October, the grocer made more headlines by releasing a collection of heavy metal-themed t-shirts in collaboration with Nashville graphic artist Connor Dwyer. The limited drop of 1,000 shirts sold out in seconds.

    According to H-E-B’s Instagram reels, the company has not finished spreading holiday cheer. It says Lone Star travelers should be on the lookout for more airport pop-ups soon. Homesick Texans who aren’t lucky enough to stumble on a kiosk can always purchase swag like shopping cart ornaments, Creamy Creations puzzles, and mystery box keychains through the brand shop.

    Houston is not the only stop on the holiday pop-up tour. The H-E-B team will be at the following Texas airports, with the fun kicking off between 11:30 am to noon on the selected dates:

    • Friday, December 12: San Antonio International Airport
    • Sunday, December 14: Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport
    • Tuesday, December 16: Houston's William P. Hobby Airport
    • Thursday, December 18: Dallas Fort Worth Airport
    • Friday, December 19: Dallas Love Field Airport
    travelpop-upsaustingrocery storesh-e-b
    news/travel
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.
    Loading...