Couples Trip

Love is in the air in League City during your February getaway

Valentine's Day provides the perfect excuse for a romantic getaway, and you don't have to travel far for those vacation vibes.

League City is just 30 miles southeast of Houston and sits on Clear Lake — the country's third-largest boating destination — providing miles of waterfront dining, entertainment, and activities.

Plan a February escape with these itinerary ideas:

Wine and romance
Spend Valentine’s Day day or the whole weekend at South Shore Harbour Resort, known for its elegant design, chic marina-style pool, and proximity to South Shore Harbour Marina on Clear Lake.

Make sure you visit extends through February 16 when the resort is hosting its monthly wine dinner, this time themed around romance and featuring pours from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. The four-course feast will feature four wine pairings plus live entertainment. For reservations, contact 281-334-1000, ext. 2022, or email nmatthews@sshr.com.

Waterfront dining
Speaking of date-night meals: Take advantage of Clear Lake's shores and the eateries that serve up views with their entrees by bookmarking this list of waterfront restaurants.

You spot Opus Bistro & Steakhouse, which sits just above the pool at South Shore Harbour Resort and overlooks the marina. Sample plates of lobster risotto, chicken fried veal, or Cajun shrimp and grits in an elegant setting.

Also on the list is Sundance Grille II, nestled among the sailboats and trees in Waterford Harbor Marina and accessible by car or boat. Dine on seafood such as crab cakes topped with choron sauce or shrimp Bimini. On Sundays, nurse a mimosa or two and enjoy their well-loved champagne brunch from 10 am-3 pm.

Other great date night options include Main Street Bistro in the Historic District, Craft 96 for craft beer fans, and Red River BBQ and Red River Cantina.

Love by the pound
A sweet tooth can't be confined to dessert, so start your day by sharing the famous 5 lb. cinnamon roll at Bonnie's Donuts.

This epic breakfast does require 24-hour notice to be made, and if any of the other artfully decorated, colorfully customized creations catch your eye for V-Day, make sure to order with at least two day's notice.

Relax and rejuvenate
Feeling the need to take it easy after all that delicious food? League City's got you covered with these suggestions.

Charter a sunset cruise to enjoy not only beautiful views, but also possibly spot some frolicking dolphins.

Explore local boutiques stocked with one-of-a-kind finds. The number – 24! – of local shops on Main Street and League City’s Historic District are surprising and offer a delightful way to spend the day. Plan your perfect shopping trip with this guide.

Say "aaaah" with a couples massage or equally pampering treatment like a facial or body wrap at a variety of area spas.

Say "I do"
Of course, the most memorable way to express your love in League City is by getting married — elopement-style.

The picture-perfect wedding venue Butler's Courtyard has brought back its Valentine's Day Elopement Extravaganza, where for only $150 couples will receive a wedding ceremony, licensed wedding officiant, professional wedding photographer, and a personal wedding cake to-go, all in 15 minutes.

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See more ideas and plan your February getaway to League City here.

Photo courtesy of League City CVB

Stop by Sundance Grille II for Sunday brunch.

vacation holidays promoted

karma is a cat

Cat lady Taylor Swift inspires $13 adoptions at Houston Humane Society in honor of her Eras Tour shows

Taylor Swift/Instaggram

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Megastar Taylor Swift has many titles: pop culture icon, Grammy Award winner, singer-songwriter.

But we're guessing one title she will never shake off is cat lady. A simple scroll through her 'gram reveals she's pawsitively (sorry) obsessed with her three cats: Olivia Benson (named after the Law & Order heroine), Meredith Grey (so named for the Grey's Anatomy protagonist), and Benjamin Button (after Brad Pitt's reverse-aging hero).

To honor Tay Tay's three Houston shows this week, Houston Humane Society is hosting a "Lucky 13" cat adoption event. Dubbed The Forever Home Era — to toast her Eras Tour stops — the event makes cats housed in the shelter for more than 30 days available for adoption for a mere $13 (a nod to Swift's lucky number).

Typically, Houston Humane's cat adoption fee is $50. Prospective pet parents can scroll through future fur babies here — remember, the kitties need to be in the shelter 30 days or more. The adoption offer runs through Sunday, April 23 — Swift's last show date.

Fans of Swift know that the pop princess is so cat-focused that she took a "cat class" during production of the film adaptation of Cats (she played Bombalurina in the movie).

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A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

“I have cats,” she explained to Time in 2019. “I’m obsessed with them. I love my cats so much that when a role came up in a movie called Cats, I just thought, like, I gotta do this,” she said. “Like, this is my calling in life to do this—for the ladies.”

Her cats have starred in commercials, in her video for "Me," all over social media, and even on her cakes (see above). Swift even had earrings made in Olivia Benson's likeness, a move that Olivia probably appreciates — but surely would never publicly express gratitude for, given that she's a cat and all.

“They’re very dignified," Swift noted in the Time article of her kitties. “They’re independent. They’re very capable of dealing with their own life.”

Apparently so, as apparently Olivia is worth (read this while sitting) an estimated $97 million, according to The Ultimate Pet Rich List (which exists, apparently). Benson's worth, per the list, comes from her music videos, her own merchandise line, and cameos in big-budget ads for the likes of Diet Coke and Ned Sneakers.

Sadly, Swifties can't bring their kitties — even newly adopted ones — to her Houston shows (our Gabi De la Rosa plans your fit for the show here). But no doubt, they'll have fun serenading their new furry friend with all of Tay Tay's jams (as one does with any cat).

Meet the adoptable cats at The Houston Humane Society’s Audrey Jones Beck Adoption Center (14700 Almeda Rd.).