Holiday Escape

Margaritaville Lake Resort proves there's no place like paradise for the holidays

Good tidings and even greater joy are waiting at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe this season, where the five o’clock vibes are looking plenty festive.

Break free from the hustle and bustle and take advantage of the resort’s special promotion, “There’s No Place Like Paradise for the Holidays,” that gets you incredible deals for that suite life with no resort fees — plus access to the onsite golf club and spa along with mini-golf, tennis, pickleball, boat rentals, heated pools, and more.

You can also get in on a number of festive events at this lakeside locale. Check out these ideas for how everyone can find their own slice of paradise.

For the shoppers
For those heavily invested in retail therapy, Margaritaville delivers. On Friday and Saturday, December 9-10, there’s a holiday market hosted inside Joe Merchant's Coffee and Provisions with hand-crafted items like holiday décor, jewelry, clothing, candles, and more.

Plus, holiday sips like sugar cookie lattes, caramel brulée lattes, and peppermint mochas provide just the right kind of shopping fuel.

For the littles
It wouldn’t be the holidays without Breakfast with Santa — and the big man himself will be in the house along with his special guest, Elsa from Frozen. No matter how many times you’ve heard “Let It Go,” you won’t want to miss this adorable time for the fam.

It’s happening two Saturdays only: December 10 and 17, and reservations are highly recommended.

For the fans
With plenty of college and professional football left this season, Margaritaville has every single game day covered at both the Boathouse Bar & Lounge and LandShark Bar and Grill.

Get in on a full menu of game-day snacks and drinks and plenty of big screens in the house. It’s a touchdown no matter which games you choose to watch.

For the revelers
There are almost too many ways to ring in the new year at Margaritaville — almost.

LandShark Bar & Grill will be serving up New Year’s-themed food and drink specials with a DJ and dancing.

Fire dancers will be heating things up at Palm Court, where you’ll also find hand-rolled cigars and tequila tastings.

A Champagne bar, four-course NYE dinner, and live entertainment is on the menu at License to Chill Bar & Café; and Boathouse Bar & Lounge has more live music and a balloon drop at midnight.

You can even choose all of the above with the resort’s New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl. At the end of the night, you’re just an elevator ride away from your suite. The next morning, hit up New Year’s brunch at Waterside Cove and a day of football-and-chill at LandShark Bar & Grill.

Photo courtesy of Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe

Meet you there, Santa?

Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe is located at 600 Margaritaville Pkwy. in Montgomery, just an hour from Houston and about three hours from Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. Learn more and plan your paradise here.

holidays vacation promoted

REVIVING THE ALAMO

Texas landmark the Alamo reclaims historic cannon from private ownership

Photo by Gower Brown/ Unsplash

A 90-pound cannon used in the Battle of the Alamo is returning to its San Antonio home.

It turns out the Alamo's original 1836 cannons are good for more than just defense — they also make a sturdy birdbath. After serving as a garden ornament for Samuel Maverick’s descendants, an authentic piece of San Antonio history is finally returning home to the revered mission.

According to an Alamo announcement, the swivel cannon weighs 90 pounds and is approximately three feet long. The relic was originally found in 1852 when Maverick built a home near the northwest corner of the battle’s site.

The lawyer and land baron was saved from death when he was urged by William Barret Travis to ride to the Texas Declaration of Independence convention in Washington-on-the-Brazos to send reinforcements. Returning to the Alamo’s grounds, he found a cache of cannons buried where the Hotel Gibbs sits today.

From there, the cannon wound up at the Maverick family’s Sunshine Ranch on the Northwest Side, where it was eventually incorporated into the garden DIY project. In 1955, the cannon was removed from the ranch, and the current location remained a mystery until the Alamo received a call from a Maverick relative in Corpus Christi.

Alamo cannon This Alamo artifact gives an idea of what the cannon will look like once restoration is complete.Photo courtesy of the Alamo.

“The relative graciously donated the cannon to the Alamo,” wrote a rep from the mission. “Alamo Senior Researcher and Historian Kolby Lanham and Head Conservator Pam Jary Rosser drove down the very next day to take this piece of history home to the Alamo.”

Although the artillery is mostly intact, it is missing its trunnions (the pivot-point protrusions on the sides of the barrel) and cascabel (the knob and neck assembly at the rear of historic muzzle-loading cannons). The parts were removed by the Mexican army to make the cannon inoperable.

Once preservation is complete, this cannon and the Alamo Collection’s other battle cannons will make their way to the upcoming Visitor Center and Museum, where they will be joined by rocker Phil Collins' collection of Alamo artifacts. The Alamo is in the midst of a $550 million preservation project, which includes conserving the Alamo Church, Long Barrack, and the mission’s original footprint. The museum is on track to debut in late 2027.

history museums artifacts texas history the alamo

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REVIVING THE ALAMO

Texas landmark the Alamo reclaims historic cannon from private ownership