breck beckons

Charming Colorado ski escape and Texas coastal town top Houston's favorite spring break destinations

Houstonians really love Breckenridge Ski Resort, per the new report.

Breckenridge Ski Resort/Facebook

Spring break is top-of-mind for many Houstonians, and many are escaping our humidity for crisp Colorado air and ski resorts.

And in the latest report from vacation rental specialist Key Data, more Houston spring breakers have set their sights on the Breckenridge Ski Resort more than any other destination. Two other Colorado ski resorts in Steamboat Springs (No. 2) and Vail (No. 3) are also at the top of the list.

Key Data determined their rankings based on the average nightly rate, the number of nights sold, the total accommodation cost, and the length of stay by travelers from Houston who made bookings in the month of March.

Though many Houstonians will stay in the great state of Texas, they won’t be sitting idle at home. They’ll be off to Port Aransas, which was ranked the No. 4 top destination for spring breakers in the report. Coming in at the No. 5 spot for the top destinations for Houston spring breakers is a city in the sunshine state: Destin, Florida.

For the curious minds wondering how much the average spring break stay is for the ski resort in Breckenridge, Key Data’s figured it out. The cost of the average 4.4-night accommodation at the resort adds up to $679 per night, or just over $3000 total. For those looking to stay closer to home by traveling to Port A, you’d be surprised to learn you’re not saving much money. Visitors will spend $852 per night, or $3,704 total for accommodations in Port A for the same amount of time as a spring break vacationer in Colorado.

In a press release, Key Data’s executive director of data insights Melanie Brown said the city’s spring breakers are divided into two categories this year: vacationers looking to see the mountains and embrace the snow, and those who want to catch some rays at the beach.

“Houstonians are having to part with quite large sums to stay in these locations, reflecting the huge popularity of these destinations with travelers from all over the US,” she explained.

The top 5 destinations for Houston spring breakers is:

No. 1 – Breckenridge, Colorado
No. 2 – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
No. 3 – Vail, Colorado
No. 4 – Port Aransas
No. 5 – Destin, Florida

Key Data also determined that 11 million nights for this year’s spring break week have been booked through online vacation rental marketplaces like Airbnb and Vrbo. That’s up 22 percent from last year, which accounted for 9.4 million nights.

The full report can be found at keydatadashboard.com.

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SHUCK AND AWE

Texas farm's massive corn maze honors the late Dolly Parton

Photo courtesy of The MAiZE Inc

San Antonians can find the corn maze near Corpus Christi.

A Robstown, Texas farm is giving a larger-than-life salute to Dolly Parton. Rockin’ K Farms, about three-and-a-half hours from Houston near Corpus Christi, has built a massive corn maze in tribute to the country music icon, who passed away in late August.

The maze is one of 20 U.S. attractions designed by Utah-based The MAiZE Inc. The corn maize consulting company has gone viral in recent years for its campaigns honoring some of Nashville’s biggest stars, including Reba McEntire in 2023, Luke Bryan in 2024, and Lainey Wilson in 2025.

"We are beyond humbled to honor Dolly's legacy, joining the world in mourning the passing of a true American treasure," said MAiZE founder Brett Herbst in a release. "Dolly's impact on the world and her love for farming is immeasurable, and our corn maze tributes now take on new meaning and significance.”

The Robstown maze features a profile of the late singer sporting her signature big, blonde hairdo. A guitar and butterfly — Parton’s personal symbol since childhood — complete the image.

Once inside the labyrinth, guests at Rockin’ K will be able to hunt for clues and play an interactive trivia game testing their knowledge of all things Dolly. Throughout the fall season, visitors will also be able to pose for photo ops, take part in storytelling sessions, and listen to live music.

Fittingly, the corn maze honor Parton’s philanthropic work as much as her musical legacy. Each participating site will donate a portion of their proceeds to Imagination Library, the singer’s nonprofit literacy program that provides free books to children from birth to age five.

The charitable contribution might have been one reason Parton gave the project her blessing, even though she sometimes shied away from tributes.

“I’m grateful for the support of my Imagination Library and am excited to invite people out to get lost in this year’s country music corn maze for a little fun, laughter, and a real good reason to get lost,” Parton said in a statement prior to her death.

In addition to the Dolly corn maze, visitors to Rockin’ K will also find plenty of other family friendly fun, including mini golf, slides, a petting zoo, paintball, and backyard games. There’s also festival food and a pumpkin patch for those who want to carve out their own Parton homages at home.

The Dolly Parton corn maze is open September 26 through November 7 and included in regular Rockin’ K admission ($19.61 online). Hours are noon-10 pm on Saturdays and noon-7 pm on Sundays, except for Halloween night, when the farm closes at 5 pm. Rockin' K Farms is located at 5385 County Rd 52 in Robstown.

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