Hit the Road

Conroe is a natural escape for lake lovers seeking outdoor adventures

Nature is at the heart of every visit to Conroe, and not only because of its famous 22,000-acre lake. It also boasts more than 250 miles of forest thanks to W. Goodrich Jones State Forest and Sam Houston National Forest — one of only four national forests in Texas.

And all this natural beauty is just north of Houston, making Conroe an easy escape. Here's a look at what else you can enjoy and explore while in town.

Lake Conroe
Let's start with the big one: Houston's aquatic playground. This massive lake is perfect for every recreational activity, from boating and kayaking to fishing, stand-up paddleboarding, and more.

Opt for a guided fishing trip to help land all kinds of fish, from largemouth bass to black and white crappie. Tours and charters provide everything you need from the boat to the gear — all you have to do is cast your line.

The great outdoors
Off the shores of Lake Conroe, visitors can hike, bike, geocache, and more through miles of forest. In fact, the city's founder, Isaac Conroe, decided in 1881 to settle in the area based on its leafy surroundings — the original towering pines were preserved and still frame the city today.

Get your fresh air with a side of swings by checking out one of the city's many golf courses, including The Golf Club at Margaritaville Lake Resort and Panorama Golf Club.

Be one with nature without an agenda at Lake Conroe Park and 7 Acre Wood, an old-fashioned family fun park with swings, putt-putt, and a petting zoo.

Where to eat
Many restaurants take advantage of their location and offer lakeside dining, with bonus points for sunset views while you dine. Take it a step further with a dinner cruise aboard The Southern Empress, an iconic paddle wheel boat on the lake.

Conroe’s culinary scene brings forward local flavors at more than 40 restaurants, from Tex-Mex favorites at Fajita Jack's on Lake Conroe and authentic Texas barbecue at McKenzie's Barbeque & Burgers to lakeside lounging featuring the freshest catch at Margaritaville's LandShark Bar & Grill.

Visitors can also try locally crafted mead at The Ferm Meadery, or sip on craft beer and wine at spots like Copperhead Brewery, Pacific Yard House, and The Lounge on Main - B E Winery's tasting room.

What to do
View the original Lone Star Flag at The Lone Star Monument & Historical Flag Park, then head 15 miles west to sister city Montgomery to visit the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County.

Historic Downtown Conroe is dotted with decorated art benches, three art galleries, antique shopping at Conroe Central Market and Mimi’s On Main, and additional shopping at local shops and boutiques like Main Street Merchants.

Stop in at the Crighton Theatre to enjoy everything from musicals and plays to live concerts, or pay a visit to the Owen Theatre, which is home to The Players Theatre Company.

Mark your calendar
Conroe is known for hosting long-standing events such as Kidzfest on April 29, 2023, and the annual Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, held this year October 13-15.

Dress up for the Texas Renaissance Festival, located just down the road, on Saturdays, Sundays, and Thanksgiving Friday, happening this year from October 7-November 26.

Get pumped for the Conroe 10 Miler in December and feel the holiday vibes at the Toby Powell Conroe Christmas Celebration, held the second weekend of December.

Escape to Margaritaville
Margaritaville Lake Resort is a Jimmy Buffett-inspired island paradise located on Lake Conroe. Expect well-appointed rooms, heated pools, a spa, golf course, lakeside dining options, and more.

Other lodging options
The brand-new Hyatt Regency Conroe and Convention Center is accepting reservations for August 2023 and beyond, while bed-and-breakfast seekers can rest easy in The Caroline House.

Conroe is also home to hotels such as Holiday Inn Express & Suites, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Best Western, and other recognizable names. Unique boutique stays are offered at Historic Hill House and Farm.

Conroe’s stunning naturescapes offer visitors a retreat-like getaway with a charming small-town feel, all without compromising on amenities and experiences. Plan your visit to Conroe here.

Photo courtesy of Margaritaville Lake Resort

Lake Conroe is the hub for water sports.

video promoted vacation

8 miles high

United and Chef's Table recruit top Houston chef for premium inflight meal

Courtesy of Thorough Fare

Chef Justin Yu will represent Houston on United flights.

United Airlines has a new initiative to lure travelers to fly its premium Polaris business class seating. Beginning August 1, travelers departing from 10 cities around the world — United hubs along with London, Tokyo, and São Paulo — may opt for meals created by some of the best chefs in the world through a new partnership with Chef’s Table, the acclaimed Netflix documentary series.

For flights departing from Houston, United and Chef’s Table recruited Justin Yu, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind Theodore Rex, a fine dining restaurant in downtown that holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. In addition, Yu and Bobby Heugel own Houston hospitality group Thorough Fare, which operates bars and restaurants including Anvil, Better Luck Tomorrow, Squable, and a new, still-unnamed restaurant in Montrose that’s slated to open this summer. A frequent traveler, Yu tells CultureMap that he jumped at the opportunity to work with United and Chef’s Table to create a premium meal that showcases Houston’s food scene.

“There’s always something slightly unexpected about Houston and its food,” Yu explains. “The choice of asking me to be the chef very much represents that. As a native Houstonian, I am very rooted in the city, but always with something slightly unexpected with our food.”

While the specific dishes won’t be revealed until closer to launch, Yu shared the creative direction that inspired his menu, which will include an appetizer, a salad, and an entree. Specifically, diners can expect to see Asian ingredients that reflect Houston’s diversity, just as they would on Theodore Rex’s menu.

“I wanted that slightly Texan touch. To me, the Houston part of it is the most important. There’s such a level of diversity. Introducing light touches of that to the meal was something I considered,” he says.

Part of the consideration was creating flavors that would hold up well when served at 30,000 feet. The meal also needs to match the level of luxury that Polaris offers.

“That use of ingredients that’s maybe something you don’t expect in an in-flight meal is something I thought about quite a bit. How do you introduce a deeper level of umami to the flavors, the possibility for a few local ingredients that are unique to the region.”

Being included in the project puts Yu in some pretty prestigious company. The roster includes Michelin star holders such as Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles), Jenner Tomaska (Esmé in Chicago), David Barzelay (two-star Lazy Bear in San Francisco), and Tomos Parry, whose London restaurant Mountain Yu cites as the one he’s most personally excited to visit.

“Getting to know the other chefs has been really fantastic. I feel very blessed to be part of this project,” he says.

Travelers who fly in the Polaris class enjoy a number of amenities, including all-aisle-access seating, lie-flat beds, and premium bedding by Saks Fifth Avenue. Since last year, United has been updating the seats with larger entertainment screens, sliding privacy doors, and tech upgrades like Bluetooth, wireless charging, and USB-C power outlets.

"United's network spans many of the culinary capitals of the world, allowing us to authentically bring together acclaimed chefs from around the globe," said Andrew Nocella, chief commercial officer, United Airlines, in a statement. "Our collaboration with Chef's Table shows how we're leveraging our unique position as the world's largest airline* to deliver restaurant-quality moments in the sky. Our United Polaris international business class travelers are going to love the new dishes coming later this year."

chefs united airlines