5 Ways to Experience Fall in The Woodlands

As American poet John Howard Bryant once wrote, “Autumn … the year’s last, loveliest smile.” Here in The Woodlands, the cooler weather and ample sunshine will make you smile, even if you have the back-to-school blues. Treat yourself to delicious food and a glass of wine as you take in a view of Lake Woodlands from an outdoor patio. Hike on winding trails through a peaceful pine forest. Listen to globe-trotting bands light up the stage in one of the most spectacular open-air venues around.

Located just north of Houston, The Woodlands is the perfect fall getaway for romantic weekend retreats, family getaways or anyone who loves being outdoors. Discover the many ways you can enjoy the season.

RELAX ON AN OUTDOOR PATIO

Once the chilly air of autumn sets in, you’ll probably want to spend as much time as you can out in the inviting sunshine. Fortunately, that’s easy to do in The Woodlands. Many of our more than 150 restaurants have outdoor patios where you can relish open-air dining at its finest. The lion’s share of these eateries reside at Hughes Landing, The Woodlands Waterway and Market Street, three areas within walking or biking distance of each other that are also linked by the free Woodlands Town Center Trolley. Since everything is so close together, you could spend an entire day on your very own progressive dining adventure. With so much great food and fall sunshine to savor, why wouldn’t you?

LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC ON A CRISP FALL EVENING

From talented local and regional musicians, The Woodlands has it all. Yet unlike most other places, you can catch a show as you delight in the brisk air of an autumn evening. The Woodlands has a few free outdoor concert series in the fall, Concerts in the Park at Northshore Park on Sunday evenings (Sept. – Oct.) and Rock the Row at the Hughes Landing Band Shell on Thursdays (Oct. – Nov.). Both have different themes for each performance, ranging from classic rock and funk to covers of popular 80’s songs. Venture out to a restaurant patio, and you might just find yourself listening in delight to a skilled local musician. Regardless of what kind of music you like, you can find it outdoors in The Woodlands this fall.

HIKE, BIKE & GET OUTDOORS

Autumn’s friendlier weather and abundant sunshine sets up the perfect conditions to spending time outdoors. With miles of trails to hike or bike, The Woodlands is just the place to do that. Follow the trails that meander through The George Mitchell Nature Preserve’s dense pine forest and you’ll feel like you’re far from it all. If you’re looking to work up a sweat, jog, or ride your bike along the more than 220 miles of paved trails that weave through The Woodlands. Since these pathways are separated from traffic, they provide a safe place to exercise and get around town.

TRY STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING

You may have seen others doing it, but until now you haven’t tried it. After all, how can someone stand on a board? Thanks to its calm water, and the refreshing fall weather, Lake Woodlands is the perfect place to try stand-up paddleboarding. Rent a board from either the Riva Row Boat House or the Lakes Edge Boat House and you’ll feel like you’re walking on water as you explore the 200-acre lake. Keep an eye out for majestic herons and egrets wading on the banks of the lake, or the occasional bald eagle soaring overhead. If stand-up paddleboarding isn’t your thing, rent a single or tandem kayak at either boat house.

PLAY A FEW ROUNDS OF DISC GOLF

With a flick of your wrist, you try to bend your disc around a set of towering pine trees. Toss it well and you may have an easy route to the basket. Get it wrong and, well, at least you’ll get to breathe in all that fresh fall air as you track down your errant disc. This is all part of the experience when you play your way through The Woodlands’ two public disc golf courses. The 18-hole, par-54 course at Bear Branch Sportsfield Park takes you through mostly flat terrain and thickets of pine trees, while the nine-hole Terramont Park course uses the slope of a steep hill to challenge your aim. Bring a few discs (if you’re new, you can buy them at your local sporting goods store) and some friends for a relaxing afternoon on the course.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in The Woodlands this fall. Plan your next getaway, and see what else The Woodlands has to offer, here.