Things To See:
The Fountains at Waterway Square. This 120-foot water wall releases a choreographed, night-lit display of dancing columns of water, cascading waterfalls and “boomer” jets shooting water more than five stories high, located along The Woodlands Waterway. 

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. An outdoor concert pavilion surrounded by a lush forest which accommodates up to 16,500 people.  Beneath its soaring, white fabric roof is covered reserved seating for 3,000. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is currently ranked fifth in a listing of the world’s top 100 amphitheaters, based on the number of tickets sold.

Town Green Park. The “Central Park” of The Woodlands is located on the banks of The Woodlands Waterway.  The park is a great place for a family picnic, to fly a kite, or just unwind. 

Riva Row Boat House. Enjoy The Woodlands Waterway and Lake Woodlands by kayak! The Riva Row Boat House is a 1.6 acre park located at the juncture of the upper and lower levels of The Waterway. Provided by Orvis, single and tandem kayaks, lifejackets, and paddles are available for rental. Enjoy an afternoon on water while seeing The Woodlands from a different point of view.

Events :
Taste of the Town. Have you ever wanted to try 70 different restaurants in one night? Don’t miss your chance at The Chamber’s Taste of the Town in January.   Taste of the Town is an annual event hosted by the South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce. Attendees enjoy mouth-watering appetizers, entrees, side dishes, desserts, pastries and beverages from some of the area’s finest restaurants, caterers, bakeries and beverage companies. Enjoy culinary delights, a silent auction with fabulous items and listen to the area’s best performers compete for the title of the next The Woodlands Idol.  This event attracts over 6,000 attendees.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival.  Every April, more than 200 national and regional artists showcase their original works of art along The Woodlands Waterway.  In 2008, over 15,000 people attended the event, and 99% of those surveyed were satisfied with the festival.

Cinco de Mayo. The Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber proudly puts on an annual Fiesta Universal Celebration (Cinco de Mayo) that has grown to be a community wide event. The Hispanic/Latin culture is showcased through live entertainment, authentic food, and arts. This event attracts over 5,000 attendees.

Wine & Food Week. Every June, one of America’s largest and most comprehensive wine and food events comes to The Woodlands. It is an event that lasts 8 days, with over 40 events, 500 wines, and 50 restaurants.  The events attracts 10,000 people, and of those surveyed, 59% stayed overnight in The Woodlands.

Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza.  Celebrate America’s birthday with the July 3rd “Star Spangled Salute,” a free concert presented by the Houston Symphony at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.  Celebrate all of the traditions of July 4th at Waterway Square, followed by one of the largest fireworks displays in the greater Houston area.  Collectively, Fourth of July events attract over 100,000 people each year.

The Children’s Festival. Each November, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is transformed into a giant playground of fun for the young and young at heart.  Award-winning children's performers educate and entertain thousands of children during four days of non-stop fun and excitement. This event attracts over 25,000 attendees.

Run Thru The Woods.
The Annual Run Thru the Woods is an annual charity event designed for all ages and levels of fitness. Proceeds benefit the South Montgomery County YMCA Partners Program, Oak Ridge High School Operation Graduation, The Woodlands High School Operation Graduation, Conroe ISD AFJROTC and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Education Outreach Program. This event has 4,000 participants and raised over $100,000 for local youth charities last year.

iWOW, International Winter On The Waterway.  Held in November in conjunction with the annual Lighting of the Doves festival, iWOW is a day-long celebration in November which recognizes the cultural diversity of The Woodlands with food, dancing, crafts and music from around the world. This event attracts 15,000 people in conjunction with Lighting of the Doves.  

Lighting of the Doves.  This annual festival of lights, live music, dancing and a snow hill for the kids highlight this family event which kicks off the holiday season in The Woodlands. This event attracts 15,000 people in conjunction with iWOW. 

The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center & The Woodlands Winter Wonderland.  The largest seasonal outdoor ice rink in the Southwest is open from mid November until mid-January at the corner of Six Pines and Lake Robbins Drive. The Woodlands Winter Wonderland is illuminated with holiday scenes and storybook displays next to The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center. The Ice Rink attracts over 40,000 skaters and 150,000 visitors though The Woodlands Winter Wonderland.

Shopping:
The Woodlands boasts over 5,000,000 square feet of shopping space, including:

Market Street.  This upscale shopping and entertainment
destination is home to Houston’s only Lilly Pulitzer store and Texas’ only Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café & Emporium, among a host of other high-end boutiques set in an intimate, town square setting.  Market Street dining options include the award-winning cuisine of Jasper’s, Uni Sushi and Cru – A Wine Bar.

The Woodlands Mall.  More than one million square feet teeming with popular retailers including Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Bebe, White House/Black Market, Chico’s, Coach, Coldwater Creek, Jos. A Bank Clothier, and more.  Its Courtyard Shops include great home furnishings stores such as Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Williams-Sonoma.

Alden Bridge Village Center. Over 130,000 square feet of retail space including Baskin Robbins, GNC, and L’Avantage, an Aveda hair concept salon and day spa. 

Cochran’s Crossing Shopping Center. Specialty stores include The Beverage Shoppe, with its impressive selection of wines, liquors, cigars and gift items, and outstanding restaurants such as Alamo Joe’s and Skeeter’s Mesquite Grille.

College Park Plaza. Highlights of this 130,000 square foot shopping center include Shankz Black Light Miniature Golf, Abbey Road Boutique that carries such lines as Juicy Couture, True Religion and Trina Turk, and Piccomolo Italian Ice Cream which offers gelato, shakes, smoothies, and espresso.

Grogan’s Mill Village Center. This center features such restaurants as Becks Prime, Fuddrucker’s, and Brother’s Pizza.  The Woodlands ATA Black Belt Academy is also located within the Village Center.

Indian Springs Village Center. Over 130,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space including the internationally-inspired restaurants of Mi Luna, a ‘tapas’ restaurant and bar serving Spanish food with live entertainment, and Sakekawa, a Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar.

Panther Creek Shopping Center. Upwards of 130,000 square feet of retail space including Teacups and Tadpoles which sells unique children’s clothing, gifts and accessories, and Marta’s Ladies Boutique which carries updated clothing and accessories, including Brighton.

Research Forest Plaza. Here you’ll find the Schakolad Chocolate Factory which features fresh handmade European-style fine chocolates as well as Sorbetto’s Coffee & Gelato which specializes in Italian ice cream and gourmet coffee. 

Sterling Ridge Shopping Center. 130,000 square feet of space including such shops as Natural Pawz, a state of the art pet grooming facility that also offers all natural pet foods and treats, as well as a pet bakery, and the Great Harvest Bread Co. which boasts 100% stone ground whole wheat breads and sweets.

Sports & Recreation:
Throughout The Woodlands, guests can discover 110 parks and more than 145 miles of hike-and-bike trails. 

At The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center, guests enjoy the Forest Oasis Waterscape™, a unique water experience with 30-foot, double-helix waterslides, 3D underwater marine murals and underwater music, Puffy’s Sprayground and a relaxation pool and hot tub. The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center also offers two, 18-hole golf courses for its guests, Panther Trail™ and The Oaks™. It has 21 lighted tennis courts, including four indoors with clay and hard-court surfaces.

Area Attractions/Day Trips:   
     
Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory. This creamery produces one of the most popular brands of ice cream in Texas. Blue Bell is only available in about 20% of the nation’s supermarkets, yet it ranks as one of the top three best selling ice creams in the country. Approximately a 1 1/2 hour drive.

Houston Museum of Natural Science. From dinosaurs to star clusters, the Houston Museum of Natural Science offers educational fun and excitement. And, the IMAX Theater presents the ultimate movie experience on one of the world’s largest screens. Other attractions include the museum with permanent and visiting exhibits, the planetarium, butterfly center and the Challenger Center.

San Jacinto Monument. Battlefields. Battleships. Books. A visit to the San Jacinto Museum of History is a time to remember! On April 21, 1836, Mexican rule over Texas came to a dramatic close. The climax of the Texas Revolution, the Battle of San Jacinto eventually moved America’s western border to the Pacific Ocean. The San Jacinto Monument is the world’s tallest monument tower. While you’re there, you can tour the historic Battleship Texas—once the most powerful weapon in the world—enjoy the nature trail, go biking or participate in one of the state’s most interesting birding environments.

Space Center Houston. Space Center Houston offers fun for the whole family with activities and educational information. Attractions include a tour of NASA, Kids space Place, Astronaut Gallery, Starship Gallery and the newly opened Amazon voyage.

Splashtown. Seasonal attraction. Check hours before going. A water park with tons of water and fun - just 10 minutes from The Woodlands. Pools, rapids and rides including the Ultimate Storm Tornado. The excitement begins on a platform set 75 feet in the air where daring riders are set in motion down a 132-foot long tunnel and thrown into a giant open-ended funnel. However, guests do not have to brave this storm alone: Tornado provides specially designed, 2-person cloverleaf-shaped tubes for families or groups of friends to ride together. These unique tubes navigate riders through the giant funnel, splashing back and forth on 5,000 gallons of swirling water. When riders arrive at the vortex of the Tornado, they are sent through the eye of the storm into a cool catch pool below.

Washington on the Brazos State Park. This scenic drive is popular with locals during the wildflower season in late March through April. The 293-acre state historic site, maintained by Texas Parks and Wildlife, is located on the original town site of Washington, a major political and commercial center in early Texas. The site is comprised of three main attractions Independence Hall, Barrington Living History Farm and the Star of the Republic Museum.

City of Houston.  A short drive south to Houston provides professional sports teams (Houston Astros Baseball, Houston Texans Football, Houston Rockets Basketball, Houston Dynamo Soccer, and Houston Aeros Hockey), world-renowned fine arts (Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, Alley Theatre), and world-class museums (Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston).             

Lake Conroe. Located approximately 20 minutes north of The Woodlands, extending 21 miles in length and covering 21,000 surface acres, Lake Conroe offers clean, clear water for a large variety of recreation (boating, fishing, hunting, golfing, swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, pleasure boating, etc.). Luxurious hotels and condominiums, quality RV Parks, waterfront boat storage with valet launching, luxurious waterfront real estate developments are only a few of the attractions to this exceptional man made destination.

Public Safety. One of the lowest crime rates in the country for any commercial shopping centers according to crime statistic studies. The Woodlands contracts additional county deputies, constables and courtesy mounted patrol riding horseback throughout the Town Center area. Additionally, The Woodlands contracts with two bordering cities for additional police presence.