Why We Loved Our Summer Staycation at The Woodlands Resort

It’s hard to believe that summer is finally coming to an end.  I have mixed feelings about this, on one hand I have absolutely loved spending quality time with my kids and family this summer. On the other hand I am really looking forward to a routine schedule and some quite time during the day to get some work done.  But, before we say goodbye to summer we decided to have one final hurrah and enjoy a family summer staycation at The Woodlands Resort.

Sometimes staying close to home is a great way to really relax and unwind, which is just what our family needed before we head back to the hustle and bustle of school.  Thanks to our friends at The Woodlands Resort we were able to enjoy a fun filled weekend and lots of quality family time.

The Woodlands Resort is just north of Houston and a short 3 hour drive from Dallas.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but when we arrived I immediately feel in love with this property set amid the lush woodland.  It’s nice to escape the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle and this resort definitely felt like it was miles away from civilization, even though you really aren’t!

As soon as we arrived and checked in our kids were begging to go to the pool and check things out.  We headed to the mail pool area with the beautiful waterfall and slides.  I grabbed a few lounge chairs and settled in to relax and watch them jump enthusiastically from the edge of the pool all the while yelling “Mom, watch this!”  I would definitely recommend grabbing an activity guide when you arrive, there are so many great activities and things to do throughout the day that you won’t want to miss out on fun things like roasting s’mores and the Dive-In movie.

After a while we found our way back to the lazy river and grabbed some tubes to enjoy the ride.  My kids could have spent the rest of the vacation floating around the lazy river and been as happy as could be, this was by far their favorite place to be.  We eventually ended up grabbing some lounge chairs on the backside of the lazy river once we realized they really weren’t ever planning to leave.  It was the perfect quite little spot, where we could sit and relax and keep an eye on this kids as they went down the smaller slide and floated around the river. It was also away from the crowds and loud music so when we wanted a more quite and relaxing atmosphere (AKA I wanted to read my book) we headed back there.

All that relaxing and swimming makes you hungry and The Woodlands Resort had some of the best food.  Most of the time we simply dinned al fresco poolside from the Cool Water Cafe.  The service was great and the food was delicious, but the best part is our kids were able to keep splashing around in the pool while we waited for our food.  Much better than getting a coloring page and a package of crayons to keep them entertained while waiting on dinner, don’t you agree?! Here’s a tip, consider taking advantage of the Endless Cool Water Quencher from Cool Water Cafe. For only $8, you get free soda and iced tea refills all day. And, be sure to take advantage of the complimentary ice water with lemon slices and little cups of frozen grapes that the wonderful poolside servers dole out to cool you off, all day long.

This vacation was all about truly unplugging and cherishing the last few moments of summer with my family. Some of our best moments at The Woodlands Resort weren’t captured on camera, but their smiles and constant giggles were enough to melt my heart. The simple meaningful moments like where my daughter finally trusted me and decided to try the slide (after walking down more than once) and seeing her smile as she slid into the pool.  Seeing their eyes light up at the late night Dive-In movie and the sleepy snuggles as we carried them back to the room.

• The Woodlands Resort is located about 27 miles north of Downtown Houston (off of I-45)
• They have several great restaurants for you to dine, don’t miss the Breakfast Buffet it is the best and with so many options everyone will start the morning happy
• The Woodlands Resort features 36 holes of championship golf
• They have an amazing “waterscape” with a lazy river and a spiral plunge slide
• With over 194 miles of jogging and bike trails take advantage of the bike rentals and enjoy a ride with the family
• The rooms are spacious, and include lots of ammenities
• The Woodlands Resort is located close to many attractions in the Woodlands: The Woodlands Mall, Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavillion, Old Town Spring, Splashtown, Main Event, and lots more.

This vacation was all about no distractions, just us enjoying each other’s company before the reality of everyday schedules and responsibilities set in.  We loved our trip to the Woodlands Resort, it was the perfect summer staycation and a way for our family to reconnect and fill our bucket with lots of extraordinary memories and happy giggles!