The Woodlands has received two Texas Travel Awards, one for "Best Shopping District" in Texas and another for "Best Art Festival". These annual awards shine a spotlight on the most exciting, innovative, and inviting places around the state, and the winners represent uniquely Texas places and experiences that should be on every traveler's itinerary. This year, Market Street was recognized as the "Best Shopping District" on a statewide level and The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival was recognized as the "Best Art Festival" in the Big Market category.
"It's a great honor to have Market Street and The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival recognized by the Texas Travel Awards," said Nick Wolda, President of Visit The Woodlands. "This shopping district and annual festival have been long-time favorites for visitors and residents in The Woodlands. It's very exciting to have them recognized statewide as notable Texas experiences."
BEST SHOPPING DISTRICT IN TEXAS
The Woodlands' luxury shopping destination, Market Street, was named "Best Shopping District" in the Statewide category. Market Street has a large variety of high-end shops, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Robert Graham, and Nike The Woodlands. In January 2023, Kendra Scott opened a Sips and Sweets Café at Market Street – The first to open outside of Kendra Scott’s headquarters in Austin, Texas.
This is just one of the many new additions to the area, including two new chic restaurants, Bosscat Kitchen + Libations and Sixty Vines, and more high-quality stores, like Omega, Faherty, and Breitling. The area is also home to Central Park (complete with a splash-pad), Hyatt Centric (a boutique full-service hotel), and multiple free events throughout the year.
BEST ART FESTIVAL IN TEXAS
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival was named the "Best Art Festival or Event" in the Big Market category. This annual festival has been a long-standing tradition in The Woodlands, transforming The Woodlands Waterway into an outdoor art gallery with nearly 200 artists, live music, and family-friendly fun each spring. It was voted the "Best Event in The Woodlands" by The Woodlands Online for 11 consecutive years, and was recently named the #1 fine art festival in Texas and #6 in the nation by Art Fair SourceBook.
"The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival and Market Street are prime examples of the many incredible experiences visitors can have in The Woodlands," said Elizabeth Eddins, Executive Director of Visit The Woodlands. "This area has so much to offer. Luxury shopping, public art, outdoor activities, and waterfront dining are waiting for you in The Woodlands."
ABOUT THE TEXAS TRAVEL AWARDS
The Texas Travel Awards (presented by the publishers of Austin Monthly, San Antonio Magazine, and Texas Music) highlight the best places to visit in Texas. Sixty categories are split into two sections: statewide winners and winners by population in "Small Market", "Mid Market", and "Big Market". Submissions for each category are scored by a panel of judges that include travel industry professionals, travel journalists, and a touring musician.
