Houston Road Trips: Our Editor’s Picks

Sometimes you just want to get out of town, quickly, without booking a flight or making a lot of advance arrangements. I understand you. A change of scenery always fills my cup. Especially as Houston’s endless summer approaches.

Here are a handful of my favorite quick trips, all within not too strenuous driving distance from Houston.

Distance from downtown Houston: 95 miles

What was once a small town with a biannual antiques week has become a year-round destination for pickers and city dwellers looking for an escape. New boutique hotels, new restaurants and, yes, new shops, abound. I like the centrally located Hotel Lulu, owned by Houston-based Armando and Cinda Palacios, and its charming but lively bar; ditto for the chic and more remote Red Antler Bungalows, by Houstonians John Cone and Greg Fourticq. Lunch at Garden Co. Cafe followed by a cocktail (or three) at the eclectic Ellis Motel in Henkel Square is by Rigeuer. In the evening, cut a country and western rug to the sounds of live music at Stone Cellar.

Distance from downtown Houston: 140 miles

“The Chuck,” just across the Texas-Louisiana border, is a hard-working town with open-armed hospitality and plenty of attractions. Especially if you’re into gambling, with casino hotels including the gold-plated Golden Nugget and its currently-renovated neighbor, L’Auberge, as well as other options like Caesars’ new Horseshoe Lake Charles (formerly Isle of Capri ) which houses a Gordon. Ramsay Steakhouse. Don’t go home without a gloriously messy, calorie-worth po-boy from Darrell’s – the Special is filled with ham, turkey, roast beef and dipped in roast beef gravy. Also mark your calendar for local festivals. They’re funny.

Distance from downtown Houston: 180 miles

Rockport is a nice mix of fisherman’s paradise and trendy coastal town, with enough things to do to please those who don’t fish. I prefer to rent a house on the quieter north side of the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Bridge, closer to Goose Island State Park’s “Big Tree,” a live oak believed to be over 1,000 years old, as well as the treasure that lies within. Pop’s Tavern, which will cook your fresh catch blackened, fried or grilled. In downtown Rockport, opt for a sandwich or burger with a water view at Moondog, or head to the popular Boiling Pot for spicy seafood that requires a bib and plenty of napkins; Los Comales if you’re craving a Tex-Mex food. Fisherman or not, shoppers should head to Tackle Town to check out the products and apparel.

Distance from downtown Houston: 195 miles

Alamo City is such a sprawl that you can choose your own adventure. Want a lively urban weekend? Stay downtown – I’ve long had a soft spot for the Havana Hotel, which allows dogs, has a historic basement bar if those walls could talk, and sits on a lovely stretch of river – and make sure Check out the latest at the Pearl development, including the new Pullman Market food hall. Alternatively, I had a fabulous stay about 20 miles north at La Cantera Resort and Spa, where our villa came with its own golf cart and we spent a drunken afternoon in one of the cabanas on the Veuve Clicquot theme by the swimming pool for adults. Are you coming with children? La Cantera is a great base for Six Flags.

Distance from downtown Houston: 160 miles

I like to do Austin one of two ways (or a combination of both, if visiting for more than three nights): “retox” or detox. For the first, I’m staying centrally, perhaps at the nice seven-room Heywood Hotel in near East Austin, which offers guests free bikes to use during their stay — or, if someone another pays the bill, in a bungalow with swimming pool at the Saint hotel. Cecilia. (Your mileage may vary; the city has plenty of nice hotels in all sorts of price points.) I’d go early for a pasta and wine dinner at Birdie’s (which doesn’t take reservations), then find some beer and live music, perhaps at the classic Continental Club or the Saxon Pub. To detoxify? The hilly suburbs are home to Texas’ premier wellness destinations. I’m crazy about the tasteful and expensive Lake Austin Spa Resort, its health-conscious restaurant, and its facials that use miraculous Valmont skincare products. Nearby Miraval – an Arizona offshoot of the original – is perfect for couples, with a full activity program (try forest bathing!) and, it must be said, an insightful astrologer on site.

Distance from downtown Houston: 50 miles

Whether I’m driving for the day or renting a home in Pirates Beach for a long weekend, I’m always reminded of the original value of Galveston to Houstonians. Right now, I’d book a room at the renovated Grand Galvez (if only to actively participate in the weekend brunch scene) or check into the new, modern-style Lucine Hotel. Between trips to the pool and the beach, I wandered around the historic downtown Strand district, checking out the antique stores and, of course, LA King’s Confectionery for ice cream and Katie’s Seafood House for the best bounty of the bay. Nighttime ghost tours are also great fun.