Escape to the woodlands

Southern Living, Jul 2003 by Thomas, Les

Break away from the summer heat at this Texas resort, hidden in a forest at the edge of Houston.

It's cool here beneath swaying palm trees beside the refreshing spray of tumbling water. But hold on just a minute. What's wrong with this picture? This isn't the way Texas is supposed to look.

It's easy to imagine you've jetted off to some faraway paradise. Sunbathers lounge around a shimmering oasis. A talking parrot perches at the bar. Close by, golfers finish their rounds on a spectacular island hole.

But if you're thirsty for a pina colada, you don't need to learn a foreign language to order it. The whole staff speaks Texan. It's as green as North Carolina around here, but beyond the forest, that's the Houston skyline towering over the prairie, 27 miles away.

Welcome to The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center. "It's a short drive from Houston, but you have some of the best golf and tennis in the country here," says tennis director RUSS Angell.

The resort, set in the midst of the 27,000-acre Woodlands development, recently finished a major expansion. The newest attraction is a Texas-size swimming hole called the Forest Oasis Waterscape. Children and parents splash down a twisting double-helical water slide. They also dive to see murals beneath the surface and listen to underwater speakers play music from Jaws and The Little Mermaid. When evening comes, they chill out by watching "dive-in" movies projected at poolside.

When you're not in the water, almost every turn you take leads into the forest. Explore some of the more than 120 miles of paved routes for hiking, hiking, and jogging. Then soothe yourself with an outdoor concert of the Houston Symphony at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Or unwind at the health clubs and spas. There are three golf courses resort guests can play, including the Tournament Players Course at The Woodlands Resort. Playing a round on the newly redesigned Pines Course feels as refreshing as a walk in the woods. A wicked moat surrounds a temptingly beautiful island hole on No. 18.

Summer days are so pleasant around the resort, you won't hear foul cries from anyone-including the talking parrot. "He doesn't know any bad words," says the poolside bartender who takes care of him. "We don't let him talk to golfers."