24 Hours: Conroe and Woodlands, Texas

I haven’t explored the surrounding Houston area in a while, so I thought a day trip would be in order. The pandemic has forced me to reevaluate several travel plans for the year (and it continues to do so because Covid cases have steadily been on the rise in Texas) and exploring close to home seemed to be a perfect way to quench my wanderlust while staying safe. This past weekend I drove an hour and a half to Conroe to enjoy the outdoors and all the activities that go along with the outdoors. Conroe is located north of Houston and is mostly known for their gigantic lake.

The Woodlands Lagree

I started my day at Woodlands Lagree I’m always on the lookout for different workout studios to experience and was very curious about lagree since I had never done it before. I got up super early (the class was at 8:30am!) to start my north Houston adventure day here and wow, the class kicked my butt. But it was a great workout (those always have to be tough right) with a very patient and helpful instructor and clean facilities (they provide ice cold bottled water as well). Bonus- the first class is free! Classes after that are $25 each, which isn’t unreasonable at all. I’ll be back!

Galavant Coffee

If you’re looking to support a local business, it doesn’t get any more local than Galavant. The coffee shop operates out of a local Conroe resident’s garage (!!) who grinds the coffee beans and makes the syrups himself. He literally sets up shop every morning and gets a ton of customers! Often times he’ll close early because supplies are low so keep an eye out on the Galavant Instagram for any business hours updates. There is a typical coffee menu along with a few seasonal drinks that occasionally make appearances. I had a Mexican vanilla latte and loved it! It was the perfect balance between being too sweet and not sweet enough.

Pie in the Sky

I first found out about Pie in the Sky at the annual Houston Nutcracker Market that benefits the Houston Ballet and is basically a variety of vendors coming together to sell their products. I was able to sample so many different pies there, but because only whole pies were sold at the Market and I was looking more for slices, I vowed to visit their physical store when I could. Pie in the Sky has a bright green building in Conroe and some of the most flavorful pies around town! I bought a slice of the buttermilk vanilla walnut pie and thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Kayaking with North Lake Conroe Paddling Company

Kayaking is one of my favorite activities, but there aren’t too many opportunities in Houston to kayak. Luckily, Lake Conroe is perfect for water activities and North Lake Conroe Paddling Company is one of the best year round rental companies. Rates are $30 for a 2 hour kayak rental, which is plenty of time to paddle around the huge lake. I loved how the lake wasn’t crowded and we didn’t really have to worry about being mowed down by fast moving motor boats. It really is a quiet and peaceful place- the perfect start to a morning!

Buldogies

Most unique hotdogs ever! When it comes to satisfying cravings, Buldogies is the perfect lunch spot. They have a variety of interesting hotdogs, loaded fries, and fried carnival food. We ordered the Sundance hotdog (I cant resist an egg on anything!), the sriracha fries, and the Chicago dog. I have to say the candied bacon was the best part of the food- I’m not sure how they make their bacon but it is beyond delicious. Buldogies is located near the south end of Lake Conroe.

Sam Houston National Forest

The main hike that Sam Houston National Forest is known for is the Lone Start Hiking Trail which actually spans the entire state of Texas and takes about 10 days to hike in entirety. We obviously didn’t do the entire hike, but instead picked a random trailhead at Stubblefield Lake to being a short 1 hour hike. I didn’t end up enjoying the trail too much as it isn’t well maintained and several parts of the trail was crowded by overgrown vegetation. The drive to the Lake was enjoyable though because of the changing leaves. Its one of the few places in Houston where the leaves actually change color!

Drinkabilitea

I was so surprised that the Woodlands would have bubble tea because there aren’t too many Asians living out there, but the tea at Drinkabilitea is so good. They have a typical bubble tea menu with milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies, and slushies, along with all types of bubbles. There is also a large space for people to sit and chat- all tables are socially distanced.

Day trips are really the best way to get out and explore, but still make it back to your own warm bed at night. I’m looking for other day trips around Houston so let me know of any ideas!