The Woodlands Real Estate Blog

The Woodlands Waterway site of seasonal activities.

Employees, residents and 20 million tourists visiting The Woodlands Tx area each year have a couple of additional approaches of transportation when it comes to discovering Town Center.

The bustling center of shops, restaurants, business centers, entertainment and events uses one of those modes of transportation The Woodlands Waterway, which began operation in July 2004, and has been very successful. ""People are coming from around the country to enjoy the environment, shopping, eateries and activities,"" said Kathy Mouw, director of sales and marketing of The Marriott in The Woodlands.

""The 1.4-mile waterway complements the natural setting of The Woodlands Tx. It provides a unique transportation option for getting around Town Center that is affordable and beautiful. The waterway is a venue for festivals and events, such as the area's art festival,"" Mouw said.

There are six covered, air-conditioned, wheelchair accessible taxis each named for a river in Texas navigating along The Woodlands Waterway. The water taxis make stops at points of interest along the way including The Woodlands Mall, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott and Town Green Park.

The water taxis' service starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m. It operates seven days a week, with taxis stopping every 10-15 minutes in both directions. Also, the water taxis run for one hour after major concerts and events.

The turning basin, a highlight on the waterway, offers outdoor activities, including six restaurants, seasonal outdoor performances and other attractions. For evening entertainment the area is lighted with thousands of small lights illuminating the plazas, creating a festive mood.

""The outdoor mall at the turning basin connects to the waterway and is a nice place to dine and enjoy outdoor performances. ""The six restaurants there are Brio, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's, Fleming's, Panera Bread and Rockfish,"" said Susan Vreeland-Wendt who is the director of marketing of The Woodlands Development Corp.

Journeying from the turning basin past Lake Robbins Bridge, there are a number of restaurants such as Landry's Seafood, Kirby's Steakhouse and 40 other eateries. Those cruising the waterway see much of what The Woodlands area holds, from urban-style residences, townhomes, and business areas such as the two six-story Town Center office buildings, and the 1.3-million-square-foot mall with just more than 200 retailers.

All kinds of activities are planned throughout the year as entertainment is part of the picture at The Woodlands Mall. Plus children can enjoy the full-size carousel and the Enchanted Woodlands play area. In addition, there's a landing dock where visitors can catch a taxi and enjoy a ride on the waterway.