Oktoberfest 2010 in The Woodlands Texas

South Montgomery County has a new annual German festival starting this year at Town Green Park. It starts today, Friday September 24 from 5PM until 9PM. Saturday: 12:00-9PM, Sunday: 12:00 - 9PM. There will be plenty of beer, dancing, live music and other festivities. This is sponsored by the Woodlands Rotary Club for their local student scholarship grants.
Town Green Park

A Walk down the Woodlands Texas Waterway

Water Taxi

Here in The Woodlands we are known for several things. Unfortunately or not, we now have an image of a commercial center stradling a canal built to mimic in some ways the San Antonio Riverwalk. It is done with a different style, but one with a tourist flavor. When taking a walk down the waterway, it has a unique look and feel. The Woodlands will in turn be mimicked by Sugarland soon, unless of course the economy is not good for them to do so. I have heard that they might pull out of their venture to keep their taxes low in these tough times -a very different approach than of those trusted with tax dollars here. This article is not to criticize that venture nor politics here. It is just the contrary. This is really to point out that we have something that can be enjoyed in the outdoors here. Taking a walk down the waterway can be enjoyable even for those who do not like paying taxes to build this commercial and tourist zone.

The waterway is actually a long linear park. Its paths are part of the pathway system of The Woodlands parks. This Mallard might as well be in one of the major parks. He enjoys his life right where people walk and run.

Early mornings are good for a run even in the summer here. The concrete is not shaded like most of our parks, so it gets very hot on the path in the heat of the summer, these ducks have families and are especially evident in the evening. Sitting out on an outdoor restaurant sitting area, you can watch them follow their mamas

Pleasing to the eye, the shoreline is filled with landscaping that presents itself as a garden park in the backyard of large buildings, over concrete and steel.

 

My walk on this day took me from the Marriott Hotel across to the southern side of the waterway. Then west under bridges, to the Koi Gardens and to the Riva Row Kayak rental. I did this without much effort during the lunch hour on a fairly hot day in August.

The architecture of these new buildings are pleasant as well. One thing that is apparent to me. It took hundreds of years for the giant Cypress trees along the San Antonio Riverwalk to mature. I don't recall a single Bald Cypress here along the waterway. We do have some Pine trees which grow and mature much much faster, but that does not seem to be the goal here either. Vegetation is more like what is planted in some place like Sugarland. Turning a prairie into a garden makes more sense to me than turning a forest into one. So to me it is apparent that we have a creation that doesn't belong here, but I do inject that it is a nice addition nevertheless - just is disregarding the ecological intent of the area. Gone are the days of placing homes and businesses in the forest. Now the strategy is more about displacing the forest with homes and businesses.

There is no denying that this walk was pleasant. Maybe you want to get out early some morning and run or walk along the waterway. You'll be glad you did! 

Koi Garden on the Waterway in The Woodlands Texas

Nestled among the tall buildings but along the waterway is a little place people often miss. Koi Garden is intended as an amenity for people living in Town Center but is available to anyone walking the paths along the waterway.

On the outside as well as inside, you will find bamboo and water. One of the clues to where the garden is located is to watch for water on both sides of the walking path. The you will also see bamboo growing on the land side of the path. For a tranquil moment at lunch or any other time, this is a good place to stop. Running water bubbling up from a pump-driven "spring" makes the garden more inviting than a pond.

There are a few lily pads and blooming lilies at a cross bridge in the garden.

They are worth a moment to to examine them with the visiting bees.

Of course the main menu are the Koi. There are some large and small ones to sit and watch meandering in the pools of water.

Please make sure you follow the rules which keeps this place beautiful and tranquil.

Then the fish and vegetation will continue to thrive.

Riva Row Boat House on the Waterway in The Woodlands Texas

Kayak rentals can be found right in the woods! It is a service provided by the Woodlands Park and Recreation department of The Woodlands Township (government). Rentals are by the day or by the hour.

There are basically two types of renters - (1) Recreation, and (2) Fishing. Those who fish usually want to rent the boats for more than an hour and start early in the morning, For that reason, the 9-10 rentals must have reservations. After 10am, it is first come, first serve.  Renting for a fishing excursion can be fun, but the kayaks are not equipped for fishing (no rod holders). It is cost effective in that the entire day is rented for only $35 and the boat house is open for 11 hours. For recreation paddling, it costs $15 for the first hour and $5 more each additional hour, but no more than $35. If you are asked to wait for a boat, the attendants will call you when a boat is ready and hold it for you, providing you can return to the boat house within about 20 minutes after the call. If not, they will release it to the next person on the list.

The boat house also sells drinks - water, soft drinks and a few caffeine helpers. On weekends you can expect the place to be quite busy, especially in the summer and holidays. On weekdays, usually about half of the fleet is out at peak times.  Remember fishermen: 9-10 reservations only.

Now we have something new! You can take your dog out in the kayak and protect him from drowning by using one of these new pet vests. Thanks to the generosity of The Woodlands Dog Park Club, "we now have the these canine life vests so that kayakers may bring their dogs along for the ride."

The closest place to park would be the Green Parking Lot or on Riva Row road itself.  The boat house facility is not handicap friendly. There is no ramp to get onto the boats that I could see, although it seems one could use the grass to get there if needed. The walkway is purely walkable, definitely not wheel friendly.

Map to parking(P) and Riva Boathouse(R) : (there is an error in this map. It appears to be  Google Earth issue - soon to be fixed). You can find the facility directly across from Town Green Park, on the south side of the Waterway.

Waterway Nights in summer of 2010

From outdoor movie screenings to live music, Waterway Square in The Woodlands, Texas will once again become a gathering spot for families as “Waterway Nights”. It will be an entertainment series debuting Friday, July 2 from 6 pm – 8 pm and continues through August 27th, 2010.  There will be a variety of entertainers including live musicians, jugglers, face painters, balloonists, caricaturists, and more! Picnics, chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome.


Waterway Nights is free and open to the public, thanks to sponsors such as The Woodlands Development Company, University of Phoenix, State Farm Insurance – Kyle Sherburne, Munday Chevrolet, Ace Parking, and Berripop.


Located along Waterway Avenue, Waterway Square is a one-acre public plaza with unique water features and green spaces that serve as the “centerpiece” of The Woodlands Town Center.

For more information on The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau, please visit www.thewoodlandscvb.com or call 281-363-2447.

An Evening Out on The Woodlands Waterway, a Texas style attraction

The entire family can enjoy an evening out on The Waterway, so can a couple or friends or an individual. This particular evening, the waterway was lit by the lights of the waterway AND the full moon. Children were playing in the wading fountains with parents close by watching, couples were enjoying the romantic atmosphere of a moonstruck night, visitors and residents were taking a ride along the waterway in water taxis, a social event was going on outside in Goose's Acre, a mother duck was escorting her 14 little ducklings along the waterway, the light show at the square was attracting visitors, and families were just out to enjoy the ambiance of the people, attractions and nature surrounding them. This is a great place to be on a warm or cool evening here in The Woodlands.

The Woodlands Waterway Square Flickering Fountains

Whether you are visitor or a resident, the Woodlands Waterway is a terrific place to be in the evening, especially in the spring, fall or early summer. It is a nice place to visit during the day as well. This fountain is located just east of the Marriott Hotel and very close to the Tinseltown movie theater. It is a place to sit down and read, a place for lovers, a place for children to play, a place to relax with the sounds of rushing water, a place to enjoy a colored lights water show that is set to music.

The primary fountain of Waterway Square moves a considerable amount of water and changes its pattern continuously. Here it is in its glory.

After the sun sets, the colored lights in the fountains are spectacular and change from green to blue to purple to red. The fountain complex is a constantly changing scene, choreographed to various short songs.







If you look closely, you will see the water dancing and this particular evening, it was dancing under the moonlight.





Additional information about Waterway Square can be obtained from The Woodlands Township website.

Fun Facts About Waterway Square