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Texas hot spot named top place to travel in 2019, plus more headlines

Houston is cool now.

Photo by Tim Leviston/Getty Images

Editor's note: It's that weird time of year when elastic pants are worn without apology, no one is totally sure what day it is, and you find yourself eating things like leftover brie in puffed pastry simply cause it's in the fridge. Let us drag you back into reality (momentarily) with our most popular stories of the week.

1. Texas hot spot heralded by national magazines as best place to travel in 2019.After years of being overlooked for Dallas (... and Austin ... and San Antonio ... and West Texas), Houston is having its moment as Texas' next cool city. Both Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure have deemed H-Town a "must-visit" for 2019.

2. Lights out for psychedelic North Austin gastropub, plus more food news. In what is — fingers crossed — the last closing of 2018, North Austin's Royal Jelly announced it was turning off the black lights forever. No word yet what will take its place, but rumor has it a familiar name in Austin nightlife snatched up the spot.

3. Texas population exploded from 2017 to 2018, says Census Bureau. The Lone Star State added more residents, 379,128 to be exact, than any other state last year. [Insert generic joke about California/traffic/housing prices here.]

4. Road trip to the oldest town in Texas, stay in a shipping container hotel, and more of 2018's best travel stories. As 2018 winds down, we're taking a look at the top travel stories of the year. From glam Texas Hill Country hideaways to West Texas treasures, here are the places you should travel in 2019 (in addition to Houston we guess).

5. New casual all-day eatery sends upscale seafood spot swimming downtown.Guild, an upscale seafood spot that opened on North Lamar Boulevard and 38th Street last year, is heading downstream. The bougie bistro is moving into a new location downtown while a new spot, Rosedale Kitchen & Bar, glides into it's North Lamar address. It's like Freaky Friday for restaurants.

Lights Up

Top holiday tradition Trail of Lights illuminates Zilker Park for 2024

Trail of Lights/austintrailoflights.org

One of Austin's top events is coming back soon.

For a city that barely has seasons, Austin really has its seasonal traditions on lock, and none as strongly as the Trail of Lights. This holiday happening, which features more than two million lights in festive displays along a driving and walking trail at Zilker Park, is returning for its 60th year from December 10-23.

Half of the 14 nights will be free to the pubic, and children under 12 will get in for free every night. Although the light show was temporarily drivable during pandemic shutdowns, it is back to being a walking trail only. That means visitors can stroll along the 1.25-mile path (or 2.5 miles total, an FAQ estimates, with all the meandering factored in).

The lights are spread across 96 trees and 70 "festive displays" including the famous tunnel draped in lights and stars that visitors love to take photos in.

Trail of Lights tunnel This light tunnel is a popular place for a photo op.Trail of Lights/austintrailoflights.org

Besides enjoying the visual effects, trail-walkers will also have plenty of other entertainment. There's Candy Cane Lane, which includes food and beverage vendors, restrooms, and the ZIP Lounge, which is like a VIP lounge with complimentary cookies, cocoa, and more but...at the end of the alphabet. Then there's also the North Pole at the center, featuring Santa's House and Santa's Workshop, plus more festival attractions like food, carnival rides (a ferris wheel and carousel), shopping, and live music.

Food vendors haven't been shared yet, but will eventually be listed on the event's website. Musical artists: applications are open now to play during the 2024 season.

Trail of lights fanatics have other options for getting involved, like an exclusive Night Lights Preview Party ($100) on December 6, which will feature food from Austin restaurants, complimentary beverages, and free rides. There's also a Fun Run the next day, December 7. (Okay, fine, holiday lights do make running sound fun.) Finally, guests can even book private events including, for the first time, weddings.

Tickets (free, or starting at $8) are available at austintrailoflights.org. An interactive calendar makes it easy to see which days include free entry. Some proceeds and donations support the Stars at the Trail program, which divvies up funds to nonprofits around Central Texas.

trail of lights holidays