Opened in March, The Westin at the Woodlands is a 302-room hotel in one of the most enviable locations in Texas. The stone-and-glass, curvaceous building in the heart of the master-planned community’s Town Center spans a tree-lined canal and path. The Woodlands lies 30 miles north of Houston and is known for its preservation of nature, entertainment options and shopping. It’s easy to spend a weekend immersed in the hiking and biking trails. The Westin sits beside the Fountains at Waterway Square, where choreographed, lighted water jets shoot dazzling displays five stories high. Inside the hotel, an intricate golden-hued lighting feature dances on the ceiling and throughout the modern interior. Rising two and a half stories, the atrium-like lobby walls are matted silver, juxtaposed to warm wooden floors. We quickly checked into our sixth-floor guestroom. The built-in furniture creates a clean and spacious feel. The bedside tables appear to float, and the 10-foot-long work desk curves along the wall and becomes a bench that doubles as a suitcase stand. The light-filled room can be completely dark at night with blackout shades. The bedside lighting with burlap-covered lamps and additional reading lights are well placed. The room temperature and lights can be controlled by a remote control. Additional amenities we appreciated included a coffeemaker, mini-fridge, robe and safe. Needing to unwind before dinner, we headed to the SideBar located on the third floor. The weather was gorgeous, so we headed outside to one of the tables for a happy hour cocktail. The seating is around the corner from a small infinity pool with lounge chairs placed beside a fire pit. The treetop view and casual atmosphere make for a popular gathering spot. For dinner, we dined at the upscale CURRENT. The restaurant’s sculptured tree surrounded by two community tables makes an impressive piece of art. Our corner table provided entertaining views of Waterway Square, with pedestrians walking their dogs, running and skateboarding. The 150-seat restaurant includes an open kitchen, wine room, chef’s table and private dining. The service was excellent. We particularly enjoyed the roasted lamb loin and fried broccolini. The Westin at The Woodlands is 20 miles from the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. We suggest you find a way to turn that Houston business meeting into a long weekend stay.

The Westin at the Woodlands

2 Waterway Square Place The Woodlands, Texas 77380