Conroe - North Houston City Guide

Water water everywhere, and all of it to enjoy in Conroe

A brief drive north of Houston brings you to the town of Conroe, named after the Union Cavalry officer and lumberman Isaac Conroe. The town is small — only 52.7 square miles and a population of 58,973 — but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in activities.

Outdoor Life

Conroe’s biggest feature and attraction is the 21,000-acre Lake Conroe, located seven miles northwest of the town’s center. The lake is home to year-round water activities such as tubing, fishing and canoeing, and there is a large campsite nearby. There are also several hiking trails looping around the lake and throughout the nearby Sam Houston National Forest. Huge pine trees shade most of the trails, so all the activities around the lake are a way to escape the ever-present heat in Texas. Conroe is also home to several golf courses, such as the Rolling Hills Golf Course and the Augusta Golf Course. With a water park, several golf courses and a lake, Conroe is the perfect place for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Shopping

Perhaps the most interesting retail aspect of Conroe is the amount of thrift or secondhand stores. There are over 20 of them scattered throughout the town, and at stores like these, cheaper is usually better. You’d get a nice bargain by only paying $10 for a suit that makes you feel like a million bucks.

Contrast those stores to the Outlets at Conroe, which is home to more than 40 different stores ranging from local to national chains like Dress Barn, Izod, Levi’s, Sunglass Hut and rue 21. Shopping can be the perfect way to begin a girls’ night out.

Entertainment

Conroe also has a vibrant nightlife, the perfect reason to rent a limo or bus and drive downtown with all of your friends. The Corner Pub constantly hosts a varied selection of entertainers, including blues, jazz, poetry readings and comedy shows. It’s a great place to go on a date or hang out with some friends. There’s also Molly’s Pub, which has 34 different beers on tap, more than 40 bottled varieties and 23 TV’s spread out for your entertainment. The pub also has several pool tables and dart boards to help pass the time. Similar to The Woodlands, Conroe hosts several concerts throughout the year in the Heritage Place Amphitheater.

With Houston being such a large metropolitan area, it’s nice to have small towns on the outskirts for a relaxing getaway. Lake Conroe in itself is worth the drive from Houston, but the town’s vast water attractions, campgrounds, hiking trails, shopping areas and nightlife make it a must-see for Houston residents and visitors.