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Best Texas getaways in November wrangle cowgirls, cocktails and Cabernets

Holiday events are emerging everywhere around Texas in November, from artisan markets to tree lighting ceremonies, but that's not all that's luring travelers out of San Antonio this month.

A luxury wellness brand just debuted a supersized spa-resort outside Austin, and a new whiskey distillery is shaking up new cocktails in the Hill Country. Downtown Dallas is turning into a winter wonderland with the return of CultureMap's City Ice Rink, and the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth is celebrating its grand reopening.

San Antonians can stay close to home and spend a weekend honoring legendary blues musician Robert Johnson at a historic local hotel, or shop for early Christmas gifts at one of the holiday markets happening in the Pearl District.

This is everything you need to know to plan a fun, festive, fall getaway in November.

The Hill Country

ICYMI: A new family-owned distillery has joined the Texas Hill Country's vast landscape of breweries, wineries, and other spirit-makers. The newly opened Briggs Distilling Co. is now serving cocktails, mocktails, and more at its spacious facility at 121 Brownson Ln. in Driftwood. Briggs has developed three expressions for whiskey drinkers to try, all made with Texas rainwater and bottled on-site: the Straight Rye Whiskey, Heritage Reserve Bourbon, and Wheated Bourbon. The property also features a treehouse-inspired children's area, family- and dog-friendly amenities, and an on-site food truck.

The long-awaited Hill Country resort Canyon Ranch Austin is now open for luxurious getaways on a sprawling 600-acre property in Spicewood. The resort notably boasts a 40,000-square-foot spa - touted as the largest in Texas - with an extensive lineup of fitness, medical, and wellness services. Other than the rejuvenating spa, guests can also enjoy four on-site food and beverage concepts. The signature restaurant Estella is led by Texas-born chef Val Cantú, who also owns a Californios, a three-Michelin-Star restaurant in San Francisco. All-inclusive nightly rates at Canyon Ranch Austin start at $1,325 per person, which covers lodging, meals, and access to daily fitness and wellness activities.

Spa Lounge at Canyon Ranch Austin This is one of the spa lounges that will be available for guests. Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

Texas travelers can treat their wine-loving friends to an early holiday gift with a passport to the Texas Hill Country Wineries' annual Christmas Wine Affair running November 23-December 18. The deal offers pass holders 25 days of complimentary tastings at participating wineries, with up to four winery visits per day. Participants can also get a 10 percent discount on three or more bottles of wine with their passports. Five dollars from each passport sold will be donated to the Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Fund. Christmas Wine Affair Passports are $65 for individuals and $100 for couples.

Austin

Neighbors Cafe & Wine Bar, the all-day café at 1 Hotel Austin, is hosting a festive fall candle-making workshop with Austin-based candle business House of Wick on Tuesday, November 10 from 6-8 pm. All supplies will be provided so attendees can develop their own signature autumn fragrance during this guided experience. Tickets are $48.19 per person and can be purchased via Eventbrite, and complimentary access will be offered to hotel guests and Mission Members as space allows.

Austin arts organization Future Front Texas will host its flagship holiday market, The Front Market, at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park from November 21-22. The Front Market is one of the biggest and longest-running craft markets in Austin that amplifies diverse Texas-based artisans, designers, and craftspeople. The event at Moody Amphitheater is family- and dog-friendly, and will have a rotating lineup of more than 175 vendors throughout the weekend. Admission is free or by donation.

The Front Market at Moody Amphitheater Holiday markets like The Front Market are a great place to find holiday handmade gifts from local artists and small businesses.Photo courtesy of Future Front Texas

Houston

With football season in full swing, Houston Texans fans can stay close to the game day action at InterContinental Houston and get some additional perks with the hotel's exclusive Tailgate Package. The package includes complimentary parking, late checkout, a $50 credit at The Naturalist Bar & Cafe, and a $25 Uber credit that can be used toward game day travel to or from Reliant Stadium, located two miles away from the hotel. For fans that can't make it to the games in-person, The Naturalist will be screening all Houston Texans games throughout the season. Rates with the Tailgate Package start at $299 per night.

Dallas-Fort Worth

CultureMap is bringing holiday magic back to Downtown Dallas' Main Street Garden with the return of the CultureMap City Rink this winter. The festivities kick off on opening weekend with the Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, November 21. Then, mark your calendars for the Dallas Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 5, a favorite holiday tradition, which passes right by the rink. The rink will be open 4-10 pm Monday-Friday; 10 am-10 pm Saturday; and 10 am-8 pm Sunday. Tickets are $18 for all ages, including skate rentals and 75 minutes on the ice.

$\u201cMiranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo\u201d at National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame$

Photo by Tyler Conrad

National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Fort Worth presents “Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo” starting November 7.

Fort Worth is gearing up for the grand reopening of The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7 with public admission beginning at 12 noon. The reopening marks the completion of a $19 million expansion and will feature the debut of a two new exhibits: a photography showcase called "Gravity Defied: Trick Riders of the Cowgirl" that honors the legacy of rodeo’s most intrepid women, and "Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo," a display of costumes from the country superstar's residency in Las Vegas. Admission is $18 for adults with discounts for children, seniors, military, and first responders.

At home in San Antonio

San Antonio's Historic Gunter Hotel is hosting a weekend-long celebration from November 12-14 in honor of blues legend Robert Johnson and the 90th anniversary of his music recordings in hotel room 414. The weekend will include guided tours of the Gunter Studio, a panel discussion with Johnson's family, live music showcases, and more. Johnson's grandson, Steven, will record his grandfather's songs in the same hotel room and in the Gunter Studio, which will be released at a later date. Most of the programming for the weekend is free to the public, but tickets must be purchased for the evening music showcases in the Studio Lounge and Crystal Ballroom.

San Antonio's historic Pearl District will brighten up for the winter season with a Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 27, followed by the Taste of Pearl Annual Festival on Saturday, November 28. Locals and visitors can enjoy all the twinkly lights and the festive Christmas tree while shopping for their holiday gifts and listening to live music. Both events are free to attend.

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Spa getaway

Luxury Hill Country resort debuts with Texas’ largest spa

Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

This is one of the spa lounges that will be available for guests.

Texas wellness brand Canyon Ranch has debuted its long-awaited Hill Country resort: Canyon Ranch Austin opened October 29 with a 40,000-square-foot spa billed as the largest in Texas, a restaurant led by a three-Michelin-star chef, and an extensive lineup of fitness, medical, and wellness services.

First announced in 2022, the sprawling luxury resort sits on more than 600 acres overlooking Lake Travis in Spicewood, about an two hours from downtown San Antonio.

The property has 141 guest rooms, 1.5 miles of lake frontage, and a network of trails winding through the surrounding terrain filled with native landscape and wildlife. Visitors might just spot a few deer or even a bald eagle.

Designed by San Antonio architecture firm Lake Flato, with interiors by Dallas-based Waldrop + Nichols Studio, the property melds indoor spaces with the outdoors.

“The opening of Canyon Ranch Austin represents years of thoughtful planning and nearly five decades of expertise dedicated to creating a destination that serves as home to deeply personal and highly impactful experiences for our guests,” says Mark Rivers, CEO of Canyon Ranch, in a release. "It’s a place that could only exist here and is shaped by the extraordinary landscape and spirit of the Texas Hill Country. Canyon Ranch Austin brings together our company’s unmatched expertise in health and human performance with the joy of discovery, connection, cuisine, and exceptional hospitality."

Canyon Ranch Austin is opening in October 2026.Photo courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

According to the release, guests can choose from more than 30 daily activities, individual consultations, and programs focused on physical health, mental wellness, spirituality, nutrition, and performance. Here's a closer look:

Supersized spa
The resort's 40,000-square-foot spa is its centerpiece, with 40 treatment rooms offering massages, facials, and body treatments alongside beauty services, recovery therapies, and newer wellness technologies.

The indoor-outdoor facility includes a salon and retail boutique, two pools, cold plunges, rain showers, indoor and outdoor whirlpools, aromatic steam rooms, and a traditional cedar sauna with continuous aromatherapy. Relaxation areas are designed to take advantage of natural daylight, while a custom soundtrack incorporates sounds from the Texas Hill Country.

The spa's offerings include exclusive beauty retreats, among them "Get Snatched," featuring celebrity facialist Ivan Pol, creator of the Beauty Sandwich.

Focus on women's wellness
Canyon Ranch Austin also introduces the Women's Wellness Collective, a program focused on women's health at different stages of life. The resort describes it as the first dedicated practice and program of its kind in a resort setting.

Services and educational programming address perimenopause, menopause, hormonal health, postpartum care, aging, and beauty. The Collective is led by a team of practitioners, including Medical Director Dr. Riteesha Reddy, a board-certified rheumatologist with menopause certification and training in integrative and lifestyle medicine.

Dining with a Michelin-recognized chef
Dining is another big part of the resort's all-inclusive experience, with four food and beverage options.

Estella is the signature restaurant, with a vaulted dining room overlooking water and meadow views. Its culinary program is led by Val Cantú, a Central Texas native whose San Francisco restaurant, Californios, holds three Michelin stars. Executive Chef Blake Ransom oversees the resort's daily menus.

Cantú grew up in nearby Brownwood, where his father owned a Mexican restaurant. He has said his Texas roots will influence Estella's menu, including its tortillas.

“When I’m making tortillas, I feel connected at a root level,” Cantú said when his appointment was announced. “It reminds me of making tortillas with my grandmother and my dad.”

The more casual Flying X Café serves as another dining option. Guests can also visit the Mini Bar at the Rendezvous lounge or Oak Valley, an outdoor grove for special dining events.

Estella Estella is the signature restaurant at Canyon Ranch Austin. Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

Fitness and outdoor adventure
Beyond the spa, Canyon Ranch Austin has two major facilities devoted to fitness and health.

The Barn is a 27,000-square-foot fitness facility with a gym, studios, and an outdoor field for fitness and movement. The Wellspring is a 12,000-square-foot medical center housing physicians, clinicians, technology, and health services. Nearby, CR Vitality offers recovery services and equipment, including Ammortal technology.

The resort's wellness programs span preventive and functional medicine, brain health, sleep, stress regulation, metabolic health, nutrition, and emotional and spiritual well-being, they say.

Outside, guests can explore more than five miles of hiking and biking trails, try watersports on Lake Travis, or visit the lakeside beach and sauna. A spring-fed water feature known as Longfield Pond covers more than seven acres. The racquet center includes four pickleball courts, two tennis courts, and a padel court for those who've taken up the popular racquet sport.

Canyon Ranch Austin Guests can hike along the shores of Lake Travis.Photo courtesy of Canyon Ranch

Home on the Ranch
For those who want to make the Canyon Ranch lifestyle a little more "permanent," The Ranch Home Collection offers 134 single-family homes within the property.

Designed by Lake Flato and Canyon Ranch, the homes incorporate natural materials and features intended to bring wellness into daily life, the company says. Standard amenities include a sauna, cold plunge, and stargazing features. Homes range from about 3,200 to 4,800 square feet, with homesites spanning 0.8 to 3.7 acres and prices starting at $3.8 million.

A swanky stay
Overnight stays at Canyon Ranch Austin start at $1,325 per person, per night. The all-inclusive experience includes lodging, meals, and access to daily fitness and wellness activities, while additional spa treatments and services may cost extra.

The resort's Stay Your Way package includes a $200 nightly spa and fitness credit for stays of two nights or longer. Stays of three nights or longer also include an additional $300 health and wellness credit. Rates vary by season, package, and occupancy.

Canyon Ranch was founded in Tucson, Arizona, in 1979. After Goff Capital acquired the company in 2017, its headquarters moved to downtown Fort Worth. The brand's Fort Worth wellness club and spa opened at the Crescent in 2023.

Canyon Ranch Austin is at 600 Moonlight Bend, Austin.

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