Austin’s top travel stories of 2022 soar with new nonstop flights to hot destinations

Editor’s observe: As 2022 arrives to a close, we’re searching again at the tales that defined Austin this year, and that consists of vacation — in and out of the Funds Metropolis. Austinites were most intrigued in receiving out and observing the environment, irrespective of whether that was through expanded air routes or explanations to go to the rest of Texas. Listed here are the top 10 vacation headlines of 2022.

1. Texas’ greatest crystal lagoon dives into summer with floating cabanas and additional. Lagoonfest Texas returned for its third calendar year with crystal-blue h2o, white seashores, and the most loved aquabanas — the floating cabanas. The competition ran Memorial Working day weekend via Labor Day in the Houston suburb of Texas Town. Readers observed cabanas on the beach and on the water and the greatest inflatable obstacle system in the nation located on a crystal lagoon.

2. Texas airport lands 1st coveted 5-star rating in North The united states. William P. Hobby Airport scored a prestigious 5-Star Airport position in the Skytrax Planet Airport Star Rating for 2022. That will make Hobby the 1st airport in Texas, the U.S., and North The usa — and 1 of just 16 airports across the planet — to land the score. In the new survey, Passion soared in all 29 score categories.

William P. Hobby Airport ascended beyond the basic principles.
Image by Nash Baker

3. Austin lands first nonstop flight to very hot Caribbean place this summertime. American Airlines included two international beach places — both equally in the Caribbean — to its Austin route map. Starting in June, American introduced yr-round, after-a-7 days nonstop support from Austin to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and from Austin to Cozumel, Mexico. American turned the to start with airline to fly between Austin and Jamaica.

4. Austin airport flies absent with new nonstops to 2 popular occasions this spring. American Airways additional short-term nonstop support this year to Louisville, Kentucky, for the Kentucky Derby and to Augusta, Ga, for the Masters golf event.

5. $36 million waterfront lodge splashes into charming Hill Country city. The $36 million challenge will attribute an upscale 123-space Tapestry Selection by Hilton lodge and a lot more than 14,000 square feet of assembly and event area, which include a principal ballroom and junior ballroom. A rooftop venue measuring about 4,000 sq. feet is confident to be a important emphasize. The just about three-acre home is envisioned to open in early 2024, close to the banking institutions of Lake Marble Falls.

6. Buc-ee’s artwork installation mysteriously seems in the West Texas desert. In April, a very small Buc-ee’s — with no gasoline pumps, sparkling bathrooms, or Beaver Nuggets — confirmed up in a distant place together U.S. Highway 90 about 20 miles east of Marathon. It was reminiscent of the long-lasting Prada retailer reproduction, relationship back again to 2005, that stands about 25 miles northwest of Marfa. Stop by Marathon, Texas announced through social media that the little Buc-ee’s had been removed

7. 6 Austin hotels verify in between country’s very best in prestigious U.S. Information rating. Quite a few Austin properties — which include the historic Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Selection — ranked among the finest, in accordance to U.S. Information & Entire world Report’s new listing of the finest inns in the state. Commodore Perry Estate was named the No. 2 Texas property, the top Texas vacation resort, and the 40th ideal hotel in the U.S.

The Commodore Perry Estate is one particular of the best resorts in the planet.
Courtesy of Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Selection

8. Austin lands 1st nonstop flight to best Colorado destination this winter. In December, American Airlines commenced nonstop service concerning Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Eagle County Regional Airport in Vail. No other airline gives nonstop support among the two cities.

9. Austin airport flies absent with 2 new nonstops to well-liked summer playgrounds. The seasonal flights had been from Austin to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, Montana. In addition, American relaunched nonstop provider from Austin to Destin-Fort Walton Beach front Airport, along the Florida Panhandle.

10. Texas’ Massive Bend named one of the world’s should-see places for 2023. Countrywide Geographic Journey provided the wide natural ponder in its current Ideal of the Environment 2023 checklist. The yearly checklist rounds up 25 international locations “underneath the radar, forward of the curve, and ready for you to commence discovering,” according to the post. Nationwide Geographic editors framed the listing inside 5 classes: Neighborhood, Nature, Tradition, Family, and Experience.