The Woodlands is a large master-planned community about 45 km north of downtown Houston, built among the pine forests of Montgomery County. It functions as a self-contained suburb with its own town centre, a waterway lined with restaurants and shops, and a well-known outdoor concert venue (the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion).
For visitors, The Woodlands is mostly useful as a base if you have business there or want a quieter alternative to staying in Houston proper. The Waterway area is pleasant for an evening stroll, and Market Street has decent shopping and dining.