Major cities tend to be popular host cities for meetings and events due to supportive infrastructure; easy access to airports and ground transportation; and many meeting-friendly hotels and convention centers, dining and entertainment options, and major attractions. But while bigger cities have much to offer, sometimes it’s nice to escape the hustle and bustle by gathering in suburban areas, which have advantages for planners to consider. Aside from less traffic, more affordable venues, and relaxing environments, these host cities allow attendees to enjoy authentic experiences that they might not always have access to in larger downtown areas. Texas has beautiful scenery with rolling hills and rivers, sprawling farms and ranches, wineries and distilleries, and historic estates and luxury resorts—many of which make for memorable event venues and fun group experiences.
“Across Texas, our smaller [suburban] destinations are proving to be exceptional for meetings and events,” says Tim Fennell, director of Travel Texas, a state-run tourism marketing program. “These cities combine modern facilities with authentic Texas character, offering planners the resources they need alongside experiences attendees will remember long after the meeting ends. These communities deliver convenience with easy access to nearby major cities, while also offering dining, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions defined by the personality of the residents.” gov.texas.gov/travel-texas
Outer DFW
About 25 minutes north of Dallas, Frisco is “The City That Plays” with more than 400 restaurants, a live music scene, and a thriving arts and cultural scene. It’s also known as “Sports City USA” due to its ties to multiple professional sports teams and programs, including PGA of America, MLS’ FC Dallas, and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, the latter of which has its training facility and world headquarters at Frisco’s The Star. This 91-acre campus and practice facility offers guided tours and 15 event spaces on-site, including Ford Center Field, which is where the Cowboys practice. It accommodates up to 12,000 attendees for events.
Just north of The Star, Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa features 500 guest rooms, 127,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space, 13 food and beverage outlets, and two championship golf courses. It provides everything planners might need to impress clients and inspire teams.
“The Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa is your ultimate meeting destination—it’s where modern luxury meets seamless event execution,” says Gus Tejeda, director of sales and marketing at the resort. “From high-touch boardrooms to scenic networking venues, every space is designed to elevate productivity and creativity. Whether you’re planning a large conference, incentive trip, or executive retreat, our expert staff, cutting-edge amenities, and unforgettable setting will ensure your event is both effortless and extraordinary.” visitfrisco.com
Just northeast of Frisco lies McKinney, which is known for its historic downtown, one of the oldest in Texas, dating to 1848. With many locally owned shops, small businesses, and distinctive restaurants, it maintains an old-fashioned hometown feel with a strong sense of community.
Built in 1885, The Grand Hotel & Ballroom is a 28-room hotel and event venue in downtown McKinney that combines historic charm with modern amenities. In addition to an elevated steakhouse and cocktail lounge, the boutique hotel has four event spaces for gatherings. These include the restored 19th-century Grand Ballroom, which was McKinney’s original opera house and accommodates meetings and events of up to 175 people within its 2,500 square feet of space. The Library is a 322-square-foot space lined with bookshelves full of cookbooks and is ideal for private dinners and intimate gatherings of up to 28 people.
A fun activity that also offers the opportunity to give back is a visit to the FarmHouse Fresh farm and animal sanctuary, located on 10 hilly acres just outside McKinney’s downtown and home to more than 50 special-needs rescue animals. Attendees might enjoy tours of the property—including the FarmHouse Fresh Skincare headquarters—meet the animals and caretakers, and shop in the retail area. FarmHouse Fresh also offers corporate group pasture parties where participants help with tasks like cleaning food pans, tidying stalls, and filling hay bags.
“Corporate pasture parties are a great opportunity for team bonding and helping an amazing cause,” says Elise Khan, FarmHouse Fresh sanctuary manager. “It’s a huge help to our team, and we love sharing the stories of our animals [while] allowing people to directly help us care for the animals. It has been really fun to see how competitive different industries are and the different things they bring to the ranch, like the Chase Bank bankers [we hosted in the past] who were trying to see who could clean the most stalls, or the Louis Vuitton customer care team, which was the most fashionable group!” visitmckinney.com
Waterfront Havens
Situated near Galveston Bay between the cities of Houston and Galveston, League City is a waterfront town that combines Texas hospitality with coastal charm. From weekly sailboat races on Clear Lake and fresh seafood to exploring the city’s historic district, League City has plenty to offer groups. Along the shores of Clear Lake, South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center is in proximity to the city’s historic sights, shopping, dining, and waterfront activities. Along with custom catering and waterfront views, the resort offers 25,000 square feet of event space for groups of all sizes, including an intimate boardroom for 10 people and the Crystal Ballroom, which accommodates up to 1,000.
Downtown, Butler’s Courtyard is a premier event venue that spans an entire city block. The all-inclusive venue hosts up to 200 attendees in its various event spaces, which include The Ballroom, a modern reception space that can be transformed to fit any planner’s vision; and The Grand Hall, a former bank built in 1909 with brick walls, exposed oak beams, and candlelit chandeliers. visitleaguecity.com
Located along the Guadalupe and Comal rivers and just 30 minutes from San Antonio International Airport and 45 minutes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, New Braunfels is a picturesque destination with more than two-dozen meeting venues, numerous shops and restaurants, and many distinctive sites and attractions.
“Close to everything and far from expected, New Braunfels offers spaces as unique as your meeting,” says Amanda Ciarlone, director of tourism operations for the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce. “Situated conveniently between Austin and
San Antonio, [the city] makes your event one to remember.”
For a one-of-a-kind gathering, Natural Bridge Caverns (located just west of New Braunfels) is home to the “deepest venue in Texas” at 150 feet underground. This 5,000-square-foot ballroom features eye-catching cavern ceilings for a beautiful natural setting and hosts up to 250 people seated and 300 people reception-style.
Open to the public for the first time, the Wurstfest festival grounds, home to the annual Wurstfest celebration of German culture, offers three novel event spaces for groups from 30 to 300 people. Among them is Stelzenhaus—which is German for “house on stilts”—an elevated event center standing on 12-foot steel poles. The space spans 12,700 square feet and features a covered open area underneath and a second-level hall with views of the Comal River and festival grounds. visitnbtx.com
Events That Rock
Set on Lake Ray Hubbard’s eastern shore and 25 miles east of Dallas, Rockwall is a vibrant community with a small-town atmosphere. Named after an underground geological rock formation that settlers discovered in 1851, the former cattle town hosts many musical events, has a popular lake for fishing and water activities, and is home to The Harbor Rockwall, a premier entertainment destination. The mixed-use development has several restaurants and retail stores, a movie theater, and plenty of open space for strolling while taking in water views between meetings.
Owned by Rockwall native Chef David Hoffman, The Downing Bottles & Bites in downtown Rockwall has a restaurant and an extensive menu of cocktails, fine wines, and craft beers. The venue accommodates 25 people seated or 40 standing on the outdoor patio, and the front room seats groups up to 25. The restaurant’s main dining space also is available for buyouts and accommodates up to 35 people. visitrockwall.com
In Central Texas, Round Rock is 30 minutes from Austin and considered one of the state’s most liveable cities according to Livability’s “Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025” list. Livability is a media company based in Franklin, Tennessee, that produces annual lists of the best American cities to live in based on data including regional economies, cost of living, transportation options, education and healthcare access, and more. Just outside Round Rock’s downtown, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions–Round Rock is an expansive resort and convention center that offers plenty to do before, during, and after meetings. It’s home to one of the largest indoor water parks in the country at 223,000 square feet in size, along with a 200,000-square-foot convention center, 16 breakout meeting rooms and hospitality suites, two ballrooms, and 50,000 square feet of outdoor event space. The latter includes a rustic event barn.
In downtown Round Rock, The Ruby Hotel & Bar has stylish indoor and outdoor meeting spaces that overlook scenic Brushy Creek. One venue to note is a midcentury-inspired house that accommodates groups of up to 100 attendees. Venue rentals include on-site event staff, plus furnishings and glassware with flexible food and beverage packages. Full-property buyouts are available as well, and eventgoers also can stay the night in one of the hotel’s 39 boutique rooms.
For a fun group outing, Pixel Palace Arcade and Bar is a retro bar arcade with 20 beers on tap and over 30 classic arcade games. The 4,900-square-foot arcade hosts up to 150 people for events and is available for buyouts. “We’re Central Texas’ premier spot for parties, private events, and group celebrations, combining the nostalgia of a classic arcade with the energy of a modern bar,” says co-owner Zane Fielding. “We handle the details; you just show up ready to play.” goroundrock.com
Ranches, Wineries & Distilleries
Becky Levin Navarro, founder of award-winning event-planning company Pearl Events Austin, has hosted many gatherings in several memorable destinations. She finds it beneficial to host events outside of major cities because attendees tend to be more dialed into the experience. pearleventsaustin.com
“There are no outside distractions [for attendees] … because they’re all together for all the activities,” Navarro says. Some of her favorite venues include Ranch Austin, a ranch located a half-hour from downtown Austin and home to a resident herd of longhorns, and Camp Lucy, an idyllic Texas Hill Country venue in the town of Dripping Springs (just east of Austin) with charming rooms, cottages, and multiple event spaces for groups. ranchaustin.com
Framed by ancient oak trees and sprawling vineyards, Camp Lucy offers multiple event spaces on-site, including a restored chapel from a 19th-century French-colonial Catholic church featuring an antique bell from Vietnam, and a vineyard with a 4,000-square-foot event tent. “Just outside the city of Austin, Camp Lucy offers the best of both worlds for corporate meetings: easy access to an international airport paired with 282 acres of Texas Hill Country beauty that feels worlds away,” says Holly Bohn Pittman, CEO of Whim Hospitality, which manages Camp Lucy. “With luxury lodging, celebrated cuisine, and endless spaces to gather, it’s where business agendas meet the spirit of retreat.” camplucy.com
Texas also is known for a flourishing winery and distillery scene, offering enjoyable experiences such as group tours and tastings. Located in Hye, an hour and a half from Austin in the Texas Hill Country, Garrison Brothers Distillery was the state’s first legal bourbon distillery and is known for high-quality, small-batch bourbon. The distillery accommodates groups of of all sizes and offers distillery tours, guided tastings, culinary experiences, and a “Dip Your Own Bottle Experience.” The latter involves attendees hand-dipping their bottles of Garrison Brothers Bourbon to seal them in wax and personalizing them with commemorative labels.
“Garrison Brothers Distillery offers groups the ability to get out of the city and gain a one-of-a-kind hands-on experience learning all about Texas bourbon and what makes ours so special,” says Mary Katherine Wood, director of direct sales and hospitality at Garrison Brothers Distillery. “We are a family-owned business and deliver Southern hospitality at every turn. Whether you want a day to have some fun together, host a private event, or focus on team-building exercises, Garrison Brothers will make your experience unforgettable.” garrisonbros.com
Located along the well-known 290 Wine Trail in Johnson City, an hour outside of Austin, Charleston Taylor Estate Winery and Black Chapel Brewing—both operated by the same family—offer group activities like tastings, Italian cooking classes, and blending parties where attendees can craft their own wine blend.
“We have beautiful Texas Hill Country and vineyard views combined with being tucked away [and] hidden on the 290 Wine Trail, with over 30 acres of space that is perfect for any size group—and quiet compared to some of the hustle on the road,” says Jared Broach, who owns both venues. “Our wine blending is a popular experience because groups can create the perfect custom blend, and we can [personalize] the label with the company doing it or the event [branding]. So, it is really great for client events or for employee appreciation because everyone gets to take a bottle home, or they can order additional for delivery to clients.” charlestontaylor.com
