With scenic river views overlooking sprawling landscapes of local hangouts, high-rise buildings and luxury apartments, The Woodlands Waterway has been molded and shaped since the 1970s into the iconic centerpiece and landmark it is today.

The Waterway spans a little more than 1 mile across Town Green Park to The Woodlands Mall and is home to several restaurants and other hotspots, including Crush Wine Lounge, Bar Louie, La Lupita and Baker St. Pub & Grill. The central waterway interconnects facilities, such as the Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion and The Woodlands Waterway Marriott & Convention Center, with winding paths, stairways and bridges through well-manicured landscaping.

"What you see down [at The Woodlands Waterway] has been on our plans for years," said Alex Sutton, co-president of The Woodlands Development Company. "If you go back and look at the renderings in general, we are developing out the vision we've been presenting to the market for a while, and the market is responding well."

The Woodlands Development Company officials have worked since the 1970s to bring in a mix of businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, retail shops, office spaces, manufacturer headquarters and multi-tenant buildings for firms in the law, medical and energy fields.

"[The goal was] to develop a mixed use, pedestrian-oriented zone where people can work, recreate, shop and live," Sutton said.

Families looking to spend a day outdoors have a variety of options for entertainment at Waterway Square with live music performances during Waterway Nights, a fountain area synced to music and a water play area for children.

Residents and visitors of all ages can regularly be seen making their way down the Waterway in single and tandem kayaks available for rent at the Riva Row Boat House. Guests have the opportunity to travel down the corridor on Waterway Cruisers that feature glass windows offering panoramic views.

The Development Company continues to seek new tenants to make the Waterway area even more of a destination place for families, Sutton said.