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    Wizards of Ahs

    The best hotel spas in Dallas to relax and retreat

    Connie Dufner
    Mar 14, 2014 | 8:49 am

    Whether you live in Dallas or you're just passing through, you need a place where you can escape the hustle and bustle. Luckily, Dallas hotels capably serve the relaxation needs of locals and travelers alike with spa retreats that can chase your cares away — at least for one day.

    From urban cool to subterranean chic, these are the best hotel spas in Dallas. Book now to forever hold your peace.

    Best Overall Experience: ESPA at The Joule
    From the tea and warm towel before descending to the treatment areas to the divine five-stop water therapies, ESPA has changed the way pampering is done in Dallas. For starters, instead of booking a specific treatment, guests can reserve ESPA Time, which is two, three or four hours with a therapist who tends to your every relaxation need. The spa is the U.S. flagship, with many products for sale that are not available elsewhere in the country. Make a day of it by booking a yoga or core fitness class in the new Vital studio, and leave time for all the hydration options. Have somewhere amazing to go after the spa? Complimentary blowouts are available on the weekends.

    Best Spa and Snack: The Spa at the Crescent
    This longtime favorite inside the Rosewood Crescent Hotel always delivers excellent treatments, and thanks to its Spa D-Lite menu, comprising an assortment of 25-minute services, you can still squeeze in some relaxation even if time isn't on your side. Better still, you can dine in your robe — pre-treatment or post — at the spa cafe, which offers foodie-friendly fresh-pressed juices and smoothies, breakfast, snacks, salads and sandwiches. Indulge guilt-free, because the calorie counts are listed on the menu.

    Best New York Import: Bliss Dallas at W Dallas Victory
    Best known for its cheeky brand persona, Bliss, on the 16th floor of the recently renovated W hotel, is a fun stop for spa treatments should work or leisure take you to Victory Park. Try the new "Heel-leljujah" ultimate pedicure or the popular "Youth as We Know It" facial in a new nighttime treatment. The Dallas outpost also has the famous brownie buffet and a movie-while-you-manicure station. A full product line means you can take the spa home with you, wherever that may be.

    Best Fitness Infusion: Exhale at Highlands Dallas (formerly Hotel Palomar)
    It's hard to tell what Exhale fans love more — the Zen-inducing face and body treatments or the invigorating Core Fusion and yoga classes held in pretty, light-filled studios. For travelers who cannot skip a workout, Exhale meets their relaxation and exercise needs. For locals, there are spa and class memberships available, so when you fall in love with the place — and you will — it's easy to maintain your regimen and take advantage of poolside access and member discounts.

    Best Outer-Limits Respite: The Spa & Salon at Four Seasons
    The elegant relaxation lounge, with its cold plunge pool and hot tub, is so addicting you may be tempted to miss your service. But you'll be glad you made time for body treatments augmented by aromatherapy, hot stones and Vichy showers, for starters. Finish off the day with the Change of Season mani-pedi, during which you can enjoy a cocktail created by the nail technician. Men also get the star treatment here, with a long list of services such as the Old-fashioned Cowboy Soak replete with Shiner Bock beer. The aromatherapy oils soothe sore muscles — most likely incurred on the golf course.

    Best Mani-Pedi With a View: Mokara Spa and Salon at Omni Dallas
    Due to its proximity to the convention center, Omni Dallas is an obvious choice for conventioneers, who deserve a break from all that business. Thankfully, Mokara does the trick. We suggest unwinding with a signature massage complete with an application of heat-activated whipped shea butter balm. The spa also features deluxe couples' rooms, cozy relaxation area with see-through fireplace and a nail salon with sweeping views of the Dallas skyline. You've never had a mani-pedi like this before.

    Best Uptown Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Dallas
    We can't get enough of the silken robes, "Experience" shower and luxe dressing rooms — and that's even before you step foot into the treatment hall for an invigorating Dean's Margarita Salt Glow or signature Texas Eight Hands Massage. For those harried weekdays, the spa offers mini escapes at special prices, so there's no reason not to have some Ritz in your day. Couples can luxuriate together in one of two VIP suites with soaking tubs.

    Best Little Gem in a Big Jewel Box: VSPA at the Hilton Anatole
    Getting to VSPA is a workout in itself, as you wind through the expansive hotel and grounds to the Veranda Club. Then it's up the stairs and — voila! — serenity beckons with a foot bath and a few tea-sipping moments before your treatment. Prices here are more reasonable than some of the other swanky spas, which our pocketbooks appreciate. Complimentary access to the newly remodeled fitness center is an amenity, so plan accordingly.

    Best Sexy Hideaway: ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa
    Hotel ZaZa may be known for its singles-friendly Dragonfly and Urban Oasis, but the hideaway spa on the second floor is the perfect antidote to that see-and-be-seen life. There's plenty to keep you in the treatment room, including six facials, five massages, body scrubs and wraps, and body contouring service. (Not surprisingly, "The Morning After" treatment helps relieve the symptoms of too much partying the night before.) If you feel too mellow to drive home, you could always see if one of the Magnificent Seven suites is available. Because you deserve it.

    Bliss at W Dallas Victory hotel.

    Photo courtesy of Bliss
    Bliss at W Dallas Victory hotel.
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    series/dtx-texas-traveler

    Texas getaways

    Port Aransas gets a grown-up glow-up with new restaurants and bars

    Celestina Blok
    Jun 19, 2026 | 4:30 pm
    Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens
    Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens/Facebook
    Sip-and-shuck oyster farm tours are new in Port Aransas

    Port Aransas, the beloved Texas coastal destination about six-and-a-half hours from Dallas, has long been a favorite family beach getaway, where visitors can slip into "island time" with 18 miles of shoreline waves, sandcastle-worthy beaches, and plenty to keep kids entertained.

    But lately, the island has been giving grownups more reasons to get excited about the trip - or make one entirely on their own. A wave of new openings over the past few months has brought fresh bars, restaurants, boutiques, and other attractions that make Port A an even better getaway for couples, friends, and adults looking for more than a day at the beach.

    Here are eight new things to see and do in Port A this summer - or any time of year.

    Bars & Restaurants

    The Boat Bar
    Opened in March, this floating bar – originally a charter fishing boat known as The Island Queen – is anchored at the Port Aransas marina, providing a taste of the island life with its gentle motion on the water and some of the best views of the bay. The double-decker vessel offers beer, wine, frozen cocktails, and a food menu from neighboring businesses that can be delivered. (Don’t miss the black drum nachos from Jeremiah’s Dock Grill.) With seating for around 60, there’s plenty of room to stretch your sea legs. The Boat Bar is pet-friendly and family-friendly, with children welcome before dark. Open 12-10 pm daily. 154 W. Cotter Ave.

    Sip Yard
    This three-story open-air bar debuted in 2024, providing a first-of-its-kind new option for island imbibing. The ground level is family-friendly with yard games, a full bar, a stage for live music, large screens for game-watching, and multiple food vendors offering items like build-your-own pizza, tacos, Asian bowls, and Cajun cuisine. The second floor is 21-and-up and offers a livelier scene within earshot of any live music and activity below. The uncovered top floor provides picnic table seating and a breezy, bird’s eye view of the Gulf. Note that there is an occasional cover charge depending on live music acts. Open 11 am-10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 11 am-midnight Friday-Saturday. 123 W. Cotter Ave.

    Stout’s at the Shore
    Opened last summer by South Texas native and restaurateur Jason Stout, this elevated take on coastal cuisine is located in the heart of one of Port Aransas’ most popular vacation rental communities, Cinnamon Shore. This is Stout’s first culinary venture on the Gulf Coast, but his restaurant resume includes San Antonio-based Stout’s Pizza Company and Stout’s Signature, a fine dining restaurant that also has a location in Fredericksburg. Stout’s at the Shore is a dinner-only destination with unique cocktails like lavender smoked old fashioneds and a menu that ranges from steamed mussels and Rockefeller oysters to blackened snapper, beef tenderloin bolognese, and filet with compound herb butter and chimichurri. While the restaurant is geared toward adult dining, there is a kids menu, along with options for outdoor seating. 201 Social Cir.

    Tiki Jay’s
    Jason Stout also just opened Tiki Jay’s, a tiki bar with rum cocktails served in playful barware and mugs; and food offerings such as poke bowls, fish tacos, pulled pork sliders, and pineapple upside down cake. Opened in late May, the casual bar and restaurant is located just steps from Stout’s at the Shore. Open 4-10 pm daily. 125 Market St.

    Shopping

    The Boutiques at Cinnamon Shore
    Opened in 2025, The Boutiques at Cinnamon Shore encompass three distinct shops (Paloma, Low Tides, and The CS Collection) featuring clothing and resort wear for men, women, and children. Customers will find logo items, gifts, and high-quality T-shirts along with trendy boutique apparel and accessories including hats, sunglasses, and jewelry. There are great sale racks, too. 125 Market St.

    Saltwater Gypsies
    This fine food and gift market reopened in downtown Port Aransas in 2023 after a long hiatus due to Hurricane Harvey, which caused major destruction on the island in 2017. But there’s now a brand-new satellite location of Saltwater Gypsies, opened in April at Cinnamon Shore. The gourmet market sells everything from pantry staples and fresh eggs to tableware, sunscreen, pet treats, and cookbooks. Customers can stop by either location to stock their coolers while grabbing souvenirs and unique gifts in a pinch. 403 N. Alister St., 5009 Hwy 361.

    Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens

    Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens/Facebook

    Sip-and-shuck oyster farm tours are new in Port Aransas

    Attractions

    Salt Island Trail at the Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture
    One of Port Aransas’ most unique attractions is the 1,217 acres of upland, tidal flat, marsh, and estuarine habitats that encompass the Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture. It’s here that migrating and resident birds find peace amid a rare chunk of undeveloped coastal plain. There are trails where visitors can observe the habitats, but Hurricane Harvey destroyed them all in 2017. The Salt Island Trail, a $2.3 million project that was completed in early in 2025, was the last of the trails to be reconstructed. The trail is 2.2 miles round trip and features boardwalks through tidal saltmarsh that lead to the two-story Salt Island Tower. Also visit the Pavilion at the Nature Preserve for complimentary yoga every Tuesday at 12:30 pm. Registration is required. North access is at Port St. and south entrance is 2650 St. Hwy 361.

    Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens
    This premium oyster farm is the first to operate out of Port Aransas, established by Bill and Amelia Strieber who met on the beach there in high school. Located on a two-acre site in the southern part of Aransas Bay, Clear Water Oyster Gardens offers unshucked oysters for purchase along with brand new sip-and-shuck oyster farm tours. Taking place on select Sundays, the tours ($94) include a two-hour boat ride with a welcome glass of bubbly, a bit of education by Bill Strieber, and freshly shucked oysters served onboard with curated wine pairings and sunset views. The tours are the first of their kind in Texas. 440 W. Cotter Ave., Slip B.

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