Family Fun

5 hot spots for a family staycation in Dallas-Fort Worth

School's out for the summer. You've booked a trip or two away and organized summer camps for the kids, but it's still not quite enough. This is why having a few staycations up your sleeve comes in handy. So kick schedules out the window, be spontaneous, and book a last-minute getaway that's just around the corner. Your kids will thank you for being the coolest parent around.

Here are our picks on where to staycay this summer in Dallas-Fort Worth.

The Hilton Anatole
The game-changer for many families looking for a Dallas resort arrived last summer with the launch of JadeWaters, the 3-acre water experience at the Hilton Anatole. The resort pool complex offers a lazy river, two 180-foot water slides, kids' water features, a swim-up bar in the adult pool, pool-side spa treatments, and luxury cabanas.

New this year is the Fun Pass, which can be purchased daily or for a full weekend. It gives you access to kids activities at Geppetto's Marionette, s'mores parties, and craft workshops. The kids activities at JadeWaters run every Friday to Sunday, and the resort pool is open only to hotel guests.

Adolphus Hotel
Become downtown urbanites and check-in at the Adolphus Hotel. At over 100 years old, the grand dame of Dallas has undergone a major renovation of its 407 guest rooms and suites and added a rooftop pool and full-service spa and salon. Wander around discovering downtown or book a Dallas city tour on an eco-friendly electric EFrog shuttle. Restaurant options include Ascension Coffee at Thanksgiving Tower and Cafe Momentum within walking distance, or stay in for the chef-driven pool-side menu with offerings like flatbreads, all-beef sliders, and rainbow sherbet push-pops

The Summer in the City Staycation package includes complimentary valet, reserved cabana, and a $50 food and beverage credit. The F&B credit comes in handy for in-room dining while the hotel awaits the completion of the French Room and City Hall (opening later this summer).

Four Seasons Dallas Resort and Club Las Colinas
Two words — Kids Club. Four Seasons Dallas has perfected the art of keeping children happy with organized activities like scavenger hunts, cooking classes, and yoga, all of which is available via the Kids For All Seasons (KFAS) program. Additionally, kids can take tennis and golf clinics or sign up for all-day camps. This gives parents an opportunity to try an anti-gravity aerial yoga lesson, surf the TPC green on a Golfboard, or book a couples spa treatment. Our pro-tip is to book an unhurried dinner at LAW Restaurant on Friday or Saturday (from June to September), and drop the kids off at Kids Night In at KFAS, where they will be fed and entertained.

There are also plenty of ways to spend quality time together, including s'mores nights, dive-in movies at the pool, and a game of bocce or billiards at the newly opened Outlaw Taproom.

NYLO Plano at Legacy
Swanky New York vibes can be had at NYLO Plano. Walls covered with original artwork, slick concrete floors with exposed brickwork, and gritty industrial ceiling ducts are reminiscent of an artist's loft. A library and game room connected to the in-house restaurant, LOCL, lets the littles wander about and play over a leisurely meal. There's fresh-baked cookies and fruit-infused water for guests to nibble on all day long.

Go completely local and check out the frequently held festivals in historic downtown Plano and discover eateries like Urban Crust, Zalat Pizza, Amazeballs Cakeballs, and Crave Popcorn.

Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center
Cool off from the heat in Gaylord Texan's 10-acre water park, Paradise Springs. There's a lazy river, a lagoon pool, and a 27-foot-tall waterslide as well as a multilevel water play structure. Tots have their own toddler pool away from chaos of the big kids. When water play is done, take a stroll under the 4.5-acre Lone Star Atrium. The indoor lush gardens, walkways, and restaurants create a mini city wrapped under air-conditioned comfort. There are 10 food and beverage options, from the Texas-inspired Old Hickory Steakhouse to casual Italian at Zeppole Coastal with courtyard seating. Family program highlights include panning for gold with Gaylord's Prospector Pete, rounding up bandits at Hank's Outlaw Scavenger Hunt, and Mommy & Me manicures at Relâche Spa.

Free family activities include Friday night fireworks overlooking Lake Grapevine, a Saturday night Glow Party and Wild West Show under the Lone Star Atrium, and nightly live music.

JadeWaters experience at Hilton Anatole is a big attraction for families.

JadeWaters experience at the Hotel Anatole

Photo courtesy of Hilton Anatole

JadeWaters experience at Hilton Anatole is a big attraction for families.

families hotels

Best of the South

Southern Living lauds Hill Country hotspot among best towns in the South

Photo by Steve Rawls

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The famous German Hill Country town of Fredericksburg is getting the spotlight as a must-visit destination in Southern Living's 2026 South's Best Awards.

Fredericksburg claimed the coveted No. 3 spot in the publication's ranking of the Best Small Towns in the South.

The annual awards are determined through third-party online surveys of Southern Living consumers from July 9 to September 9, 2025. Over 17,000 respondents rated their favorite places across the South, the report said.

The top two best small Southern towns were St. Augustine, Florida (No. 1), and St. Simons Island/Golden Isles, Georgia (No. 2).

Specifically, Southern Living gave a nod to Fredericksburg's growth and the recent addition of The Albert Hotel, which opened in 2025. The Albert Hotel was ranked the 10th best new hotel in 2026.

"The city’s premier full-service luxury hotel revives a cluster of 19th-century landmarks, from a historic saloon to a former pharmacy that is now a cafe, deli, and artisan market," the report said. "Alongside the 105 minimalist guest rooms, a holistic spa and a limestone pool provide moments of quiet relaxation."

We all need a relaxing day poolside at the Albert Hotel pool oasis.Photo by Chase Daniels

As the Fredericksburg area grows, Southern Living said, it still maintains its cozy, small-town feel.

"Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals," Southern Living wrote. "Wine lovers will feel particularly at home thanks to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms scattered throughout town and the surrounding countryside."

It's no wonder Southern Living decided to locate its 2026 Idea House there.

Popular events like the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival and locally focused programs like the Texas Hill Country Wineries wine passports draw in crowds from all parts of Texas. The town is about a five-hour drive from downtown Dallas, which makes it a great weekend or spring break escape. North Texas travelers might even spot small patches of bluebonnets during their road trip through the Hill Country.

No matter which route you take, travelers should make a pit stop through another small Texas town called Marble Falls, which is home to one of Southern Living's most legendary Southern restaurants: Blue Bonnet Cafe. According to the report, its longstanding staff members embody the idea of "southern hospitality" every day.

"There’s one real reason the Blue Bonnet Cafe is so widely respected: The folks who run the place have been holding this small-town diner to high standards for years," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe opened in 1929 and was later bought by the Kemper family in 1981, who still own and operate it today. Southern Living recommends ordering one of the blue plate specials, and a slice of pie is a mandatory treat.

"With 15 options — from luxuriously creamy to bright and fruity — you’re guaranteed to find one you’ll love," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas Ordering a slice of pie is a requirement, not a suggestion.Blue Bonnet Cafe - Marble Falls, TX/Facebook

The only other Texas destination to earn recognition in Southern Living's annual awards was the iconic Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was crowned the best barbecue joint in Texas by the publication's readers.

"Fans from around the world queue up for hours to experience the craftsmanship that has made Franklin a barbecue celebrity," the report said. "Flawless prime-grade brisket with a sweet, tangy glaze is still the showstopper here, and it’s accompanied by the quintessential Central Texas lineup of pork ribs, turkey, and jalapeño-Cheddar sausage."

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