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CultureMap Dallas shares 8 top Texas travel tips for February

February: It's the month for celebrating love.

Photo courtesy of Thompson San Antonio-Riverwalk

February is the ultimate month for celebrating love, but that's not all that's happening around Texas this month. From Mardi Gras celebrations, to rodeo season, to romantic hotel escapes, there are plenty of ways to fill an itinerary in all of Texas' hot spots. Need help deciding where to take a quick vacation, road trip, or staycation? Here are nine events and happenings to help plan a fun-filled getaway in February.

At home in Dallas

For any romantic staycation planning, the Omni Dallas Hotel is partnering with Longhorn Helicopters to offer lovebirds a breathtaking skyline tour on Valentine's Day, and a "Luxury Romance" package with plenty of sweet treats for you and your beloved. The hotel spa will also offer three relaxing Valentine's Day specials in addition to their regular treatments all month long, from a tension-relieving massage to a nourishing facial. Rates at the Omni Dallas Hotel begin at $284 per night in February.

In San Antonio

Valentine's Day preparations are in full swing at the Thompson San Antonio-Riverwalk, with two romantic offerings for couples. For stays between February 9-18, guests who use the code "SATROM" to book the SuiteHart Romance Package will receive a rose petal-decorated suite, an additional "welcome amenity," and a $200 credit that can be used on an intimate meal at Landrace, relaxing hotel spa treatments, and more. For even more idyllic bliss, the hotel will also offer a special Cabana Cuddle Up experience, which begins with an 80-minute massage for two, followed by a champagne picnic in one of the hotel's poolside daybed cabanas. Nightly rates begin at $550.

In Austin

The award-winning Commodore Perry Estate has lined up several romantic events leading up to Valentine's Day, beginning with a wine dinner on Wednesday, February 7, featuring PlumpJack head winemaker Aaron Miller, who will take guests on a journey through Napa Valley's famous Cade and PlumpJack Estate wines. For a more whimsical experience, guests can join champagne purveyor Laurent Perrier for an afternoon of wine tasting and floral arrangement design on Friday, February 9. And for the traditionalists, Commodore Perry will host a Valentine's Day-themed baking class on February 13 and a romantic dinner for two on February 14. More information about the deluxe experiences and ticket pricing can be found on aubergeresorts.com.

Round Rock's The Ruby Hotel also has special plans for Valentine's Day getaways, such as its "Romance Package" that decorates a guest's room in silky flower petals, chocolate, bottles of champagne, and an optional personalized postcard. For solo guests, the hotel will also offer a special flight-for-one that includes a 375-mililiter bottle of wine, and a charcuterie board with Antonelli's cheese, salami, seasonal fruit, and chutney. Rates at The Ruby Hotel start at $112 per night, and the Romance Package is a $75 add-on plus tax, and the Solo Flight is $45 plus tax.

As the Live Music Capital of the World, there's more to Austin's local music scene than Austin City Limits Festival or concerts at the Moody Center. The 10th annual Outsider Fest will be held February 15-18 at The Vortex, promising boundary-pushing music, theater, and drag performances, from vogue troupes to LGBTQIA mariachi. Early access badges start at $109 for general admission and $49 for students/youth.

In the Hill Country

Texas' beautiful Hill Country destinations are getting a lot of love from top national publications, and most recently, the Gruene Historic District in New Braunfels and the ever-popular town of Fredericksburg were named among the 50 best U.S. travel destinations in 2024 by Forbes Advisor. The report highlighted the abundance of wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms in Fredericksburg and suggested several outdoorsy activities like hiking up Enchanted Rock, or floating on the Comal River in New Braunfels.

Across Texas

It's Mardi Gras season, and CultureMap has found five can't-miss celebrations happening all around Texas. Close to home, festivities throughout North Texas include the 22nd annual Krewe of Barkus Parade in McKinney on Sunday, February 4, and a self-guided pub crawl in Fort Worth on Saturday, Feb. 10. (Tip: If you can make it to Galveston, that's THE place to be on Fat Tuesday, February 13.)

In Houston

Texas' rodeo season is hot on the horizon, and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is set to be the biggest one yet. From the popular concert series that name drops Blake Shelton and the Jonas Brothers, to the buzzy drone shows, to exclusive rodeo-themed fashion statements, there will be plenty to talk about when the three-week-long event kicks off on Tuesday, February 27. Ticket prices vary and can be purchased via rodeohouston.com.

Where to stay? Hotel ZaZa in Houston's Museum District is offering a "Cowboys and Caviar" experience for guests who book stays with up to five friends, February 22-March 24, with the code "CAVIAR." The package includes a complimentary bottle of champagne, a bucket of Lone Star Beers, and a luxurious caviar tray for all six guests at one of the hotel's spacious suites. Nightly rates begin at $400 for the package.

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Downtown News

Dallas convention center re-do will shut down DART stop for 3 years

Courtesy photo

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Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is about to shut down its stop at the Convention Center Station for the next three years.

The agency is being forced to close the station to accommodate the city of Dallas' construction and redevelopment of the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. As part of the project, the station will be closed for the duration of construction, which is currently estimated at three years.

The Convention Center Station is a stop on both the Red and Blue lines, and the shutdown will affect anyone traveling to or from southwest Dallas. North Dallas, Plano, Rowlett, and Carrollton will thankfully be spared.

Rail detours
Riders who previously used the Convention Center Station will be directed to nearby alternative stations at Cedars or EBJ Union. DART has prepared clear signage, rider alerts, and bus connections to support customers and make navigating the closure as easy as possible.

Bus detours
Routes 28 and 106 will maintain regular service outside of downtown. Within downtown, instead of taking Lamar to the Convention Center, the bus will turn left on Young Street, right on Akard Street, right on Marilla Street where the Akard and Marilla bus stop is located (stop number 20685).

Outbound, routes 28 and 106 will turn left on Young Street, right on Lamar Street and then proceed on their regular route.

Layover at Akard and Marilla: Passengers deboard at Cedars Station and take the special South Dallas GoLink to bus stops at Akard and Marilla or to EBJ Union Station.

Route 224 will operate a detour going inbound. Inbound trips will come downtown via Elm and continue to Houston, turn left on Commerce and continue to Harwood. It will then turn left to go to the East Transfer Center where it will layover. Outbound trips will originate from the East Transfer Center and operate a regular route out of downtown.

Layover at East Transfer Center

Passengers arriving by train can deboard at Convention Center Station to board route 224.
Another option for passengers is to deboard at Akard Station, then board 224 at Elm and Akard.

Route 383 East Transfer Center is your final stop. 383 will not continue past this station. This route will be discontinued on February 02, 2026.

DART will implement a new GoLink Zone for Convention Center Station customers that will only provide service for trips originating at EBJ Union Station, Cedars Station, or the substitute bus layover location on Akard and Marilla and terminating at one of those locations.

The service will operate 7 days a week, from 5 am to midnight. Customers using this GoLink Zone may only travel between these three designated points.

All changes will be reflected online and in the GoPass app for the duration of construction.

downtown transportation