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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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Hotel News

Grand Hyatt hotel at DFW Airport to deploy million-dollar renovation

Courtesy photo

Grand Hyatt DFW hotel at DFW Airport

DFW Airport is undergoing updates and now the remodeling bug has bitten the on-site hotel: Grand Hyatt DFW Airport, located inside Terminal D, is deploying a renovation of the property beginning in July.

It'll be a multi-phased renovation that includes updates to guestrooms and suites, improvements to event spaces, enhancements to the restaurants and bars, plus re-envisioned lobby, guest lounges, and corridors throughout — anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025.

In a statement, Grand Hyatt DFW Airport general manager Jeff Babcock notes that the hotel is celebrating a key anniversary.

“We are thrilled to announce Grand Hyatt DFW will undergo a transformation to provide international and domestic travelers and local residents with new, more refined accommodations, enhanced culinary experiences, and modernized conference and event spaces for meetings and groups,” Babcock says. “In honor of our 20th year, the renovation will reinforce the hotel’s legacy as the premier hotel and event center supporting the international airport and connecting travelers to the Dallas Fort Worth culture and community.”

The renovation at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport marks its biggest investment since it first opened in 1974. The plan, called DFW Forward, will invest $9 billion in capital improvements to transform terminals, increase the number of gates, enhance the airfield, and improve roadways. Highlights include the addition of a new Terminal F south of Terminal D, with room for up to 24 gates; rebuilding Terminal C; more gates for Terminal A and C; and a rebuilding of Terminal C's parking garage.

“The remodeled Grand Hyatt – already known as one of the premier airport hotel experiences – will complement the ongoing enhancements and expansions across the airport as we create a smooth and enjoyable experience for our guests,” says DFW CEO Sean Donohue in a statement.

Rooms
Updates include:

An increase in the number of guestrooms and suites from 298 to 315
A new aeronautical design complemented by the style of a Texas landscape featuring local woods like Red River Pecan and Yellow Pine, with by a color palette that includes subdued greens and shades of natural blues
Stitched leather headboards and integrated lighting on the beds
Large HD flat screen televisions and new charging ports
Eco-friendly occupancy thermostats, enhanced lighting controls, and automatic blackout sheers and shades
Expansive closets and modern bathrooms with enlarged vanities, showers, and tubs

Restaurants and lounges
Food: A reimagined Grand Met restaurant and lounge will showcase a new style in dining at the airport, and its refreshed seasonal menus will offer new culinary experiences celebrating artisanal traditions combined with modern upscale dining. Keeping with the elegance of a jet-set lifestyle, the updated menu will serve international and modern cuisine with fresh ingredients sourced locally.

Atmosphere: Seating capacity at the restaurant and the lounge bar will be increased with modernized tables and chair. Newly designed private and semiprivate dining rooms will be available for large and small parties. An acoustically-designed ceiling will keep conversations private.

Meetings and events
With more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 6,600 square foot ballroom, the final phase will unveil a new a top-floor executive boardroom, and a one-of a-kind indoor/outdoor rooftop event space overlooking the airport runways.

The renovation will include state-of-the-art technical facilities for corporate meetings and gatherings, plus in-house audiovisual support for all types of events, with a redesign that incorporates the style of Texas and the beauty of the West.

Lobby, corridors, and pool
Steps away from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)’s checkpoint in Terminal D, the newly envisioned hotel lobby will include marble tile flooring, specially-designed ceiling finishes, enhanced accent lighting, wood paneling, and artwork created by local.

New corridors will connect the hotel to the airport. The hallways will feature a plush carpet with a pattern inspired by the airport’s design and airline flight movements, accented with blues and browns.

A newly transformed fitness center with Pelotons bicycles will be located on the first floor, while an outdoor rooftop pool will overlook the runways.

Each Grand Hyatt hotel is uniquely designed to be a captivating destination within a destination, boasting restaurants, spas, fitness centers, and business and meeting facilities.

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