5 great girlfriend getaways and staycations just a short drive from Dallas

Girls' trip

Winstar World Casino/Facebook

And just like that…summer vacation is almost over. Which means the time is right to schedule that girls’ trip you and your gal pals are always talking about. There are many fun places to squeeze in a quick getaway within a short drive from Dallas, even if it's just an "escape from reality" at a swanky hotel downtown.

The following five spots feature great pool scenes (or a river float for the more adventurous), expansive spas, delicious dining, and most importantly, sanctuaries to simply unwind. It's a mix of laid-back locales and luxurious lodgings (but hey, you're splitting the bill). Some are brand new, some are tried-and-true favorites with new reasons to visit, and all are within about a four-hour drive.

So text your besties, pack a swimsuit, and get ready to hit the road.

Winstar World Casino/Facebook

Have a hot girl summer at Cascades, the new resort pool at Winstar World Casino.

Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville, Oklahoma
After a recent multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion, WinStar World Casino has debuted a heap of new amenities worth the short road trip north to the Oklahoma-Texas border – even if gambling is of zero interest.

What's new: Located in a completely new 26,000 square-foot building is the WinStar Spa, a two-story relaxation oasis that just opened in May. European-manufactured amenities include saunas from Germany, heated ceramic loungers from Austria, and a massive hydrotherapy tub from Lithuania. Most services come with access to relaxation lounges, saunas, steam rooms, two kinds of showers (one called a “rinse” and the other called “experience”), heated benches, and an “ice room” that sounds perfect for beating the heat.

Another new feature is Cascades, WinStar’s new five-acre pool complex featuring bungalows, cabanas, daybeds, and multiple pools. A 360-degree bar anchors the expansion, and there’s food and beverage service right to your lounge chair. Unlike WinStar’s Terrace Pool, Cascades is open to the public – however, all guests (including hotel guests) must make a paid reservation in advance. Time slots are available for half-day morning, half-day afternoon, or all-day.

If your girl group loves live music: After a three-year hiatus from hosting concerts, WinStar will welcome back live music in October with the opening of Lucas Oil Live, a new 6,500-seat entertainment venue. The first concert on the calendar is Randy Rogers Band featuring Casey Donahew on Saturday, October 7. Other upcoming shows include Miranda Lambert, Rod Stewart, Leon Bridges, and many more.

Where to eat dinner: If visiting on a Saturday night this summer, make plans to attend Cascades After Hours party. Happening every Saturday from 8:30-11 pm, the adults-only (21-and-up) features live music and a buffet dinner. Tickets are $50 per person, and there’s a cash bar. Or visit one of several restaurants in the casino, like the brand new Union Mesa Restaurant & Cantina, or Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.

Rates: Through Labor Day weekend, rates start at $199 per night.

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin
The popular Hill Country resort is worth a another look this summer, as it has launched a new signature wine, beer, and spirits tasting event this summer worth the three-hour drive from Dallas. An adults-only infinity pool, 13,000-square-foot spa and sanctuary, and enchanting views of more than 4,000 countryside acres add to the allure.

If your girl group likes adult beverages: Don’t miss Hill Country Sip & Savor, the resort's new festival-style tasting event that features beverages from local breweries, distilleries, and wineries native to the Texas country along with food and live music. The festival launched on Memorial Day weekend and there are two dates left: Saturday, August 5 and Saturday, September 2. Rates start at $459 per night and include overnight accommodations, three drink sampling tickets and one food ticket per adult, two beach towels and one tote bag per room, and one bottle of sunscreen.

Other gal pal activities: Lounge at the adults-only infinity pool and order an Elderflower Spritz from the bar, or go to the spa. The latter has its own private rooftop pool with plenty of tranquil lounge chairs and cush outdoor seating away from the crowd. There are also four golf courses on-site for ladies who love a good tee time.

Where to eat dinner: Make reservations for Blind Salamander, the resort’s upscale seafood restaurant led by chef Francisco Baca. Indulge in steamed mussels with miso butter, glazed redfish with clams and cornbread, or jumbo shrimp with blood orange cocktail sauce.

Rates: Rates start at $399 per night.

If you're heading toward the Hill Country, you have to hit ...

The Guadalupe River, Gruene
It’s a bucket-list activity for Texan, but a whole different experience when it's just the girls. Away from rowdy guys on the river, gal-groups can bond (and solve the problems of the world) during a leisurely inner-tube float down the crisp and cool Guadalupe - insulated tumblers in hand. Then end the day in the tiny town of Gruene, where groups can gather to listen to live music at Texas’ oldest dance hall, sip margaritas at a riverfront restaurant, shop boutiques, or relax in a boutique day spa. There are countless hotels, camp grounds, and short-term rentals for an overnight stay.

How to float the river: Rockin’ R doesn't get much closer, located on the banks of the Guadalupe in the heart of Gruene. For decades, they've outfitted tubers for river floats and provided shuttle service back from the end point. New is Rockin’ R’s expansive Gruene Light Bar, where live music and cocktails are available all summer long. El Arroyo (the Austin-based Tex-Mex restaurant known for its hilarious marquee signs) also has a food truck on-site for pre- or post-float grub. Don’t forget to wear water shoes, and note that cans, glass, or anything disposable is not allowed on the water.

Other Gruene must-do’s: Have sangria or a longneck bottle at the iconic Gruene Hall while listening to live music. Stroll through locally owned shops for cute clothes, décor, and souvenirs. Or schedule a spa treatment at Gruene Day Spa, but note treatments should be booked at least two to three weeks out.

Where to eat dinner: No visit to Gruene is complete without dinner at Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar. There’s typically a wait for a table, especially on the weekends. But that means you get to listen to live acoustic music on the lawn with a salt-rimmed margarita until your name is written on the chalk board, indicating your table is ready. Pro tip: chips and fresh salsa (which is also sold to-go by the mason jar) are available at the indoor-outdoor bar while you wait.

Rates: Tube rental with shuttle service at Rockin’ R starts at $25.

Omni PGA Resort, Frisco
Don’t let the “PGA” in the name fool you. Guests of the sprawling Frisco resort, which just opened in May, don’t have to be golf fans to enjoy the many luxe amenities offered: multiple pools with bar service, a full-service spa, shopping, live music, and 13 dine-and-drink destinations.

If your gal group likes to golf: There are two 18-hole courses and a two-acre putting green. But don’t miss The Swing, a 10-hole par three course that’s lit after dark – perfect for avoiding summer’s scorching rays. Texas country music plays on speakers overhead, and there’s a Casamigos tequila truck that serves refreshing ranch waters at the half-way mark, making this short course perhaps the most lively in town.

For the non-golfers: Book a relaxing treatment at Mokara Spa, where there are more than 20 treatment rooms, a sauna, stream room, jacuzzi, private pool, and spa café. Shop The Monument Realty PGA District then have happy hour at The Lounge by TopGolf. Or simply kick back all day at the adults-only rooftop infinity pool with a Coco Berry Mojito in-hand from the Bluestem Bar.

Where to eat dinner: Make reservations for Trick Rider, the resort’s signature fine-dining restaurant for steak and seafood dishes. Grab a pre-dinner martini at the horseshoe-shaped bar and say “hello” to Cinnamon, the restaurant’s spectacular 1,500-pound, quarter horse-shaped chandelier.

Rates: Rates start at $359 per night.

The Adolphus , Dallas
No time for more than a drive to downtown Dallas to escape real life? There are many sleek new hotels, but nothing quite like this historic luxury hotel that feels as though you're steeping back in time. Opened in 1912 by Anheuser-Busch co-founder Adolphus Busch, the high-rise draws a new generation of guests seeking an extravagant escape.

If your friends are fancy: Make reservations for afternoon tea in The French Room, an iconic experience in a sophisticated, storied space that's fit for royalty (fun fact: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip stayed at the Adolphus in 1991). The marble floor, the gilded chairs, the glass chandeliers – all exude elegance. Tea service includes three courses with the option of adding champagne and caviar. Reservations are available Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am-2:45 pm. (Note that The French Room has still not fully reopened post-pandemic, but they do have a new executive chef in the kitchen.)

If you’re having a hot girl summer: Show off that smoking swimsuit at The Adolphus’ rooftop pool, where a live DJ plays music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. Rent a cabana and get a bottle of Minuty sparkling rose on ice to share. If finding zen is the goal for the getaway, make plans for Black Swan Yoga on the pool deck Saturday, August 19 at 9:30 am.

Where to eat dinner: Feeling high-end? Head to The French Room Bar, where foie gras torchon, escargot en croute, East Coast oysters on the half shell, and rack of lamb round out a very upscale French menu of culinary delights. (The absolute best savory, slightly spicy popcorn comes with cocktail service at the bar.) For something much more casual, go downstairs to the Rodeo Bar, where burgers, nachos, barbecue, and even a fully loaded foot-long chili dog combine for a completely different dining experience. Wash it all down with a frozen whiskey sour.

Rates: Rates start about $298 per night.

Photo by James Pharaon / Compass

Texas' legendary Inn at Dos Brisas ranch resort now on market for $15 million

Luxe listing

The former Inn at Dos Brisas, a much-loved Relais & Chateaux property and equestrian center north of Houston that shuttered in 2022, is back on the market for slightly less than its initial asking price.

The magnificent, 313-acre Dos Brisas ranch resort in Brenham, is now offered for $15 million - $2.5 million less than when it was first listed a year ago. Tonya Currie of Compass is handling the new listing.

Tucked away at 10000 Champion Dr. between Highway 290, TX-105, and Highway 6 in the southern foothills of the Texas Hill Country, Dos Brisas's resort building was built in 2002 and spans 14,000 square feet.

The idyllic Inn at Dos Brisas, one of CultureMap's picks for the 10 best hotels in Texas in 2014, hosted guests in Spanish-style haciendas and casitas, offered award-winning culinary experiences, welcomed beckoned visitors from near and far to enjoy horseback riding, bass fishing, cycling and clay target shooting.

Dos Brisas boasted the only Forbes Travel Guide five-star restaurant in Texas, and it was also recognized as one of the 10 best farm-to-table restaurants in the world.

Sadly, the resort did not survive COVID-related losses, closing its doors last year after more than 17 years in business.

The property is now ready for new owners who might have a new vision for what the listing calls "a harmonious fusion of luxury & serene seclusion."

In addition to being surrounded by gorgeous pecan trees, wildflowers, three stocked ponds, and Peach Creek, Dos Brisas also comes with a tennis court, an equestrian facility, a fully-functioning organic farm, and restaurant with 7,000-bottle wine cellar.

Photo by James Pharaon / Compass

The property is located at 10000 Champion Drive in Brenham.

The haciendas on the ranch have private entrances, personal pools, floor-to-ceiling windows, and grand bathrooms.

“This ranch has proven that it can and has been the best in its class as a restaurant and inn, but now has the potential to be tapped into for use in so many other areas such as equestrian venues, festival destination, medical retreat, country club or just for those wanting the best in a personal luxury getaway ranch,” Currie tells Mansion Global.

Showings are available by appointment only. Scroll through the photos, above, for all the breathtaking features.

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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this report.

Photo by Jody Horton

Luxury Hill Country hotel lifts lid on 3 new restaurants, coming this summer

Hill Country getaway

The anticipation is growing for the Albert Hotel, opening in Fredericksburg later this year. Operated by New Waterloo (known in Texas for properties like the South Congress Hotel, and in New Mexico for El Rey Court), the new luxury property will feature three new restaurants — and lucky for Fredericksburg natives and visitors alike, an acclaimed Texas chef will be behind them all.

Located at 213 East Austin St. Albert Hotel is a historic preservation effort with four late-19th century buildings and a newly constructed hotel featuring 109 guest rooms, a sunken pool, full-service spa, and versatile indoor and outdoor event spaces. Michael Fojtasek will lead the restaurants, which will run the gamut from gourmet dining experience (the Restaurant at Albert Hotel) to market-style deli (The Pharmacy) to backyard barbecue spot (Junebug's BBQ).

The name behind Austin concepts Olamaie and Maie Day, Fojtasek is a three-time James Beard ‘Best Chef, Southwest’ finalist. He'll be joined by New Waterloo's Head of Food and Beverage, Justin Spencer, as well as its Director of Culinary Projects, Amanda Rockman.

“The culinary program at Albert Hotel is driven by our love of Central Texas and the Hill Country,” says Fojtasek in a release. “It's a dream come true to be working in a town with so much history and beauty. My vision for the culinary program is built upon respect for the rich traditions of the area and our desire to bring a level of warmth and excellence to the hotel.”

A reflection of the Texas Hill Country way of life, The Restaurant at Albert Hotel will use the best regional ingredients in its rotating seasonal menus. Highlights will include a local spring salad with ranch dressing, a lamb rack with horseradish, and a spring melange with spaetzle. The deep and wide-ranging wine list will feature a robust selection of local and international labels, and the restaurant will be open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Housed in the historic Brockmann-Kiehne house on Austin Street, Junebug's BBQ will offer hand-rubbed meats by the pound. Spencer will lead the concept, bringing his experience as a competition barbecue pitmaster. His team’s accolades over the past 15 years range from “18th Best Brisket in the World” to “Best Chicken Wings” at Memphis in May, and multiple other national titles.

Last but not least, The Pharmacy at Albert Hotel will be the property's Main Street-facing concept. Featuring an artisanal market offering a daily breakfast and lunch menu, the Pharmacy will also carry hand-made goods, locally-sourced treats, and thoughtful gifts. Rockman will lead the concept's house-made pastry and bread program: "The Pharmacy will bring a product to Fredericksburg that is both unique and represents the Texas spirit and experience," she shared via release.

The entire project is designed by Clayton Korte and located on a two-acre site, spanning 242 to 248 East Main Street. A dedicated, two-level 160 space parking garage will be located directly across East Austin Street, while the hotel itself is tucked away behind the original historic buildings, creating a peaceful escape with quiet sophistication just off bustling Main Street.

The grounds will also include the historic White Elephant Saloon, a private dining room, an outdoor pool, fitness center, and a 2,000 square-foot full-service spa. An official opening date has not yet been set, but eager followers can stay up to date on Instagram and Facebook at @Albert_Hotel_TX.

Photo by Jody Horton

The Albert Hotel will feature three new restaurants and a historic saloon.

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Famed Seattle piroshky bakery makes stop in Dallas on Texas-wide tour

Meat Pie News

A Seattle bakery is coming to Dallas for a special pop-up: Piroshky Piroshky Bakery, which specializes in handmade piroshki, AKA Russian hand pies, will stop in Dallas on a national tour.

The bakery will be at Outfit Brewing, 135 John W. Carpenter Fwy, on October 5 from 5-7 pm, with luscious offerings, both savory and sweet.

Piroshkis are small pies of Russian origin, made from an enriched yeast dough, with savory fillings like meat, vegetables, or cheese, the most traditional being meat and rice or potato and onion.

Piroshky Piroshky Bakery was founded in Seattle in 1992, and offer their pastries in all sorts of delectable fillings: from beef & cheese to cabbage & onion to vegan-friendly mushroom & potato. They make authentic pastries, as well.

Their piroshky are individually made from scratch and hand-formed into unique shapes that help differentiate the flavors and fillings inside.

The company has five locations across Seattle, and also sells their products online. Their original location at Seattle's Pike Place Market serves more than 20 varieties.

But they also make annual tours, just like a rock band, to bring their goods to towns across the U.S. They last came through Dallas in November 2022.

The tour features options such as:

Smoked salmon pate piroshky
Beef & onion piroshy
Impossible beef & onion piroshky
Ham, spinach, & cheese piroshky
Potato & cheese piroshky
Veggie chipotle piroshky
Chocolate cream hazelnut roll
Cinnamon cardamom braid
Pumpkin toffee braid
Caraway cheddar cheese stick
Poppyseed cinnamon roll

The full menu is online, and pre-ordering is required. The cutoff order date for Dallas is October 3 at 4 pm. There's a minimum of $50; individual items run between $5.25 to $7.25.

In addition to Dallas, they're also making three other stops in Texas:

Fort Worth at Martin House Brewing, 220 S Sylvania Ave. on October 4, from 5-7 pm. You must order by October 2; pre-order here.
Austin at Twin Creeks Park, 2303 Dervingham Drive, Cedar Park, on October 6, from 5-7 pm; pre-order here.
Houston at Elks Lodge, 10150 W Airport Blvd, Stafford, on October 7, from 5-7 pm; pre-order here.

Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas initiates action to save birds from dying

Bird News

Reunion Tower, the little ball on the Western edge of downtown Dallas, is famous for its sassy light shows illuminating the Dallas skyline. But in recent years, the building has followed a bird-friendly policy of dimming its lights, and that dimming is about to get underway.

From October 1 through October 21, Reunion Tower will observe the following lighting schedule:

Sundown to 11 pm: lower its lights
11 pm-6 am: go completely dark
6 am-sunrise back to dim

The building enacts these changes to protect birds that are migrating through Texas.

Dallas is on the path of the Central Migratory Flyway, which extends from the Northwest and heads diagonally southeast through Mexico.

Every fall and spring, nearly two billion birds travel through Texas. The bird migration is one of the largest on the planet, and takes place at night. Light attracts migrating birds, making them vulnerable to collisions with buildings and causing them to become disoriented and distracted.

Birds get pulled into urban areas, collide into buildings, and die. Volunteer surveys - in which people go out and count actual dead bodies - in cities such as Dallas, Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth, finds hundreds of dead birds every night. It adds up to nearly a billion birds killed in the U.S. each year.

Dallas-Fort Worth is the third most dangerous area in the U.S. for migratory birds to travel through; Chicago is No. 1, followed by Houston which is No. 2.

As this map from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows, Dallas and Houston are both massively lit, representing major obstacles to the success and survival of the birds' migration.

Lights Out Texas was initiated as a statewide effort in Spring 2020 to protect birds from light pollution by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and BirdCast, with the essential support of founding Texas partners Houston Audubon, the Dallas Zoo, and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

According to Audubon, the actual critical migration period through Dallas is September 6 through October 29. A glittery skyline is surely pretty, but downtown should just shut it down during those times.

Dallas' JSX fuels up for new flights to West Texas oil-and-gas country

new routes

Hop-on jet service JSX is adding a new, year-round destination for the millions of Texans who work in oil and gas: Midland-Odessa.

Starting January 15, 2024, JSX will fly nonstop from Dallas and Houston to Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field (ODT). According to a release, the schedule and fares will be:

FromDallas (DAL)toOdessa (ODT):

Regular flight service between Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field (ODT), Monday through Thursday, two flights per day.
Introductory fares start at $279 (one-way) and include at least two checked bags (with weight/size restrictions), onboard cocktails and snacks, and free Starlink Wi-Fi.

FromHouston (HOU)toOdessa (ODT)

Regular flight service between Houston Hobby (HOU) and Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field (ODT), Monday through Thursday, two flights per day.
Introductory fares start at $309 (one-way) and include at least two checked bags (with weight/size restrictions), onboard cocktails and snacks, and free Starlink Wi-Fi.

As with all JSX domestic flights, customers may check in just 20 minutes before departure (hence, the "hop-on" idea) and fly out of crowd-free private terminals. In Dallas, that terminal is at Dallas Love Field (8555 Lemmon Ave.) and in Houston, at Houston Hobby airport (8919 Paul B Koonce St., Houston).

“JSX is proud to support Texas' energy economy by introducing our unique 'hop-on' jet service with daily flights connecting business commuters from Dallas and Houston to Odessa at the start of 2024,” says JSX CEO Alex Wilcox in the release. “Not only is Odessa central to the Permian Basin, but it's also home to companies powering some of the nation's largest wind and solar farms. We take pride in supporting those who supply the energy we all depend on every single day.”

JSX continues to tout its "no crowds, no lines, and no fuss" travel experience that made them especially popular during the pandemic.

Passengers have access to valet parking, touchless check-in, Wi-Fi lounges, and speedy baggage retrieval. The 30-seat planes are now beaming up to SpaceX's Starlink Wifi, and there's a pet-friendly policy that allows small dogs and cats to fly for a small fee.

The air carrier now serves routes across more than two dozen key North American markets. In 2023 and beyond, JSX plans to expand both its domestic and international flight service with new routes and expansion plans underway, they say.

View their full route map here. All flights are available for booking via the JSX website.

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