Is a staycation at Gaylord Texan Resort for you?
With gas prices rising daily, I’m not sure who is gearing up for a long road trip this summer. How about a staycation? Find a hotel, resort, cabin, etc., that you love and live close to, and check it out. My son and I just got home from Grapevine, where we had the best staycation at Gaylord Texan Resort.
We live less than 30 minutes from the resort. The resort is a short drive from the Dallas / Fort Worth area and sits on the shores of Lake Grapevine. It’s a hop, skip, and jump from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
I have a thing about Gaylord Texan. They have provided my family with entertainment for over 14+ years. Both during Christmas and Summer events. As a DFW blogger, I have partnered with them for at least 12 years. I even worked there one year during the Gaylord Texan ICE! event. Nonetheless, I highly respect this company and think it’s a great place to bring the whole family.
And, with ICE! coming back this year (2022) will be very exciting at the Gaylord Texan this winter!!
Disclosure: I won this 2-night trip for selling the most tickets (over 500) during the 2021 Gaylord Texan Holiday Influencer Competition for its Lone Star Christmas Event. But still, a staycation at Gaylord Texan Resort is well worth it, and we saw lots of families partaking in all the things the resort offers. I’ll fill you in below.
Related: Fun-Packed Weekend In Plano, TX
Gaylord Texan Resort
The Gaylord Texan Resort is now part of the Marriott International family. If you are a traveler who only likes to stay at Marriott properties, you’re in luck here. Have a fun staycation, and grab those points too! I love that they are part of Marriott. I’ve used Marriott for years for hotel stays and am now a gold member. There are perks to that!
Don’t forget to check the resort’s events and fun seasonal events. I’ve seen a baby sloth, and it was the cutest thing.
Related: Texas Pet-Friendly Hotels
Do you know what else? The Gaylord Texan is a wonderful place to bring your grandkids. Grandparents, listen up: I highly recommend bringing your grandkids here for summer fun. Here are a few recommendations to save money, time, and stress.
12 Tips For A Staycation At Gaylord Texan Resort
- The food they serve will practically feed two.
- Bring snacks with you for the room.
- Even though the kids might think they are too old to order on the kid’s menu, make them. My grandson is 12 years old and can still order from the kid’s menu, and when he doesn’t, he never finishes his meal.
- Bring lots of water. Water is good for everyone.
- You don’t need to bring your own towels to the swimming pools or the outdoor waterpark – Paradise Springs Water Park – towels are supplied everywhere.
- Have the kids wear water shoes to Paradise Springs because the cement is really hot. They don’t have to take them off when going down the waterslides. I don’t recommend flip-flops – they could get lost by flying off their feet.
- Breakfast ends at 11 am.
- If you want to dine at the Old Hickory Steakhouse, it’s casual business attire. They call it “smart business,” but not sure what that means. And it opens at 5 pm for cocktails and 6 pm for dinner. Not exactly a place for small children.
- The Market Place will take your room number as payment.
- Use your elbow or knuckle to push the elevator buttons for sanitary reasons. This is my forever way to ride an elevator from now on. I taught my grandson this too.
- A 2-room Executive Suite with a sofa bed is so worth it. You’ll have your own bedroom room with a king bed and a TV, the kids can sleep on the sofa and watch TV in the suite. Plus, there’s a coffee maker in the room, and you get six wristbands for Paradise Springs.
- You can park at Paradise Springs for free if you reserve a private cabana. But a shuttle takes people there from the hotel every 15 minutes.
Things To Do At Gaylord Texan Resort
The resort amenities are part of a staycation, wouldn’t you agree? The Gaylord Texan has plenty. Here are a few.
- Indoor Pool – for those winter stays
- Outdoor pool with a waterfall and a hot tub
- Paradise Springs Water Park
- Relâche Spa – for those times you want self-care. Whether you opt for a facial or massage, or both, you can also enjoy everything the spa has, like the steam room, the sauna, showers, snacks, etc.
- 24-hour Fitness Center
- When you book an Executive Suite, you receive six wristbands for Paradise Springs.
- See the lights of the atrium by booking an atrium guest room.
Restaurants At Gaylord Texan Resort
From hamburgers to Tex-Mex to upscale dining, you have great dining options for the family.
Texan Station Sports Bar
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hamburgers are huge, and the apple pie serves two.
Riverwalk Cantina
Great frozen margaritas, and the chips and salsa will fill you up, so be careful!
Zeppole Coastal Italian
Italian food at its best.
Old Hickory Steakhouse
To be honest, I’ve never eaten here as often as I’ve been to the Gaylord.
Mission Plaza Marketplace
Not a restaurant but a place where you can grab snacks, the best coffee ever, ice cream, drinks, and anything else you probably forgot to bring from home. For a late-night snack, grab a couple of those huge chocolate chip cookies.
If you can get away for a late-night drink, check out Glass Cactus Nightclub, with live music and free parking. It’s located on the premises and within walking distance from the hotel, or you can drive.
24-Hour Room Service
We ordered room service on our last night there, and I now recommend the two chocolate cookies with two chocolate milk. We shared one cookie and took the other home—both are huge!
If a staycation at Gaylord Texan Resort is what you are looking for this summer, check it out at Gaylord Texan Resort.
Gaylord Texan ICE 2022 Coupon
Get ready because ICE! is returning to Gaylord Texan starting November 11, 2022. Make plans now for the holiday season.
Make plans now for Gaylord ICE 2022 and the Lone Star Christmas show in Grapevine! It’s here! Get your 50% off coupon right here using TRAVELING. Please share!
NOTE: Be sure to read the valid dates to use this coupon!!
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