We are in the middle of summer, and my children were constantly asking about a vacation! Being in the 1st trimester of this pregnancy, I am battling all-day “morning” sickness, so I needed something comfortable, close to home and fun. We were invited to Dallas to visit the Hilton Anatole, and right away, I knew it would be the perfect staycation, given all the fun we had over the Christmas holidays at the Sparkle event.
We checked in on a Friday afternoon, where we were greeted with a luxurious corner connecting room. It was perfect for my family of five, especially since my daughter loves to claim the Murphy (or hiding) bed. Since we would be there for two nights, we put away our suitcases, changed into our swimsuits, and scoped out the beautiful view of Dallas (ignoring the clouds that were rolling in.)
My family headed out to the pool, where everyone was getting ready for dinner and a dive-in movie… only once we were settled, they moved the outdoor events indoors because of the expected rain. (which was understandable!) We swam for a while, then headed to the on-site restaurant for dinner.
After dinner, we were given 4th of July cookies to bring to our room for a late night snack. They were festive and sure to make my children happy! Since it was only 9 o’clock, we let our children take showers and enjoy dessert while watching the city skyline.
Saturday morning, we woke up early to visit the VSpa downstairs. My daughter and I were treated to (much needed) manicures and pedicures while the guys went out for breakfast. I love to relax and let someone massage my feet, so it was a great way to start the morning! (This was my daughter’s first pedicure, which she LOVED! I think she is already addicted… and who can blame her?)
We then headed downstairs for our puppet show reservations at Geppetto’s Theater & Workshop! My children loved the puppet show at Christmas, so I was eager to see the “regular” show vs one with a holiday theme. This time, we saw “Jack and the Beanstalk” and it surely did not disappoint. We can’t wait to go back for The Little Mermaid, which is playing now! *You get free parking to the Anatole when you see the puppet show!
We took a quick break for a pool-side lunch, then headed off to the Perot museum downtown. This is one of our favorite museums in Dallas, and enough fun for an entire day! I love that every corner holds something educational… it is great for beating the summer heat on a hot Texas day! *Make sure you buy your tickets online and always start on the 4th floor and work your way down! This attraction ties in great with #SeeDallasStayAnatole
After a few hours of the museum, we headed back to the Anatole because being pregnant is exhausting! I needed a quick nap before dinner and 4th of July fireworks!
Dinnertime came quicker than I thought, so we went back downstairs to the Media Grill + Bar. I ordered the same salad as I had the night before, because the baby seemed to like it! (It was delicious!) My husband had the hamburger (which was huge!) and my children loved things like macaroni & cheese, pizza and chicken tenders!
Fireworks all around #Dallas! #4thofjuly #SeeDallasStayAnatole
A video posted by Dawn Monroe (@thefrugalmom) on
We returned to our room to settle in and get ready for the Fourth of July fireworks! Since we were on a high floor in a corner room, the view was outstanding! I definitely know where to go next year! At any given point, we could see 50 different spots where fireworks were going off! (And NO crowds or traffic!)
We slept in the following morning, but that’s because we must have stayed up until midnight watching the firework displays and playing our homemade hotel room games.
If you are looking for a nice Summer Staycation in Dallas, make sure you call the Hilton Anatole for more information. Your family will enjoy the activities and meals on-site. #SeeDallasStayAnatole runs through September 2, 2015.