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    Bikinis and martinis

    Book a summer vacation at these 10 Dallas hotels with fabulous pools

    Megan Ziots
    Jul 2, 2018 | 2:35 pm

    For Houstonians looking to get away, Dallas has some of the coolest hotel pools in the country — from rooftop infinity pools that surround you with city views to sparkling pools set in the swankiest courtyards you've ever visited. A fabulous pool is as good a reason as any to book a vacation. In fact, this summer, some of Dallas’ best are opening their sun-soaked, bartended decks to the public, so an overnight reservation may not even be required.

    Here are 10 top Dallas hotel pools for a summer swim. Some are brand new, and some are favorites for good reasons. Most are available for a daily fee or by RSVP to special events, but, yes, some do require you to be a hotel guest to swim. They're worth it.

    The Adolphus
    The recently renovated Adolphus hotel also is opening its pool to the public all summer — for free. It’s open to non-hotel guests every Friday night for Sundown on Seven from 8pm-midnight. Take a night swim and have cocktails by the fire pit, all while listening to DJ Souljah. The pool itself is 4 feet deep and has a refreshing limestone waterfall.

    Hotel Crescent Court
    The pool is exclusively for guests, and the Crescent is worth the overnight stay. After its recent multimillion-dollar renovation, the iconic Uptown hotel has modernized and spruced up its lobby, guest rooms, and spa and fitness center. It is also possible to become a member of the Crescent Club and gain access to pool on the second-floor urban oasis.

    The Joule
    For breathtaking skyline views, reserve a spot at The Joule any Sunday through September 2. For $50, gain one day of access to the plexiglass-fronted rooftop pool, even if you're not a guest of the hotel. A day pass includes valet, one snack, and one drink from the pool menu. Test your courage by swimming to the edge that hangs off the building by 8 feet or kick back and relax on a chaise lounge.

    Le Meredien Stoneleigh
    The historic Stoneleigh's pool is open to the public on weekends — for free. You can tread water at one of the pool parties, wade around on floats, and listen to a live DJ. While you're there, you can try the hotel's new French restaurant, Perle on Maple Restaurant & Bar, which serves "bistro classics with a Texas twist."

    NYLO Dallas South Side
    Located on the rooftop patio of the NYLO, this beautiful pool allows swimming for guests only. The bar is for everyone, and the view of the Dallas skyline from The Cedars is worth the trip. Stop in for a drink before a show at South Side Ballroom or dinner at the Terrace Bistro.

    Omni Frisco
    Omni Frisco opened last summer at The Star, the popular new entertainment district in Frisco. The Edge pool deck and bar is for guests only, but worth paying for a night after checking out the Dallas Cowboys headquarters or going to a FC Dallas soccer game at Toyota Stadium. The pool overlooks events on the Ford Center next door and includes a bar and grill, cabanas, and fire pits.

    Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West
    Although you have to be a guest for this one, the new Legacy West hotel in Plano is worth the cost to stay. Take a little staycation 30 minutes outside of Dallas and enjoy the scenic rooftop pool, but stay to dine at OMA (an Asian fusion restaurant) and explore all of the “West of Zen”-themed art displayed throughout the building.

    The Statler
    Renovated in February and open for business, The Statler is hosting Secret Sundays for non-hotel guests at the hotel pool bar, Waterproof. You must RSVP on Facebook or Prekindle to attend the party, but make sure to get there early as entry is first come-first served. The rooftop pool is immersed between skyscrapers and downtown views; a free ticket includes access to the pool and an opportunity to jam out with DJ Blake Ward.

    The W Wet Deck
    On Sundays, or "Sundaze," The W hotel opens the Wet Deck on the 16th floor to everyone. Just go to Eventbrite.com and buy a Sundaze pass for $20. Spend Sunday Funday at the downtown hotel, floating across the panoramic rooftop infinity pool and taking in some city views with a drink in hand.

    Hotel ZaZa
    At Hotel ZaZa, you must be a guest to swim, but the bar is open to all. Grab a drink at the Dragonfly next door, while still enjoying the ambiance of the lap-style pool in the swanky backyard setting. Or, if you absolutely cannot resist the charming little pool, pay for a room and join the cool kids in the water.

    Hotel ZaZa's pool is set in an urban oasis.

    Hotel ZaZa Urban Oasis in Dallas
    Photo courtesy of Hotel ZaZa
    Hotel ZaZa's pool is set in an urban oasis.
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    news/travel

    where to travel right now

    Hill Country wineries beckon + 9 more Texas travel ideas for June

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 2, 2026 | 3:00 pm
    Texas Hill Country Wineries tastings
    Photo courtesy of Texas Hill Country Wineries
    The Barrels & Bites pass offers Hill Country wine lovers upscale tasting experiences or curated food and wine pairings.

    School's out, summer has arrived, and with it comes a bounty of weekend getaway inspiration for Houston travelers.

    Travelers on the hunt for the ultimate summer adventure outside of H-Town can head down Austin for a Father's Day barbecue showdown, leap to the coast for a restaurant takeover at a Galveston hotel, or say hello to Maisie the Highland cow at a new farm retreat in Jewett, Texas.

    Here are CultureMap's top picks for a June vacation around Texas.

    Around Texas

    As summer arrives and gas prices remain high, fuel-conscious Texas travelers can book their next road trip with transportation startup Shutto, which recently launched new routes connecting major cities like Dallas, Austin, Houston Galleria, and The Woodlands. Each route includes a pit stop at Buc-ee's — a quintessential road trip moment — and travelers can also book private, customizable trips beyond the scheduled routes. Fares start at $87 per person to Austin and $97 per person to Houston, and trips can be booked online.

    Central Texas and the Hill Country

    The historic Faust Hotel in New Braunfels has finally completed its thoughtful restoration and reopened its doors for Hill Country travelers. All 45 guest rooms and 15 deluxe suites have been updated with king beds, custom vanities, 55-inch streaming televisions, retro Frigidaire mini-fridges, and much more. The hotel's new signature restaurant, Wilhelm & Werner, mixes Texas and European culinary influences with dishes like an "apple strudel" of foie gras and pork, saffron tagliatelle with Gulf shrimp, and poulet rôti with a savory bread pudding. Nightly rates at the Faust Hotel begin at $215 in June.

    Faust Hotel New Braunfels The revamped Faust Hotel blends the property's historic bones with new furnishings. Photo by Jason Risner

    A Gonzales County wellness retreat is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a roster of new services, events, workshops, and more to come later this year. Ottine Mineral Springs is now offering private Watsu experiences, a massage performed in the mineral pools by licensed therapists before the general public arrives. The oasis will soon offer poolside cabana rentals, and open a climate-controlled indoor lounge and soaking space. Guests can book day passes (starting at $65), events, and spa services online. Reservations are required.

    Limestone Fields, a new farm retreat on Lake Limestone in Jewett, is now accepting reservations for stays on its 16-acre property that sits along Lake Limestone. Guests are welcome to explore the expansive area, which also includes a working farm with chickens, ducks, and two Scottish Highland cows. Limestone Fields hosts 10 furnished cabins with front decks that overlook a pond and back decks that open to the lake. Stays start at $200 a night and usually have a two-night minimum. Prices vary with seasonality.

    Maisie the Scottish Highland cow at Limestone Fields Maisie is a miniature Highland cow that lives on the farm.Photo by Ashley Estave

    Texas trade organization Texas Hill Country Wineries is offering a new way to experience its participating wineries' vintages with a new Barrels & Bites weekend event pass running from June 12-14. During the weekend, passholders can visit up to four wineries each day for winemaker-led experiences including elevated tastings or curated food and wine pairings. New this year is the Grand Tasting event at Ron Yates in Johnson City on Friday night from 5-7 pm, where passholders and single-ticket holders can try samples from 21 different wineries. Individual passes are $175, couples passes are $300, and single tickets for the Grand Tasting are $35 per person.

    Austin

    Adventurers can take their barbecue-loving dads for a smoke-filled weekend at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin for Father's Day weekend from June 19-20. The resort will host its second annual barbecue festival, Smoke: A Celebration of Fire and Flavor, bringing together the most prolific pitmasters and acclaimed restaurants for two days of live-fire cooking and live entertainment. The weekend kicks off with a VIP dinner experience on Friday featuring a multicourse meal of elevated barbecue dishes from chefs, and the barbecue showdown will commence Saturday with an open-air tasting event, live music, and a fireworks finale. Weekend bundle passes are $479 per person, with single admission tickets available for each day of the festival.

    San Antonio

    Magik Theatre, a beloved San Antonio children's performing arts center, is getting ready to for its grand reopening after months of renovations with a celebration party and a performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar starting Saturday, June 13. The reopening party will feature a ribbon-cutting at Hemisfair Park, plus children's activities, a live DJ, and more. The Party in the Park is free to the public. Tickets for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which will run until August 2, range from $26.50-$33.50 per person.

    On the Gulf Coast

    Galveston's seaside refuge Hotel Lucine is hosting the third annual Bludorn by The Sea dining series from June 12-13. Acclaimed Houston chef Aaron Bludorn will stage a two-night takeover of the hotel's on-site restaurant, The Fancy, with a raw bar pop-up from 4-7 pm, and elaborate four-course dinners planned each night. A Courtyard Party will precede Saturday's dinner from 12-3 pm with a yakitori-style grill-out and live music. Dinner reservations for Friday and Saturday ($95 per person) can be booked via OpenTable, and visitors are encouraged to book a stay at the hotel for the weekend.

    Dallas-Fort Worth

    June brings the arrival of World Cup season, and one Dallas-Fort Worth hotel is making its debut just in time to welcome FIFA fans from all over the world. The retro Caravan Court Hotel in Arlington will open at 205 N. Collins St. on June 1, less than a mile away from AT&T Stadium. The hotel offers 143 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, an in-house restaurant, martini bar, and a rooftop lounge. Room rates begin at $109 per night in June.

    Texas Hill Country Wineries tastings

    Photo courtesy of Texas Hill Country Wineries

    The Barrels & Bites pass offers Hill Country wine lovers upscale tasting experiences or curated food and wine pairings.

    Hotel Vin in Grapevine has launched a new "Route 66 Pit Stop" package in celebration of the iconic roadway's 100th anniversary. The package includes an Americana snack basket, Texas wine flight, disposable camera for capturing the journey, and grab-and-go breakfast for the road. Guests can also visit “The Vin Pit Stop" Lounge at WineYard Grille + Bar, the hotel's al fresco dining concept, for light bites, road trip-inspired specialty cocktail flights and Texas wine. Nightly rates for the "Route 66 Pit Stop" package start at $419.

    traveltexasvacationgalvestongrapevinehotelsresortshill countrycentral texasfestivals
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