Living Large in Dallas - A Kid-Friendly Weekend of Relaxation!

Rooftop Dining at The Henry

My husband has been itching to visit a sauna since returning from Bavaria (a region of Germany) about four years ago, and I have been on the hunt for one ever since. Soon after moving to Texas, I found a spa with sauna about four hours away from us in Dallas!

I mean, where else would it be other than the "Big D"? Eighteen of the top wealth owners on Forbes's magazine's list of the richest billionaires live in Dallas, and buying a condo downtown will easily cost you a cool 3 mil. If any city in the U.S. would have an extremely lavish European-style spa, this would definitely be the place!

However, while stationed in Texas, we have no support system nearby, so that means no grandparents or aunts and uncles to watch the kiddos while mom and dad have some "us" time. Because of this, we have to get creative!

Parents are constantly stereotyped into where we can take our children. Whether it be Disney World, a beach with carnival rides, or state parks with camping and tubing, there are places we're "supposed" to take our kids that are acceptable and child-friendly. Well, we're about to break all those clichés with THIS post!

So how DO you take a relaxing spa trip with kids? Read on to find out!

The Roman Bath Sauna at Spa Castle

What's Ahead:

• An affordable and pet-friendly Airbnb Recommendation that is very close to Carrollton and Downtown Dallas
• A Kid-Friendly Day at the Spa 
• A Family-Friendly Rooftop Restaurant/Bar in Downtown Dallas with a glorious view of the skyline
• Stay tuned for my sample Dallas Travel Itinerary at the end!

Our AirBNB in Coppell

Accommodations:

We stayed in Coppell (a suburb just outside Downtown Dallas) at this adorable two-bedroom home that is super close to parks and restaurants. The community is so well-maintained that it made us want to MOVE there! It's right on the outskirts of Carrollton, so it will only take you about 11 minutes with traffic to get to the Spa. It is also about 26 or so minutes with traffic to get to Downtown Dallas. 

Spa Castle also has a boutique hotel attached to it called The One where you can enjoy an all-inclusive weekend immersed in spa. They even have this unique Loft Suite where you can sleep on one floor, and the kids can sleep on the other. We couldn't consider this option because of our dogs, but it sounds super appealing!

"D-Town" Tip #1 - Dallasites aren't really that snobby. The kids waive to you from their bikes, and everyone we met was super friendly and accommodating! However, there is definitely a different standard of living here, and customer service employees noticeably take extra care to make sure you are satisfied before leaving whichever establishment you are visiting. 

The Loft Suite at The One

Spa Castle:

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and they definitely kept their word with this spa! If you've ever been to Bavaria (Germany), Spa Castle is the closest U.S. equivalent to Therme Erding I have been able to find.

The Two Outside Bade Pools and the Hinoki Bath

Spa Castle has:

• Separate Bath Areas for men and women: both have Locker Areas, Powder Rooms, Wet and Dry Saunas, and Lounges - here is the step-by-step guide on how to traditionally use the Bath House (scroll down to the bottom)
• Eight Hot Saunas in an area called "Sauna Valley"
• Two Cold Saunas - there is one accessible from Sauna Valley and one outside near the pools (so you can move back and forth between the hot tubs and the cool air)
• A Swim-Up Bar with underwater tables you can eat and drink at
• Two huge outside temperature-controlled Bade Pools with jets to target specific areas of the body, and one smaller Hydrotherapy Pool inside near the bar
• Multiple Hot Tubs outside near the pools and inside near the bar
• A covered temperature-controlled Grotto Pool that makes you feel like you are inside a cave with a waterfall
• A covered Hinoki Bath made of 400-year-old wood
• Resting Areas to nap within the Locker Areas and inside Sauna Valley
• Aesthetician services such as facials, pedicures, and manicures, as well as massage, body scrubs, and hand/foot reflexology
• A Fitness Center
• A Café, a Sushi Bar, a Juice Bar, and a bar for alcohol and typical bar tapas
• They even oxygen-enrich all of the air inside the spa
• There are usually even more amenities available, such as a Full-Size Gaming Area with VR games, mini-golf, and a theater. However, this area is temporarily closed due to COVID-19. 

Sauna Valley

The Golden Pyramid Sauna (this was the kids' favorite)

Know Before You Go:

1. Any Aesthetician services or massages should be reserved 1-2 weeks in advance to assure you secure your preferred time. 
2. Make sure you grab anything and everything you need out of your vehicle before you head in because once you're in, there is no re-entry.
3. As in most traditional Norwegian or Asian spas, you must shower before you enter the pools and saunas. The Bath Areas are completely nude, so if your kids are not used to the European lifestyle, there will need to be a conversation had that they may see a naked body in the locker room or bath area. 
4. You are required to be barefoot inside the spa, and only bath shoes are allowed by the pool.
5. They usually provide towels and robes, but due to COVID-19, you must currently bring your own. Masks are required if you are moving from one relaxation area to another.
6. Everything is touch-free, so you can leave your wallet in your locker. They will provide you an electronic armband to pay for things while you're in the spa, and this band will also be what allows you access to your shoe locker and your main locker. 
7. There are very select places you can bring or use your phone, so we just took the opportunity to disconnect from technology for the day by also leaving them inside our lockers.
8. This isn't a waterpark, so kids have to be informed ahead of time that this is a place for relaxation. They can't be splashing around or cannonballing into the pools, and they must respect other bathers' space without swimming up on them.

Kids' Review: This may seem like a lot of rules, but our kids had an absolute blast! They love learning about different cultures and how they live, and my daughter actually enjoyed taking part in the saunas. This is such a great opportunity to teach them about the power of spa and how to use meditation and relaxation to care for your body in the overstimulated world we live in these days!

The Mystic (Grotto) Pool

The Swim-Up Bar

The Henry:

Eating at a rooftop restaurant is a Bucket List item for sure, but with most catered to adult professionals and partiers, it's difficult to find it a feasible option for dining with kids. Happily, The Henry is the exception.

How to Secure Your Rooftop Dining Experience:

• My recommendation is to make a reservation for the Bottom Level of the restaurant for your desired timeslot about two weeks in advance - these can be made via OpenTable. This is just in case they don't have available seating for the Top Level when you arrive (as you cannot make a reservation for up Top). However, don't be deterred with the lack of ability to make a reservation because as long as you arrive between 6-8PM, it's usually pretty easy to secure a seat up Top. 
• When you arrive, just tell the Hostess you have a reservation for your timeslot and let them know you would like to sit up Top. They will check you in, and then you can just walk straight ahead and up the stairs at the back of the restaurant. There is an inside area on the Top Floor, and if you keep walking straight, you will make your way out onto the veranda. There are adorably decorated booths, cute high tops, and tons of fans to keep you comfortable (as Dallas can get pretty hot during the Summer months). The atmosphere is lively and laidback, and the servers are wonderful. 
• The view is absolutely perfect and allows for the quintessential cityscape-dining experience. The kids can watch the jumbo jets fly past the skyscrapers while enjoying dinner off the kids' menu, and you can watch the sunset over the skyrises and the city come to life while enjoying bar tapas and local brews. We all had a blast and will definitely be back!

"D-Town" Tip #2 - All desirable Dallas restaurants book pretty quickly for weekend timeslots after 5PM, so I would try to make your reservation for any restaurant you choose about two weeks out if you can. There are two other well-known and wonderful rooftop bars/restaurants in the city: Waterproof at the Statler Hilton and the Gallery at the Canvas Hotel (these are less kid-friendly, but definitely two of the most famous in the city). 

Rooftop Dining at The Henry

SAMPLE ITENERARY:

Friday -

• Begin the trek to Dallas
• Once settled, pick up some healthy breakfast for two mornings at the Kroger close to the Airbnb

Saturday - 

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Arrive at Spa Castle around 10AM
• Leave Spa Castle around 5PM and head back to the Airbnb to change into something more formal for dinner, as well as let out and feed the dogs
• Head to Downtown Dallas for dinner at The Henry

Sunday -

• Eat breakfast at the Airbnb
• Begin the trek back home

(If you have more time in Dallas, there are countless other items you can add to this itinerary, such as Frontiers Flight Museum, the JFK Museum at Dealey Plaza, or finding more spots to see the skyline, but the point of this particular trip was to relax and feel luxurious for as little as possible.)

Please let me know if you complete this trip and/or your thoughts of the sample itinerary!

(In true Texas style) We fit in a Longhorn picture every chance we get! 

Have you ever been to the home of the Dallas Cowboys? Are there any must-dos you would add to the itinerary? Please feel free to leave any Dallas suggestions or tips in the comments below!