Packing up the car and pulling away from the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas was one of the hardest things to do. Even the kids were disappointed in us leaving and were begging for just one more night. Unfortunately like most adults you have to get back home and continue with everyday life.

When we arrived at the Gaylord Texan our eyes were lit up with excitement as we passed Paradise Springs, the 10-acre waterpark, and then crossed a bridge over the local lake to enter the main resort area. This resort is by no means small. Conference groups of all sizes can meet here as well as weddings and bachelorette/bachelor stays.

After checking in we dropped off our bags in our large 900 SQ foot suite. I was excited about the separation in rooms since we had a baby and it would be better for him to be with us and let the other kids have their room. After checking out both sleeping and lounging quarters, we entered onto the balcony. It overlooked the indoor atrium which stays at a constant 72 degrees. From the balcony, you can view the water streams going all over the property, the different restaurants, the trains, fountains and all of the LIVE plants, flowers, trees and fish.

It was then off to check out the rest of the property. A long stroll took us to see the outdoor pool that is located right outside the resort. Don’t worry that’s not the only one you will find. Inside located by the resort’s spa you will find a huge indoor pool if you want to escape the Texas heat. Stepping back inside the atrium we found an arcade game room where the kids won lots of candy and ducks as well as racing on some motorcycle and car games. Right outside the game room you will find shops for adults and kids as well as a painting room where kids can show off their skills on cups or canvas.

Each summer they have a themed SummerFest. This summer just happened to be Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and inside the atrium you could find character decorations along with REAL LIVE characters meeting the hotel guests. On the weekends you can experience the 3D visual light show that is located inside the resort on one of the main walls. (Bring your glow sticks to the party)  Before the light show takes place you can take the kids through a 4D Wonderland Adventure Maze. I’m sad to say that we got lost in the maze and had to ask for help in finding the exit. Those tricky doors…

Besides the entertainment, you can feast at several onsite dining restaurants located around the property.

Chicken Enchiladas – Riverwalk Cantina

Restaurants:

• Zeppole Coastal Italian (I recommend reservations for weekend dining)
  • This restaurant is even a local favorite and many will come after work for drinks and dinner. I highly recommend the Burrata di Murgia and Pappardelle Pasta loaded with lobster and shrimp.
• Riverwalk Cantina
  • Skip the in-room dining for breakfast. Make your way down to enjoy an incredible breakfast/brunch buffet. You will find a waffle/pancake bar, omelet station, bacon, eggs, burritos, cereal, croissants, sausage, biscuits, bagels, assortment of cheeses and ingredients to build your own lox.
  • In the mood for Mexican food, dine along the flowing stream for a Tex-Mex meal. I highly recommend the guacamole, fajitas and chicken enchiladas.
• Old Hickory Steakhouse
• Texan Station Sports Bar & Grill
• Mission Plaza Marketplace (Coffee house)
• Cocoa Bean Express (Coffee house)
• Paradise Springs – (Pool grill) Open Memorial Day – Labor Day
  • We split a lot of our meals since we were full from a big breakfast. They serve hotdogs and burgers straight from the grill. If you want to try and cool off even more, dive into a sno-cone.

Paradise Springs is a large 10-acre waterpark located right outside the main resort area. You travel by trolley or bus to get to the waterpark. (5-minute ride)  On the left side of the waterpark you will find a huge wooden multi-level water play structure. It includes a toddler pool, water slides and interactive water features. On the other side of the waterpark are a lazy river, a huge lagoon, zip-line, water slides and a dedicated toddler pool. We spent most of our time at the wooden structure, but it was nice to end up in the lagoon to get a bit more wet.

The Gaylord Resort is a great hotel for families that just want to relax and not leave the hotel. No kids, no worries. Enjoy the pool, drinks, spa and nightclub located on the grounds for adults. Right after the summer months they start gearing up for the winter festivities and we can’t wait to go back and check out their Christmas decorations and ICE.

ENJOY ~ Meagan

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for the Gaylord Texan. We chose to vacation at this hotel and cover PR for the Summerfest activities. All opinions are my own and I appreciate your support on the brands/companies that we love.