Have you ever wanted to "shop til you drop"? At the Galleria Mall, you can do exactly that; shop at over 200 stores inside, find some great places to eat, then walk right to your room at the Westin, without ever leaving the building! Although a full day of shopping is not my scene, we had a fantastic Easter weekend here. The weather ended up a bit overcast, so despite our preference to be outside, this worked out perfect.
Here's what we did:
13340 Dallas Parkway, Dallas TX 75240
If you're not familiar with Dallas, this area is considered North Dallas, east of the DFW International Airport. Again, the location is prime. You can check in, valet park your vehicle, then not drive the rest of the weekend! Additionally, the Westin is pet friendly, so you can bring the entire family.
No major news on the room we were in - a typical queen/queen, but I will say the beds never disappoint at the Westin with their signature heavenly bed.
In addition to location, another highlight for me was the pool. Located on the 4th floor, the pool space is spacious with some partitioned seating for extra privacy. The water right now is freezing, so we sunbathed until we lost the sun on our first day - after that, the weather went a bit downhill.
The gym was also on the 4th floor and although a little small, it was well equipped with cardio equipment, free weights and a variety of weight machines.
Skate into Spring: for a limited time (now through May 31, 2022), the Westin Galleria Dallas is offering a special package that acknowledges the inconsistency of Texas weather in spring. In addition to pool access, you are also provided with complimentary ice skating passes to the indoor rink at the Galleria Mall (a short walk downstairs from the hotel), upgraded wifi, valet parking and a gift bag filled with adventure themed kids swag. This package was perfect for our family, having lived in Canada for years and my husband a former hockey player. We hadn't skated since our move, over 2 years ago, so it was great getting out on the ice again.
All of these activities worked up our appetites and during the weekend we visited 3 restaurants on location.
We visited the Second Floor Kitchen Easter morning before heading home, right after a toddler temper tantrum...so the energy coming in on our end was a little tense. Once we got inside, everyone was incredibly helpful, some of the best service I've seen in a long time. Breakfast fare was traditional and though not super photo worthy (other than the giant waffle), nothing was left by the time we were done. Next time I'd love to try some of their all day offerings and cocktail menu.
Although I usually avoid chains, we’ve visited the Blue Fish Restaurant in Irving and had a great experience. This time we did the some sake and a few rolls; my favorite was the shark bait roll, plated in a circle around popcorn shrimp and jalapeno in the middle. I was particularly impressed with the kids meal option - so much food for the price. You can't go wrong here if you like Japanese.
Although another chain, we had never been to an Oceanaire before and love seafood. It’s also part of the Westin and located right in the lobby. If you're prepared to spend a little and love seafood too, then head on over. We tried a variety of oysters from Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Newfoundland - all amazing. The chicken fried lobster with truffle mashed potatoes came out and I was sold...then the $250 bill hit the table, but you only live once hey? So know the food is great, but comes at a price point - not uncommon for a big city!
GOLF
4701 Plantation Ln
Frisco, TX 75035
It wouldn't be like us to skip an opportunity to golf somewhere new, so we left *once* to play a morning round of golf. Friends were in the area and recommended the Plantation Golf Club in Frisco, about a 20 minute drive from the Galleria. To my surprise, the Plantation was bustling at 9:30 AM; we barely found parking! The clubhouse is currently under renovation, but my feeling about everything was average - the venue, the course and the price to play (~$70 per person/round after booking online). The course certainly played harder from the "men's tees", but was reasonable for beginners (like myself), too. Be warned there are houses around every hole, so plan your shots (and bathroom stops) accordingly!
Overall, for a weekend mostly spent indoors (which can induce cabin fever for me!), there‘s much to do in the Galleria Mall and we found comfort not having to drive anywhere - especially after a refreshing cocktail at The Oceanaire. As always a huge thank you to the Westin Dallas Galleria and Amanda for their hospitality!
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