This year’s most popular fall break destinations are Las Vegas and Austin City Limits Music Festival. But some of us have nothing left to give after midterms slaughtered our hearts and minds. Raise your hand if planning a trip this weekend seems impossible. Hey, I see y’all.
Turns out, Dallas and the surrounding areas are full of adventure and relaxation. Here are a few staycation ideas, whether you want fun or refuge for your fried brain.
1. Pamper yourself at ESPA: This place is massive. Located inside The Joule Hotels, this spa features 8,000 square feet of saunas, ice fountains, massage loungers and love. If you’ve got money to blow this weekend, book some ESPA Time– choose either body or beauty, a number of hours and a therapist will guide you through a blissful set of treatments. If you’ve got even more money than that to blow, there are three killer boutiques in the hotel, too.
2. Cliff jumping at The Quarry: Pack a picnic and your swimsuit and head to McKinney to dive off 40- to 50-foot cliffs into a lake of ice cold baby blue water. This is a perfect excuse to let out a few screams and catch a golden tan before fall really sets in, if it ever does. Hint: search the #thatdallasquarry tag on Instagram for a preview of the beauty that awaits you.
3. Films and food at your apartment: Fall break is the perfect opportunity to stay in and guiltlessly do nothing! Step 1: pick up a pizza from Cane Rosso. Step 2: Get a membership card at Premiere Video (don’t worry; it only takes a few minutes) and peruse the aisles of real DVDs and VHS tapes that you can hold in your hands. This is a sacred place and whatever you’re looking for, they have it. Step 3: Take all of those things home. Consume and watch. Step 4: If you start feeling bad about those calories remember that come Wednesday, your friends who went to Vegas will be much worse off in the health and finance departments.
4. Wine drinkin’ at Delaney Vineyards: Set up a private tour/tasting for you and a few friends, or join a public one where you can try five different wines from the vineyard. It’s just a 30-minute drive from SMU, so check out the tour schedule and head on over! Or if you’re willing to drive a little farther, check out this map of all the best vineyards in the area. Spoiler alert: there are so many.
5. State Fair of Texas: You’ve heard all about it. There’s beer. There’s fried stuff. There are rides that were constructed in less than 24 hours. At least I think that’s how it works. Just go.
