Looking across just a small portion of the massive atrium.

Texans are fond of saying that “everything is bigger in Texas,” and that’s certainly true at the Gaylord Texan, a mammoth destination hotel near the DFW Airport (roughly halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth). It’s so big that you actually need to carry a map around to ensure that you don’t get lost, and directional signs (the kind normally found in airports and huge malls) are posted around the hotel to help people navigate. More than 1,600 rooms and suites surround a massive enclosed atrium that celebrates the best that the state has to offer, with reproductions of the River Walk and the Alamo, colossal oil derricks, a mission-style bell tower, a pair of 14-foot-high cowboy boots, a river (with waterfalls), a life-sized longhorn, a very big lone star crowning the peak of the huge glass enclosure, and thousands of feet of model railway track (complete with trestles that twist and turn and run over the public walkways in the atrium). Added to this are two pools, six restaurants and seven lounges, and a 25,000 square foot spa. And they’re kicking it up a notch this holiday season, decking the halls with 1.5 million glittering lights, a 50-foot rotating Christmas tree, and a life-sized Whoville (of Grinch fame), carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice.

But while this place is certainly big, they haven’t forgotten the small things—and those are sometimes the most important on a family vacation. Every room phone features a Consider it Done button—no need to dither over whether your request is better suited for the bell staff, the concierge or the front desk—all requests can be met with just one push of this happy-face button. In the bathroom, soaps and shampoos are bigger than most hotel freebies (i.e. you can probably get five or six showers out of them, instead of one or two), and there’s a handy pull-across clothes line that you can use after a busy day in the pools (or an evening filled with spills or spit-ups). Big isn’t everything.

— Tim Johnson, CF’s contributing editor

The stage at the "world's largest honky tonk."

There’s something oddly reassuring about a place that lives up to its reputation, and every time I visit Texas, I’m reminded that the Lone Star State is one of those places. Even in Dallas-Fort Worth—one of the largest metro areas in America—cowboy hats and boots, belt buckles, Wrangler jeans and pickup trucks are commonplace. While it’s true that DFW has more than its fair share of world class museums and galleries, a visit here would not be complete without spending a little time at a few of the interesting—and often kitschy—attractions that typify Texas in the popular imagination. Here are three.

Fort Worth Stockyards: The former heart of the cattle industry in Texas, this National Historic District retains its wild west feel. You’ll find rough and ready shops, galleries and restaurants, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and Stockyards Station, a converted train depot that includes toddler-sized western-themed rides. The area is situated around the Cowtown Coliseum, which, built in 1907, still hosts live rodeo every Friday and Saturday night. And make sure to visit Billy Bob’s, the “world’s largest honky-tonk.” A curiosity by day (among other things, you can dress up as a family and ride a fake bull for a one-of-a-kind photo), the place heats up at night with country concerts, two-steppin’ and indoor bull riding.

Southfork Ranch: Home to the dastardly Ewing clan in the 1970s/1980s mega-drama Dallas, this trademark rambling white house (and surrounding land, pool and outbuildings) hosted exterior shots for the series, which ran an incredible 13 seasons, from 1978 to 1991. The ranch is now open for tours, which include a quirky little museum that carefully documents the various and sordid affairs and machinations of the Ewings.

Cowboys Stadium: With seating for 100,000 amongst its 3 million square feet, plus a 660,000 square foot retractable roof and two 60-yard wide HD video screens, the $1.2 billion new home of the Dallas Cowboys is truly a wonder to behold—even if you can’t stand football. But if you do visit during football season and decide to see a game, the stadium has plenty of great features for families—from broad, airy concourses for restless little ones to move around, to large family washrooms, to plenty of food choices, including healthy options—there’s even a fruit stand. Or just take a tour, which are offered daily.

–Tim Johnson, CF’s contributing editor

Summer nights with the American Folklore Theatre in Peninsula Park.

It’s not every rural county that boasts two well-established, nationally-known theatre companies—but the Door is a different sort of place. The county has been hosting tourists for decades, and, in order to keep everyone entertained, a strong arts and theatre culture has emerged on the peninsula. A self-professed “oddball wonder,” the American Folklore Theatre attracts more than 40,000 people each summer, who come to take in something that’s not available anywhere else: original musicals, all of which are focused on the region, performed under the stars (or sun, in the case of matinees) in an outdoor amphitheatre. There’s probably no better place to introduce your young one to the theatre arts than through a company that presents mostly one-act plays that are focused on being funny and fun in a venue where there’s no dress code and which allows you to pack and bring in your own food and (non-alcoholic) bevies for the evening.

If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, check out Peninsula Players, America’s oldest resident public theatre. The whole place has a convivial feel, which is aided by the fact that intermissions are spent, drink-in- hand, in a bayside, lamp-lit grove. But that doesn’t diminish the fact that serious theatre takes place here—productions hot off Broadway are performed inside a recently-constructed $7.3 million venue.

Door County is also a destination for the visual arts—the peninsula is dotted with galleries and craft shops and art schools, and for families, any visit to the Door must include a stop at the Hands On Art Studio. “Art gets a bad wrap—you’re always being made to do this and that,” notes studio founder Cy Turnbladh. “We make a point of making it fun for people. We want kids and adults to experience creativity without judgment or regimen, to just come here and have fun and create things.” Housed in a former abandoned farm—now completely renovated—Hands On is a truly remarkable place. With over 8000 square feet of studio space, people are invited to work in a wide variety of mediums, including glass, wood, ceramics—and T-shirt (which can be fashioned using special paints). For a fun family bonding experience, try some spin art. Everyone chooses a different colour and paints it onto a canvas, which is then affixed to a propeller-like contraption (Cy’s own creation) and spun into a psychedelic masterpiece. Just $7 a piece (plus the cost of materials) gets you a full day in the various studios spread throughout a large barn and various out-buildings, and if you’re not happy with your creation (doubtful, but possible), Cy and the rest of the crew at Hands On encourage you to fling it against the Wall of Shame and come back again to complete a different project—on the house.

—Tim Johnson, CF’s contributing editor

Cy Turnbladh at Hands On, showcasing some recently-completed spin art.

Rolling down the Sunset Bike Trail at Peninsula State Park. Credit: DoorCounty.com/Door County Visitor Bureau.

Covered in cherry orchards, surrounded on three sides by big water, home to ten lighthouses, woods, cliffs and sand dunes, Door County is a great place to get outside—and the locals have gone to great lengths to make all of this beauty accessible and enjoyable for families. The orchards, for example, feature not only traditional tours and family pick-your-own times, but also a veritable county fair’s worth of activities. Seaquist Orchards, in addition to their fabulous store (which is filled with cherry pies, 30 different kinds of fudge, an apple tasting depot and more free samples than you’ll ever see at Costco), offers families a three-level straw maze, pedal cars and a track, and the largest rope maze in the Midwest. And Orchard Country Winery and Market features a playground, horse-drawn wagon rides and, during festival times, cherry pit-spitting competitions (if you’re wondering, the record is more than 38 feet). And Orchard Country is conveniently the depot for Door County Trolley, whose fleet of red trolleys take visitors to lighthouses, on seriously spooky nighttime ghost tours, and other scenic adventures.

If you’re feeling like getting back to nature, make sure to visit beautiful Peninsula State Park. Covering 3,776 acres, the park is home to a number of attractions, including the 10-mile Sunset Bike Route, a smooth, well-marked, relatively flat trail that showcases the best of the park (including Eagle Bluff lighthouse, the shoreline and the woods). Bikes are available for rent at Nor Door Sport and Cyclery. (Another option would be to stay at the Peninsula Park-View Resort, a charming motel across the road from the park that offers free bikes, as well as a pool, a cute VHS library and other fun conveniences.) And if you’re looking for a place to swim, head to Nicolet Bay Beach—sheltered from the bigger waves and shallow, the water is warm, calm, clear, and great for kids. If you’re looking for some big surf, a trip to Whitefish Dunes State Park will feel like a visit to the ocean. Or, for a different perspective on the Door, get out onto the water in The Shoreline, a 33-foot boat that offers tours on Green Bay.

And for a real thrill (on a family-friendly scale), try ziplining at Gravity Trails. Open to anyone 8 years or older, the longest zipline here is 200 feet—long enough for a good zip, but manageable for younger kids. And part of the experience is just getting there—getting to the first platform involves a ride through the woods on a low-rider bike and a short trip up the side of a climbing wall.

—Tim Johnson, CF’s contributing editor

A few delicious creations lined up for the wood-fired oven at The Washington Hotel. Credit: DoorCounty.com/ Door County Visitor Bureau

One of the greatest things about taking a vacation is the pleasure sitting down to a good meal that you didn’t have to cook yourself. In Door County, you’ve got lots of options—some of them fairly unexpected. For example, Mojo Rosa’s Cantina and Pub in Egg Harbor offers authentic Mexican dishes, including Oaxacan specialties, while nearby Villaggios features truly delicious Italian fare, and both maintain a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. For something more traditional, head to Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor in Ephraim, a ‘50s-style eatery (one which was actually around in the 1950s—and the 1900s, for that matter), which features excellent flame-broiled burgers and home-brewed draft root beer. Or try Not Licked Yet which, despite its vaguely creepy sign, offers excellent frozen custard and a fun little playground.

And while it will require a half-hour ferry ride across Death’s Door, the passage that links Green Bay with Lake Michigan (traditionally, and more elegantly known as Porte des Morts), a trip to the Washington Hotel on Washington Island is definitely worth it. The island, home to just 750 residents, is an interesting, quirky place which, among other things, boasts an ostrich farm and exotic zoo, a replica Norwegian Stave Church, a lookout tower, a smooth, rounded limestone beach (Schoolhouse Beach), and 100-miles of paved roads (great for biking)—all of which can be explored on the Cherry Train. At the Washington Hotel, a landmark inn for more than a century, you can enjoy fresh, organic fare, the vast majority of which comes from right there on the island. Kids especially will enjoy making their own pizza and (with adult supervision) sliding it into a stone, wood-fired oven that the baker built with her own two hands.
And while the hotel itself is not ideal for families—each room features only one bed, and washrooms are down the hall. But you may want to consider a cabin. Timber Ridge Log Cabin, for example, has plenty of room to spread out, with two bedrooms (with two beds each), two baths, a full kitchen and satellite TV. And back on the mainland, look into Gustave’s Getaway, located near Bailey’s Harbor, a historic 1887 log cabin that once housed a family of ten, now renovated to include a glassy, three-sided fireplace and a porch with four comfortable Muskoka chairs (plus a fire pit with benches and a BBQ outside).

—Tim Johnson, CF’s contributing editor

Timber Ridge Log Cabin on Washington Island. Credit: DoorCounty.com/Door County Visitor Bureau.