I’ve never been much of a camper. But put me in the heart of Dallas amid the luxuries of the sprawling Hilton Anatole? I’m in. Here’s a look at my family’s experience at Hilton Anatole’s new in-room camping experience, Camp Anatole (and why I’m afraid I’ve set the bar a bit too high for my children’s future camping experiences).
We loaded up the car on a Friday morning and headed to Dallas. The 3-to-4-hour drive from the metro isn’t too long – but long enough to scratch “Take A Road Trip” off my kids’ bucket list, which made for a strong start. After an obligatory Buc-cee’s stop and only a few “are-we-there-yets,” we arrived at the Hilton Anatole.
From the start, the service was exceptional. As our bags were unloaded, we stood awe-struck in the atrium. From the mosaic-tile floors and the high ceilings with hanging art installations to the manicured plants and massive elephant statues, we weren’t sure where to look. But then the bellman got our attention, and we followed our bags up to the 26th floor.
We felt fancy, and antsy to explore our suite. I entered first, eager to survey the camp-themed arrangements before my kids got their over-excited hands on the scene. And, wow. The child in me was as thrilled as the three children behind me.
A tent was set up with cushions that looked like tree stumps, a plush fire and a stuffed elephant (Ella, the hotel’s mascot) for each child to take home. A camp-themed blanket was strewn across the couch, inviting us to settle in for story-time with the copy “The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp” that was on the table. In addition to an array of snacks, there was a S’mores game and question cards that prompted us each to share some of the most creative campfire stories ever told.
My girls’ favorite feature was the crafts – coaster-sized wood rounds with markers, stickers and jewels to personalize them. (Please note: these jewels are likely to be applied on every other surface, including mom’s face.) Finally, there were journals and pencils for each child to journal their experience. For the not-yet-literate among us, these made great drawing pads.
Clearly, the in-room entertainment was endless. But we still had much to explore. We donned our swimsuits and headed to the on-site water park, Jade Waters. After crossing the lush lawn with over-sized games and shady seating, we entered the park and were assigned a cabana for the day. It was complete with a TV, table seating and lounge chairs. But who has time for cable when water slides and splash zones are calling?
We waded into the zero-entry pool and spent some time playing in the fountains. Then, my son got his way, and we spent time shooting hoops in another area of the pool. Then, we hit the hot tub before floating the lazy river. With all the trees and greenery surrounding the pools, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of the DFW metroplex. But while I imagined myself in some exotic location, my kids imagined themselves starving. So, we headed back to the table for dinner, or more accurately, a feast.
It may be quicker to list the things we didn’t eat. Our waitress delivered chips and salsa, a colorful fruit and dip platter, and the platter of my kids’ dreams: PB&J, mini corn dogs and chicken strips. There was a beautiful charcuterie board, meatball sliders and the buffalo chicken sandwiches were my personal favorite. In fact, I boxed those babies up and had them for lunch the next day. We left Jade Waters absolutely maxed out on food and fun and crashed in the comfort of our luxury campsite.
We started Saturday inside the hotel at Media Grill & Bar’s breakfast buffet. Can you tell food is important to my family? The options were endless, with fresh pastries, an omelet bar, hot foods, and all the continental options you can cram on your plate.
Between the multiple on-site restaurant options, including luxury steakhouse SĒR Steak + Spirits on the top floor, and entertainment like the hotel’s water park and TopGolf Suite, it would have been entirely possible to spend the whole weekend on Hilton Anatole property.
Still, we took the 14 minute drive to the Galleria for some light shopping before our evening reservations at the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, which is conveniently only 3 minutes from the hotel.
I am not exaggerating when I say the experience rocked my two-year-old’s world. He did not stop clapping during the two-hour tournament of jousting, horsemanship and falconry. My five- and seven-year-old were equally impressed, if slightly less enthusiastic about eating with their hands.
We wrapped our trip up the next morning with – you guessed it – breakfast. This time we tried Counter Offer, the hotel’s grab-and-go cafe. The croissants were très bon (insert chef’s kiss emoji), and we grabbed some Starbucks coffee for the road.
My kids are still talking about the experience weeks later. Actually, so am I. Though it was close to home, Camp Anatole made us feel far away in all the right ways and I recommend it to any family looking for an all-in-one getaway with something to entertain every member of the family.
