A Solo Staycation at Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront
Sometimes you just need to get away.
For my 35th birthday, I decided I didn’t necessarily want to get on a plane, make a full itinerary or have a jam packed day planned. Sometimes you just want to book a hotel, pack a bag and have nowhere to be.
So Wednesday through Friday, I took myself on a little solo staycation at the Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront in Rockwall, Texas.
I booked a two-queen-bed resort view with a balcony, brought my book, spent some time by the pool, watched Youtube, tried a few restaurants and did a little shopping.
Was the hotel perfect? No.
But did I enjoy my stay?
Yes.
And I think it’s important to share both.
Why I decided to Take a Solo Staycation
For my 35th birthday, I wanted to do something for myself without making it complicated.
I love traveling, but sometimes I don’t want a full itinerary. I don’t want to have to figure out where I’m going every day or feel like I need to make the most out of every minute.
I wanted to relax.
I wanted to read my book.
I wanted to watch Youtube, Netflix, and AppleTv.
I wanted to sit by the pool.
I wanted to try some restaurants.
And honestly, I wanted to spend some time in my room doing absolutely nothing.
Because sometimes doing nothing is exactly what you need!
My Stay at Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront
I stayed at the Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront (hotel link here) and booked a 2 queen beds resort view w/balcony.
The hotel itself is a little dated. There have been some updates, but there were definitely areas where you could tell the property isn’t brand new.
The bathroom in particular felt outdated and could definitely use an update.
That was probably one of the first things I noticed about the room.
At the same time, I really enjoyed having the lake view. There is something relaxing about being able to sit and look out at the water, especially when you’re trying to slow down for a few days.
Although, I will say, the view isn’t completely uninterrupted.
In the distance, you can see the traffic and road construction from the nearby highway. It didn’t ruin the view for me, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re expecting a completely uninterrupted lakefront view.
The Pool Was Probably My Favorite Part
If I had to pick my favorite part of the hotel, it would probably be the pool.
I spent some time relaxing by the pool, reading my book and watching Youtube.
This was really what I wanted from my staycation.
I didn’t need to be entertained.
I didn’t need to have somewhere to go.
I could just sit outside, enjoy the hot weather and relax.
The pool ended up being one of the highlights of my stay.
There’s Plenty to Do Around the Hotel
One thing I really liked about the location was that I didn’t have to drive everywhere.
There is a restaurant and bar on the hotel property as well as a market. There are several restaurants and stores within walking distance around the Harbor.
That was really convenient for me because I wanted this to feel like a break.
If I wanted to leave the hotel, I could walk around the Harbor or grab something to eat without getting back in my car.
And if I didn’t want to leave? I didn’t have to.
The Parking Fee
One thing I didn’t particularly care for was the parking fee.
The hotel charges $15 per day for self-parking and $28 per day for valet.
Personally, I wasn’t a fan of having to pay for parking, especially since I was already paying to stay at the hotel. I usually stay away from hotels that require paid parking unless I’m staying somewhere like downtown.
It wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it is something I would keep in mind when budgeting for a stay here.
So, if you’re considering the Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront, make sure you factor that into the total cost of your stay.
Where I Ate During My Staycation
Outside of relaxing at the hotel, I did get out a little.
I wanted to try some restaurants I had never been to before and do a little shopping. Since I didn’t want to spend the entire staycation driving around, I picked a few places that were either nearby or easy to get to.
Vidorra
I really enjoyed Vidorra. This was my first time trying Vidorra, and I was excited to see what it was like.
For my appetizer, I ordered the Queso Blanco, which comes out in a big molcajete. It was delicious! I don’t think I’ve ever had queso served that way before, so it was also fun to see how it came out.
For my entree, I ordered beef birria with black beans and Mexican rice.
The black beans were probably my favorite part of the entire meal.
I know..black beans! ha
But they were so well seasoned and honestly some of the best black beans I’ve ever had. I couldn’t stop thinking about them after I left.
The only problem was that my room didn’t have a microwave, so I couldn’t reheat my leftovers.
And I really wanted those beans again!
Overall, everything I had at Vidorra was tasty, and this was probably my favorite restaurant experience during the staycation. I would definitely go back. (Well, I already did lol.)
Wells Cattle Co. Burgers & Pies
I had never been here before either, so of course I had to give it a try. I am always willing to support a local business.
I ordered the Wells Burger with bacon, house fries, a Coke and sides of their spicy ketchup and ranch.
The burger was okay.
The sauces, however, were not my favorite. The ranch was pretty watery, and I didn’t really enjoy the spicy ketchup.
I would probably try another burger place if I went back to Rockwall, just because there are so many options to try.
Giovanni’s
Giovanni’s was probably my least favorite of the three.
I ordered a Caesar salad and the spicy pork sausage rigatoni.
Unfortunately, I didn’t really care for the pasta. In my opinion, it just wasn’t very good. Honestly, I didn’t eat much of it.
I actually chose Giovanni’s because it was close and I could walk there.
But there was one thing I really enjoyed about the experience.
I was able to sit on my balcony and enjoy the sunset.
So even though the food wasn’t my favorite, sitting on the balcony watching the sunset helped make the experience more enjoyable.
And honestly, that sunset was probably the best part of the experience.
A Little Shopping Because Why Not?
Of course, I couldn’t go on a birthday staycation and not do a little shopping.
I stopped by Ulta and picked up a few things. Really my free birthday item encouraged me to go.
I also stopped by James Avery.
I’ll link some of my Ulta finds through LTK if you’re interested in seeing what I picked up.
Most of My Staycation Was Spent in My Room
I feel like I need to say this because when you read “staycation,” you might expect me to tell you about all of the amazing things I did around Rockwall.
I really didn’t do that much.
And I don’t mean that in a bad way.
I spent a lot of time in my room.
I read my book. I watched my favorite shows. I doom scrolled on Tiktok. I relaxed. I enjoyed the lake view. I took my time getting ready. I went out when I wanted to and stayed in when I wanted to.
There was no schedule.
No rushing.
No “we have to leave by 10 because we have reservations at 11.”
Nothing.
And for me, that was the best part.
Would I Stay at Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront Again?
Yes, I would.
I really enjoyed being able to get away without actually having to travel far.
The Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront gave me the change of scenery I wanted, while still being close enough to home that I didn’t have to make a huge trip out of it. Although, the drive was far because, lets be honest, DFW metroplex is huge lol.
I also liked that I could make the stay whatever I wanted it to be,
If I wanted to go out and explore, I could.
If I wanted to go eat, I could.
No plans, just vibes.
My Final Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed my birthday staycation.
It wasn’t an extravagant vacation, and honestly, I didn’t want it to be. I wanted a few days to myself where I could slow down and not feel like I needed to accomplish anything.
I think we sometimes forget that relaxing is enough.
You don’t always need a reason for taking time off. You don’t need to fill every minute with an activity. Sometimes you can just book the room, bring your favorite book, order some food, sit by the pool and enjoy the fact you have nowhere to be.
And that was exactly what I wanted for my 35th birthday.
A little time away.
A little time to myself.
And a whole lot of doing absolutely nothing.
If I could change one thing about the stay, I would have stayed three nights instead of two. By the time I really settled in and got into my relaxed mindset, it felt like it was already time to pack up and go home. I think that extra night would have made the stay even better.
But honestly, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Sometimes the best staycation isn’t about everything you do. It’s about everything you don’t have to do.
And next time, I’m giving myself three nights.
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