Affordable Summer Getaway Less Than Two Hours from Arlington: Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma

Did I just discover the metroplex's best kept secret for summer fun that is both close and affordable? Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma is all that and more!

Picture this:

A lake setting on the border of Texas and Oklahoma. A resort with various sizes of rooms available to accommodate travel parties of all sizes. Two outdoor pools with a slide plus a small kiddie pool plus an indoor pool with racing lanes and a hot tub. Two on-site dining options: a lakeside grill and a restaurant, plus a snack stand at the pool area. An outdoor playground. An 18-hole golf course with an onsite bar and grill. Pickleball courts. A tower bar (as cool as it sounds!) for 21 and over. Programming for kids and adults all summer long.

Hanging out poolside at Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma. 

Are you hooked yet? 

THIS is the fun that awaits guests at Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro, Texas. They hosted my family for two nights over Easter weekend, and, despite the rain and chill in the air, we had an absolute blast. We could almost imagine this spot bustling with vacationers in the summertime, kids running wild while parents relax in the poolside loungers, soaking up the Texas sun.

Located on Lake Texoma, Tanglewood Resort is the perfect spot to take your boat (the boat launch is less than 10 minutes from the resort) and head out on the water for the day (you can also rent a boat in the area or skip boating altogether- it is a fun spot no matter what!). Once you have had enough of lake life for the day you can head down to the pool area at the resort and relax, maybe grabbing a sandwich and fries from the lakeside grill to nosh on. With or without kids, this place is the perfect DFW escape. For the 21 and over crowd, definitely consider having a drink at the Tower Bar as the sun is setting- the view of the lake from eight stories up is absolutely stunning!

View of Tanglewood Resort from the Tower Bar.

If you have a golfer in your group, they can head over to the Tanglewood Golf Course and play a round of golf and grab a bite at the 19th Hole (and maybe a drink!). Those who want to brush up on their skills before hitting the green can also perfect their stroke at the Golf Simulator. Be sure to check out the rules of the course before you tee off. 

Checking out the Tanglewood Golf Course.

Kids and kids-at-heart will love playing at the indoor and outdoor pools at this property. My girls loved the slide and the waterfall features as well as the lap lanes at the indoor pool. I enjoyed lounging in the hot tub with my oldest while we timed my younger two as they raced down the lap lanes. In warmer weather, the snack bar between the indoor and outdoor pools will offer up refreshments to satiate hunger brought on by all the splashing around! Once they tire of swimming, kids can play tetherball or play on the playground. There is also a beach- Island View Park- about 10 minutes from the resort by car. Talk about options!

Hanging out at the indoor pool at Tanglewood Resort while the kids play. 

I can't say enough great things about the accommodations, to boot. We stayed in a villa with one king bed and oh my gosh! In-room hot tub, fireplace, washer and dryer, all dishes and silverware, a great balcony. We added on an adjacent suite with two queen beds and had loads of space for the whole family with multiple (huge!) bathrooms, multiple TVs and more. This would be perfect for a summer weekend. 

The awesome kitchen area at our villa at Tanglewood Resort at Lake Texoma. 

We enjoyed our time at Tanglewood Resort so much and know that you will too! Book today to secure your summer spot before all the rooms are full (just plugging in random June dates we were seeing the king villas for less than $300 a night. That's a steal!)

Summer is just five weeks away... Not that we are counting or anything! Who wants to meet us at Tanglewood for a fun weekend away?

*Please note: I was given a free stay in exchange for promotion on my social channels and a blog post. All thoughts and ideas are my own.*

Spring Break Guide 2023: Adventure On, DFW!

There's no doubt about it- Dallas/Fort Worth is the place to be. Especially during Spring Break! From indoor waterparks to adventure playlands and more, DFW has something for everyone this March. 

I'm rolling out my annual Spring Break Guide today, so I've gone back through my old posts about places to go and things to do. Y'all- I'm constantly amazed at all the awesome offerings for families and kids of all ages all over the Metroplex. But this year... Guys. There are SO many new businesses (or awesome new offerings at some tried and true favorite businesses!) that have cropped up to keep your kids active and engaged this Spring Break (and beyond!). So, if travel isn't in the plan or budget this year, don't worry. Check out all these fantastic new spots in the greater DFW area and your kids won't have a chance to say "I'm bored!" 

New spots in DFW to check out for Spring Break 2023

Dallas Area

The Fowling Warehouse (Plano)- Nope, that's not a typo, that's a new thing you can check out in Plano! Fowling is a combination of two American favorites- football and bowling! So grab a bite (and maybe a beverage, if that's your thing!) and get fowling. Perfect for groups and all ages, this game will get you active and having fun. I can't wait to check it out! 

Two Bit Circus (Dallas- Northpark Mall area)- I featured this spot on my social channels over the holidays and we loved it so much! Two Bit Circus is brought to you by the son of the founder of Chuck E Cheese- so you know this family knows fun! Indulge in so many VR games or go a bit old school with the arcade games. There are light bites as well as drinks available. Trust me- this spot is a blast for kids of all ages!

Enjoying family time at the new Two Bit Circus in Dallas.

Game Show Battles (Dallas- Galleria area)- Grab your besties and duke it out, game show style! Choose between two different showdowns and then challenge your opponents to some crazy-fun competitions. Perfect if you have a big family and want to claim bragging rights or for going head-to-head with another family. Everyone will have a blast! 

Fort Worth Area

Sandbox VR (Fort Worth- Arts District)- Have a gamer at home? Actually, the answer is irrelevant... Sandbox VR is a seriously fun gaming and VR experience for the whole family or set of friends or whomever! We went a few months ago and haven't stopped talking about it. You put on VR headsets and embark on a journey based on which scene you select. We were pirates! Gaming really isn't even my jam and I would go back and do this many more times! Perfect for spring break fun. 

Family time at Sandbox VR in Fort Worth.

Bolder Adventure Park (Grand Prairie)- Adventure on, friends! This brand new spot at Epic Central in Grand Prairie is for the adventure seekers and the adventurous at heart. Rope courses, zip lines, ice skating, bumper cars, archery, adventure nets... You name it, this indoor facility has it. Your kids will be able to climb and play all day- when I take mine I plan to see them for little else than water breaks! 

Go Ape (Arlington)- I'm so excited that Arlington officially has its own outdoor adventure course! Located at River Legacy, this course is for thrill seekers. I visited the Plano location last year and conquered my fear of being high off the ground being help up by a single rope. It was actually a blast! There are minimum age requirements, though, so check that before you go. 

Favorite haunts with new attractions you won't want to miss

In addition to all of these exciting new attractions that have opened in the past year in DFW, let's not forget all the awesome spots that have made DFW the place to be for years now! Although you have probably visited several of these spots before, they each have recently opened new attractions that may make them feel fresh and fun again for you and your kids this Spring Break!

Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington)- Aquaman launches March 11! This ride is supposed to be one-of-a-kind, launching riders backward and forward and ending with a massive splashdown. While I could maybe give this one a miss (fine, I'll ride it once. Once! Simply to say I've ridden it), my kids would lose their minds for something this fun-sounding. 

Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark (Grand Prairie)- Our favorite indoor waterpark has a brand new slide to get excited about- Locura! With a 40-foot drop and a 360 degree horizontal loop, this ride sounds terrifying- I mean awesome! Seriously, we love Epic because there is so much for the kids and see and do. Perfect for the whole family, Epic is a great way to get excited about pool time this summer. 

Trader's Village (Grand Prairie)- If you are looking for affordable fun for the whole family, this is it! Trader's Village is open during the week for Spring Break and the rides area features a brand new coaster for kids to get excited about, the Prairie Screamer! The low height requirement means it will be fun for (almost) everyone in your party, and an all-day wristband for unlimited rides starts at $15. 

I could type another 2,000 words on all the fun things to do in area with kids. If you have little little ones, don't forget Play Street Museum in Mansfield or Project Play in Hurst. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is great for younger kids and the Perot Museum is wonderful for all ages. Jade Waters at the Hilton Anatole opens March 3 if you are willing to brave the cooler temps for outdoor water fun or you can check out Cove at the Lakefront in Little Elm for a less-expensive indoor waterpark option.  There is iFly and Alley Cats and Main Event and Urban Air and seriously guys I could ramble and ramble. If you're looking for fun for your kids in DFW this Spring Break and can't find it on this list, send me a message or shoot me an email. I'd love to help you navigate all the awesome offerings in the area. And if you own or offer one of the awesome offerings in this area, message me about coming and featuring your spot, too! 

Stocking My Summer Go-Bag: Must-Have Summer Necessities

Ready for summer? Be up for anything any time when you keep a summer go-bag stocked and ready!

I am counting down the days until summer 2022 is officially underway. My girls are ready for lazy days by the pool, summer road trips and just simply waking up at their leisure and having breakfast on the couch when they feel like it.

I'm ready for those days, too.

So I'm using these final days of school to stock my summer go-bag- the bag I always keep in my trunk stocked with must-have items to be ready to adventure on all summer long. My summer go-bag is a fixture in my summer routine, and I replenish it regularly so we are always ready to grab summer- and life, really!- by the horns!

We are always ready for summer fun! 

What's a summer go-bag? 

A summer go-bag is a large tote filled to the brim with all the necessities that keep you ready to go all summer long. We keep ours stocked so we are always ready to accept last-minute invitations to pool parties, water parks, overnights and so much more. We are always prepared in the summer to leave the house first thing and not come back until the street lights come on. My girls have absolutely inherited their mother's inability to stay in one place for very long!

What's in a summer go-bag?

I got the idea for my summer go-bag years ago from a mommy blog. Every time friends would call and say "want to go to the splash pad?" it would take me ages to round up everything we needed, from sunscreen to Goldfish and everything in between. So I followed the mommy blog's advice for a summer go-bag and have kept one stocked and ready every summer since my girls were babies. It's evolved a bit through the years (it isn't filled with diapers anymore, something I have mixed feelings about), but it's core necessities are largely the same.

(This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase EA may get a percent)

Here's what I keep in my summer go-bag:

- One bathing suit per girl that is dry and ready to be worn

- One wet bag per girl, to store wet bathing suits

- One change of clothes per girl: shorts, shirt, undergarments

- One pair of PJs per girl

- 4-5 beach towels

- Sunscreen

- Bug spray

- Baby wipes

- Snacks: GoGo Squeez, fruit snacks, Goldfish, crackers- anything shelf stable

- Empty water bottles, at least two

- Beach/picnic blanket

- Toiletries: on-the-go toothbrushes, a hairbrush, multiple hair ties, detangler spray, deodorant, face wipes, hand sanitizer

- Flip flops or sandals, one pair per girl

Yep, it's a lot of stuff. And their clothes take up a lot more space now than it did when they were young! But, hear me out:

Working on this year’s summer go-bag! 

I fit everything in a large tote. For years, I carried a large utility tote from Thirty-one. This year's I've switched to a large rubber tote, similar to a Bogg Bag, from Simply Southern. It holds everything I need and then some! Before we hit the road, I always try to toss a few lunchables and cold bottles of water in the bag, but this sometimes just doesn't happen.

Why do I keep so much stuff in my bag? Easy. Then we can hit the road with zero effort! How often do you go to a morning play date and the kids fuss when they have to go home but you didn't bring a change of clothes? Or you head out the door to the pool so the kids wear bathing suits and you want to stop for lunch or ice cream but they have nothing dry to wear? Or they want to stay the night with a friend you met up with but you don't have anything for them to wear or sleep in?

Our go-bag lets my girls go from pool to friend's house or free outdoor concert to ice cream to pool. It ensures they always have something dry to put on and somewhere to store their wet bathing suits. We always have snacks and sunscreen and bug spray so we can be outside for hours. It's brilliant!

What do you keep at the ready for summer?

A Few of Our Favorite Things...

I recommend a lot of great products, places and brands on this page. And, if I'm being honest with you guys, I don't make money on 99% of the things that I do. 

I don't even have ads on my website... So each click, while amazing, does nothing for me financially!

So, I've rounded up a few of my favorite things. These are all referral links or affiliate links. I genuinely love the products... But if you click and purchase, I *may* get a kickback.

Thanks for supporting our adventures!

Pogo Pass

Do ALL the fun things with the kids- in DFW and Beyond! 

Code: EVERYTHING

www.pogopass.com 

Rothy's

The BEST sustainable shoes. Ever.

Rothy's shoes

Ibotta

My favorite cashback app for earning on my everyday purchases. They offer so many bonuses... I usually save all year long and then use my cash to pay for holiday gifts!

Ibotta

Book of the Month Club

I love to read... And I love getting a new book delivered to my front door each month. If you join, let's start a book club. Coffee and book talk? Yes please!

Book of the Month Club

Just Right Reader

Get your kids to love reading as much as you do! These lessons have helped my little one gain the confidence she needs to tackle longer, more challenging books.

Use code Arlington for 50% the first month of any subscription service

www.justrightreader.com