Looking for a short surprise getaway from Austin. Will be going to the Japanese Water Garden where hubby proposed & then to the Dallas World Aquarium. Probably just an overnight trip since Hubby works & goes to school full-time (last semester!!!). Used to live in and around Dallas so it's not like we need to sample the area. Just want a hotel that is not pretentious, not plain, not ordinary, & not trying too hard. Would prefer a cutesy boutique like a Hotel Monaco or like the Hotel Valencia in San Antonio. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks.

Hotel Zaza in downtown Dallas is supposed to be really good. The Hotel St. Germaine in Oak Lawn is also very nice. In Fort Worth, the historic Stockyards Hotel would work, too.

Two "boutique hotels" in downtown Fort Worth that you might want to check out are Etta's Place and The Hotel Ashton.

Thanks for the recommendations. I will check out their websites when baby girl is not crawling all over me and the computer! Should have mentioned that the hotel would need to be child friendly.

Hotel Belmont in Dallas has just opened and is a renovated 1940s motor court with pool and great view of Dallas skyline.

Is Ettas Place and Hotel Ashton in the stockyard area? I'm looking for something for myself in the stockyard. Nothing fancy but clean and safe to walk to shops and restaurants.

s140, both are in downtown FW, not stockyards

Thanks. What about Sundance Square area?

Sundance Square is downtown Fort Worth. I much prefer it over the Stockyards. The Ashton Hotel is a lovely property. I've had drinks in the lobby but never seen the rooms themselves. Location is good - don't know about the "child-friendly" part. Etta's Place is also a good location but have only walked by it a million times, never having gone in it. The Worthington is not a boutique hotel but is a great location, too.