Texas Celebrity Travel News

Who’s where in Texas this month? TexasTripper.com’s Grace Sydney takes a look at the hottest places in the Lone Star State:

Dallas

The portraits of Russian royalty which dangle on the walls of The Last Czar Suite at Hotel ZaZa looked down from their gold gilt frames one night in December, watching Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler “Dream On” as he slept on the king-size bed in the 2,125-square-foot accommodation, one of the hip hideaway’s Magnificent Seven suites. Dallas’ ballyhooed boutique retreat welcomed singing sensations from a variety of musical genres during the fall of 2006, from alt rocker Beck, who unpacked his suitcases after a gig at the Gypsy Tea Room in October, to Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, who enjoyed some quality family time with their parents at the hotel during the Thanksgiving weekend….

Since its grand opening in June 2006, The W Hotel has become another rock star retreat. The 252-guestroom hotel, which offers patrons the use of its 5,000-square -foot bliss spa, infinity pool and a rooftop heliport, was the lodging of choice for The Who’s Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend after an evening spent rocking The Big D in early December…..

“Dancing With The Stars” competitor Willa Ford was spotted waltzing into Al Biernat’s Steakhouse on the arm of her NHL fiancé Mike Modano recently. Football legend Roger Staubach was another luminary who perused the restaurant’s menu last month ….

Guests in the lobby at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, a 5-diamond, 5-star sanctuary which has earned the distinction of having the top hotel service on earth by Travel + Leisure magazine, were able to catch a glimpse of silver-haired journalist Anderson Cooper en route to his suite.

Salado

Kinky Friedman may have lost his bid for the state’s gubernatorial title in November, but the cigar-chomping candidate won over an audience of 200 Rotary and Lions Club members weeks before at a campaign event held in the Longhorn Room at The Stagecoach Inn, a stylish 82 guestroom retreat in downtown Salado.

Austin

When in Austin, Sandra Bullock fans can savor a taste of Texas by ordering from the menu at Bess, a bistro on West 6th Street owned by the “Miss Congeniality” star, which opened its doors in November 2006…..

Parents in search of a family-friendly flick to entertain the kids during the holiday school break can rent “How To Eat Fried Worms,” which has just been released on DVD. Filmed in and around Austin, the movie, which stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley (“According To Jim”), Tom Cavanagh (“Love Monkey,” “Ed”) and Hallie Eisenberg, features several capital city sights, including the ultra-exclusive Onion Creek Country Club, which boasts of a 27-hole golf course voted the best private course by Texas Golfer Magazine, and the Austin Diner, a retro restaurant on Burnet Road which serves up sustenance in an environment festooned with a 50’s flair.

– by Grace Sydney