Take a hike...and get a massage while you're at it.
Do you want to commune with nature? Would you rather pamper your body with yoga, or perhaps get a world class spa treatment? Maybe you want to conquer your fear of heights by learning how to swing like one of the Great Wallendas on a circus trapeze. Would you believe that you can do all of these things in one place right here in Austin, Texas? Nestled atop the expansive Balcones Nature Preserve just northeast of Lake Travis sits The Crossings Resort and Spa. If you need a spot to explore many avenues of stress relief and spiritual awakening in one place, this could be your answer.
Surrounding the resort are 2.5 miles of nature and hiking trails. The Mesa Loop Trail is the longest as far as distance is concerned, but the East Rim/ Elm Loop trail offers the more difficult ascents and descents. However, no one would confuse this with really strenuous hiking like you would find in Yosemite or other areas. At a leisurely pace, hikers can complete both trails within an hour or so. The Mesa Trail loop starts off flat enough and within the first ¼ of a mile or so the path is intersected with the appropriately named Cross Trail. A short climb up a few steps and you are on the grounds of the Salidago Sanctuary. Upon entering the compound, one crosses a stream that seamlessly connects nature to the nurturing of the mind and spirit. It is a perfect spot for meditation, yoga or quiet reflection while looking out over panoramic views of the Texas Hill Country and listening to the water features that surround the sanctuary.
Back on the trail, the unique blending of nature and the pursuit of refreshing the mind are on constant display. Strewn about the trails are collections of rocks that have been stacked by earlier hikers. Why not give it a try? It is really remarkable how much peace can be gained by taking the rocks that nature has provided and trying to find the right blending of shape and balance.
All meals are included in your stay (lunch only is included for day pass guests) and are served buffet style in the Cypress Creek Dining Hall. Chef Craig Breaux weaves a variety of natural and wholesome foods together to satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and good-old meat eaters alike, all without skipping a beat when it comes to flavor. On one particular weekend, Academy Award winning actor and director Alan Arkin was at the resort giving a seminar on improvisation and how to cross the chasm of theater to real life. He could be seen eating in the dining room along with a young adult church group, a set of business men in suits, and a couple wearing nothing but bathrobes who were taking part in a weekend long cleansing program and eating nothing but fruits and vegetables. If variety is the spice of life, it is well represented in this eclectic dining room.
Of course, The Crossings also has a world class spa that offers more than 50 massages, healing rituals, balancing treatments, integrated health consultations, wellness and life coaching, and personalized holistic services. If you are in need of getting a fix on nature while nurturing the mind and body, you really should reward yourself or your loved ones with a visit. On the note of rewarding and loved ones, a Crossings gift certificate makes a perfect gift.
For more information and to book a trip, visit thecrossingsaustin.com.
