| Escape to Lakeway Resort and Spa |
| Written by Laurie Lyons | |
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The grounds of the resort are very quiet and tranquil, nestled deep inside a Lakeway neighborhood. Walking around the front of the grounds, you are greeted with views of the three gorgeous buildings that make up the resort, giant bushes of hibiscus near the walkways, and the best part, the lingering smell of rosemary that comes off of the bushes that are scattered about. For a place that caters to everyone from large businesses to families to the military, the resort has a little bit of everything for any visitor. The Fun When you walk out to the pool area, you’re greeted by two of the best words in the English language: Adult Pool. Complete with a full swim-up bar, two waterfall pools, and a hot tub, this little piece of heaven allows adults to relax without having to worry about the occasional curse word slipping out, or the spontaneous PDA that may occur in such a romantic place. The pool area has definitely seen its share of parties, as well, as musicians like Bob Schneider and The Gourds have performed for guests on the patio for special events.
Of course the kiddos have a place to play, too-they won’t even care about the adult pool once they see the giant big red waterslide at Little Devil’s Cove and the water volleyball pool. The pool area also has great sun seating and quaint little cabanas for those visitors who may not be accustomed to the Texas heat.
The Food You can’t have a great leave-it-all behind getaway without leaving the cooking and dirty dishes back in your home kitchen. Josey’s Bar and Grill’s cuisine features lots of high end comfort food that really makes you feel like you’re spending the weekend on the lake. Chicken and waffle appetizers, unique fish dishes, and pork chop lollipops all stand out on the menu.
As a vegan, my options were pretty limited, but my entrée was something that I would definitely order again, even with other options. The Texas peach and spinach salad was a perfect portion size, with thick slices of tender peaches, Medjool dates, purple onions and an apple balsamic vinaigrette (it usually comes with a blue cheese vinaigrette, but I substituted, and it was great). Neither the peaches nor the dates were overly sweet, which could have easily happened in such a dish, and all of the flavors created a subtle mix of light, clean food that would leave you ready to hit the pool or spa.
My dinner companion, Kaydin Ignacio, on the other hand, had the entire menu to choose from, and he managed to sample some of Josey’s finest. He described the shrimp cocktail as having “big pieces of shrimp smothered in a cherry and jalapeno sauce that was just sweet enough to be tasty without overpowering the shrimp.” This was by far his favorite menu item. He also tried the chicken and waffles appetizer that he said “at first glance may seem like your classic walnut waffles with a dash of chicken fingers thrown in, but what sets this meal off is the delicious gravy you get with it. Mix the waffles, chicken, and gravy together and you have a melting pot of awesome.”
For the main course and the meal, in general, he remarks “finally I ended the meal with a sirloin burger cooked medium well. The burger was cooked perfectly with a very thick helping of sirloin beef and delicious bacon added for good measure. I washed it all down with a couple of beers (from which they have many to choose) and felt not just stuffed but satisfied for the rest of the night. All in all a very pleasing meal that not only filled me up but satisfied my hunger as well.”
The Spa A place just can’t add the word “spa” to part of their name if they aren’t about some serious pampering services for their guests. Lakeway has an extensive menu of services including massages, wraps, facials, scrubs, manicures, pedicures, and tons more at the San Saba Spa. Since the resort is currently running a post-ACL special (see below for details on how to take advantage of this incredible deal), I opted for the Detoxifying Moor Mud wrap. This mud was rich in natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Not rich in that yucky stuff that is still trying to dry out at Zilker Park. After changing into a soft robe in their private and fully stocked locker room, I stepped into the Women’s Lounge overlooking the lake to wait for my therapist. It didn’t take long for him to come grab me and head into the room where the then buffed my whole body with a natural bristle brush, lathered me in fabulous black mud, and then proceeded to give me a head and neck massage while I rested under astronaut blankets, waiting for the mud to do its thing. The shower to get all of the mud off was just as heavenly as my time spent caked in the wonderful goo, with eight shower jets shooting out of the wall. I never wanted to leave that shower. After that, my therapist ended the session with moisturizing oils, and my skin hasn’t been the same dry mess since. I highly recommend this treatment.
The Rooms Everyone has to get some rest at some point, and though squeezing in some bed time with all the other things the resort has to offer may be difficult, the rooms are so inviting and the beds so lush that once you open your door, you may not want to leave. Standard guest rooms come with either a lakeside view or at hillside view, so you always have something nice to look at during your downtime. Some of the rooms also include balconies. The one thing that would have made my standard room absolutely perfect would have been a bigger tub to relax in, but I had enough other distractions that taking a long bath never even became an option. Other accommodation options include specialty rooms, suites, and condo villas.
If you’ve been out to Lakeway Resort and Spa before, now is a great time to give it another go. New management and staff are making some big, progressive changes, including debuting a new menu in coming weeks and adding more guest activities like movie nights and tailgating parties for special events. To get you back through their doors (or there for the very first time), Lakeway is currently running a post-Austin City Limits special to help you relax away some of the stress and mud from the big festival. The package includes a midweek retreat, complete with a 50-minute massage or facial and a stay at the resort for $199 per night. This is a total steal to go check the place out. To take advantage of the offer, use the promotional code “ACL” when booking. This package is based on availability and is valid Sunday through Thursday nights through October 31, 2009.
So, I just saved you ten years and multiple visits so that you can have one of the best experiences that Austin has to offer. You’re welcome. Now visit dolce-lakeway-hotel.com to make your reservation, and to take advantage of that post-ACL special before it ends on October 31.
Special thanks to Mike, Rod, and Brandy for all of their amazing hospitality.
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Austin is nothing if not a town full of hidden treasures, the kind that you can live here for more than ten years (like me) and still not get to totally experience, and the kind that as a visitor, you’d have to come back to our fair city for vacation after vacation just to completely take in. Lakeway Resort and Spa is one of those hidden jewels, located just west of Austin on Lake Travis, and it provides you with both that laid-back Austiny feel, while also making you think that you are nowhere even close to the hustle and bustle of home. 