Nestled alongside the tranquil shores of LakeAustin, amongst the scenic hills sits a quiet,peaceful oasis. Lake Austin Spa Resort, locatedjust 30 minutes from downtown Austin at1705 South Quilan Park Road, has been namedthe No. 1 destination spa in North America bythe readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazinein 2008 and in 2009 it also won the title as TopRated Destination Spa in the U.S. by the ‘ZagatSurvey of Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas.
Being that this sparkling gem is right upthe road from San Antonio, I decided to take aweekend trip up to the resort to unwind, relaxand rejuvenate. I took the back way to Austin,down Highway 290, to get in the hill countryspirit. Upon arriving at the resort I was greetedby the friendly staff and was engulfed by theserene setting. The pathways along the shoreand around the 19–acre lakefront propertywere lined with beautiful flowers and organicgardens. Throughout the gardens you find,aloe, jasmine, lavender and fig trees capturingan endless supply of inspiration, reflected inthe resort’s spa treatments and cuisine.
I immediately began to unwind in thepristine and peaceful atmosphere. Soothingmy soul in a comfortable hammock on thepeaceful grounds at the foot of the cool, blueLake Austin.
My intimate guest room further encouragedmy relaxation with Egyptian cotton sheets,hand–made quilts, custom–designed furniture,and signature lavender spa amenities. All 40lakeside guest rooms were completely refinedduring a multi–million dollar renovation inearly 2008, combining high technology andhigh comfort.
While spending the majority of your timeunwinding in your room is enticing, there aremore than 20 activities for all fitness levelsoffered daily. The resort’s holistic approach isreflected in these fun and innovative activitiesand programs.
Whether you want a high–intensitycardio workout, a private sculling lesson,an hour of relaxation and meditation ora nutrition or lifestyle consultation witha certified fitness professional, there’ssomething that appeals to everyone’sinterests and abilities.
The resort takes full advantage of its naturalsurroundings with a varied curriculum ofwater–related activities and hikes throughnearby nature preserves. The lure of the wateris impossible to resist. At almost any hour ofthe day guests glide across the lake in kayaks,canoes and Hydro–bikes. I welcomed mymorning with yoga poses overlooking the lakeon the outdoor Yoga Deck.
After all the action I certainly worked up anappetite and the food at the resort does notfall short of impressive. Executive Chef TerryConlan serves three delicious and healthymeals daily. After 16 years, the award–winningChef Conlan still does what he enjoys most—creating innovative, healthy cuisine that isdeliciously satisfying and, above all, made fromthe freshest ingredients available. He insistson presenting guests with a range of enticingchoices that reflect the wonderfully rich anddiverse regional cuisines of the Southwest,Mexico, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia. Ifcooking is your thing, healthy cooking classesare scheduled throughout the week.
Now that I had the basics covered it was timefor a little self–indulgence, easily found at thismulti–million dollar, award winning LakeHouseSpa. The 25,000–square–foot expansion andrenovation completed in 2004 is suited withspacious men’s and women’s locker rooms, anoutdoor Palm Pool, hot tub and cabanas, 30treatment areas, including garden tents andsuites, and an indoor Junior Olympic–lengthlap pool in the Pool Barn.
Offering more than 100 innovative spa andsalon treatments I was lured in to the crèmede la crème of treatments, the signature Fruitsof the Shore body treatment. For two hoursI was indulged in an invigorating fig scrub, asoothing bath and oil application, detoxifyingbody wrap and massage. This treatment isinspired by the fig trees grown right at thelakeshore. The aromatic fruit treatment wassensational.
While I did not participate in any of thenumerous special events and discoveryprograms available daily, guests get to enrichtheir experience with Discovery classes inhealthy cooking, nutrition, communicationskills, body image, relationships and sexuality,journaling, crafts, gardening and others.
Overall my experience at The Lake AustinSpa Resort was everything one could wantin a destination spa retreat. The incrediblecombination of charming guest rooms, worldclass spa treatments, reviving activities,deliciously healthy cuisine and life enrichingprograms certainly makes this spa experiencenumber one in my book. Take that Condé Nast!
