Austin - Where to Spa, Eat Well, Wander and Explore

Austin is the capital of Texas and the 4th-most populated city in Texas. It is located in Central Texas in the foothills of the famed Texas Hill Country, known for its spectacular natural beauty. The area and the city are home to numerous lakes, rivers, and waterways including Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs, McKinney Falls, the Colorado River, and Lake Travis. Austin is a major cultural draw, is called the Live Music Capital of the World, has a strong theater culture, and its Parks and Recreation Department has won awards for its stellar work in caring for the green spaces in the city.

VISIT THE TOP SPAS IN THE AUSTIN AND TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

FOUR SEASONS AUSTIN

Four Seasons Austin has pretty much the ideal downtown spa hotel setting. Expect spacious rooms overlooking Lady Bird Lake, a showcase of local art, Texas-inspired spa treatments, a Himalayan Salt Wall, fitness center, a saltwater pool, access to miles of lakeside trails, and … an On Demand Margarita Cart. Simply push a button on your in-room phone, then relax in your room’s sitting area or balcony while a Margarita Cart comes to you, complete with a variety of premium tequilas and fresh mix-ins that add up to 500-plus flavor profiles — including skinny margaritas, available poolside.

LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT

Lake Austin Spa Resort is nestled on 19 lakefront acres in Central Texas’ legendary Hill Country. Recipient of numerous awards by virtually every travel and wellness publication, this resort is consistently rated as one of the country’s top Destination Spas. Guests enjoy beautiful accommodations, deliciously healthy cuisine, and world-class spa services, just 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Throughout the year the directors bring in acclaimed authors, artists, celebrity chefs, inspiring guest speakers and other experts to enhance your all-inclusive overnight stay. Best of all? Do as much or as little as you want with the perfect getaway curated for you.

SAGE HILL INN & SPA

The Sage Hill Inn & Spa enjoys an ideal setting just 20 miles from Austin, right in the middle of the famed Texas Hill Country Wine region. Guests love the bucolic and expansive grounds and Garden Spa, farm to table dining with a terrific wine list, the extensive hiking trails, feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle, but are only a few minutes from popular activities, attractions, restaurants, and more.

HORSESHOE BAY RESORT

Horseshoe Bay Resort is right of the heart of the Texas Hill Country Region, an hour’s drive from Austin, with more than 30 wineries located within 90 minutes of the resort. It takes wine enthusiast tours seriously, offering group wine tours by coach to several area wineries. Or, opt for a private tour in a Cadillac Escalades. Back at the resort, enjoy treatments at the resort’s Bayside Spa, or head to the marina for Texas sunset cruise on Lake LBJ.

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WINE & DINE

Austin is known for its world-class Tex-Mex and local fare ranging from hot and spicy fare, food trucks, and beloved tamale and taco shops, but its green and clean culinary scene is just as noteworthy. Explore these healthy options.

THE STEEPING ROOM

This splendid tea room and cafe has two locations — The Domain and North Lamar. Visit The Steeping Room for hearty but clean breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea time fare, featuring natural meats, organic dairy, cage-free eggs as well as gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan selections, and a diverse tea selection. Relax in the bright and airy dining room, the sunny sidewalk, or take your order to go.

BOULDIN CREEK CAFE

After a night of music, dancing, street festivals and imbibing, Austinites line up at the Bouldin Creek Cafe and get on the right side of health. The cafe features a fair trade and locally roasted coffee menu as well as a hearty vegetarian menu. All of the eats are made from scratch, only when ordered, with guest favorite dishes such as hot tamales, nachos, street tacos, salads and omelettes, plus beer, wine, Sake screwdrivers and lemonades.

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN

True Food Kitchen has a devoted following of Austin diners thanks to its engaging open-kitchen concept, its health-driven, seasonal menu of nutrient-rich ingredients which rotate regularly, and its care to cater to all dietary needs and preferences, including gluten-free, naturally organic, vegetarian and vegan offerings. Add to that a beverage menu of wine, local beers and seasonal cocktails and you’ll understand the well-deserved accolades.

LOCAL ADVENTURES

Austin has an abundance of water sports and activities thanks to its location near Lake Austin, Lake Travis, and the Colorado River. There are tours galore for lake activities, plus, here are some of our favorite parks, trails, and natural wonders.

BARTON SPRINGS POOL

Austin’s 358 acre Zilker Metropolitan Park is home to all manner of outdoor fun, ranging from picnic areas to educational displays — plus one of the most beloved outdoor activities in the city — the Barton Springs Pool. This Texas sized natural pool (about 3 acres) is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, making it an idea swimming hole year-round. Adjacent to the pool bathhouse is an educational exhibit about the history and biology of Barton Springs and the aquifer which feeds it.

LADY BIRD LAKE

Lady Bird Lake (formerly called Town Lake) is a fitness lover’s destination in the city. There are no motorized craft permitted, but the Austin Rowing Club, Texas Rowing Center and Zilker Boats are on the lake. Watch rowing crews, take lessons, rent a kayak or canoe and paddle around entire lake. Staying on terra firm, make time to walk or run the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, with its 10 miles of meandering pathways around the lake, through downtown core, and by cultural attractions.

ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN

Austin’s 358 acre Zilker Metropolitan Park is also home to the Zilker Botanical Garden. The gardens are on parkland with spectacular flora and fauna, natural grottoes and aquatic features that have been carefully crafted into a space for beauty and tranquility. Bring your smart phone or tablet and use the gardens’ innovative Virtual Tour as you meander through a Japanese Garden, Succulent Garden, Floral Displays, Butterfly Trail, Herb Garden, Prehistoric Garden, Children’s Garden, a Pioneer Village, and more.

AUSTIN BIPLANE TOURS

For a bird’s eye view of Austin, take to the skies with Austin Biplane. Experience life as a barnstomer in this open-cockpit biplane. Two passengers ride side-by-side in the front seat while your pilot, Capt. Robert Whiteside, USAF-ret., flies from the rear cockpit and whisks you off the ground into the skies above downtown Austin, the Colorado River, Lake Travis and the surrounding Texas hill country. Book popular tours from 20 minutes to 45 minutes, or plan a custom tour with your pilot.

TAKE A DAY TRIP

Hit the road for these easy Day Trips near Austin

HAMILTON POOL PRESERVE

A short trip from Austin, in Dripping Springs is the Hamilton Pool Preserve. Hamilton Creek spills over limestone outcroppings to create a 50 foot waterfall as it plunges into a steep box canyon. The pool, collapsed grotto and canyon was formed by thousands of years of water erosion and is home to lush plants and a variety of wildlife. Cultural remains date back over 8,000 years. Enjoy swimming, picnic tables, hiking trails, and peace and quiet but be forewarned — to maintain the pristine conditions, only a limited number of guests are permitted at one time, so call and plan ahead.

HILL COUNTRY WINE TRAIL

Texas Hill Country has a popular and established Wine Trail. With 52 unique and visually stunning wineries scattered throughout the Hill Country, from Austin to Fredericksburg and Lampasas to New Braunfel, this Texas Wine Trail day trip will take through scenic country and gracious hosts offering wine, entertainment, music, food and fun. Best of all, this is an all-season attraction. Enjoy wildflowers in the spring, water sports in the summer, colorful leaves and trees in the autumn, and dazzling displays of Christmas lights in winter.

Palm Springs – Where to Spa, Eat Well, Wander and Explore

When you think of vacations in the California Desert, you probably think first about Palm Springs and its celebrity history, golf resorts, dazzling swimming pools, lounges, casinos, dance clubs and colorful street festivals, but has so much more to offer for the spa, fitness, outdoors and wellness enthusiast.

Austin – Where to Spa, Eat Well, Wander and Explore