From Elizabeth Mitchell,
Your Guide to Southwest US Travel.
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Sep 6 2006

The Spa at Lake Austin

Relaxation, rejuvenation, revitalization are all on the agenda and available in ample supply during your stay at the famed Lake Austin Spa.

When the automatic iron gate at the entrance of the Lake Austin Spa begins to open and you proceed through and onto the grounds of the 40-room spa, you know you are in for quite the experience at this spa that has garnered world wide accolades.

Immediately upon arrival at guest services your vehicle is met by the friendly accommodating staff. As with each new arrival, staff comes outside to greet you by name as you begin the check-in procedure. This is an example of the type of service that is evident throughout a stay at the spa.

The spa isn’t overly big, not that it has too be, set on 19 acres, it is the service, cuisine, activities and atmosphere that sets the stage for a time to get away from whatever ails you. The overall feeling is cozy, as there is never more than normally 50 to 65 guests on the property at any one time. All rooms include televisions, DVDs, VCRs, CD players, wireless internet access, 300-count Egyptian cotton sheets, down comforters, soaking tubs and spa robes.

Nature at Your Doorstep

Lush landscaping is the order of the day. Nature and wildlife trails snake throughout the grounds and along the Lake. Be sure and take in the view of the starry Texas night sky from the Yoga Deck that juts out into the Lake or the sky from other points at the Spa. As you make your way around the grounds you’ll also see the natural herb and vegetable gardens, some of whose product you’ll have the opportunity to sample on a lunch or dinner plate later at the Spa.

The main dining room, as well as an exercise pool, overlooks Lake Austin, a narrow stretch of water where you can kayak, scull, Hydro-bike or just take in the scenery. What is unique about the spa’s location is that the other side of the lake facing the Spa is environmentally protected land, a bluff covered with trees, that won’t be developed, providing the impression that you are miles away from civilization. In fact the spa is a short 30-minute drive from bustling Austin, sitting just at the beginning of Texas’s hill country.

World Class Healthy Menu

As far as the cuisine at the spa, it is a world class healthy menu. Guests have their choice from delicacies such as Wild Mushroom Pizza with Truffle Oil; Blue Cheese Stuffed Beef Tenderloin or Smoked Salmon Filet with Indian Corn Pudding. For the vegetarian, no reason to fret, there is always an option available at every meal.

Meals are all at the guest’s leisure. Breakfast is served from 7 -10 am; lunch from 11 – 2 pm and dinner from 5:30 until 8 pm. There is always fresh made iced tea and various fresh fruits available at all times in the dinning room if you need a snack or a drink to tide you over until the next meal.

About Lake Austin's Lake House Spa

The Lake Austin Spa is designed for a wide audience, but as with most world class Spas, pre-teen children wouldn’t find much on the menu of activities for their liking. For everyone else, there is something to do nearly all the time or you can just lounge around in your room or by a pool.

The heart of the spa is the multi-million dollar 25,000 square foot expansion of the Lake House Spa that was just completed in 2004. It offers over 100 different skin and body treatments in 30 treatment rooms. The LakeHouse Spa complex also includes men’s and women’s locker rooms, outdoor swimming pool, hot tub and cabanas and the Iris Salon. The adjacent Pool Barn is an indoor junior Olympic-length lap pool housed in a building built to resemble a barn, but made largely from glass.

Activities

As far as activities, there is too much to list. Of course there is everything you need to get your body in shape and all types of special exercise classes, but there is a lot more to choose from if you are looking to enhance something other than you physical appearance. For example, Insights from Tarot, Dream Wisdom, Fun with Watercolor and Aromatherapy Workshop are all activity classes that are offered at various times.

For information on the Lake Austin Spa call: 800.847.5637 or visit www.LakeAustin.com

Courtesy Guest Contributor: Tony Conboy III