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| Rent a sailboat at Lakeway Marina. photography courtesy of Lakeway Resort and Spa |
A STAR IS REBORN: Chances are, if you’ve lived in Texas long enough, you’ve heard of Lakeway, near the shores of Lake Travis. Originally a retirement community with a yacht club and inn (read: local tavern for the retirees), Lakeway soon became a master-planned community and meeting center, thanks to additional guest rooms at the inn, golf courses, and an expanded marina. For me, Lakeway was the place where my mom and her friends would go to play tennis—the renowned World of Tennis Sports Complex opened in 1973—a getaway she looked forward to every year. While those tennis-playing ladies always had a blast, Lakeway wasn’t really a “destination,” so to speak, for anything other than sports and boating. The accommodations were serviceable at best; I certainly don’t remember my mom coming back raving about the rooms. Of course, all it took was owner Behringer Harvard to invest $18 million for improvements and put it back on the market for today’s discerning traveler. Now the newly christened Lakeway Resort and Spa is ready for big business. SWIM AND SPA: These days, no respectable resort can get by without a spa, so Behringer added San Saba Spa to the list of amenities that includes two presidential suites, 166 guest rooms, a spectacular 5,200-square-foot glass-enclosed ballroom overlooking Lake Travis, a white-tablecloth restaurant, two bars, three tiers of swimming pools, and 24,000 square feet of meeting space. Because the resort sits on a cliff above the lake shores, from nearly every perch, through floor-to-ceiling windows, you have a view of the lake and its recreational activities. From your pedicure throne, you can watch fellow guests sunbathing by the pool or enjoying a cocktail from the swim-up bar (where I personally liked to hang out). The list of treatments is standard: Swedish, deep-tissue, aromatherapy, and hot rocks massages; facials that repair, exfoliate, moisturize, and revitalize; and the obligatory men’s services. A few treatments are designed to soothe the aching muscles of the athlete, such as the golf enthusiast’s massage, which makes sense considering the number of golfers, tennis players, and water sport fanatics visiting the resort or those who live in the nearby residences of this cozy little community, which is no longer home to only retirees. I also appreciate the Sun Worshippers lineup, which includes exfoliation and sunscreen applications, sunless tanning, and hair removal—the perfect prep for poolside posturing. PARTY TIME: Not surprisingly, because of its proximity to Austin, Lakeway is a bit of a hot spot on the weekends for locals, too, especially when the weather calls for live music by the pool. (The weekend we visited, Austin favorite Guy Forsyth performed.) The chaise lounges are replaced by a stage and equipment, and folks can either suit up and sit in the pool or hang out on the outdoor balcony at Josey’s, enjoying their burgers and beer with a side of blues.
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| Dishes at the Travis Restaurant range from light to decadent. photography courtesy of Lakeway Resort and Spa |
AUSTIN, TEXAS
How To Get There
Lakeway, on Lake Travis, is a three-hour drive from Dallas, or you can fly Southwest Airlines (www.southwest.com) into Austin’s Bergstrom International Airport, which is 40 minutes from the resort.
Where To Stay
Lakeway Resort & Spa
101 Lakeway Dr.
Austin, TX 78734
512-261-6600
www.lakeway.dolce.com
Rates: from $129 for rooms; from $1,100 for suites
