Summer is the perfect season for a road trip! My family and I took a beautiful drive to Austin last weekend and enjoyed our stay at the Four Diamond award-winning Lakeway Resort & Spa, a newly renovated lodging resort and the only waterfront resort on Lake Travis. (Don’t you love Lake Travis?) Our goal was to simply get out of town for a couple of days and have some fun family time. Mission accomplished!
We were delighted with a very welcoming front staff, modern accommodations, some of the most comfortable beds we’ve ever slept in, spacious bathrooms, and a superb view of the lake from our balcony. The girls enjoyed having an adjoining room, and they were thrilled with their balcony view of deer grazing the lawn.
A major highlight of our stay at the Lakeway Resort & Spa was our play time at the all-new, indoor Kid Zone which provides supervised kid-friendly activities for ages 24 months and up. Since the Kid Zone offers a drop-off program and it was our wedding anniversary, I was sure we would be dropping off the three older munchkins so we could spend a bit mtore alone time together as a couple. However, the Kid Zone was a hit with the entire family, so my husband and I decided to stay and play too (kids play for $10/hour; grown-ups can play for $5/hour)!!
Mind you, we’ve stayed at many resorts in the past but had never seen a kid’s zone quite like this one. There was really something for everyone there: a baby/toddler area for the younger set with books, baby toys, soft baby mats (although baby Jasmine slept through it all), 3 bounce houses that all three of the older girls enjoyed, air hockey, a pinball machine, foosball, a basketball arcade (my husband’s favorite), ping pong, miniature golf, an arts & crafts area, and several other fun things to play.
A quiet dinner would have been typical for us; but bonding over a game of foosball or shooting hoops? That’s the stuff memories are made of. I can’t remember the last time we “played” together like that! The girls, especially our oldest, even enjoyed some special bonding play time with her dad. Oh, there were also a couple of nice pool tables (or pocket billiard tables, or whatever you call them), that were calling my name. I thought we’d get a chance to come back to play, but the weekend got away from us.
The heated outdoor pool was another favorite of ours. The resort’s pool experience includes a multi-tiered adult pool with swim-up bar, an outdoor whirlpool and an amazing kid’s pool with a winding water slide and several new water features. Poolside cabanas with cushioned lounges, ceiling fan, flat-screen TV, fresh fruit, chilled bottled water and Wi-Fi access, also are available for rent.
My girls did the water slide a dozen times but were pleased to take a break from it at sunset when the Dive-In- Movie began. The movie on the big screen was Cars for the first night (two thumbs up), but the second night they showed Captain America, which, with all the explosive violence, is not my idea of a movie appropriate for my 6 and 8 year olds. I had to quickly instruct the girls to ignore the movie and continue swimming, and they were happy to comply. Otherwise, the pool area was comfortable and relaxing, and the poolside wait staff was super friendly and attentive.
The family had the opportunity to eat at Lakeway Resort and Spa's newest restaurant, Masterson's Steakhouse, which boasts a sophisticated yet rustic atmosphere with pristine views of Lake Travis. It was lunchtime, and hubby and I ordered cheeseburger and fries while the 3 older girls ordered kid’s meals – mac & cheese, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders. As a mom, I can't let this go: the server brought out the girls' chocolate chip cookies (one included with each kid's meal) before their entrees came out. "It'll be a few more minutes on the food," she explained, "so I wanted to bring out something while they wait." Seriously? Who does that? I doubt if this is standard protocol... but in case it is, consider yourselves warned. And I'll let you in on a little secret. I decided to just go with it and allowed the girls to go ahead and eat their cookies before their meals came! (Talk about a walk on the wild side...) Overall, the service at Masterson's was mediocre, the food was tasty, and the atmosphere was amazing.
I thought about enjoying a pedicure at the San Saba Spa, but figured I’d save it for a later visit. The spa offers several massage therapies, body treatments, facials and other services, and several relaxation rooms with sweeping views of Lake Travis also are available.
For those water-craving families with a bit more time (or one or two fewer kids) on their hands, the resort’s adjacent marina is a gold mine. The Lakeway Marina offers boat rents, fishing guides, paddleboard rentals, jet skis, party barges, and more. I was almost tempted to rent a pontoon boat. At $75 an hour, their 24' pontoon with Bimini Top holds 12 passengers, includes fuel, ice, ice chests, life vests, anchors, and docklines, and would’ve been a great way for us to leisurely cruise the lake. Next time!
For a limited time Lakeway Resort & Spa is presenting a money-saving summer offer available only by booking directly on the resort’s website. . Go to www.lakewayresortandspa.com and enter the promotion code HOTTAX to receive a $25 resort credit good toward food & beverage, The Kid Zone, San Saba Spa or retail items in the resort gift shop. Your credit can be applied toward a relaxing treatment at San Saba Spa or toward dining in Masterson’s Steakhouse, poolside dining or in-room dining. One $25 resort credit will be awarded per stay. Hope you enjoy!
