Lake Austin Spa High on Service

The path to wellness is a systematic series of individual choices. Choose to eat, choose to attend yoga classes or choose to do nothing at all. At Lake Austin Resort, You have nothing on your schedule, except dinner and your daily spa treatment. Days are filled with lemon water, tea and low-calorie meals. Robes are acceptable in the relaxed atmosphere, even at dinner. Visiting the spa resort is an exhilarating experience you can enjoy alone or with friends.

The concept
The resort is built on a hill overlooking a portion of the Colorado River known as Lake Austin. The main office resembles a country farm house with big windows and distressed furniture. There are several areas to relax, attend lectures or watch cooking seminars. Most areas include waterfront views. Though they are decorated with soothing beige tile, light wood and plush white beds, the rooms are fairly small for Texas standards. They lack a working desk area; the only option for Internet is a common computer in the gift shop. Clearly, you aren’t meant to spend much time in your room. The design of this resort encourages you to get out and utilize the amenities. Canoe on the lake, lounge by the pools, work out at the gym, run around the track, walk through the herb garden and experience treatments at the spa.

The food
All meals are included in the price of admission and will not make your waist line bulge. The open seating restaurant’s menu changes daily and includes calorie counts for each dish. For lunch, I had fresh greens with cherry tomatoes and garlic along with fresh vegetable soup. Dinner consisted of veal cutlets stuffed with pine nuts, spinach, cheese and a side of broccoli. You’ll appreciate reasonably sized portions that are nothing like Houston restaurants. Meals are even more enjoyable when accented with the view of the lake. If you are traveling alone, the friendship table is a great place to make new acquaintances. The restaurant isn’t always open, so keep an eye on your watch to avoid missing dinner.

The LakeHouse Spa
As you make your way to the 25,000-square-foot Lake House Spa, you can see the humble beginnings of the Lake Austin Spa Resort. The former spa buildings are now small offices and the new grand spa has been built on an upper portion of the hill. It’s only minutes up the path to the new facility. As you walk, a simple limestone archway marks the entrance. At this point you begin to relax; your mindset changes with the landscape. Soothing sounds of running water come from fountains on both sides of the path. The comforting sounds of the water encourage spa-goers up the hill, through the rock garden, past the signature lap pool and to the registration desk. The spa has two levels. Lockers, a steam room, whirlpool and sauna (segregated, so bathing suits are optional) are on the first level and the waiting area, known as the Blue Room, is on the top floor. Screened outdoor patios are used for relaxation or treatments. There is also an outdoor treatment area called the Bamboo Room that comes equipped with a private outdoor shower. I enjoyed the Radiant Results Facial that exfoliates the face and neck and included a neck and upper back massage.

This very private resort buzzes in all visitors, and the staff maintains control of who is on the property. It’s like visiting your best friend’s lake house. Voted by Conde Nast magazine as the No. 2 destination spa in America, Texans are very lucky to have it in the Lone Star State.

1705 S. Quinlan Park Road
Austin 78732
1-800-847-5637
www.lakeaustin.com