Bright white linens, king-sized beds, tiny shampoo bottles, friendly greetings around every corner – I love everything about hotels. But rarely do I spend much time in them and never have I resisted the urge to go go go to instead enjoy everything a hotel has to offer. Spending a weekend at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort was a first for me in many ways.
Leaving Austin around 1pm, we arrived at the resort around 3pm on Saturday. The gentlemen at the front desk walked us through a map of the property and, knowing we were eager to sneak in some exercise before dinner, directed us towards a hiking trail around an abandoned hill-top golf course. After checking into our spacious {and very cozy} suite, we immediately hit the trail. We welcomed the fresh air, scenery {ponds, wildlife, greenery, and cliffs galore}, and steep, steep hills. Our thighs were a burnin’! And we loved every minute of it.
It was also the best way to work up an appetite for a happy hour that quickly turned into a full-force dinner. We started with deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, and a couple of margaritas. The deviled eggs du jour were avocado lime – a combination that felt appropriate for a Texas patio with a margarita in hand. I’d never thought of using lime in lieu of vinegar in deviled eggs, but I enjoyed it so much that I plan on making a copycat version in the FoodFash kitchen. And the fried green tomatoes came with a crisp cornbread exterior and corn salsa that, again, felt appropriate for the surrounding southwestern scene.
And because our eyes were much, much larger than our stomachs, we ordered ribs with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and an unpictured steak with brussels sprouts. In addition to delicious food, I appreciated the details: cast iron skillets, wood blocks as plates, sauces in jars. Even though we were sitting at a simple patio table, everything about our meal felt special.
Part of the specialness was due in part to the band that was playing in the background. Jorge and Nicole Band really set the mood with their Latin inspired sounds. I can’t recall if I’ve ever heard an acoustic bass guitar live, but I really enjoyed the depth it added to their set. I have no doubt that we continued to eat well past the point of full in order to soak up all the patio had to offer.
One of the most magical moments of our stay was the walk back to the room during sunset. Because the property is generously decorated with landscape features, what could have been an ordinary walk turned into a leisurely stroll with sights to be seen.
The next morning, I woke up early and headed to Pure Sol Spa for a massage in their salt cave. Floor to ceiling, the room was covered in pink salt. I read my fair share of salt cave articles and, after months of “cedar fever” and mold allergies, I was so excited to breathe in the salt-rich air. For those having trouble wrapping their head around this concept, think about how saline rinses are recommended by doctors for relieving cold and allergy symptoms. I spent the entire 50 minutes focusing on deep breathing and left feeling more relaxed than usual.
After the massage, I headed straight to the restaurant for a big ol’ breakfast. It was a cool, cloudy morning, so the patio wasn’t in the cards. But the inside of the restaurant was surrounded by floor to ceiling windows which allowed me to take in the views without the chill. And once again, there were more details to be noticed: copper S&P shakers, thick-rimmed bubble glassware, adorable succulents. As far as the meal, I ordered my favorite egg and coffee combo with all the vacation sides. I was really impressed with how perfectly everything was prepared. More often than not, I wind up eating breakfast at home because it’s so rare to find fully cooked egg whites, extra crispy bacon, and good toast.
After breakfast, I swooped up my sleepy guest and we headed a mile down the road to Stricker Trail Rides for some horseback riding. What started out as a foggy morning turned into a beautiful, sunshiny day. And I spent the next hour and a half atop my new horse buddy, Spirit, who liked to keep her distance from the rest of the group {perhaps she knew I needed some good photos}. Taking advantage of the horse’s height and familiarity of the trail, I loved being able to see {I’m short!} and focus on sights I’d ordinarily miss while watching my step.
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After a busy holiday season, starting a new job in January, and knowing what’s in store with an upcoming SXSW, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. It’s so easy to get caught up in everything Austin has in the works, this trip was a well-timed reminder to make time to connect with nature and enjoy the multitude of adventures Texas has to offer. In just over 24 hours, we were able to accomplish enough to constitute a fun-filled weekend, but also catch up on some much needed rest. And I discovered a newfound love of destination hotels.
The folks at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort did an excellent job planning our itinerary and I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to understand our needs. If you’re looking for additional ways to spend a weekend at Tapatio, they’ve highlighted a variety of itineraries here.
Disclosure: Although Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort kindly hosted us, the opinions in this post are completely my own and based on my experience.
What a beautiful place! I might have to make a side trip next time I’m in Austin.