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ONE AHHSOME SPA

Four Relaxing And Restorative Days At A Texas Spa

| STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MUNCIE & JODY JAFFE |

magine you had a rich aunt with exquisite taste in fabrics,
antiques and food. And she owned 19 acres on the banks
of an agate green lake. Then imagine a comforting (and el-
Iegant) lake house furnished with deeply cushioned sofas
fronted by stacks of coffee-table books, softly carpeted floors
to muffle sounds, hand-painted floral draperies, fringed lamp-
shades by the pool, padded satin headboards and fluffy com-
forters. Now imagine your aunt hired a French chef who can hit
all your taste buds in under 400 calories.
Got it? Welcome to Lake Austin Spa Resort, a spa that doesn’t
look or taste like a spa, but sure does ahh like a spa.
We spent four relaxing and restorative days at this Texas spa
-- a version of which has been around more than 35 years, though
it wasn’t until the current ownership took over in 1997 that it’s
been a regular on the “best destination spa” lists of “Travel and
Leisure” and “Conde Nast Traveler” magazines.
With just 40 rooms, Lake Austin Spa Resort is a boutique
version of its all-inclusive glass and stone mega-cousins. And
that’s just one of the differences. This is a place to be pampered
and coddled; a place where you come to slow down.
We’ve been to the bigger spas and, while we’re not complain-
ing, the pace can be hectic. First thing in the morning, you rush
to the sign-up sheets to secure a spot in the classes you want
— and often the popular ones are filled or so crammed you can
barely do a leg lift without hitting your neighbor. Then it’s off
to breakfast, followed by a dizzying schedule. If it’s 10 a.m. it
must be Flying Dragon Yoga, followed by Extreme Core Blast,
followed by Aqua Boxing.

66 Wine Dine & Travel 2016