Our Retreat Venues have facilitators. They will lead you on your choice and level of hiking tour with one or more of the many excellent nature preserves or local parks. If you choose a hiking venture with your activities, we will discuss personally with you for level and distances that meet your groups preferences. Explore miles of sculpted paths through woods and hill country with Austin’s Green Belts, scores of nearby area parks with hundreds of acres, miles of hiking trails with creeks, boulders, waterfalls, grottos, rivers with swimming holes and picnic spots! There’s lots of info in “The Concierge Book” in your Suite, or ask your host for more info to fit your group’s preferences. You could spend years without stepping foot on the same path. Beautiful roads for cycling at all levels also.
Austin is known for its love of cycling! Explore miles of sculpted paths through our forests as well as beautiful roads for cycling at all levels. The road that the property is located on is known to many college cyclists teams and was chosen by Lance Armstrong as a training spot before his seven wins! Back in the day he was spotted regularly as the owner was building this unique property. Check-in with our team to arrange 2 touring bike rentals, or get info on easy rentals around town.
Life revolves around bodies of water in the Hill Country! Hundreds of swimming holes w/ beautiful creeks, rivers, and grottos! Check out Hamilton’s Pool or Pedernales Falls, McKinney State Park, Bear Creek, to name just a few. There’s historic Barton Springs Cold Springs in Zilker Park just 7 miles from the property for hot summer days.
Then of course there’s the beautiful newly renovated pool and hot tub area at the Retreat, for guests that just want to relax and not venture out!
For Retreat venues, there is plenty of pool time and groups may schedule for water aerobics with a facilitator or relaxing yoga of your chjoice under the pergola and pool decking areas w/ fans and peaceful surrounding nature.
The Colorado River is great for boating and fishing! Also known as “Lake Austin” in many parts of the city, the few miles up and down the river adjacent to the property are known for this! We have poles for rent (deposit) and fresh worms can be obtained just around the corner at a local convenience store. Teach the kids to fish! Or work for your dinner! 😉
For Retreat Venues, we can offer a guide and fishing on the Colorado!
The usually temperate climate year round and overall casual vibe of the area gives rise to hundreds of excellent gourmet restaurants with outdoor patio seating that allows for space and privacy, with shade trees and ambience. The diversity of the area yields all types of excellent cuisine. BBQ is king, but great steak, Thai, Italian, Sushi, Chinese, Southwest, Tex-Mex, Spanish, French, Southern Soul, Seafood and so much more are not neglected! Curbside pickup or delivery are now usual, and as Westlake is very family oriented, the range for budget is also. Details, menus, more info available in “The Concierge Book” in your Suite! With Retreat venues we can arrange your activities around personal Chefs’ meals and catering, or the restaurants or types of food you’d prefer and make reservations for your group.
Choose one of our “Specialty Picnic Baskets” and head down to the river w/ the owners basket, zip up blanket, chairs, a cooler and sundries for a romantic or group picnic! We use only the freshest items with many homemade, and do our shopping discerningly to bring you a product that you’ll appreciate and remember! Be sure and order “The Deluxe Picnic Basket” a few days ahead for preparation and delivery to your Suite ahead of your arrival! Our Deluxe Picnic Baskets are also excellent for Retreat stays where your group can enjoy at their leisure. Personal Chef catering also available.
Especially fun with any of our 5-7 night retreat venues to take a break from other activities and see the hill country! So many wonderful Day Trips around Austin and Hill Country it takes a book to describe! Schedule a hiking trip with a guide to one of the noteworthy destinations and enjoy nature! Lots of variety: From the wineries, distilleries, breweries, to Salt Lick BBQ, LBJ Library, Zilker Park, Laguna Gloria, great museums such as the Harry Ransom Center, or Bullock, the Capitol, UT campus, or the shops in Johnson City or Fredericksburg! Just discuss with your host and we’ll work out the details for you!
An excellent activity to schedule for a day trip with our retreat venues! Just take the survey and choose your preferences to have it all done for you and a driver or tour vehicle included! We can even arrange a special personal Chef to prepare a nice brunch or early lunch before your departure. Did you know that the Hill Country surrounding Austin, TX is now in the TOP 10 WINE DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD? Too many to count! We have a whole pamphlet on Hill Country Wineries with our 8-10 top favorites for product and quality of scenery outlined in our Concierge Book. Maps are provided and wine glasses in your Suite for purchases that you might bring back to enjoy! For retreats or just regular stays, we can schedule transportation and guide for you! Just let us know!
There’s incredible shopping of all sorts to be had in the area. Everything from local Farmer’s Markets, excellent groceries, to upscale department stores, and even a professional artist’ studio on site with large and small paintings to select from and get “direct pricing!” Take the opportunity to pick out original museum quality artwork to take hjome or have delivered! And then of course there’s the intriguing Congress Avenue shops, the Hill Country Galleria with its outdoor mall connecting the stores, and the Domain or Arboretum. Several Day trips to surrounding Hill Country locations for flea markets and local genre.
If you’re booking a retreat venue and would like to schedule some tennis, we will endeavor to arrange with a local resort or property for you (Fees may be disclosed ahead as appropriate.)
Bring your boat and trailer to our parking spot on the property (launching areas not far), or rent your own in the area. Retreat venues may include boating if you like, with a guide and transportation! We can also recommend several places for kayaks, canoes, waterboards, pontoons, racers, party boats, and even swans, with or without a facilitator! There are also several areas along various rivers for tubing in the hotter months! Or if you’re making it a retreat experience, just add it to the list of activities or send us a note and we’ll schedule for you!
Guests are invited to schedule art workshops for painting / drawing onsite in large professional studio! Small group or couples may book ahead to receive list of supplies to bring. Indoor classes or outdoors if preferred to sketch around the property or areas of hiking and nature nearby! The Studio of Nina Beall, a professional artist who has shown her work internationally and in many galleries and museums, is located on the property, just a short walk from your accommodation! Ask for more info or sign up for a studio visit! It’s great for couples or groups; not just fun, but you’ll go home with a souvenir or present for a loved one. A small canvas and supplies are available for last minute scheduling (fees apply). Create something unique!
Our retreat venue includes many choices for yoga onsite with a facilitator who will guide you through the various moves and work to make your experience/s the perfect fit for your level and interest! Explore our property and find a spot to practice yoga at your own pace or meditate in between your other retreat activities. Enjoy the Hill Country mountain Canyon views, fresh air and connect with nature. Small groups may practice outdoors in the area at pool or the large deck of the guesthouse or indoors there in the open space with AC and instruction.
There are several drive in theaters for nostalgia and fun! Also many outdoor festivals to choose from every year! Or if you’re booking ahead and prefer indoor live performances, you might be able to enjoy a good performance live at The Long Center, Bass Hall, or One World Theatre. Not to mention all the great venues otherwise around town. In the summer Zilker Park Theatre outdoors has several free offerings!
Austin is famous for its many live music festivals! From the internationally acclaimed SXSW to ACL, many Folk festivals, jazz clubs, country western dancing halls, to the more formal seating w/ reservations ahead at Bass Hall, Long Center, Moody Center, Scottish Rite Theatre, Austin Convention Center, and literally hundreds of other great places around town for the famous to the soon to be and talented musicians! Austin is known for its music and entertainment. And it’s all good!
There’s great golf to be had all over Austin! Only 3 miles from the property is the Barton Creek Resort and Golf Club, and they also have tennis. Book ahead for T times! Lots of great terrain with the course. Additionally there are several other excellent Country Clubs (many do not require membership) to enjoy the sport! Tournaments occur year round, and the weather is great for the sport most months of the year!
Running is a favorite past time in Austin and there’s even a F1 in October, and several other marathons year round. But for those that just enjoy the sport in great surroundings, there are hundreds of great tracks and areas, including but not limited to: the Green Belt, Zilker Park with paths all along and around the river, and nearby Hill Country Galleria paths as well as Lakeway park and many others.
Austin and the Hill Country are home to some of the worlds” best and most known Music Festivals! SXSW (South by Southwest) and ACL (Austin City Limits) are both world reknown festivals and folks come from all over the world to particpate, perform, and enjoy all the famous and soon to be famous musicians and artists! It’s truly a city of music. And music of all sorts and genres. If you aren’t familiar with these festivals, just Google! Music Festivals have been a “thing” in the area for many decades. Going back to the 50’s and 60’s and beyond when the Kerrville Folk Festival and various clubs such as Armadillo Headquarters were some of the very first stages for such artists as Peter, Paul, & Mary, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Asleep at the Wheel, the Grateful Dead, Bob Seeger, Willie Nelson, and so many more to get their start! Now, the city’s festivals are a prestigious gig for up and coming artists as well as those that are world re-known and established!
As soon as we are out of the pandemic, these festivals will thrive again along with the usual great music to be found on a daily basis! Book ahead!
Nightlife with all sorts of live performances from music to theatre, street-life with food trailers, clubs, bars, bands, and wagons, are “Austin central!” It’s a thriving whirling array of a variety of all foods, types of music, and people! Most known historically is Austin’s 6th street- however it can be a bit rowdy, and many guests prefer Rainney Street with its jazz bars and other open door music scenes where one can enjoy walking from one to the next with ease and great food along the way! Yes, alcohol may be involved, but there are plenty of taxis, Ubers, and Lyft’s, along with independent drivers readily available to get you to and from the property safely! There’s also the well known comedy club downtown: “Esther’s Follies” which is enjoyed by thousands of guests per year for up to date comedy! Did you know that many comedians got their start in Austin as well? Then don’t forget to check out what’s going on with the University of Texas’ “Cactus Cafe” where many greats have risen and returned to delight their fans! ‘Just on the UT campus. Any questions? Just ask your host for more info. We can recommend to suit your tastes as well as put you in touch with drivers from the neighborhood that will cater to your needs!
