Hits the Road: Austin's Lakeway Resort and Spa...and Chuy's Tex Mex

Located on Lake Travis in far west Austin, you’ll find the peaceful and beautiful Lakeway Resort and Spa. This AAA Four Diamond resort features 168 rooms and lots of great amenities. Visitors can enjoy the San Saba Spa, a 24-hour Fitness Center, four championship golf courses, onsite food and beverages, and a lakeside marina. Lakeway's location ensures plenty of water-based activities and scenic views! Michael and I recently spent a relaxing weekend at Lakeway Resort and Spa…where we took time to unwind, enjoy some tasty food, and hang out at the resort’s expansive pool complex. A relaxing getaway for two was just what we needed after a hectic and stressful Summer. We arrived on a Friday evening after dark – and we knew we were outside of the city when we saw a couple of deer hanging out by the resort’s entrance! We quickly checked in and made our way to our beautiful room. The Queen size bed was decorated with towel swans, and some soothing music was playing on our room’s clock radio.

We quickly settled in for the evening – the bed was super comfy, and the we really appreciated the complimentary WiFi. The next morning, we woke up and enjoyed coffee from the convenient, complimentary in-room beverage bar. We enjoyed a leisurely morning wearing our complimentary in-room robes and trying out some of the upgraded spa toiletries -- enjoying our room's view of Lake Travis below. 

Mid morning, we walked up the path from Lakeway's main building for brunch at Masterson’s – the resort’s onsite restaurant. They offer a fabulous buffet breakfast/brunch on weekends that includes made-to-order omelets and a variety of hot and cold food. We started with fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits, then Michael ordered a custom omelet. I opted for some fluffy scrambled eggs topped with cheese and house-made salsa. We paired our eggs with bacon, sausage, and home fries from the buffet. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with picturesque views of the resort grounds. To finish our hearty brunch, we opted for customized oatmeal and more fresh fruit. This filling brunch stayed with us all day! 

After brunch, we took some time to walk around the property and snap a few more pictures. Then, we spent the rest of the afternoon napping in our room and enjoying a pre-dinner dip in the pool! Lakeway Resort and Spa's large pool area features a kid-friendly Family Pool and Kid Zone, complete with a water slide. They also offer an adults-only area with a three-tier pool and hot tub. The area features plenty of chaise lounges with umbrellas, a swim-up bar, and a snack bar. I really like that they offer both options to meet the needs of all their guests! Near the resort's main entrance, a handy chalkboard tells about some of the events being offered that day -- along with a weather forecast.

Before we knew it, it was time to go grab some delicious Tex Mex food at Chuy’s original location in Austin. Chuy’s has several locations in Texas, but we had never been to the original location -- which opened in 1982. Chuy’s is known for their large portions of delicious Tex Mex food and eclectic, funky décor. Like all Chuy's locations, the original locations features lots of fun décor -- including an Elvis Shrine!

We arrived and were quickly shown to our table. We visited during their annual Green Chile Fest, so many of the menu items we tried featured this delicious chile pepper! We started our visit with a duo of cocktails. I had the fruity Blackberry Margarita, while Michael opted for the Texas Martini -- a tangy martini/margarita hybrid. We paired our cocktails with an amazing Appetizer Plate that offered chile con queso, nachos, deluxe quesadilla with fajita chicken, chicken flautas, guacamole, and sour cream.

It was a perfect way to sample several of Chuy's appetizers -- we especially liked the quesadillas and the queso. We shared three different entrees that were recommended to us by our friendly server. We tried the signature Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken, Spicy Frito Enchiladas, and a famous "Big as Yo Face" Burrito. All three entrees were expertly prepared, with the perfect amount of spice. The Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken featured a meaty chicken breast crusted in potato chips and topped with green chile sauce and cheddar. It was crunchy, spicy, and downright good!

The Spicy Frito Enchiladas were indeed spicy, but the crunchy fritos on top gave each bite an earthy taste. This was so good that I want to try to recreate this recipe at home! The burrito was indeed huge -- and filled with beans and meat. It was easily enough for two people to share -- or one hungry Texan! We were feeling quite full by then, but we decided we had thismuchroom to share a slice of house-made tres leche cake. It was very good – not overly sweet and perfect for sharing. We were so stuffed by the time we finished our dessert that we almost had to roll ourselves back to our car!

We made the drive back to Lakeway in time to fall into bed and fall straight to sleep! We decided to sleep in on a lazy Sunday morning, checking out around noon and heading back to San Antonio. Before leaving, we took a tour of the San Saba Spa, which includes a tranquil sitting room with spa water and healthy snacks that can be used by all guests -- not just those having spa treatments. We bid adieu to Lakeway Resort and Spa, vowing to return and enjoy a nighttime cruise on Lake Travis next time. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two or a weekend of family fun, Lakeway is a perfect choice. Lakeway is offering some amazing specials this holiday season...the longer you stay, the more you receive! Reserve online to receive the following amenities:

• Stay 1 night to receive: 20% OFF BAR
• Stay 2 nights to receive: 20% OFF BAR and breakfast for two
• Stay 3 nights to receive 20% OFF BAR, breakfast for two, valet parking, and one US $20 Resort Credit
• Stay 4 nights to receive 20% OFF BAR, breakfast for two, valet parking, one US $20 Resort Credit, and a bottle of red wine

Terms & Conditions:

For stays through December 31, 2014.  Black-Out Dates apply. Must be 21 years and up.  US $30 breakfast credit included per room, per night for 2, 3, and 4-night stays only.  Promotion can only be booked through our website. Deposit of One Night Room, Tax, and US $25 Resort Fee at time of booking. Require 72 hours cancellation prior to arrival to receive refund; forfeiture of deposit if cancelled inside 72 hours. Rates vary depending on room type selected. Rates quoted are per room, per night, double occupancy & do not include tax and daily resort fee. Displayed rates reflect discount. Promotion cannot be combined with any specials, limited time offers, and packages. A limited number of rooms may be available at these rates. Not valid for meeting, group, and wedding bookings. Not valid on condo reservations.

Disclosure: Lakeway Resort and Spa hosted for a two-night stay and breakfast at their resort to facilitate this article. Chuy's provided us with a menu tasting as well. All opinions expressed are my own. All photographs are copyrighted by Michael K. Garcia. They may not be copied or otherwise used without prior consent.

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