
Guests are free to do as much or as little as they want during their stay -- they literally have something for everyone. All Travaasa guests enjoy access to:
- Casual gourmet meals at Jean’s Kitchen
- The Spa at Travaasa Austin
- Agave Fitness Center and a yoga facility
- Pool, whirlpool hot tub, sundeck and sauna
- On-property stables
- The Prickly Pear Challenge Course
Travaasa also offers guests activities centered on five different "experiences":
- Adventure: Travaasa® Austin celebrates the outdoors with stables, hiking trails, a challenge course, geocaching, equine experiences, archery lessons and more.
- Culinary: Travaasa® Austin’s culinary team provides hands-on programs that include boutique chef’s dinners, nutrition and tasting series, and courses on culinary skills and techniques.
- Culture: Travaasa® Austin immerses guests in the local culture of Texas, Austin and Hill Country. Guests participate in programs that enhance creativity, educate about local ecology, showcase area artists, and provide an opportunity for storytelling and fireside chats.
- Fitness: Travaasa® Austin promotes strengthening of the body while having fun. Classes focus on balance, posture, core work and flexibility. This includes yoga, Zumba, Barre and simplified fitness.
- Spa/Wellness: The Spa at Travaasa® Austin offers massages, healing rituals, body treatments and personalized services. They use only organic, bioenergetic products. The Spa also offers meditation and breath work courses.

Bottom line: Travaasa Austin offers its guests lots of little touches to make their stay extra special: stunning natural vistas, complimentary flavored spa water in the Welcome Center...and even a working mechanical bull in the fitness center! Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway for two, a spa weekend with the girls, or even some peaceful solitude for one -- Travaasa is the perfect location for it!
We so enjoyed our peaceful getaway, but we had a party to attend before heading back to San Antonio! Texas Monthly magazine was hosting its 4th annual Texas Monthly BBQ Fest in Downtown Austin, so we headed over to check it out. Texans take their BBQ seriously, and this is one place to try the "best of the best" for one price. Every few years, the magazine has a special edition naming the Top 50 BBQ Joints in the state of Texas -- and therefore, the entire world. Being named to this list is a prestigious honor for the state's multitude of BBQ Joints. To take part in this fest, a BBQ joint has to be on this highly-coveted list. We joined a few hundred other BBQ lovers and headed out to sample as much smoked brisket, ribs, and sausage as we could in one Texas afternoon. We had a chance to visit a few of our favorites, including Black's BBQ in Lockhart. As you can see, lines can get quite long for some of the most popular BBQ joints! It passes quickly, though...Texans seem to have a natural gift for gab, and we LOVE talk about BBQ!!

Austin's Franklin BBQ was named #1 BBQ in Texas for this edition of the Texas Monthly list. Aaron Franklin's namesake is hugely popular, with 2-hour waits in line everyday. We knew this would be our best chance to finally see what the buzz was about. The line of Franklin devotees at the BBQ Fest was long -- as you can see -- but the payoff was definitely worth it! The brisket is smoky, fall-apart tender...succulent is a pretty good description. We can't wait to visit Franklin's this Spring and do a feature article on them!
We also had a great time visiting booths and sampling BBQ from joints we hadn't heard of...discovering new places to try for upcoming weekend road trips. A couple we're especially looking forward to visiting in the months ahead include la Barbecue in Austin and Pecan Lodge in Dallas. After spending the afternoon stuffing ourselves full of the best BBQ Texas has to offer, we slowly walked back to our car. Along the way, we debated who had the best brisket...whose sausage was good without being too greasy...etc. We agreed that this was one heck of an overnight visit to Austin. The Texas Monthly BBQ Fest is a very popular annual event, and tickets sell out quickly. Keep an eye on their website...tickets go on sale in October, and the event is in November.
Disclosure: We received a complimentary overnight stay at Travaasa Austin, as well as complimentary media passes to the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival. We received no further compensation, and all opinions are my own. All photographs are copyright Michael K. Garcia and may not be copied or otherwise used without permission.
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