‘Tis the season for a weekend getaway. The temperatures are cooler, and chances are you have a day or two of vacation time left on the calendar before the year ends. While Austin is a big draw for Houstonians and has been in the news lately for its astronomic growth and a slew of new celebrity residents, its smaller neighbor to the west, the City of Bee Cave, offers many of the same amenities with a lot less frantic activity. Located just 30 minutes from the State Capital building, Bee Caves is known for its slower pace, beautiful scenic views, and hill country charm.
Things to Do
Explore a unique Texas treasure at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, home to the Westcave Grotto. Enjoy a tour leading you down to the one-room cave room flanked by beautiful ferns and a 40-foot waterfall. The hour-long tour of the grotto is top-rated and books up weeks in advance, so make your reservations early. Although the cave is one of the most popular attractions, a stroll through Uplands, a 45-acre property, will garner scenic views and plenty of opportunities for bird watching.
If hiking, boating, and flying through the air are what you are in the mood for, then book yourself an afternoon at Austin Zipline Adventures. You will experience an adventurous three-hour zipline course adjacent to Lake Travis - it is a one-of-a-kind experience.
No getaway is complete without a spa experience, so plan a morning of pampering at Milk & Honey. The spa, known for its indulgent full-service body treatments and medical aesthetics, has no shortage of ways to treat yourself.
Food & Drink
Arguably one of the best barbeque experiences in this part of Texas (and that is saying a lot) is at Alice’s Restaurant at Treaty Oak Distilling. Enjoy juicy, tender barbecue underneath the shade of a 150-year-old Live Oak tree and savor the flavors of a menu where almost everything is Texas local and made in-house. Visiting the Austin area during a weekend wouldn’t be complete without live music, and Treaty Oak Distilling delivers in spades along with delicious whiskey, gin, and craft cocktails - all made on the property (of course).
The Garden at Ellera offers unique indoor/outdoor seating with a northeastern flair, and if you visit the Hill Country Galleria for some retail therapy, stop into Cafe Blue. Their weekend brunch, in particular, offers a vast selection of eggs Benedict and fantastic French Toast.
Where to Stay
Finding an excellent home base for a weekend getaway is essential, and Royal Sonesta Bee Cave offers a great location and luxury amenities. A pool with hill country views, in-house restaurant, well-appointed rooms, and fitness facility will be at your fingertips during your stay.
Before you get back on the highway, snag yourself some Bee Cave honey and a bottle of Treaty Oak Bourbon Barbecue sauce as mementos of a great weekend away.