The moment we realized that the longest conversation we’d experienced all week was how to juggle the kids’ schedules, my husband and I knew we had to do something just for us. Rather than continue to the let the frenzy of parenting sweep us along, we booked a couples getaway package at the Inn at Dos Brisas (979/277-7750, dosbrisas.com) and hoped that three days away would be exactly what we needed to reconnect.
Day One
Nestled in a secluded country escape near the tiny town of Chappell Hill, the Inn at Dos Brisas is about halfway between Austin and Houston and miles from reality. Inside the welcoming gates are acres of rolling countryside dotted with red clay-roofed haciendas and rows of dark oak plank fences that are reminiscent of the bluegrass fields of Kentucky and the elegant culture of Andalusia. A welcome cocktail of lavender -infused champagne and a consultation with the concierge about activities included in the weekend package helped us to reset our focus on relaxing.
Step one in the recharge process was settling into our room. Way more than a typical hotel room, guest lodging at the ranch is a stand-alone Spanish Colonial Hacienda for each couple. The ultra-private 3,000-square-foot retreat features oak-lined cathedral ceilings and French oak floors complemented by antique furnishings and overstuffed chairs. The rooms certainly had the wow factor, but it was the amenities that held us giddy. While I’d set my heart set on plunging into the oversized tub and trying the menu of bath salts, my husband had his eye on exploring the property with the golf cart included with the room. We decided to do both after enjoying a welcome snack in the fully stocked wet bar.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of our first farm activity – a romantic carriage ride and tour of the ranch that ended with our arrival at the onsite restaurant, the only Forbes Five Star restaurant in Texas. With an emphasis on farm-to-table cuisine, every detail of the seven-course tasting menu was perfectly orchestrated and featured organic produce grown right on the ranch. Just as delicious was the chance to linger over dinner and indulge in uninterrupted conversation late into the night.
Day Two
With no little ones to sound an early wake-up call, we gave in to the temptation to sleep late. A Continental breakfast was waiting for us to sample in the coolness of the screened patio before the day’s activities began in earnest. The ranch offers mountain biking, fishing and golf, but we chose activities that we couldn’t easily do at home. Skeet shooting was first on the docket, followed by a one-hour horseback ride through the sprawling Texas Hill country.
After the rigors of the morning activities, I wished that I’d booked an in-room spa treatment, but instead we walked off the stiffness with a tour through the heirloom rose gardens and then cooled off with a swim in the private plunge pool at the hacienda.
Dinner, though no less delicious, was a more intimate affair on the second evening with a four-course meal served by the gentle glow of the fire in the hacienda. The seclusion of the ranch made for a brilliant tapestry of stars in the night sky, which was easily viewed from our patio. At our request, the concierge arranged to have a telescope delivered so we could end the second night stargazing.
Day Three
By the third day, we had the drill down: sleep late, dwell over breakfast and decide how to spend the last few hours of kid-free relaxation. Before we left the ranch we wanted to tap into the culinary secrets of the five-star chefs with a cooking class. Following our interests, the chef took us out to greenhouse and gardens to choose fresh ingredients and then offered instruction on how to prepare the harvest. After cooking class, the Inn sommelier presented a one-hour wine tasting class along with a discussion of wine and food pairings. The chocolate and cheese tasting tray was the perfect way to end the three days in paradise. Reflecting on the weekend as we polished off the last few bites of artisanal chocolate, we were thrilled to know we could still hold an adult conversation and enjoy each other, and equally thrilled to get back to the little hugs and kisses waiting at home.
Published October 2013
