They say that membership has its privileges, and getaways don’t get much more exclusive than whiling away the days in a luxe private resort. But now you don’t have to be one of the fortunate few to have access to the Hill Country’s sumptuous Horseshoe Bay Resort; all of its first-class amenities are available to guests of a new, on-site 349-room Marriott hotel.
For the kiddos: Marriott’s Monarch Kids Club is a full-service recreational program for ages 4 to 12. Full-day, half-day and evening sessions might include arts-and-crafts, games, nature walks, swimming and scavenger hunts in a fun, supervised atmosphere that averages one safety-certified counselor for every eight kids. In-room childcare for toddlers can also be arranged through the concierge.
For tweens and teens: Let the games begin at the on-site activity center, where vacationers of all ages can test their skills at foosball, table tennis and other hands-on diversions. Guests looking for a more high-energy pursuit can make a racket at a tennis complex comprising a full dozen courts, including pro grass surfaces, hard courts and six fully lit clay courses.
For moms and dads: Three championship golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. allow different strokes for different folks, but it may be the resort’s Whitewater Putting Course, touted as the most expensive putting course in the country, that really sets Horseshoe Bay apart. Tropical landscaping, waterfalls and an exotic menagerie that includes live parrots and flamingos surround the 18-hole, par-72 putting course. Dramatic course lighting ensures that golfers can still have a ball long after the sun goes down. After perfecting their putts, guests can work out the kinks at the elegant Bayside Spa & Fitness center, where services range from Black Baltic Body Mud baths to warm stone therapy massages. Gentlemen and ladies’ lounges are outfitted with eucalyptus-scented steam rooms, and the outdoor whirlpool tub provides a relaxing view of Lake LBJ.
For the whole family: Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit. The resort offers a private white-sand beach and an array of options for taking a dip, including the heated hotel pool, the lakeside Yacht Club pool and the two-tiered Cap Rock Pool, as well as hot tubs, cabana bars and a baby pool.
If you prefer the wide-open expanses of a bigger watering hole, boat and personal watercraft rentals are available at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina for excursions on the 21-mile-long Lake LBJ, the largest, constant-level lake in Texas and part of the seven-body chain known as the Highland Lakes.
Did we forget to mention? Horseshoe Bay is located less than an hour’s drive northwest of Austin and about an hour and a half north of San Antonio. Richie Rich, take note: The resort offers a full-service private jet center with 6,000-foot runway, if that’s how you roll.
