Family | Down Home Traveler

I was recently invited out to the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Bastrop, Texas (just east of Austin). I couldn’t have been more excited as everything I had seen and heard about the resort seemed to be right up my alley – nature, exclusive, beautiful, a ton of outdoor activities and the food was suppose to be fantastic. Well, turns out everything I heard was right and I can’t wait to go back!

Bastrop is an easy 3.5 hour drive from Dallas / Fort Worth. It’s a perfect distance for a family vacation for a week or even just a weekend getaway. Once you’re there, you’ll feel even more removed from the everyday world and just fall into relax/vacation mode (and you won’t want to leave).

Upon arrival, you’ll pull into the drive for the Hyatt Regency. Be careful, you still have three miles to go. That’s right, three miles! The drive will be scenic and you will soon forget where you are, windy, hilly and absolutely gorgeous. Wildflowers and bluebonnets filled the side of the roadway in front of the trees. Every so often, you will see a small pulloff for a scenic view. Take one, or two. The view will capture you, trees as far as you can see, no civilization or seeing the next small town over. Just nature. Be sure to let out a big exhale.

Continue driving. It seems that the three mile drive is just enough time to let all your frustrations, anxiety, stress, anything that is going on in your life go. You have arrived.

(Photo credit: Hyatt Regency Lost Pines)

The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa is breathtakingly beautiful. Photographs really provide no justice at all. I took what seems like hundreds of photos and still I felt like I couldn’t quite capture it all together.

Each of the rooms provide a magnificent view of the grounds whether it be the garden landscape, the Colorado river, the pond and golf course. There is not one sight that won’t make you completely relax.

(Below) This is the main house / lobby from the back of the building. Seriously, how beautiful day / night is this building. I actually had breakfast on the back porch in a rocking chair. My day couldn’t have started much better than that.

I plan on sharing every detail of my trip but I wanted to share a few facts about the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa and give you a glimpse as to what’s to come!

Sits alongside the Colorado River, just outside of Austin on 405 acres of scenic wilderness.
Hosts 491 guest rooms, more than 60,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 230,000 square feet of outdoor function space (including pavilions and an amphitheater).
Amenities include the Wolfgang Golf Club, Spa Django and the Renegade Trailhead (equestrian facility).
McKinney Roughs Nature Park can be found right next door where activities include kayaking, shooting, swimming, birding and 18 miles of hiking trails.

Undoubtedly, a year-round seasonal resort, with a wide variety of dining and entertainment options. There is truly something here for everyone. The only problem you will have is finding time to fit it all in. Stay tuned to see what my adventure at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa entailed!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated but did receive one night’s stay at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in return for this post. All photos and opinions are 100% my own.

On May 9th at 2:55am (Central Time) I woke up to my cell phone ringing and I knew exactly what it was. It was my brother calling to tell me that the time had come. His little baby girl was on her way, he was going to be a daddy and I was going to be Auntie Diana. How do you go to sleep after that?! At 11:54pm (Eastern) yes some 20 hours later, that little healthy girl made her way into this world. Now here I am, I have 56 days to go until I can officially meet the little munchkin however until then it doesn’t mean we can’t get to know one another.

Dear Baby Jolynn,

Happy One Week Birthday my sweet little Munchkin! This is your Auntie Diana. I’m so sorry that I haven’t been there to scoop you up into my arms but I’m 2,000 miles away in Texas. Yes, it’s too far. Rest assured, I will be home soon to visit and I’m going to steal you away and give your mama and daddy a little break and perhaps they will catch up on some sleep!

For being such a little baby you sure gave your mama a hard time! Let me tell you though – you didn’t give her as hard of a time as the other little boy who was born right before you. He gave his mama a good 30+ hours of labor. Bunch of tough babies born on May 9th.

Now darling, you and I are going to have a lot of fun together and you are surrounded by some great people. Some things will have to wait until you are a little older like creemees and fishing but we can do some things right off the bat. We can go for walks along the dirt roads and check out the cows. You will love them! I’m sure Memere (well your great Memere) won’t mind if we take you to see the baby goats in Enosburg. You were blessed to be a Franklin County baby which means dairy farms and county living are in your gene’s. You will love it! I can’t wait to tell you about all of the places that you can see in this life. There’s amazing things out there! What else? It’s never too early to learn how to play Tuck-Tuck. It’s good to know the tricks. Your daddy and I have been playing it all of our lives so it’s only right that the tradition continues! Finally, music. We’ll listen to a lot of music. I should warn you though, we all get a kick out of hearing your daddy sing because he forgets the words sometimes and then just makes them up as he goes along. Silly daddy.

Speaking of your daddy. I hear he’s been doing an great job with you! Did you know he changed all of your diapers in the hospital?! Your mama sure picked a good one! I’m sorry to say that you may not get a date too early in life. Your Memere told me that he was already thinking about cleaning his gun to keep those boys away before you even got home from the hospital.

We are so happy and feel so blessed to have you in our life Jolynn. You are a beautiful little baby. I can’t wait to see you in person!

Love – Auntie Diana