Tag Archives: Attractions

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, Bastrop, TX

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.

Texas Sized Rocker

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Look at me up in that giant chair!!!! Yep, what you’re seeing is exactly right. I’m sitting in the World’s Largest Rocking Chair in Lipan, Texas. See, things really are bigger down here! During my Saturday perusing, this was another destination that I wanted to check out and you definitely can’t miss it! I mean, if you miss seeing this giant chair on the side of the road, you really shouldn’t be driving at all! Let me tell you a little more…

This giant rocking chair can be found off Highway 281 (near I-20) just west of Fort Worth at the Texas Hill Country Furniture & Mercantile. It’s in the country so if you’re looking for a little country drive, this is the place to go! As soon as I walked into the store, to be honest I wished I was rich so I could fill my imaginary house with all of these items. Classic, Texas furniture made literally right behind the store. The furniture is BEAUTIFUL and they can make you anything you would like, custom-made just for you. Check out a few of my favorite items!

This bathtub. Check this out – wooden bathtub and it’s absolute perfection. Pay attention to the details – do you see the legs?! Yes – this would most definitely be in my home and it could be in yours too for $8,000.

Now, kitchen tables! There were two kitchen tables that I loved (who am I kidding, I loved every piece in the store). The table above had a built in lazy susan in the middle however my favorite part is the “legs”. It’s actually a tree trunk. Makes my hippie heart melt!

As you can see, it doesn’t matter what part of the house you need furnished, you will find something here. It’s not all about furniture though, they have every detail you would need for your home. I even found a couple things for mine!

I actually bought the cow on the top right. She is beautiful! The one on the left was a favorite too but, well I only have so much room in my apartment at the moment!

Hangers, antler chandelier (I definitely want one of these someday) and the kitchenware was beautiful. They even had some hand painted pieces.

From Top, L-R.

1. Rocking Stools – Who wouldn’t want a rocking stool?! Let’s not kid ourselves here!

2. I now have an itch to make a Texas themed quilt. I know, I said I was never going to make one again but as mama always said “Never say never”.

3. For the love of windmills! Yes, please!

4. Crosses. Turquoise. Need I say more?

5. I thought of my dad when I saw this. He took me to prom in an old Model T like the one in the picture only I didn’t have a cowboy next to me on his horse.

6. Need a hanger for your bathroom (or anywhere in your house)? You’ll find one here!

7. Can we get anymore creative with this lamp?!

8. I’m in love with the wallet in front. It’s seriously beautiful. Can I say I want? Did I just say want, I meant need. My half birthday was on February 15th … just saying. haha!

9. Milk stools. I seriously contemplated buying this for my short self and for my nine month old niece. It’d make getting into those cupboards and shelves so much easier, for both of us!

Outside, you will find what looks like 50 rocking chairs. They are gorgeous!

(Below) These two items really caught my eye as well!

Back to the World’s Largest Rockin’ Chair.

The chair actually made the Guinness Book of World Records on September 20, 2003.

Measurements:

25 ft 10.5 inches tall

12 ft 7.375 inches wide

5,672 pounds

Made to scale.

I’m not even kidding when I say getting into this chair was the hardest / scariest part. Have I mentioned a fear of heights? So how it works, just so you know, is that there are logs/bars (kind of like the ones you see under my feet) on the side just like a normal sized rocking chair. You basically have to climb up, wrap your arms around them and pull yourself up. Then once on the seat, crawl or if you’re brave enough stand up and scoot over to the edge.

Honestly, if you have a chance to swing by, definitely do! The people here are so incredibly nice (I mean, they came out and took a picture of me IN the chair) and the furniture is gorgeous! Give yourself plenty of time to check out the scenery in the area, the store and if that’s not enough, there’s a smokehouse to eat right next door (more on that tomorrow)! I definitely plan on stopping back in at some point. There’s so many beautiful items and who doesn’t need a good rocking chair for their porch? I’ve been thinking about it ever since I left.

Fort Worth Stockshow Rodeo

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Ranches, windmills and the country are probably some of my favorite things that I love about Texas. I may have mentioned once or twice that I like the rodeo. Ok – I’ve probably mentioned it at least 100 times and I LOVE the rodeo. I love everything about the rodeo, the cute kids dressed up in their boots, pearl snaps and cowboy hats, the rodeo clowns, the smell of the arena and the cowboys are nice to look at too. In all seriousness, I think it comes down to taking what’s done on the ranch and putting it all into a competition. There’s something about the atmosphere that I can’t quite put my finger on. It just feel like home. All day, everyday – I could do it! Competitors and spectators alike come from near and far to attend this event. It’s an absolute must to watch!

The rodeo for the annual Fort Worth Stockshow and Rodeo is held at the Will Rogers Coliseum. If you plan on attending, I would suggest getting your tickets well in advance. I tell myself this every year however I procrastinate and then you end up attending at Saturday morning 10am show.

I’ll try to break this all down for ya and include some video.

Event: Bronc Riding

This event was originally based on how to break a horse. Typically, a rider will try not to get thrown off. It shows the horses bucking ability and strength.

Event: Barrel Racing

This is one event I would love to do. Actually, I think I would try all of them at least one. Anywho – barrel racing is where the rider has to race and maneuver her horse around three barrels in the arena in a clover leaf pattern. Knock a barrel down and you’re penalized. The quickest time wins.

Event: Double Mugging & Ranch Vet

I’m not a fan of either of these. Each time, I can just feel myself running with fear, choking and having my limbs pulled apart like the calves/yearlings. (They don’t really have their limbs pulled apart, they get up and go after.) It’s all part of ranch life, you just won’t see me doing these unless I have to (you know, once I marry my cowboy and live my life on a ranch… dreaming). It should be pretty obvious that these events are meant to represent sorting, doctoring and branding these young animals.

I like to always hope that they get away. A few of them do. You’ll see a grin on my face.

Event: Bull Riding

This is my favorite. Just like in the movie or the bar (depending where you are), get on and hold on for 8 seconds boys! Some of these bulls are pretty angry. I mean, you would be too if you had a rope tied around your you-know-what.

During each rodeo, there’s usually entertainment in between each event. My favorite is mutton bustin’ which involves the little kids riding sheep. It’s pretty darn cute. During this rodeo, they had a few different one.

Wagon races. These guys cruise. I would think it’d be pretty fun to spin around the corners on these wagons!

Have you heard of Whiplash?
That’s right! What you’re seeing is a Cowboy Monkey, on a dog, herding sheep!

Then there was Will Rogers himself, well not really but he sure could handle his lasso! On his horse, around him, jumping in and out, while standing and riding his horse. Pretty impressive.

It’s really hard to include everything in this event into one post. If you’d like to see more videos of the FWSSR, head on over to my YouTube page – there’s plenty! I know a few of you live out there on the ranches and do this full time so if something isn’t explained exactly quite right, leave me a comment or send me an email and I’ll update. If that’s the case, also feel free to invite me out to ranch one weekend as well for some first hand experience – I would love it and be forever grateful! 🙂