Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resorts & Spa

ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO ENJOY SOME FAMILY FUN

BY MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT

Claire and her husband wanted to do something different for their family vacation this year, but what? When one of the girls in her book club raved about a recent trip at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, she decided that might be the answer.

Tucked away just outside of Austin, they found what Claire could only describe as a family camp combined with a dude ranch — but in a good way.

“Where do I begin?” she said. “The landscape is gorgeous with lots of old-growth trees and little gardens around every turn. There are wildflowers and even a river winding through the property. There are longhorn steers and other resident animals the kids can pet and take photos with. There were so many onsite restaurants listed on their website, but when we got there, we found even more. And everyone we tried was amazing!”

A family favorite was the breakfast buffet, and Claire and her husband even enjoyed a romantic, farm-to table dinner at Stories. “We’d read about Camp Hyatt, but we couldn’t imagine we’d leave our kids while we explored the resort,” she said. “Once we got there and realized the caliber of staff they hire, we didn’t think twice about it. The kids loved it so much they begged to go back. They played games and made crafts and barely noticed we weren’t there.”

The staff really was a stand-out amenity for the family, and that’s saying a lot when you consider all there is to do and see and enjoy at the gorgeous 400-acre resort. “We took a free nighttime nature walk around the property,” Claire said. “The two staff members who led the tour were a wealth of knowledge, and they even had night-vision lenses and black lights for us to use once it got dark. We learned so much about the night critters all around us. Then, we enjoyed a stargazing program with telescopes led by two other staff members who were just as informative.”

Days were packed with activities for every member of the family. “Our suite was spacious, but we were hardly ever there,” Claire said. “The pool area was amazing. We really enjoyed the 1,000-foot lazy river and the older kids liked the waterslide. Our littles had their own kiddie pool and splashing spot, which was nice. And I loved that they’d left huge pecan and oak trees around the pool, so there was ample shade but also spots for sunbathing.” The family ended their day at The Crooked River Water Park with

sweet treats from an on-site ice cream parlor.

The next day, they ventured just outside the Lost Pine gates to Renegade Trailhead where they booked horses for a leisurely trail ride. Then, they enjoyed some friendly family competition in the Renegade archery and tomahawk throwing areas. “There was fishing too, which we’ll put on our list for next time,” Claire said. “We want to check out the kayaking, rafting, and zip lining on our next visit, too.”

By day, there was always a game of basketball, tennis, or pickleball that the kids could jump in on. At night, they enjoyed, horseshoes, ping-pong, and tetherball. “Our middle one is a budding chef and really enjoyed the on-site chef ’s garden,” Claire said. “We took advantage of Camp Hyatt again so I could enjoy a massage at the spa and my husband could play some golf. He was also blown away by the gym. Even by Hyatt standards, it was impressive.”

The family loved that their rooms opened onto a patio with a lawn where the kids could entertain themselves while Mom and Dad got a lazy start to the day. “There were so many things we never even got a chance to do, like the bicycles that are available and free to ride around the property,” Claire said. “Lost Pines is pet friendly, so we’re hoping to let our dog in on the fun in the future.”There will certainly be a “next time,” since Claire and her family have found the perfect spot where everyone can find something they love to do, and the options are endless.

LostPinesResortandSpa.com