• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
December 20, 2011

A Girlfriend Getaway TO Travaasa Austin, TX

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

Traveling with my favorite girlfriends is something I have really enjoyed doing this year. There is nothing like discovering new destinations and sharing powerful experiences with your bestie by your side.

On my most recent trip, I got to travel with my sister-in-law, Toni and the destination we got to discover together was the experiential hotel and spa, Travaasa in Austin, TX. The name Travaasa is a combination of the words “travel,” “traverse” and pravaasa—Sanskrit for “memorable journey”— and was born out of the idea that people are seeking a unique experience when they travel.Travaasa Austin doesn’t just cater to moms looking to get away from it all for a bit, but it does serve to nurture our need to retreat from every day life. The setting – an over 200-acre nature preserve – helps connect visitors not only with each other, but also with themselves and provides the setting where the visit there isn’t just a trip, but rather an experience.

The aim to bring back the individual experiences to travel is one that is poetically emphasized on the Travaasa Austin website . There you will also find a long list of activities available to visitors at no extra cost, as well vacation packages.

We arrived late on a COLD rainy night (who knew Austin was so cold in December?). After a day of traveling all I wanted to do was sleep. It was pitch black outside and all we could really enjoy was the fresh, crisp air from our second floor balcony and our very comfortable beds…as well as the complimentary cookies and mini pecan pies they left for us in our room!

When we woke up however, the scene was completely different. Toni was in bed in awe

of the views from the balcony across from our beds,

which pretty much set the tone for relaxation. And because we are two moms who were traveling without our kids in tow, we didn’t do what we do everyday starting with hurrying ourselves out of bed. Instead, we did this:

Of course, eventually we did manage to get out of our room and head over to Jean’s Kitchen. Jean’s Kitchen is the resorts restaurant. This would be where we would have all our meals throughout our stay. Because Chef Ben creates his menu daily, we never really knew what we were going to have on any given day and there was always something new to choose from, but also a little favorite thrown in for those who wanted repeats.

I found that it was easy to eat healthy because there were many healthy dishes to choose from, even a vegetarian or vegan would be pleased! And I know many people might think that because Travaasa is a wellness spa resort that the food might lack in sustenance. Not the case. The daily, three-course menu never failed to leave us more than satisfied, both in quantity and quality of the food.

Here are a few items we enjoyed:

The resort caters best to those 16 and up, whether it be teen/parent, couples, girlfriends, groups, or corporate retreats, all of which they have served. And though there is a Zen-like feel to the place, your experience there can be as relaxing or as active as you want.

Some people we met were there for a weekend stay. Some came for a yoga/meditation retreat, others, like Kirby and Lauren, came for a romantic getaway.

Lauren and Kirby, fellow guests at Travaasa Austin, for a romantic weekend getaway and to celebrate Kirby’s birthday.

On our first day we did very little. Toni and I enjoyed a moderate hike on one of the resort’s trails, an 80-minute spa treatment that left us floating on air for hours, a cheese tasting, and some resting while enjoying the sunset over Lake Travis before taking part in the weekly Meet & Great with resort executives and management.

The next day however was our active day, all of which were included in our Total Travaasa stay and are coordinated by the resort. We enjoyed a sunrise hike, and equine experience, a Challenge Course, and a lesson in roping.

Keith Moon and Norris Rumfield, Cowboys and (a title I have given them) Horse Whisperers

There was a lot more we wanted to do, like the Culinary Demonstration, and the Bull Riding, and the Two-Step class, Yoga, Meditation…the list is long, but our stay sadly was not.

In the end, we did walk away from Travaasa Austin with more than just a girlfriend’s getaway. It became more than just a mom’s retreat away from it all. Travaasa Austin delivered in its promise to make it an experience in every thing we did.

When eating, we were made aware and conscious of not only our health goals and focus, but of the locally grown produce and items we enjoyed. We could taste it in the freshness of the food and in the items, such as the pink lady apples in our salads, a fruit native to South Texas.

The staff brought forth that friendly Austin demeanor, which my sister-in-law has often told me about and I definitely noticed.

The activities, such as the challenge course, forced us to confront our fears, doubt, and apprehension and give in completely to trust in ourselves and in others.

The experience was emotionally, physically and spiritually rewarding while really connecting us with the place and the people who best represent Austin’s personality and traditions.

As great as our experience in Travaasa was, there is more to come. Travaasa Austin is expanding to include a farm, a vineyard, and an area where guests can ride horses on a trail.

 The resort is only a few months old, but it is focused and ambitious in its goal to deliver beyond just the destination and to the senses. I am excited to see what they have in store for guests in the near future for I know it can only get better.

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
5 Comments
  • My fears, Jeter the Horse, and I | CarolCain's Blog
    December 20, 2011

    […] the Total Travaasa vacation package. For my complete review of Travaasa Austin, please read my blog A Girlfriend Getaway & Experiantial Retreat – Travaasa Austin, Texas on NYCityMama.com. Thank you to Travaasa Austin, Keith Moon and Norris Rumfield for such a […]

    Reply
  • Kat
    December 20, 2011

    Great story – Travaasa was so much fun and it was fantastic to meet you this weekend!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Kat
      December 20, 2011

      Thanks Kat! It was great meeting you too: ) I hope our paths cross again soon!

      Reply
  • charu
    January 14, 2012

    I LOVE the pictures! And the horses too..One of my favorite trips last year was visiting a Nature Park in Texas, Canyon of the Eagles. It was so idyllic and similar to what you experienced.

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      charu
      January 14, 2012

      Thanks Charu, it was truly idyllic : )

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Kat Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Owning Your Voice
Next Post
20 Lessons from 2011

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America315 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Hubby and I recently went to check out office spac Hubby and I recently went to check out office spaces for our business. We (I) started getting caught up in the perceptions of what other people might think about our business, or rather, how successful or serious it was with us operating it from our home. So, in order to keep up with the Joneses, we went out and searched. And immediately were like, "Nope."

One, it was an additional expense that we were taking on to convince other people of whatever we (I) thought they needed to be convinced of. And two, it felt like....well, like working out of an office, something which I personally haven't done in over a decade (almost two now) and which my husband just escaped from!

And lastly, we like to go out into the communities that our clients serve, but also that we live in, and get to experience it all ourselves. It makes us a great agency.

I share all of this because I am slowly coming to accept that there will always be those who will make a determination of who we are as people, as professionals, as a business simply from what they think they know, not from actuality...and..we (I) am still working on breaking down the toxic traits of corporate / professional influence and narratives.

As once a full-time travel blogger, I experienced first hand what it is to be dismissed and not taken seriously. But, because of my travel blogging work, I have visit over 40 countries (and still counting) and have been published and spoken on stages around the world. That doesn't just happen.

All this to say, as I (we) move away from renting an office in order to be taken more seriously by the corporate world...and save ourselves some money in the process...we are reminded to work on ourselves and on being our own biggest cheerleaders and advocates. Sure, we seek out support and mentorship and always work on learning and refining our skill. But can't pay attention to what others might be thinking. It will never be an accurate portrayal.

And a lesson to never, ever spend more money than we have to just to convince others how serious we are in our commitment to our work. In the meantime, our current office spaces are working out just fine.

#entrepreneur #smallbusiness
A band of misfits on a beautiful Finger Lakes nigh A band of misfits on a beautiful Finger Lakes night.

Life is too short and time too precious, so make sure to spend it with people who bring you joy and make you laugh. Whether it’s one person or more…it’s not the number of people, but the quality and kindness of their hearts that counts.

Here are some of the kind, sweet friendships we’ve been so lucky to have cultivated in our new home. Kisses and hugs @haejones32, @sarahloublagg, @nevetsretlaw, and @jerakahheady.

Till our next gathering! 

#friends #fingerlakeslife #fingerlakes
My happy place: the farmers market. It’s the sea My happy place: the farmers market. It’s the season for all the fresh, local, delicious goodness of the Finger Lakes to take center stage.

The region has a lot more than fried and fast food to offer locals and visitors. The vast amount of organic and locally sourced food is something that is really celebrated here. Even more so the fact that it is accessible and not exclusive to the privileged.

From cider to cheese to meats and veggies…all local, all from a passionate farming community. 

Oh, then, the artisans. *swoon* So much handcrafted beauty. For example, this beautiful hat from @easylivinghats. I have been wanting one of her hats forever and finally got not one but two! And her team, seen here, is so sweet and helped me find the right fit. Support local, shop small, be happy in the process. 📸@ithacafarmersmarket. 

#fingerlakes #myflx #farmersmarket #shoplocal #shopsmall
Hey, wanna come to a cool event in one of the cool Hey, wanna come to a cool event in one of the coolest places I know in Ithaca? (Read on!)

Today I took a stroll into the pavilion of the @ithacafarmersmarket. There was no market today, and though still a lovely space when empty, nothing compares when the market is buzzing with food purveyors and food-lovers! It is exciting and a favorite pastime of ours. Even more fun is when there is a special event happening!

And with that, I want to let you all know about the upcoming @tasteoftheflx taking place on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at the Ithaca Farmers Market and offer you a discount code for your ticket! Use BRAVE20 for $20 off of either ticket tier.

The event will feature 50 + vendors, music in 3 acts, and a full evening of celebration! Taste of the Finger Lakes serves the dual purposes of showcasing the dynamic Finger Lakes food and beverage industry while raising funds for 3 non-profits doing the important work of improving access to healthy food across the region. Local, good food for a good cause...the best combination!

If you already have your ticket or plan to take advantage of this discount code to purchase it, let me know! I hope to see you there!

#fingerlakes #tasteofthefingerlakes #flxfood #flxeats #farmersmarket #ithacany
Cheers and Happy Pride to this beautiful, inspirin Cheers and Happy Pride
to this beautiful, inspiring, proud community full of people that I love so much.

To my LGTBQIA+ family and friends, know I adore you, would fight for, and support you always. You make my life and the world a more beautiful place. I celebrate you today, this month, and always. 

Thank you for being you. 🌈

#pridemonth #loveislove
What a stunning day to be on the lake with my fam. What a stunning day to be on the lake with my fam. We missed spending time with each other and it was time for us to slow down and bond. Even the surly teens eventually gave in to the fun and smiled a few times. Have I told y’all how much I love our new life here?

#lifeintheflx #fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #soflx #thisissoflx #Lakelike #myflx #keukalife #winecountry

Copyright © 2022 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice