Coming of Age at the Horseshoe Bay MarriottA Night Spent in the Lap of LuxuryBy Autumn Rhea CarpenterGrowing up in Marble Falls, Texas, Horseshoe Bay represented a virtual candy land to a high school girl, filled with luxurious summers spent lounging at the club pool, attending extravagant rich kid parties catered to the late 1980s cultural sensitivities, and a well-stocked supply of properly tanned cabana boys. Rumors flew regarding famous, reckless musician sightings and intriguing conversations were shared about the supposed happenings at the resort's private airport. Alas, the Horseshoe Bay of my youth has vanished, to be replaced by a more international, polished feel. Actually, the resort has always been international, attracting guests from around the globe, including Spain, South Africa, England, France, and Mexico. It is no surprise the relaxation Mecca is the new location for the Horseshoe Bay Marriott. A recent visit there with my husband, Chris, proved that the hotel has added a touch of elegance, privilege, and respite to an already cultured and established resort. Upon our arrival, the staff's professionalism was perfection. It was apparent they had been skillfully trained in the art of paying attention to the details, and the check-in process was smooth sailing. We learned about the hotel's layout and geographic relationship to the rest of the resort, were informed about the several amenities offered, and prepared for a night of pampered bliss.
Drenched from the unpredictable Texas weather, we decided to enjoy our lakeside views from our room balcony. We found a local radio station that broadcasted music from the 1920s and slipped into a lullaby about raindrops, cocktails, and a simpler time. See, this was our first overnight trip away from our almost one-year old son. While he frolicked at his grandparent's house, we soaked in the peaceful sanctuary of the Marriott.
Unfazed, we continued to lounge and inhale the beautiful Hill Country scenery. As we adjusted to the darkness, the hotel's generators kicked on and we were back in business. After our restful afternoon, we visited La Bahia for dinner. The upscale, waterfront Mexican restaurant does not serve the standard Tex-Mex fare.
The next morning, my teenage carefree recollections of the resort remain intact, but the Marriott has successfully added new memories, as well as hopes that we will return soon to enjoy our well-deserved overnight escape. To learn more about Horseshoe Bay Resort Texas Hill Country Marriott, please visit: www.horseshoebaymarriott.com or call 866.799.5384. courtesy of Horseshoe Bay Resort Texas Hill Country Marriott. |
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Marriott's first resort hotel in Texas, is located on 6,5000 acres of the Texas Hill Country and is the resort's only full-service hotel. Set amidst the various outdoor attractions, including wineries, gold courses, tennis courts, spas, lakes, rolling hills, and palm trees, the resort resides on the southwest corner of Austin, near Marble Falls. With 349 rooms and 117 suites. The rooms are casually contemporary, with stunning colors and carefully coordinated decorating features.
After settling into our deluxe accommodations, complete with a fabulous view overlooking Lake LBJ, we decided to visit one of the hotel and resort's four swimming pools. We chose the closest one to the hotel, a heated and fiber-optic lit pool, which also included a kid's pool and a hot tub, with poolside bar and grill. The outdoors teemed with children splashing and adults enjoying the lull of a Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately Mother Nature had her own agenda and an hour later, the sky opened and rain crashed down on this Texas oasis. All it took was a loud roll of thunder to convince all pool goers that an indoor activity was a better plan.
And then the electricity went out.
We enjoyed Mexican martinis, coconut shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a 16-ounce rib eye steak. What our young South African server lacked in waiter skills, he made up for in witty banter. Somehow the 1920s music followed us to La Bahia and the rest and relaxation theme continued.
We returned to the Marriott, prepared for a restful night of sleep. The bed provided no less than expected, with an amazingly comfortable, welcoming pillow top layer. Ella Fitzgerald and