Holiday in Town

Lake Travis Bed & Breakfast (Photo By Romina Derra)

Lake Travis Bed & Breakfast

When Judy and Vic Dwyer decided to relocate to Austin in 1991, their hearts were set on owning a small piece of property along Lake Travis where they could relax and enjoy the Austin sunsets. But when they saw the view from the remarkable cliffside home that would become the Lake Travis Bed & Breakfast, they decided, quite impulsively, that it was home.

For the next two years, they remodeled and refurbished the seven-level, 6,500-square-foot stone home, which was built in the late 1970s, turning it into a bed & breakfast that we feel confident saying is unlike any other in Austin. The house features three bedrooms and a third-floor suite; each room includes a private deck overlooking the lake, private bathroom with bathtub, cable TV, coffeemaker, and refrigerator. The Eagle's Nest Suite has a 180-degree, 50-mile panoramic view of the lake, and the Heart's Delight Suite includes a three-sided glass fireplace, private entrance, three-deck private patio, a fully equipped kitchen, and a luxurious heart-shaped tub for two.

What really sets the Lake Travis B&B apart, however, is the attention its two affable full-time innkeepers give to details that others might overlook. "People say those little details aren't really important, but I think detail is really everything. It's what everybody always remembers," Judy Dwyer says. Those details include: flowers and a welcome basket on arrival; plush terrycloth bathrobes; turndown service after dinner with a flower and chocolates; suggestions about nearby attractions and restaurants; and homemade breakfast in bed whenever you request it.

The rooms all feature king-sized beds with down comforters, and every room has sliding doors looking out onto the lake, where the view of the sunset is nothing short of spectacular.

In the summer months, guests can swim in the outdoor pool or snorkel off the shore of Lake Travis, which is a dizzying walk down 130 steps from the house's main deck. (Sailboats, motorboats, and Jet Skis are also available.) There's also a steam sauna, massage therapist, fitness deck, and hot tub. The Slaughter-Leftwich winery is within easy walking distance of the inn. Inside, the house has a pool table, game room, library, and theatre with a six-foot-screen TV and video library.

This resort is adults-only, and there's a two-night minimum stay. But trust us -- one night won't seem like long enough.

$150-210