So many of you asked me to recap my recent week in Woodstock, VT for you so here I am! Doing just that! I absolutely need to do a visitors guide to Boston as well, as I’m often asked for thoughts on best places to stay and eat, so I promise sometime this spring I will do that as well.

For about 20 years my family had a house in Plymouth, VT which is about 15 minutes from Woodstock. So we would frequent downtown Woodstock ALL the time- my Dad was particularly in love with the town and it’s architecture and specifically the Woodstock Inn. So I love going up there for weekends often, it’s such a happy, friendly, relaxed place with great food, people and things to do. We hope to buy a home there in the near future (one we can also rent out!)

STAY:

As I said, we’ve only stayed at The Woodstock Inn because it has everything. Perfect location, two restaurants, a great spa, amazing access to the Woodstock Athletic Club & Country Club (gym, tennis, indoor pool, cross country skiing, golf etc), a pool in the summer and charming lobby. Highly recommend.

In nearby Barnard is Twin Farms, I DREAM of staying there in one of their treehouses!!! It is UBER luxurious, very expensive and simply perfect (I’m told by my friends who have gone!)

This past trip we rented an Vrbo called Spruce Top– it was amazing, perfectly appointed and I highly recommend for a family trip or perhaps a few couples or girls weekend. I want to go back in the fall!

SHOP:

Woody’s Mercantile– the BEST, cutest home store! A must go- the ladies who run the store are hilarious and lovely!

Farmhouse Pottery– a fun place to visit and watch them make pottery, as well as shop- my most favorite coffee mugs, match strikes and dog bowls are from there!

Unicorn- a silly gift and joke shop that has the FUNNIEST greeting cards, gifts for kids and has been an institution since I was little.

Elevation Clothing– Awesome selection of outdoor clothing for men and women.

Echo Market– such a “Vermont-y” shop of clean beauty essentials and wellness focused items.

F. H. Gillingham & Sons– an old school general store- grab wine, syrup, a sweatshirt, a cutting board…. anything!

B.F. Southgate– my sneaky favorite antiques shop up there- last time I scored some seriously awesome art.

Simon Pearce– The obvious glassware, but you can snag seconds and also watch them blow glass! See below too, as it’s a great place to dine!

VISIT:

Billings Farm & Rockefeller Estate– Such a lovely spot in the fall and summer- and there are horse drawn sleigh rides in the winter. The Marsh Rockefeller park and grounds are amazing for hiking and checking out gorgeous buildings.

Quechee Gorge- Kind of a quick stop/ drive by but quite a stunning natural wonder!

Saskadena Six– A super charming small skiing area close to Woodstock- we loved our two days here as the kids are learning but there were still runs I had a lot of fun doing! And good food and drinks by the firepit.

Killington & Pico– Larger mountains for the more serious skiiers. Killington has a great tubing park too!

DINE & DRINK:

Au Comptoir– the CUTEST, COOLEST BAR IN THE WORLD. Go, but be prepared to wait to get in as it’s teeny tiny but so worth it! Sit outside by the firepits in the meantime.

Ransom Tavern– At the Kendron Valley Inn, a wood fired pizza spot with a great bar and locals vibe. We loved it!

Oakes & Evelyn- We had to cancel our reservation here because of a snowstorm but all the locals raved. Apparently also has a great breakfast.

Red Rooster– At the Woodstock Inn- not mind blowing food, but decent and good for big groups and chilling in the lobby by the fire after.

Mont Vert Cafe– great in town coffee and sandwich shop. Always packed.

The Farmer and the Bell– OMG- the DONUTS here. They may be a top 5 favorite food now. I cannot even explain, just GO. The branding and design is also just ADORABLE.

Sante– we had an amazing lunch here- also a great wine bar!

Simon Pearce– Try to snag one of the tables overlooking the waterfall- great food, great views, plus shopping. And now a separate bar too!

Worthy Kitchen– Have not been, but hear raves reviews.

Hope this is helpful!!!!

I started saving things I think will be good for this tour- which is going to be more on the casual side, but I try not to wear jeans to any of my signings and treat it like the event it is. This isn’t everyday stuff, after all. October and early November the temps will range from possibly rather chilly in the Northeast to still warm down south so I need layers and options. Also I get real “anxious-sweaty” during signings, so short sleeves or sleeveless is preferred. :) Here are some things I have my eye on- especially the coral suede set (ordering now) and the Veronica Beard vest-suit situation (two of my signing stops are at VB stores-yay!). Let the ordering commence!

• not clickable- the brown button down which is HERE.

This time was a little different. We used the same playbook essentially to slightly different results – I think partially because taking TWO kids of different ages and interests (and therefore different agendas) is very different than just one child, and also we are just different people with more stress in a very chaotic, scary world. So while it was a good trip with great parts, I’m not sure we will return to Disney anytime soon. As anyone who has been knows it is A LOT. Of everything.

I reached out last minute for help planning as it got too overwhelming for me and a longtime follower and friend of a friend Gina George (IG @yourgeniegina). I got SO MANY recommendations from you guys that I was also overwhelmed by that alone! There are tons of great planners, but Gina knows about our family from being a longtime follower and was so helpful- buying our park tickets, recommending types of “extras”, rides for each kid, booking our Lightning Lanes early morning and was available during the trip for questions. The one thing I will say is that if you are planning to stay at a Disney World Resort pick your planner first and let them book you as they get paid from those bookings and therefore most do not charge you to do your planning. If you book on your own / use miles to book, some planners will charge you for services as they don’t get their Disney commission. Still worth it, but just a heads up.

Speaking of, we stayed at the Four Seasons our first trip and I could not have raved more about it. And I still think it’s the best way to go if you are hoping for a little adult time/ vacation too as it is not crowded, not overly “Disney” and has great service, amazing pools/ kids clubs, spa and restaurants (including a Michelin star one). It is a relief to go back to a serene, theme free hotel after a day at the parks and not be assaulted by more Disney stuff! Our kids rushed to get back so they could have pool time there. They also do a great character breakfast that is so much nicer than those at the parks.

That said, there are some down sides to the Four Seasons. It is SO expensive. Like, the amount we paid for two regular rooms grosses me out. They did not connect, which was a pain in the ass. Also, if you stay at a Disney World Resort you get to buy your Lightning Lane passes 7 days prior to your visit, and for the Four Seasons it’s 3 days out. This means if you choose the option where you pre-book ride times, those times probably won’t be ideal and they may sell out prior your three day window (we had to change our planned day for Magic Kingdom because of this). Not a huge deal, but worth noting. If you are going to Disney to DO DISNEY- it may be better to embrace the chaos and stay at The Grand Floridian or Polynesian (both still pretty darn expensive BTW) for this reason and also the ability to easily get to and from the parks on the monorail or boat. From the Four Seasons you have to take a Lyft or MinnieVan, which can add more to the cost and is not as convenient. Also, your dining options are limited without taking another Lyft to Disney Springs or another resort, so we ate every night at the same place which got monotonous.

OK, onto the parks. First things first- no matter how old your kid is RENT A STROLLER. Not only to hold all your crap but no matter how old, they will start complaining about walking. DO not ignore this advice even if your kids is years out of using a stroller (Gina coordinated ours to be dropped off and picked up from the hotel). Secondly, I could not get over the ticket prices- essentially $800 a day for a family of four PER PARK without any “fast pass” upgrades. Eye watering.

Our first day we did Epcot because that is where the Frozen stuff is and Emma was laser focused on meeting Anna and Elsa. Also they had a princess lunch where she could meet a bunch of the princesses in one swoop and it was easier to book than the Magic Kingdom one (I missed the window on that). Epcot is HUMUNGOUS, I had forgotten, and a ton of walking for the kids with not many rides. We did the Lightning Lane regular passes for this so we pre-booked three rides but our times were really late in the day (5pm +) which sucked with tired little kids. I also spent half the day on my phone trying to re-book ride times and that was a bit stressful. Frozen Ever After and Guardians of the Galaxy (Andrew and Henry’s favorite ride of the entire trip at all three parks) had hour long waits and we did get to skip those long waits, which was worth it. The countries were fun to walk through though, and it was all and all enjoyable but a LONG, very hot day!

Second day was Magic Kingdom. A lot of you messaged me to do VIP tours and I looked into it and WHAT IN THE CARTOON HELL!? I was quoted between $750-$900 an hour with a 7-8 hour minimum? How are y’all affording this??? :) LOL. I opted for the still expensive but FAR less so option of Premiere Lightning Lane (which means you do not have to pre-select ride times you just get to use the Lightning Lane at every single ride). This was SO, SO worth it. Transparently, it was an extra $1,500 for the day which is insane, I know, but compared to the VIP Tour, a fraction of the cost with the same perks and no stranger tagging along with you all day (that I assume you also need to tip). If you can, this is an amazing option that saved us hours at the park waiting (except to meet characters- those do not have Lightning Lanes!).

Our last day we did Universal which was all for Harry Potter for Henry (and me, lets be honest). This was by far our most disappointing day. I paid for the Express Lane only to find out once I got there it did not apply to all rides, namely the ONE ride we wanted to do the most, Hagrid’s Motorbike- and that wait was 80-120 minutes ALL DAY, so we had to skip it as Emma couldn’t ride it and the wait would have been too long. Lesson learned- read the fine print. The Express Lanes were not super fast (they are half the posted wait times). They also split Harry Potter into two parts of the park so you have to buy tickets for BOTH parks for the day which feels like a scam. Diagon Alley was pretty amazing as was riding the Hogwarts Express, so that was great- but finding food for the kids felt like a real hassle (felt marketed to adults way more than kids) and doing both parks in one day was WAY too much. Also, most of the rides were for kids much bigger than Emma. I would advise you do Hollywood Studios instead if you have kids under 8-9. This park felt more Las Vegas than Disney.

One things that I noticed this time that I did not when I was a kid or even the last time we took Henry- every damn ride makes you exit through some kind of gift shop which causes so many arguments with the kids who want ALL THE THINGS! Can we not just have gift shops sprinkled throughout the park and not at the end of every ride? My lord, read the room- parents are tired and broke already!

OK, I feel like I just did a lot of cathartic complaining, but I will say- it really IS so special to see your kids believe in make believe and get caught up in their sense of wonder and amazement. I absolutely loved seeing their little faces light up (even Henry at 9) when Mickey or Minnie came by or they got to ride on a super fast rollercoaster (Emma was a real bad ass with no fear- she only cried because she got wet on Splash Mountain/ Tiana’s Adventure). But I am truly in a stupor over how much this cost, even if we didn’t do the fancier options, and how many people do it day in and day out. You can go to Europe for far less. Mind blowing.

And don’t get me started on Disney Adults- I just don’t understand it and I don’t think I could even with a detailed explanation. Emma and I were standing behind an adult couple on their honeymoon waiting to meet Anna and Elsa for an hour and then talking to them like they were real people and getting all teary eyed… I locked eyes with Anna like “WTF?” but those character actresses are pros, my goodness :)

Best Things I Wore/ Brought:

Lightweight sunglasses.

Quilted fanny pack/ cross body

The most comfortable sneakers ever for all day walking. TRUST.

Tennis dresses (this one has built in shorts you can pull partly down to pee without disrobing completely!)

I put this sunscreen on under my makeup and did not get burned once any of the days! Amazed.

The best cushioned no show socks.

My all-time favorite sunscreen (use on the kids too).

I did not pack this, but as soon as I got home I took a long soak with my fave epsom salts.

Our trip to London to see Taylor was so great – perfect weather (every day was low 70’s-60’s and sunny!?), incredible hotel and great meals and sightseeing. I wish we had more time but it just means we need to go back, with the kids next time.

There were SO many recommended hotels to stay at in London it was hard to choose, but I wanted a classic English experience and knew Claridges would give that to me. And boy did it. The staff and service was amazing, the design perfectly British and our room- woah. Initially we had a balcony room overlooking some loud construction so we politely asked if there was any other room available. Not only did they get us a new room but it was an incredible upgrade (go look at all the rooms on their site, it’s so fun). 10/10 recommend.

We had a very fun, super delicious (and star studded) dinner at Gymkhana, ate at a couple cafes outside which were so lovely for lunch and then another dinner at Scott’s (lovely outdoor seating, but unfortunately surrounded by cigar smoking men, which kinda ruined it for me).

We did the V&A museum (so cool), Tower of London (sadly missed the Crown jewels because the line was insane), visited Kensington Palace and Diana’s memorial and walked around some shopping areas- sadly I did not make it to the design district- spent too much time at Liberty of London picking out an outfit for Emma I guess :)

And Taylor was- well, Taylor. I can’t say much more than it’s a life affirming experience to go to the Eras tour- especially in this modern time. Her work ethic, talent and love for her fans is so inspiring. And everything feels so happy and positive and kind when you are there. Worth the trip. I saved my pics to a Highlight on my Instagram!

Of course I was so endlessly inspired by the design, architecture, history and way everything feels more “special” in England – from getting a cup of coffee to a cab ride. After pouring through some British design magazines on the way home I decided my whole life needs to be more English :) Here’s a room design I pulled together inspired by my trip – a mix of very traditional and modern pieces swathed in a calm blush paint (Setting Plaster from Farrow & Ball, of course).

Links for : chair // coffee table // painting // sofa

If you follow me on IG you saw that my best friend from college and I spent a long weekend away at The Claremont in Southwest Harbor, Maine and had an absolutely incredible time. A few of you asked for a full review on my stay and so today I’m happy to point out my favorite things, a couple notes and some really pretty pictures in case you missed them (and no, this is not sponsored, I paid for everything).

I’ve been wanting to go to The Claremont since I first saw a picture of the pool on someone’s instagram. The pink umbrellas and the pavers with grass between them just looked SO charming. And I am happy to report, it was even BETTER than I had hoped.

Here’s that famous pool patio (it’s realistic turf between the stones) and the incredible view of the harbor.

In typical Maine fashion, there is a wraparound porch that is the perfect spot for coffee, a cocktail or playing a game.

Speaking of cocktails, Harry’s Bar is the perfect cozy spot for a drink- so charming.

I realized after leaving I took almost NO shots of the interiors, which were adorably and perfectly done by Keeler & Co.- it feels like your staying at someone’s old family estate in the least stuffy way possible.

The main restaurant, Little Fern, was delicious- breakfast especially, and not hideously expensive. I loved the old farm table with the topiaries and the caned chairs.

The wood paneling on the walls mixed with the glam bar and fixtures was such a great touch.

These little lamps on the bar made it feel extra cozy.

I mean, can you EVEN with this view? Even though we got 2 sunny days, it was kind of nice have one rainy day here it’s so perfectly appointed. We played shuffleboard in the game room, Scrabble at the bar, got facials at the spa (the one let down- I’d skip the spa if you go), worked out in the little barn gym…. it was pretty lovely.

Down on the dock is another restaurant, more casual, called Fish Camp – we grabbed some drinks here and lunch as well.

Also on site is a tiny little bakery for coffee or a quick egg sandwich to go on your way to to venture to shopping or a hike.

The Fitness Cottage – well stocked, but really only big enough for 2-3 people MAX and does not have central air conditioning, so take note :)

I have a friend whose family has a house on Little Cranberry Island a 15 minute boat ride from The Claremont. There is a great restaurant called The Dock there that you can take water taxis to get to- worth the trip on a gorgeous night like we had! But book the taxi EARLY- they fill up fast and it’s the only way to get back unless you have a friend with a boat (speaking of, how flipping CUTE was this boat complete with doodles?)

It was SO picturesque and perfect- I think I am a Maine person now.

Our last day (we took the 5pm Cape Air flight from Bar Harbour to Logan- 1.5 hours and better than the 5 hour drive)- my bestie INSISTED we do this hike in Acadia National Park called Precipice. A couple people seemed shocked we were doing it when we told them, and when I looked it up the internet was telling me it was really hard and really scary. Being both athletic gals, we decided to do it anyways.

It was both REALLY scary and really hard- basically rock climbing without harnesses. Absolutely not for anyone under 16, anyone even the tiniest bit scared of heights or not in decent shape. I’ve heard beehive is hard and gives you a taste of this while being a little bit less scary? Anyways, there are a ton of trails, and it’s a gorgeous park.

I actually had so much fun on this trip I spent most of the time taking it in, and not taking pictures. Forgot to take a pic of my room and a lot of the interiors but you can see images on their site. Cute, small, but well appointed. You don’t spend a lot of time in your room anyways. I’m already planning a trip back next summer in one of the two bedroom cabins and bringing the kids (although not a super kid focused place- they did seem welcome)

Here’s a few items to help you get that cozy, lived in, traditional with a twist look found at the hotel – click images for links except the wall sconce, which can be found HERE:

After trying to use “fashion” backpacks for our  little day trips I figured out what I needed was a REAL backpack. I love this Patagonia one! The perfect amount of pockets and a stretchy zip cord to strap on a wet towel or discarded kid jackets!

I was also so intrigued to try these On sneakers after seeing them on so many runners! I really like them- they are really lightweight and cushioned but you can really feel the road, and were comfy from the first wear- not a single sore spot or blister!

I’m always on Henry to wear a hat- not only to protect from the sun but also any ticks in the woods from getting in his hair! He looks l;ike a straight up teen in this one.

Also, this set from Beyond Yoga is my favorite for ALL workouts- from running to weights, yoga and biking. It’s so soft, the perfect level of compression/support without being suffocating and comes in a bunch of colors! Also the ride of the leggings slight crop of the top make it so it’s not like, FULL ab exposure- just a hint :)

Here are some other faves from Backcountry for myself  and the kids- I find the most important thing when doing outdoor activities with kids are waterproof and comfy footwear, backpacks so they can learn to carry their own stuff and hats for sun protection and glare.  And I have found a new favorite swimwear brand thanks to Backcountry- Maaji– this bikini below is PERFECTION- it reverses to a cute floral print too so it’s like two  suits in one! I ordered a second suit from them too and love it just as much!

Click images for links and use the code ELEMENTSOFSTYLE15 at checkout for 15% your first order (exclusions apply).

*This post was sponsored by Backcountry, All selections and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that keep EOS going!

A few of you asked me to review my stay at the Ritz Carlton Reserve Dorado, so since I have nothing else top of mind to blog about, here it goes!  (Disclaimer: This was NOT sponsored or comped in any way) We picked this destination for a couple reasons: direct flights, US location and I had a bunch of Amex points saved up I could pay for it with. Granted, our direct flight down was cancelled a month ago and turned into a stop at LaGuardia, but alas- we had no travel delays or issues which was amazing. I had been to Puerto Rico once as a pre-teen but have not been back since. I had heard great things about this place from people I know, so it all seemed like a win. And it was, mostly.

First off, the property is incredible- it’s massive, and so amazingly manicured.  The amenities are amazing, the views incredible and the staff all very friendly and eager to assist. The weather was spotty- more rain than normal, but it didn’t matter really- we got enough sun and the clouds kept things cooler (plus I no longer want to fry myself in the sun anyways). This place is very family oriented, which was a little surprising to us (i.e. a lot of kids at the pool). When you go away without your kids you kind of hope for not so many kids at a fancy resort. That said, good to know for any future trips (although at the prices we paid, not sure I’d be down booking two rooms)

Our room was awesome- really large with a great balcony overlooking the water and lawn.

These doors opened all the way up so it felt very indoors/outdoors but still private.

Having morning coffee on this daybed was a delight.

The bathroom was BONKERS. An outdoor a shower and a tub the size of a small pool.

The spa was a major highlight- it is STUNNING. Jaw-dropping/overwhelmingly so, in fact.

I had a body scrub and massage- that table outside was where the scrub happened and comically I laid down and immediately it started pouring. Couldn’t help but laugh. Andrew also got a massage and we both came out and announced it was the best massage we’ve ever had. The perfect blend of relaxing and therapeutic.

The outdoor showers by the locker rooms.

The locker room.

The tree outside the spa that is apparently famous for being the backdrop to Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s proposal? We chose NOT to drink each other’s blood here though. ;)

The restaurants were hit or miss. We thought overall the food was so-so (neither bad nor great), except for Coa, which we went to our last night (the most formal of the restaurants) and had a really incredible dinner. The views were all great from all the restaurants though, and the waitstaff really good.

This is the view from the patio at Coa- where you also eat breakfast in the morning- really stunning.

We worked out in their two amazing gyms- one over by the Dorado Beach golf club and one across from our room. We tried to play tennis but it was booked (I asked if I needed to book a court ahead of time when planning and was told no- but then we got there and all our court times were not available, which was frustrating). I also took a long walk around the property and found this great flat walking beach.

And stumbled upon their beachside spot Barlovento for drinks later that day where there are kite boards and watercraft for rent- this area is REALLY windy, so only experts need apply here. :)

The rainbow from our room- it was so amazing it didn’t look real- one bonus for rainy weather.

My faborite time of day- 5pm with the sun going down, a good book and glass of rose.

Dinner our last night- we finally got a great sunset! (My dress is Reformation, but sold out with a  waitlist)

I will share this though- we had a major issue with the people staying below us. The second of three nights we were woken up by loud music and kids screaming playing in the pool (the rooms on the lower level have small private pools).  This went on until almost 2 am, and we called the front desk 3-4 times about it (apparently they went over twice and the people were “not nice about it” and didn’t want to listen).  The next day the manager apologized and said they had talked to the people again and sent a bottle of wine to the room.  We were nervous it was going to happen again, so we inquired about being moved but they didn’t move us.  Sadly, the next night we were woken up again, this time by a woman screaming bloody murder- it was a little scary. She was screaming that she “wanted her kids and to go home” and then a man was screaming back at her tons of profanity and there were a bunch of people outside their room running away- I got scared because I knew there were kids down there, and Andrew was on the balcony in his underwear yelling down at them and I felt like I was in Myrtle Beach on drunken spring break.  This is NOT what I expected to happen at a resort of this caliber that cost honestly, more than we’ve ever paid for a hotel room in our lives.  Management sent security over, they broke it up pretty quickly, and the next day apologized, sent another bottle of wine to dinner and waived the daily resort fee for our stay (about $450).  Understandably, they don’t have control over who stays at the hotel or how they behave (for the most part). So I assume this was a once in a blue moon occurrence, and I would consider going back due to all the other good things we experienced.  But to be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it as a “romantic couples // relaxing zen” spot though. It’s more for families or group trips, I think- but the price is a bit high for that for most people so *shoulder shrug*? Just want to be honest here!

It was so nice to get away and really relax (I only checked my email ONCE), but it was so nice to come home to the kids yesterday.  Here’t to hoping for a vaccine for the little ones to come out soon so we feel more comfortable flying with Emma.

Of note before I start this review- I paid entirely for this trip it was NOT sponsored. :)

Once a year my best friend from college and I try to take a long weekend trip- ideally to a spa/ wellness resort. She’s a very busy (brag alert: Emmy award winning) news anchor  who also has two kids and so we relish these few days off to take a breather from work/life and just have fun and relax. We’ve always been of the same temperament (not big on partying/ staying out late) so we are perfect travel partners. After seeing images of the Lake Austin Spa online I suggested we go there- and boy was it a good choice!

The lake is so calming and beautiful. I really loved the grounds and the vibe here- upscale but not intimidatingly so.

The rooms are like little cottages- if I go back, I;d ask for one down closer to the spa overlooking the lake instead of the driveway.

But they are so charming!

The only bummer was that the main pool, overlooking the lake, was closed for renovations. There were other lounge area to sit in the sun at, but this was a disappointment. It will be gorgeous when it’s done though.

My room was adorable- I immediately recognized some fabrics and was impressed with the quality.  This rug should have been bigger though :)

How darling is this wallpapered closet?

The cafe curtains, woven woods and desk area millwork were all adorable and so well done.

More wallpaper in the bathroom!

This was the living room in the main building- so gorgeously layered- it really felt like someone’s (incredible) home. Designer Brianna Wright did a fantastic job with the interiors!

This was called the Treehouse Room- and it was empty! It’s just a gathering spot on the second floor of the main building overlooking the lake. I loved the art and the mix of patterns and fabrics.

The Blue Room at the spa BLEW. MY. DAMN. MIND.  Everything in here was just amazing- the blue trim and stained ceiling with the wood paneled walls? The huge pewter chandelier. All the amazing DRAPES! I just loved this space. I got a massage and facial and both were good- the massage quite good, the facial more relaxing than I think DID anything for my skin but that seems to be how spa facials go.

The chandy! OMG.

Down off the pool by the lake is a little free-standing building that Is a library space and that was also mind-blowingly adorable! The pattern mixing is top notch.

Loved the variety of furniture styles and materials.

I packed ALL wrong- way too many fancy items, could have taken half what I did. Everyone is mostly in workout clothes, pool wear or straight up bathrobes all day- even to lunch! We did dress up a bit though (this skirt is old (similar), top is actually a workout top., sunglasses)

The only other bummer was that they do not have mixed drinks. Only wine and beer and a couple canned hard drinks.  Was REALLY jonesing for a margarita when I arrived, but you know I love wine so I got over it. Also wine with this view (and some cheese your bestie) is always great anyways.

The food is included in the room rate and it is SO good- really- healthy but not TOO healthy, and great options. Everything we had was delicious!

When not sunning,w roking out or spa-ing, we spent a lot of time like this :)

They have TONS of fitness classes- from yoga to boxing, bootcamps, hiking…you name it! We did kickboxing, a cardio/ weights class, a yoga class on the dock (heaven) and took out paddle boards and kayaks. I love a vacation with a mix of activity and rest. I wish we had one more day there and would have done the 5 mile hike!

I feel very uncomfy posting myself in a bikini but a lot of people asked about this suit on IG- sold out in white but here is top and bottom in other colors). Erika’s is Solid & Striped

We took a water taxi (I.e. speedboat) down the lake into the city of Austin for dinner one night- HIGHLY recommend. (The dress I’m wearing is Erika’s because I hated everything I had- it’s Poupette St Barth and old but this is the same one in another color)

This really is the perfect escape for a girls weekend (lots more groups of women than men, FYI).  The staff was wonderful, every need met (minus the margarita) and I will certainly be returning! In the meantime, some items to bring the look of this spectacular little slice of heaven into your own home.