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Romantic
Getaway: Hyatt Hill Country Resort
This may sound like
a scene on a Hill Country ranch, but it takes place at the Hyatt
Hill Country Resort (9800 Hyatt Resort Dr., 800-233-1234; www.sanantonio.hyatt.com)
northwest of San Antonio. Built at a cost of $100 million, the
500-room, 200-acre complex is the first Hyatt destination resort
in Texas. Like no other Hyatt,
this resort is pure Texas--and with good reason. The resort
is located on the former Rogers-Wiseman Ranch, a 2,700-acre
spread that was family operated for more than a century. Dotted
with majestic live oaks and sprinkled with limestone and stands
of prickly pear cactus, the ranch rolls across the Hill Country,
Texas’s richest vacation region. Formed in less time than
it takes to describe it, the area was shaped 30 million years
ago by a violent 3-1/2-minute earthquake. The convulsion buckled
the land north and west of San Antonio, kicking up strata of
limestone and granite into rugged hills and steep cliffs. The jagged scar
of the event, the Balcones Escarpment, zigzags down the state,
marking the frontier between flat farmland toward the east and
the rugged ranches to the west. Cotton and cornfields are replaced
by hillsides dotted with limestone scrabble, textured by juniper
and majestic live oaks, and tinted year-round with wildflowers.
The resort took these Hill Country features and incorporated
them into the design of the property. The low-rise hotel is
divided into nine wings, with views of the ranch at nearly every
turn. The expansive lobby
has been constructed to resemble a grand ranchhouse, complete
with a wall-sized open fireplace, cowhide chairs, and overstuffed
sofas. The ranch look continues in the guest rooms. “We
wanted to bring out the craftsmanship of the region--stenciling
on the walls, ironwork accessories, and washed-pine finish beds
with tall, carved headboards, footboards, and side rails,”
explains Connie Jackson, project manager for the hotel’s
interior designer. “The colors are drawn from those typically
found in Hill Country landscape—the blue in bluebonnets
and the red of Indian paintbrush, for example.” Details
down to mirrors on the bathroom doors, a common feature in Hill
Country homes, ring true. But relaxation just
begins in the plush guest rooms--it continues outdoors where
couples will find many activities to enjoy year-round. The Hill
Country Golf Club, an 18-hole championship golf course, is one
of the resort’s most popular features. The clubhouse is
home to Antler’s Lodge, a restaurant featuring Southwest
cuisine. Lighter fare is offered at the Cactus Oak Tavern, located
halfway through the course. The Springhouse Cafe provides breakfast,
lunch, and dinner, including buffet selections. Water sports are
a major activity in the Hill Country and at the resort as well.
Grab a tube and jump in the 950-foot long Ramblin’ River
(heated in cooler months) for a leisurely float around the property.
On summer days, enjoy an early morning or late evening float
for the quietest ride. When you’re finished, head to the
adults-only pool and hot tub, complete with a limestone waterfall. Short
and Sweet The resort is located
20 minutes from downtown San Antonio off Loop 1604. Children’s
Program: Nearby Attractions:
SeaWorld of Texas,
the largest in the SeaWorld chain, is a marine park that places
equal emphasis on education and fun. Displays and shows featuring
orcas, dolphins, seals, and otters partner with an enjoyable
water park. SeaWorld of Texas is open seasonally, with a limited
schedule except during summer months. For more information,
call (210) 523-3611. For More Information:
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Lovetripper.com Romantic Travel Guide
You
start your day with a cup of coffee enjoyed in a rocker on a
wide porch. Inside the ranch, some guests sit around an open-hearth
stone fireplace while others take advantage of a lazy morning
and sleep late in washed pine beds beneath quilted comforters.
