Liney Moon, Treaty Oak, and Sunset Tears
Sometimes you just need to get away, am I right? So when Caroline from The Liney Moon invited me to come stay the night at her darling Hill Country retreat, I picked a date, packed a bag and headed out.
Located in Dripping Springs, The Liney Moon is made up of a large main house called Stellar House, 13 rustic-modern-quirky cottages and the simple yet chic Moon Chapel which was designed after a Swiss chapel and definitely stands out in the wedding capital of Texas. The entire property was created with brides and grooms and their families in mind; this is a place where everyone can stay and enjoy the big day. It’s also perfect for girls weekends, corporate retreats and family reunions, or just me: looking for some peace and quiet and a little slice of doing nothing for a bit. Jackpot.
Stellar House is just that...stellar. Room for 24, wide open spaces inside and out, fun décor and a fantastic pool. Yeah, I could get used to this.
I stayed in Stellar House which sleeps up to 24 people and is filled with charming, funky touches. Caroline and her husband Stephen have created something really special and unique. Full sized cubby bunk beds, industrial chic light fixtures and the lyrics to Sweet Caroline are just a few of the fun little tidbits scattered throughout the house. Grab unlimited Hot Tamales and fake moustaches from the -house candy machines and stay a while. So fun! There is ample room for everyone to spread out and relax inside, and outdoors the wide open spaces continue. An outdoor kitchen and bar, comfortable patio with extended entertainment lawn and way cool swimming pool make it the perfect retreat.
Quirky and cute touches abound, making your stay at the Liney Moon so good! so good! so good!
There is a saying at Liney Moon that captures all of it’s warmth and comfort while doing away with stuffiness and pretense: “Room service? Nope. The time of your life? You bet!” In other words make sure to pack your cooler. I hit the grocery store on my way in to grab all the necessities for an afternoon charcuterie tray (raise your hand if you think this should be a food group!) along with plenty of wine and champs. I spent the afternoon lounging, nibbling, sipping and living completely responsibility free. Sigh. And you know what? All that R&R made me hungry again. Time to think about dinner.
Dripping Springs is full of many treasures in the way of shops, restaurants and experiences. Treaty Oak Distilling is definitely one of those. Located just a few miles down the road from Liney Moon, you can take a tour of the facility and learn the process behind making their spirits which include Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon, Waterloo Antique Gin And Red Handed Rye Whiskey just to name a few out of the lineup. Or you can drop in to Ghost Hill, the on site restaurant, and enjoy said spirits in one of their craft cocktails along with some of their delicious food. That sounded like the perfect plan for me. I invited Mr. Smells Amazing (see blog post from July 14) to join me for dinner which started with the perfect mojito. Literally superb. Then we opted to try their delicious smoked brisket, sausage, ribs and turkey with a smattering of yummy side dishes: pickled veggies, potato salad, the most delicious macaroni and cheese and the pickles of my dreams. Not kidding y’all: I would drive back for the pickles alone. Treaty Oak is an awesome place to bring the kids too: plenty of room for them to roam and play and a delightful selection of shareable snacks. And their friendly staff is the cherry on top. Such a fun place to hang, eat and enjoy.
It was all phenomenal. But I've been dreaming about the mac & cheese and pickles since I got back. Dang, y'all!
The road back to Liney was the perfect way to catch my favorite time of day. There are sunsets and then there are sunsets in the Texas Hill Country. God shows off in the most spectacular way. Maybe it was the vibrant pink and orange colors, maybe it was the mojito, maybe it was Mr. Smells Amazing...but this particular sunset brought me to tears. Y’all know by now a good little cry is something I just do sometimes but nothing like a wide open sky and riding shotgun in a truck with a cute boy after eating the best pickles ever to give you a little peace and perspective. And bring on some tears of joy and gratitude. These are the moments, am I right? Sigh.
Drivers Seat Style on the sunset drive, pre-cry.
My visit to Liney Moon was right in the middle of a streak of 100-degree Texas summer days so a moonlight swim in the pool was just what the doctor ordered. Then I snuggled up in one of those grown up cubby bunk beds I mentioned before and drifted off to dream. (Shout out Travis Tritt and 90’s country). I woke up the next day with the sun, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and recharged for real life.
I woke up like this. Swoon.
There are different levels of vacation and relaxation. Sometimes you fly far away for days and days to unplug. But sometimes the perfect getaway is right in your own back yard. My little jaunt to The Liney Moon is proof that sometimes a trip isn’t about quantity (I wasn’t even there for 24 hours) but quality (the time I did have was just for me, full of peace, love and pickles). I can’t wait to go back with my girls (both my daughters and my friends) and soak up more of this treasured spot.
The Liney Moon is located at 5401 W Fitzhugh Rd in Dripping Springs. Give them a call at (512) 954-8534 to book a tour or make your reservations. Check out Treaty Oak Distilling at 16604 Fitzhugh Rd, also in Dripping Springs. Give them a shout at (512) 599-0335 for tour times and more information.