Tatom Travels: Lakeway Staycation
As the days of quarantine, social distancing and proceeding with caution continue, many of us have the itch to go somewhere—anywhere!—but we want to do so safely. Hopping on a plane isn’t an option for many right now, but hopping in the car is. A destination that is fun and easy to get to is key. Enter Lakeway, Texas: a scenic spot on Lake Travis that is both peaceful with its Hill Country geography and lively with its many amenities. It’s also our hometown so this would be a staycation right in our own backyard! My girls and I each invited a friend, planned our itinerary, threw a bag in the car and hit the road for an easy 8 minute drive to The Oaks at Lakeway Shopping Center where our fun awaited!
The new La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeway at The Oaks served as our home base. With a chic and modern design and a perfect location that allowed us to easily walk everywhere, this hotel is as cool as it is convenient. We enjoyed a King Suite that was SO spacious! A super comfortable bed, living area with fold out sofa, two huge televisions and bright, fun décor made this a pleasure to call home. My friend Suzanne and I along with my youngest daughter and her friend stayed in the suite while my older daughters and their buddies stayed just down the hall in a standard but plush double queen room. The hotel staff was friendly, fun and accommodating with safety in mind. Masks are required in the lobby and elevators, and superior sanitation practices are in place including cleaning, disinfecting and infectious disease prevention accreditation by the Global Bio-risk Advisory Council. There are also dedicated hygiene and safety leaders at each La Quinta to enforce new sanitation protocols and staff resources. This all brought about great peace of mind as we enjoyed our room, the snack station downstairs and swimming in the pool. Next time I plan to relax by the patio firepit too! Mention my name and book any staycation room (yes standard or suite!) for $99 a night plus tax. You can’t beat that!
The new La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeway. Cool & convenient to everything at The Oaks Shopping Center!
The La Quinta lobby….I wanna be this girl!
After checking in and getting settled, we headed over to Lashes & Nails Spa for some pretty pampering. I enjoyed the Supreme Pedicure which left my feet feeling soft and smooth. A fresh coat of Funny Bunny polish completed my sandal-ready look. The younger girls enjoyed manicures and pedicures, both French and bright and colorful polish. Lashes & Nails Spa also has full service waxing and lash services and they accept walk ins and appointments. Masks required and sanitizer provided.
Fresh pedicures at Lashes & Nails Spa.
We decided to divide and conquer to get ready for dinner. The older girls headed to Kevin Charles Salon for bubble braids, sassy top knots, beachy waves and curls. KC Salon is a full service salon specializing in award-winning color and cut services as well as high end products in a luxurious, relaxing environment. It’s a light, bright and chic salon that will make you feel pampered and relaxed whether you’re in for a blow out or the works. Additional services include hair extensions, makeup, spa mist and wedding services. Our girls left smiling and happy with styles suited to each of their personalities.
Meanwhile I headed over with the littles to Level 12 Salon where they tamed my naturally curly mane and gave the girls some dreamy curls. In addition to their mobile salon which can bring everything right to you (think girls night or wedding party prep), Level 12 stylists are experts in color, Bayalage, and extensions. The staff here is bubbly and in-the-know about current hair trends and styles; it always feels like I’m chatting with my girlfriends when I visit. We loved our sassy waves and curls and always enjoy the wide variety of products and accessories!
Both Kevin Charles Salon and Level 12 Salon are putting forth best safety measures with all staff wearing masks and requiring guests to wear them as well. Strict sanitation practices are also in place.
Fun braids, top knots, beachy waves and curls from Kevin Charles Salon and Level 12 Salon.
By now we were getting hungry and no better spot than Thai Spice to fit the bill! Serving the Lakeway area for more than 20 years, this is a favorite restaurant for my family, especially my youngest and middle daughters who absolutely love their food! We enjoyed hot and sour soup, dumplings, Chicken Pad Thai, Chicken Fried Rice, Sesame Chicken and their signature Sea Bass along with the seasonal Mango Sticky Rice for dessert. Delicious! Thai Spice is diligent in seating tables at a safe and appropriate social distance inside as well as on their patio. All staff wear masks and guests are required to wear masks when they are not seated at their table. Delivery through food service apps and pick up is also available.
The starters were divine at Thai Spice! And from here the meal just kept getting more delicious!
After dinner we headed over to what is easily my girls’ favorite spot in town: High 5. We are so happy this mecca of fun is back up and running and I could not have been more impressed with their attention to safety and detail while making sure each guest had a fun and relaxing experience. We bowled, we gamed and even tried our hand at axe throwing. Talk about blowing off steam…and I even got a bullseye! The new Top Golf Swing Suite upstairs brings golf, zombie dodgeball, quarterback challenge and baseball pitching (to name a few) right inside! Also upstairs: adults only bowling and a full bar. And not to be missed at High 5: Laser Tag, Hologate Virtual Reality and their vast menu of yummy food and snacks…some of which they delivered to our hotel room later that evening. High 5 requires masks in the arcade area and as you make your way from activity to activity. Once you are seated in your designated area you can remove it. Sanitizer is available all around the facility as well as an advanced sanitizing machine that made my hands feel squeaky clean!
We had the BEST time at High 5! Something for everyone!
Back at La Quinta we changed into pajamas and enjoyed quesadillas, pretzels, chips, queso and guacamole from High 5, which is providing food delivery to the hotel, while making TikTok videos, squealing and giggling, slumber party-style. I finally turned the lights out at about 1:00am. Fun day!
The party kept going back at our suite…so fun!
Saturday morning would have been a great time for an Orangetheory Fitness workout! If I hadn’t been in charge of 6 kiddos, I would have definitely signed up for one of their high energy, socially distanced classes. Check the schedule and get your cardio on! It’s always a good time and a fantastic sweat session!
Once the girls woke up we ambled across the street to Vivel Crepes & Coffee for breakfast. This charming café has some of the best food in town. Sweet and savory crepes, salads, paninis, burgers, desserts and so many delicious specialty coffee drinks. We started with turmeric lattes, café americanos and juice. Breakfast was avocado toast with salmon, the Harvest Omelet, Nutella and Apple Pie Crepes. Vivel is implementing socially distanced dining inside as well as plenty of outdoor seating, café-style at tables surrounding the restaurant. All staff are wearing masks and guests are asked to wear masks when they are not seated and eating.
The Nutella Crepe with strawberries and whipped cream at Vivel. A favorite of my girls for sure!
After catching a few rays and a little pool time after breakfast, we grabbed a quick lunch from Raising Cane’s for a courtyard picnic. For the safety of their guests, Cane’s is operating through their drive through window only. Their chicken is delicious and I cannot get enough of their Cane’s sauce, lemonade or sweet tea!
Next up: safe shopping at Tribeca. This trendy and colorful boutique is stocked with fun tee shirts, dresses, jewelry, casual wear and great denim at a fantastic price point. Masks are required, sanitizer is provided, and after trying on clothing, each item is steamed before it’s returned to the sales floor. I chose a beautiful multi-seasonal top with cutoffs for a casual look, and for dressier occasions I can pair it with pants or a skirt. The girls loved selecting camis, jewelry, and cute graphic tees.
We found so many cute things at Tribeca! Definitely drop by this darling boutique!
We wrapped up the day with a little something sweet at Orange Leaf, another favorite spot for my girls. Orange Leaf has typically been a serve yourself operation, but in keeping with safety and sanitation practices, the staff was so helpful in taking our order and making everything for us. We enjoyed our treats as we walked back to the hotel to pack up and head home.
Birthday Cake fro yo at Orange Leaf Lakeway. Yummy!
If you’re looking for a getaway that’s accessible by car and easy to get to, look no further than Lakeway. In addition to all we did right in The Oaks at Lakeway Shopping Center, a boat ride on the water and a sunset drive through the Hill Country are right outside your door. Everything we did was clean, within walking distance and safe. If you make the trip please let me know! I would love to hear about your adventures in my hometown!
The Oaks at Lakeway, 1900 Ranch Road 620 S, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-423-6564
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeway, 1943 Medical Drive, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-263-1300
Lashes & Nails Spa, 2011 Main St., #220, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-377-6041
Kevin Charles Salon, 1510 RM-620 N, Unit 200, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-900-9365
Level 12 Salon, 2009 Main St., Suite 120, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-952-9871
Thai Spice, 2009 Main St., Unit 100, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-263-2221
High 5, 1502 RM-620 N, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-710-2695
Orangetheory Fitness, 1516 Ranch Road 620 S, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-430-1323
Vivel Crepes & Coffee, 2011 Main St., Suite 500, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-953-5334
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, 1600 Ranch Road 620 S, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-263-2955
Tribeca Boutique, 2009 Main St., Unit 150, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-291-2643
Orange Leaf Lakeway, 2011 Main St., Unit B-300, Lakeway, TX 78734, 512-261-5000