Though temperatures typically rise to consistent triple digits in the summer, Austinites stay active all year-round in the dry heat. The Butler Hike and Bike Trail is always bustling with joggers and cyclists juxtaposed with the kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders on peaceful Lady Bird Lake. Locals flock to the mineral-rich refuge of Barton Springs Pool or travel just outside of town to swim in the beautiful Hamilton Pool Preserve, tube the Guadalupe or Comal rivers, or party-hop from boat to boat on Lake Travis.
Of course, all the sun, surf and cocktails are bound to take a toll on your summer glow. Luckily, there is also no shortage of luxurious spas to detox, recharge and revitalize the mind and body. We’ve rounded up the five best spots in town for a last bit of relaxation before summer officially ends.
September Monthly Retreat at Hiatus Spa + Retreat
Step into the appropriately named Hiatus Spa + Retreat and you will feel worlds away from worries and obligations. Candles cast soft light against the stone walls of the treatment rooms, and touches such as soft Turkish towels (peshtemals) and a copper shirodhara vessel make the space truly special. End the summer on a sweet note with the September Firefly special, which starts with a full-body dry brush massage to get your skin as radiant as it was in the beginning of summer. You’ll be covered with a masala chai mask to awaken your senses and tighten your skin, all the while enjoying a hot oil scalp massage. After a hot rinse under an invigorating Vichy shower, you’ll be glowing like a firefly on a warm Texas night.
Citrus Sea Salt Glow at The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Relaxation comes naturally in the lounge of Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, which reflects the colors of the land and sky just beyond the flowing white curtains. Begin your escape with a visit to the eucalyptus-infused steam room before making your way down the sunlit, zebrawood hallway to the treatment rooms overlooking Lady Bird Lake. Book the Citrus Sea Salt Glow, a scrub using lemon and lime oils, herbal extracts, and sea salt. Once your skin is smoother and more hydrated than it’s been all summer, quench your thirst with some fruit-infused water and enjoy one of the spa’s divine housemade energy bars.
Reawaken at Away Spa by W Austin
Located in the heart of the live music capital’s nightlife headquarters and nestled right next to the Austin City Limits Moody Theater, it’s no surprise the locker room at W Austin’s Away Spa plays the best music. Detox and recharge after a night on the town with a session in the steam room, followed by the spa’s Reawaken treatment. A 75-minute massage releases toxins and boosts endorphins, followed by a cold stone facial massage to improve circulation, leaving skin revitalized and luminous. Afterward, kick back in the sleek, lamplit sitting area, which is stocked with treats such as French macarons and marcona almonds. Soon, you might just find yourself at the pool on the hotel’s WET Deck, champagne in hand and ready to do it all over again.
Balinese Spirit Ritual at Spa Réveil at The Domain
When shopping at the surrounding Domain isn’t proving to be quite therapeutic enough, slip away to Spa Réveil. Begin with a steam session in the tiled Turkish-style hammam, then choose from one of the spa’s signature rituals, which draw from ancient tradition from both Eastern and Western hemispheres. The Balinese Spirit Ritual begins with a lemongrass exfoliating polish, which repairs and nourishes the skin with antioxidant vitamins. After a warm Vichy rinse, enjoy a lemongrass bath in the hydrotherapy suite, followed by a Swedish full-body and scalp massage. Afterward, draw the curtains and complete your relaxation in the whitewashed sanctuary lounge.
Back-to-School Package at Viva Day Spa on Lamar
Though the summer is coming to an end, there is still Viva Day Spa’s Back-to-School package to look forward to. Warm up in the dry sauna with cooling peppermint towels before a one- hour Swedish massage with an upper body focus. Next, comes an energizing mint scalp treatment and a ginger body wrap to improve circulation while your therapist uses reflexology on the hands and feet to stimulate brain function. The service concludes with a hot herbal steam towel treatment and cooling cucumber slices on the eyes. Enjoy a cup of Moroccan mint tea under the gorgeous chandelier in the spa’s circular relaxation room.
Photos Courtesy of Four Seasons, Hiatus Spa and Retreat and Away Spa At The W