Looking for a quick getaway with a nod to yesterday? Chill out in Wimberley.  By Laurette M. Veres

Chill Out

A little off the beaten path, you drive on dirt roads, over one-lane bridges and dodge armadillos, possums and deer. What a great get-away.

It was a little stressful finding our cabin.  After navigating winding dirt roads with numerous switchbacks and deer sightings, we found our cabin and headed to dinner.  It took me a while to wind down. Just off the main drag, Ino’z Brew and Chew’s picturesque setting is the perfect location to enjoy a hill country sunset.  The open-air deck looks down on the Blanco River.  At first glance, I think the tables are too close to each other, promoting socializing and I’m not here to chat; I’m here to get away. As the final rays of the sun peak through the Cypress trees, I realize everyone here knows each other.  Before long, this Houstonian finally starts to wind down.  The tuna-stuffed-tomato is just the right size for a light lunch or dinner.  Soon, we converse with the family at the next table.  And the table next to them.  Along the river, there is a ceremony.  Is it a wedding?  No, women have joined together to thank God for the rain.  Yes, people in Wimberley have time to say thank you for rain.

Wake Up and Shop

Get lost in San Marcos’ Premium Outlets.  Most major brands have outposts here.  We visit a few, just to make sure the prices are lower. All this shopping makes us hungry.

The line at Centerpoint Station is long and for good reason.  Half of this establishment is an Americana memorabilia store with fun brands like Brighton and Vera Bradley. The other half is a counter service casual eatery. The fresh salad is brimming with bacon, pecans, strawberries and feta cheese.  It’s the buttery bread that makes the burger so flavorful and has earned the accolade “best burger in Hays County.”

Great Grapes

In the heart of the hill country, Trattoria Lisina is an unexpected, rustic Italian oasis.  Reminiscent of an Italian Villa, this is the closest you’ll come to Tuscany in Texas.  Enjoy wine in the tasting room, or try to snag a seat in the sold out dining room.  Enjoy Veal or chicken marsala, prime rib, asparagus and gelato or tiramisu.

Moreover, enjoy the slower pace of life. Where diners aren’t anxious to get their checks and always make time for desert.

Essentials:

Ino’z Brew & Chew, 14004 Ranch Rd 12, Wimberley, 512-847-6060

Centerpoint Station, S IH 35, San Marcos, 512-392-1103

Trattoria Lisina 13308 FM 150 West
Driftwood, 512- 894-3111

Spa Montage Deer Valley

www.spamontage.com

435-604-1300

SpaMontage Deer Valley welcomes athletic visitors to the 35,000-square-foot, holistic-minded retreat. Each service begins and ends with a focus on breathing, aptly called the art of breath. Although there is a spa menu, the highly accredited spa therapists are trained to interpret your body’s personalized language. According to Loren Kornreich, spa director, the goal is to completely customize offerings to the point where there will be no menu. The wet area is where the ritual begins. For heat, you can choose between a trip to the steam room or sauna, and then follow with a cold shower before entering the Jacuzzi. Repeat this series three times for deeper relaxation.

What’s Hot Now?

Thai massage Through a series of assisted stretches, your body is pushed to limits you might not reach on your own. This is done on a floor mat, or an abbreviated version is offered on a massage table.

.

What’s Hot Now?

Japanese Facial This treatment includes cleansing products, masks and exfoliations. The differentiator is the amount of massage done to the face. Each lotion is massaged into the skin to increase the rate of absorption. Techniques include light stroking, kneading and percussive movements. “It’s like someone is dancing tango on your face,” says Johnson. Further regenerate your cells with a CryoStem Cell Treatment in which a serum is frozen until applied to your skin to stimulate collagen production.

Ashi Anma Foot Massage Imagine 25 minutes focused on your feet. This new treatment is crafted after the finger-pressure massage readily available in Japan and helps move energy through the body. Your feet will tingle long after the treatment is over.

www.tenthousandwaves.com

505-982-9304

The 30A Songwriters Festival announces headline acts for the January 13-15, 2012 event including Indigo Girls, Rodney Crowell, The Bangles, Shawn Mullins, Sam Bush Band and Matthew Sweet.  Theses acclaimed songwriters will join more than 120 talented artists from across the country to share intimate moments with friends and fans along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton along  Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The three-day music festival will feature more than 125 musicians and over 250 performances in venues ranging from intimate listening rooms to spacious outdoor amphitheaters amid a backdrop of brilliant white sand beaches, turquoise waters and stunning architecture.

Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles described the 2011 event as “a series of magical moments unfolding over the course of the long weekend – old friends reuniting, new friendships being born…Large audiences and performers enjoying days and nights of music, storytelling both poignant and humorous, spontaneous jams, Southern hospitality, delicious food and wine.”

The third annual festival, produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), presented by Visit South Walton and sponsored by Seaside and 30A.com, has quickly grown into one of the premier songwriters festivals in the country.  Representing diverse styles ranging from folk and country to rock and alternative, the 2012 line-up features nationally-acclaimed songwriters and musicians including The Bangles, , Shawn Mullins, Matthew Sweet, Indigo Girls and Fastball as well as David Wilcox, Steve Forbert, Mary Gauthier, Sam Bush, Randall Bramblett, Tommy Talton, Jeffrey Steele, Chely Wright, Chuck Cannon, Corey Smith, David Olney, Davin McCoy, Lori McKenna, Tommy Womack, Kevn Kinney, The Shadowboxers, Larkin Poe, Emily Lynch, Joseph Arthur, Matthew Mayfield, Rachel Platten, Callaghan, David Berkeley,  Garrison Starr, Jeff Black, Joe Leathers, Ben Glover, Billy Montana, Chas Sanford, Brian and Karyn White, Greg Barnhill, Forrest Williams Band, Kyle Jacobs, Kelsey Anna, Reed Waddle, Meg Huthchinson, Brigitte Demeyer, Daphne Willis, Shannon Whitworth, Suzi Ragsdale, Georgia, Ashleigh Flynn, Joanna Cotten, Bryan Kennedy, Matthew Kahler and over 75 more.

“What sets the 30A Songwriters Festival apart from others in the country is, one: we create listening rooms in truly unique beach resort venues and two: we book musically diverse artists,” said Russell Carter, event organizer and chair and president of Russell Carter Artist Management. “Rodney Crowell and the Bangles have both scored numerous number one hits, but I am willing to say that only at the 30A Songwriters Festival are you able to hear Rodney sing  ‘It’s Such a Small World‘ and  ‘I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried,’ and then run across the street and hear the Bangles belt out ‘Eternal Flame,’ ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ and ‘Manic Monday.’ Rodney will perform with a full band as will the Indigo Girls and Sam Bush. Matthew Sweet will perform “Girlfriend” in its entirety to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the release of the platinum certified album. Audiences who truly enjoy music will not want to miss this event.”

Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton meanders along the Gulf of Mexico through charming beach neighborhoods, including Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach as well as state parks and more than a dozen rare coastal dune lakes.

“The relaxed, laid back vibe of the beachside resorts along scenic Highway 30A creates the perfect atmosphere for this world-class event,” said Jennifer Steele, event organizer and executive director of the CAA. “South Walton already celebrates a thriving arts community, which includes a vibrant music scene and an abundance of talented musicians. We are delighted to bring such high-caliber songwriters, performers and up-and-coming artists from around the country to 30A to play for music savvy audiences.”

Proceeds from the 30A Songwriters Festival benefit the CAA.  Early bird ticket pricing of $100 for a three-day pass is still available for a limited time. For more information on the 2012 festival, including a full list of artists, venues, accommodations packages and how to purchase tickets, visit 30asongwritersfestival.com. To learn more about South Walton and Scenic Highway 30A, log on to visitsouthwalton.com, 30a.com or sowal.com.

###

An emphasis on healing and wellness has always attracted people to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Trend-setting BODY is a destination for well-being and health, offering massage, classes and an organic café and boutique. Massages are customized to individual needs by the healers who deliver them.

What’s Hot Now?

Eat Raw If you have been afraid to jump on the raw food train, BODY’s organic café is the perfect place to tempt your palate. The menu pushes the envelope with tantalizing vegan, raw and organic options. Don’t miss the raw enchilada; it is surprisingly enchilada-like. A tortilla is created from a dehydrated puree of veggies. Amazingly spicy, the red chile sauce will trick your taste buds into thinking they are in the Mexican Riviera.

Nia Short for “neuro-muscular integrative action,” is a mixture of martial arts, yoga and dance. Sessions begin with deep-breathing exercises set to soft music. Movements are slow and steady. As the music gradually speeds up, so do the ballroom dance-type steps (heel-toe-slide-dip). “Sometimes you vocalize,” says Spa Services Manager Lynse Rubin. During a Tae kwondo-style kick, you might be asked to emit a “huh!” or shout “yes” while throwing your arms skyward. “It’s touchy-feely and playful,” comments Rubin, who adds that this is their most popular new class.

BODY; www.bodyofsantafe.com  505-986-0362

The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas

www.ritzcarlton.com

340-775-3333ext 8606

St. Thomas is an American territory offering stress free travel to the Caribbean. A hop, skip and a jump across this small Island lands you in the lap of luxury: The Ritz Carlton, St. Thomas. Not your grandfather’s Ritz, you don’t need a tie as you enjoy the glorious grounds, infinity pool, world-class spa and superb accommodations.

What’s Hot Now?

Babymoon Always ahead of the curve, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas is focusing on an underserved target market, expecting parents. The Resort Reconnect^® package for moms-and dads-to-be is designed to give them some alone time before the baby arrives. This exclusive offer includes overnight accommodations, breakfast, spa credits and a menu of spa experiences tailored specifically for mothers-to-be. She’ll love the Mellow Mamma and Yummy Tummy treatments.

Anniversary Celebration December marked the resort’s 15^th anniversary and you can enjoy the commemorative Crystal Anniversary Celebration package. “We are delighted to share this significant milestone with our guests. The Crystal Anniversary Celebration package captures the very essence of the resort with an experiential vacation that exudes the magic of the islands,” says Marc Langevin, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, St.Thomas. Enjoy the Presidential Suite and Seaside Cabana couples massages, and the signature CrystalRain Therapy that revitalizes your skin with organic exfoliating crystals while a seven-head Vichy shower warms your body.

Hotel Monaco: A Kimpton Hotel is a quaint boutique hotel located in downtown Denver. The evening H Texas visits, we feel extremely welcome. We receive a bottle of wine at check in, but don’t open it yet. Happy hour is in full swing in the lobby. “Just a welcome for our guests,” we are told. The party includes free chair massages. My photographer challenges me to Wii bowling – right in the lobby. I win. This place is fun.

The rooms are exquisite; colors are cool: brown and orange. An accent blanket in animal print continues the modern feel. The location is even cooler, right in the heart of vibrant and bustling downtown Denver, near the LoDo entertainment district.

For dinner, we consult yelp and head over to Osteria Marco. The meats are cured in house and homemade cheese fills the menu. The extensive drink menu features Absinthe (aka The Green Fairy) served in the traditional manner with sugar and ice water.

Brunch on Sunday morning at Panzano is spectacular, and convenient. Panzano is attached to the hotel. We enjoy fresh-baked bread, mimosas, turkey sandwiches and tomato soup. Fresh and rested, we head west on I-70 to enjoy a week of skiing.

Essentials:

Hotel Monaco Denver, 800-990-1303; monaco-denver.com
Osteria Marco, osteriamarco.com

For starters, dogs are welcome here. Before you reach check-in, a chalkboard welcomes the in-house pooches.