Where to Stay: Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa

The grounds of Hyatt Lost Pines

Last month, I had the chance to spend a few days outside Austin's city limits in a small town called Bastrop. I found some fantastic shops that I'll tell you about next week, but my favorite part was spending time poolside at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa.

If you are a nature lover who wants to experience Austin's scene without staying downtown, Hyatt Lost Pines is a great option. You're only about a 30-minute drive from the city, but surrounded by 400+ acres of wildlife. Hyatt Lost Pines is also a fantastic hotel option for families. It's practically impossible to get bored here.

Wildflowers in bloom.

There's a horseshoe area, Frisbee golf course, basketball court, soccer field, horse-drawn carriage rides and a riverfront that's ripe for exploration (the Colorado River, to be exact). Not to mention the Crooked River Water Park with two pools and a lazy river, Spa Django and Wolfdancer Golf Club. Plus, the resort organizes even more free activities for kids like tie-dye shirt making and movies on the lawn.

Furry friends found around Hyatt Lost Pines.

But my favorite part of my stay at Hyatt Lost Pines was the "Hooves and Horns" mascot program. The resort's grounds are home to two draft horses, a pair of Texas longhorns and a 125-pound Newfoundland named Hoss. I fell in love with Hoss and visited him often at his quarters, which are a doghouse replica of the resort's main facility. Around the back of the resort you'll find Boo Boo the kissy-face llama and a coy donkey, whose name I don't remember. (Probably because he wouldn't give me the time of day.)

Photo courtesy of Hyatt Lost Pines

Photo courtesy of Hyatt Lost Pines

Other highlights of my stay at Hyatt Lost Pines included:

• The huevos rancheros at Firewheel Cafe, which I ordered almost every morning for breakfast
• A guided horseback ride through the wooded area of the resort grounds
• Cooking s'mores on the lawn after a fantastic meal at Hyatt Lost Pines' fine dining restaurant, Stories