Paddle boarding on the placid waters at Lake Austin Spa Resort.
Photo courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort
Lake Austin Spa Resort accumulates accolades like Beyoncé accumulates Grammy awards.
Last year alone, the resort earned recognition from the likes of Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and U.S. News & World Report. The latest accolade for Lake Austin Spa Resort: The Discoverer travel blog has anointed it one of the six best spas in the U.S.
The resort “serves as a tranquil escape” from the hustle and bustle of Austin, according to the blog.
“Situated along the shores of Lake Austin in [the] Hill Country, the stunning rolling hills and lush greenery of this upscale resort encourage guests to spend most of their time outside,” The Discoverer says. “Celebrate its waterfront location by paddle boarding on the placid waters of the lake or by participating in an invigorating yoga session along its picturesque shores.”
For an even more physical experience, The Discoverer recommends taking barre or kickboxing classes.
After all that activity, it might be time for a trip to LakeHouse Spa. The blog suggests splurging on the “indulgent” Gifts Of Our Garden treatment, which includes 100 minutes of full-body exfoliation, massage, and a body wrap using herbs from the resort’s private garden.
Making of a Million: Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas is free to watch online.
Thanks to a new three-part PBS docuseries, you don't need to go to all of Texas' protected lands and waters to appreciate their breadth. Making of a Million: Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas follows host of The Daytripper, Chet Garner, from West Texas to the coast, discussing conservation efforts by the conservancy (TNC) along the way.
"Making of a Million" refers to the one million acres in Texas that fall under TNC's protection. The one million figure is a milestone TNC is celebrating with the series, but it's not the full extent of its work; actually, according to the 2025 annual report, its total impact is 1.6 million acres. TNC also works in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, and more specific smaller regions within those.
The Daytripping project has been rolled out slowly in 2026, from YouTube previews, to an official release on PBS in April, to an Austin event in May that formally introduced the works. The Contemporary Austin hosted an outdoor screening on behalf of TNC's Board of Trustees, specifically focusing on the episode that explores West Texas.
The 26-minute video shows off striking aerial images of mountains, close ups of plants and wildlife, and even a quick feature of an archeological find. Water, of course, is a big topic in the desert and it's a large topic across the series. Fresh water even has its own dedicated episode.
Although conservation experts are consulted throughout the series, viewers can do more than passively watch other people solve environmental problems. One story, toward the end of the West Texas episode, highlights how a rancher directed researchers to a habitat for an endangered species of fish on his property, simply because he overheard a scientist at a café claim they were extinct.
On a larger and perhaps less direct scale, producing video series like this can kick off similar effects. The more civilians know about conservation efforts in their neck of the woods, the more they might know their place in helping out.
Garner spoke on a panel after the Austin screening with TNC director of land protection Jeff Francell, spatial analyst Jacqueline Ferrato, and director of land protection/stewardship Dan Snodgrass. They discussed the series and the broader conservation topics it connects to.
“This new series really captures the spirit of our efforts and collaborations to protect Texas lands and water,” said Snodgrass in a recap for press. “Chet’s storytelling skills spotlight our partners and projects in a unique, engaging way—we’re excited for more Texans to see why conservation matters and learn how they can get involved.”
“Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas allowed us to visit some of the most amazing places in Texas and to meet people who are making a real difference for conservation,” said Garner. “Folks will love traveling with us across wildly diverse landscapes and learning the solutions shaping the future of our state’s biggest environmental challenges.”
Viewers can watch the series for free on the Nature Conservancy's website or on YouTube.
