Deals in Lakeway

The term “Treat yo self” can be interpreted in several different ways. In most cases, it refers to spending a little extra money on pampering yourself; or it could mean dining as if it's your last meal. In either case, the following offers some of the best ways to "treat yo self" in Austin, Texas. (Explore our things to do deals for even more ways to treat yo self.) Lake Austin Spa: This is the spa of all spas. It's the ultimate destination to relax and unwind. The welcoming staff and serene lakefront atmosphere are instantly calming. You can partake in cooking demos, hikes, wine tastings, meditation, kayaking, yoga and more. ProTip: If you're looking to treat yourself, but can’t spring for an overnight stay, book a spa treatment in the morning and then lounge around the pool and enjoy the café for the rest of the day. 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road Austin, Texas 78732 Spend A Day Shopping at The Domain: Some say shopping is the best medicine, and even if you don’t NEED anything, buying new things is always fun. This outdoor shopping mall has something for everyone from Louis Vuitton to an Apple store. Once, you’ve splurged on a few not necessary, but total can’t pass up items, treat yourself to drinks and a snack at one of the restaurants. I’d check out NORTH, Blackfinn or McCormick & Schmick’s. If time and money allows, end your day at iPic theaters for the ultimate movie going experience; they have a full service waitstaff and reclining lazy-boy style seats. 11410 Century Oaks Terrace Austin, Texas 78758 Gourdough’s Public House: Gourdough’s Public House won't put you in the poor house, but you might eat a week’s worth of calories in a single sitting. Their menu is focused around gourmet donuts. Even their salads come with a single glazed donut on the side. I definitely recommend the ‘Bacon Me Crazy’ it’s their take on a BLT and it’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Make sure to save room for a dessert donut; you can have your pick at everything from a donut smothered in Nutella, cinnamon, and strawberries, to one topped with bacon and maple icing. It's really a one of a kind treat, and the nemesis to any diet. 2700 S. Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78704 Qui: This much anticipated restaurant came after local chef Paul Qui achieved Top Chef fame and it's completely lived up to the high expectations. If you're gonna to do it, do it right, by ordering the ‘cote du beouf,’ it’s a $100 steak that's meant to be shared (between two or six people) and it's well worth every penny. Eating this steak will definitely have you feeling like you've ‘treated yo self.’ The food, drinks, and atmosphere all come together here for a unique and delicious dining experience. 1600 East 6th Street Austin, Texas 78702 Great Nails and Spa: Never judge a book by the cover, nor a nail salon by the building. Connected to a convenience store, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but they give some of the best pedicures in town. Insiders know that it's BYOB; that paired with their super low prices seals the deal for me. If you happen to run out of champagne, the aforementioned convenience store has everything you need! 2911 South First Street Austin, Texas 78704

There’s a reason the Luci and Ian Family Garden has been dubbed the “Garden of Yes.” The new addition to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is more interested in letting kids enjoy themselves outdoors than imposing restrictions on their play. It says to kids: yes, you may climb on that precarious-looking felled log. Yes, you may walk behind the waterfall. Yes, you may hop across the pond on little stepping stones and dig in the dirt. And yes, you may dump water all over the porous rocks (and yourself). No wonder the place is being billed as the cure for Nature Deficit Disorder. The freewheeling atmosphere is no accident. It’s clear that the 4.5-acre stretch of woodland and meadow, which opened to the public in May, was deliberately designed to get kids moving. There are more than a dozen interactive features in the Family Garden, including a small cave to climb inside, porous limestone “pedestals” for adding water to a creek, giant bird’s nests with portable wooden eggs, and a metamorphosis shrub maze. Around every corner, children will discover something new to engage with, ranging from hopscotch courts to exercise equipment. Of course, kids don’t have to make all their own fun. The garden’s “Nature Play Leaders” help too, offering young visitors binoculars to explore the woods, answering questions about the native plants and wildlife, and organizing games like duck duck goose on the great lawn. The only thing lacking in the new section of the Wildflower Center is shade—plan accordingly if you’ll be visiting in the heat of summer. Bring plenty of water along, especially if you’re planning to have a picnic in the garden. (By lunchtime the kids will be parched from playing tag on the great lawn.) You’ll also want to load up a backpack or stroller with everything you need when you leave the car, since it’s quite a hike back to the parking lot. Normally you gain entry to the Family Garden with paid admission to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. But during Nature Nights, families can visit both the Wildflower Center and Family Garden at no charge. Nature Nights are held on select Thursdays each summer and feature presentations, guided hikes, and nature crafting for kids of all ages. On these special Thursdays, the Wildflower Center is free all day, not just in the evening. Just make sure you arrive early since the parking lot fills quickly. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is located at 4801 La Crosse Ave. in South Austin. Photos by Heidi Gollub

Nostalgia’s in the air this week in Austin. Cirque du Soleil is honoring the King of Pop with a show that reinterprets his greatest hits, and both Summer Stock Austin and Frank are celebrating milestone anniversaries with concerts. Of course, no one’s looking back further in time than the interactive exhibit Discover the Dinosaurs. All of which reminds us: remember that time Groupon had lots of other ideas for things to do in Austin? We do too. Discover the Dinosaurs North Austin | Through Sunday, August 3 The heart of this exhibition may be the scavenger hunt, which requires you to navigate eight scenes full of dinosaur models to uncover facts about how the creatures lived. But educational value isn’t the only reason to attend. Kids can also jump in dino-themed inflatables, play prehistoric mini golf, and even ride an animatronic T. rex or triceratops. (North Austin Event Center, 10601 N. Lamar Blvd.; $16–$22; buy tickets here) Summer Stock Austin: A 10th Anniversary Celebration Bouldin Creek | Monday, August 4, 7:30 p.m. What’s a birthday without a little singing? During this celebratory show, alumni of the well-regarded theater program return to stage highlights from the past 10 seasons. Expect numbers from Sweeney Todd, Footloose, West Side Story, Little Shop of Horrors, and many more. (The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr.; $35–$75; buy tickets here) Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour Cedar Park | Tuesday, August 5, and Wednesday, August 6. at 8 p.m. The songs—“Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal”—may be familiar, but this high-energy show still promises plenty of surprises. A live band provides the soundtrack while throngs of performers pull off elaborate choreography, including a healthy dose of Cirque’s trademark acrobatics. (Cedar Park Center, 2100 Avenue of the Stars; $58–$200; buy tickets here) Frank Fifth Anniversary with The Hold Steady Warehouse District | Friday, August 8, 9 p.m. The popular gourmet hot-dog joint has been holding it down in downtown Austin since 2009. To say thanks, they’re bringing in Craig Finn and company for a free show. But getting in may prove tricky: to earn a commemorative ticket designed by Helms Workshop, you have to win one off KUTX or Do512. (407 Colorado St.; free with contest win; buy tickets here) Eat Out for Good August 3–13 Eat Out for Good is like Restaurant Week with a generous streak. More than two dozen restaurants have created special menus for the event, such as a three-course steak dinner at Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar or a $20 prix fixe meal at G’Raj Mahal Cafe. The best part is at least 10% of proceeds go to a cause of the restaurant’s choosing, from Meals on Wheels to the Center for Child Protection. Photo credits: OSA Images; Razor & Tie LLC