8 Romantic Getaways in Texas: Couples Massages, Fine Dining, and Sunset Walks

Long before its “Keep Austin Weird” unofficial motto, the capital city was known as the City of the Violet Crown, probably a reference to its evening glow just after sunset. Today couples strolling the hike and bike trails along Lady Bird Lake can enjoy that Violet Crown through a backdrop of historic buildings and an ever-changing skyline.

Austin is known for its live and let live attitude, love of nature, and nightlife scene that has earned the city the title of “Live Music Capital of the World.” Experience it all from a home base at The Driskill, Austin’s oldest operating hotel, built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill. Within easy walking distance of the historic State Capitol complex and right at the edge of the Sixth Street entertainment district, The Driskill is nicely-situated as a home base for exploring Austin’s romantic side.

The Grill at The Driskill Hotel may be best known for its dry-aged Texas steaks and frequently lauded wine list, but this historic steakhouse was also the site of LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson’s first date. We don’t know what the future president and his soon-to-be First Lady ordered, but you can’t go wrong with the five-course menu with Sommelier-guided wine selections.

Just 23 miles east of Austin, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa makes an easy choice for couples looking for outdoor fun to enjoy together. And when you’ve finished with the day’s adventures, return to luxurious accommodations, each with large windows that turn the surrounding countryside into a panoramic piece of art.

This destination resort is located in the lost pines region of Texas, the westernmost stand of loblolly pines in the United States. When it’s time to get out and explore, the hotel features more than 18 miles of trails, and the Colorado River runs through the property, adjacent to the McKinney Roughs Nature Park. Sign up through the hotel for activities ranging from kayaking to zip lining. Afterward, you can cozy up beside the outdoor fire pit on a starry evening.

Ease out your kinks with the Soulmate Sunset massage at the hotel’s Spa Django. Scheduled as the last treatment of the day, the two of you will have the spa to yourselves during this two-hour experience, starting with 60-minute side-by-side massages in the hotel’s Duet Suite. During the second hour, the two of you will enjoy the quiet comfort of the spa alone with chocolate covered strawberries and Champagne.

Perhaps no other destination in Texas epitomizes the lifestyle of rich Texans like Dallas—and no other property boasts this rich history like the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Built in 1925 as an opulent private residence inspired by estates from around the globe, the property was transformed into a luxury hotel and restaurant in 1980.

The Chef’s Table at The Mansion Restaurant is a frequent stop for nervous suitors planning to pop the question. This intimate table, nestled behind white curtains with a view of the lawn, features a personalized tasting menu.

Fort Worth, known as the city where the West begins, is synonymous with rodeos, cattle drives, and honky-tonks. The Omni Fort Worth Hotel melds that rich western heritage with modern luxuries with each guest room boasting bedding with saddle blanket throws and stitched pillows, and a cattle ranch décor that’s a subtle reminder that, yes, you are in Cowtown.

Celebrate your romantic getaway with dinner at the hotel’s Cast Iron restaurant, featuring local ingredients and a Western ambiance that invites you to hang your hat and stay a while. For a romantic end to the day, ask for a table by the fireplace and finish off the meal by splitting a piece of Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake.

With 32 miles of beaches, Galveston has long been a relaxing paradise for couples and one of the most luxurious places to enjoy this beach getaway is The San Luis Resort Spa and Conference Center. Couples are especially drawn to Club 10, the 10th-floor adults-only section of the hotel that starts with a Champagne toast at check-in. Every room features upgraded comforts, from rain showerheads to down comforters, and amenities that include a mini-bottle of Prosecco, complimentary valet parking, and breakfast service each day.

Privacy and pampering are yours with a private cabana rental. The cabana is your poolside home away from home as you lounge in overstuffed chairs, flip on the ceiling fan, grab a drink from the mini-fridge, and watch your personal flat screen TV — or order tableside food and beverage service with fresh fruit, bottled water, and a bottle of Champagne.

Houston has always meant business, but for sporty couples planning a weekend away at The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa, that business is fitness. Active couples can challenge themselves at this expansive hotel, one of the most fitness-focused properties in the Lone Star State. While many couples gravitate toward either the playful resort pool or relaxing garden pool, the hotel’s activities pool is home to a renown aquatic program that features classes to challenge even competitive level swimmers.

If you’re a fan of racquet sports, the hotel not only has tennis but also padel courts—and is home to the U.S. Padel Team. (Not familiar with the game? Originating in Acapulco, it’s gaining popularity in other countries—and instructors can get you up to speed on the game that’s similar to tennis yet so very different.) And couples considering a triathlon or duathlon will find multisport training here, both on the property and in the adjacent Texas-sized Memorial Park.

After a day of fitness, indulge in a special dinner at the hotel’s Manor House. The historic home was first built for a Texas oilman and later served as home base for George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush during his days as director of the C.I.A. and as vice president. Later, President Bush hosted the G-7 summit here. Today, it’s perfect for a romantic summit of your own. (Yeah, we said it.)

With its location on a quiet stretch of the Paseo del Rio or River Walk, the Mokara Hotel & Spa makes for a romantic home base to enjoy the nightlife of the River Walk — or the perfect excuse to never leave the well-appointed confines of the hotel (or your room). Snag a river view room if you’re able; small balconies provide a private perch to view the river barges and the city’s iconic open-air river barges filled with travelers enjoying a guided tour of the Paseo del Rio.

Often lauded as one of the nation’s top spas, the hotel’s Mokara Spa features a Texas-sized list of treatments with a Texas-sized list of treatments including the pampering “River Walk Romance Ritual,” a couples’ favorite. You’ll be led to a special couples’ suite for an 80-minute Mokara Inner Glow Ritual, a head to toe body scrub after which you’ll be painted with aromatic melted shea butter then wrapped in a hydrating cocoon. A relaxing hot oil scalp treatment is followed by a massage of the shea butter into your skin. Relaxed and rehydrated, the experience concludes with lunch at the scenic Rooftop Café, surrounded by a view of downtown San Antonio.

Think of South Padre Island and spring break may come to mind. But, aside from those few weeks of spring, this southernmost part of Texas provides a great destination for parties of two. With fewer than 3,000 residents, South Padre is a quiet, lush subtropical island getaway that tempts couples with sunset strolls, horseback rides on the beach, dolphin cruises, and the chance to reconnect. At Isla Grande Beach Resort, book a beachfront cabana if the two of you would like to step straight out of bed into the sand — or a tower room for the best sunrise and sunset views.

Pack your dancing shoes for an evening at the hotel’s Quarterdeck Lounge, a high-energy dance club with live dance bands every night. Or, for a quieter evening, head to the second floor Hammerhead Deck, an open-air venue where the two of you can enjoy live music ranging from country to rock, each accompanied by the sound of Gulf waves crashing in the distance. As the night draws to a close, return to your room to enjoy a bottle of Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries to be followed by room service breakfast the next morning, all part of the hotel’s Romance Package.