TRIO Ushers in Dog Days of Summer

S’mores Get a Mouth-watering Makeover

Capture Texas Photo Contest Launches

Welcome to Austin Postcard

Thanks to smartphone cameras, it’s never been easier to capture and share the unique charms of the Lone Star state. And thanks to a new photo contest sponsored by Four Seasons hotels in Texas, it’s also never been more rewarding.

Launching June 3, 2013, the “Capture Texas” Photo Contest – created by Four Seasons Hotel Austin, Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas and Four Seasons Hotel Houston – invites you to share what you love about Texas in photo form for a chance to win more than $18,000 in prizes.

Star of Texas Ferris Wheel

To enter, tweet an original photo along with a caption containing the hashtag #CaptureTX and the Twitter handle of the Texas Four Seasons hotel closest to where you took the photo. The subject of the photo can be a person, place or thing and filters – such as those found on Instagram – may be used. Your entry must be received no later than June 30, 2013 for consideration as a finalist.

On July 8, 2013, following the review of the valid entries, 30 finalists will be named and awarded an overnight stay at either Four Seasons Hotel Austin, Four Seasons Resort Dallas or Four Seasons Hotel Houston.
A public vote will then commence, during which fans will select their favorite from the 30 finalist photos. The finalist with the greatest number of votes on July 16, 2013 will be designated the Grand Prize Winner and receive a three-night stay at their choice of Four Seasons hotel in the continental U.S., airfare for two and $500 cash, among other prizes.

Blue Bell Ice Cream

“Texas is like its own country with nearly two million acres of land, all filled with distinct landmarks, beloved sights and personalities as big as the state itself,” said Rob Hagelberg, general manager at the Austin property. “We’re looking forward to seeing the heart of Texas captured through the eyes of everyday photographers.”

To get started, follow Four Seasons three Texas properties on Twitter:
@FSAustin
@FSDallas
@FSHotelHouston

Additional details, including the full contest rules, may be viewed on Facebook.

Summer Family Fun in Austin

With the school year coming to a close, the Concierge team at Four Seasons Hotel Austin is busy studying up on kid-friendly summer activities in Austin. Whether you’re visiting from out of town or a local looking to explore Austin’s hometown highlights, the following activities ensure months of fun for the entire family:

Tower of Fun
The most distinguishing landmark on The University of Texas at Austin campus, the UT Tower stands at 307 feet tall offering spectacular views of the campus and surrounding area. During hour-long Tower Observation Deck Tours – offered several times each month – student guides give a historical overview of the building and university before leaving guests to bask in breath-taking views from the observation deck. For a more hands-on activity, future Longhorns can also complete a Scavenger Hunt Campus Tour that takes them throughout the “Forty Acres of Fun.”

Monkeying Around
Make funny faces at a monkey, ride a pony and feed a goat at the Austin Zoo, a sanctuary for rescued animals located just outside the city limits. Home to more than 300 animals across 100 different species, the Zoo offers kid-friendly fun in the form of a petting zoo, train rides on the Rawhide Rocket, a butterfly garden, a picnic grove and more.

All Aboard in Austin!
A family favorite close to downtown, the Zilker Zephyr takes kids of all ages on a 25-minute miniature train ride throughout picturesque Zilker Park. After completing their conductor duties, children can climb to their hearts content on three nearby playscapes. Need to escape the heat? Head inside the nearby Barton Springs Pool bathhouse to explore Splash!, an interactive Edwards Aquifer exhibit that offers a fun and exciting learning experience deep inside a simulated limestone cave.

Inner Space Expedition
Travel back to the Ice Age as you experience the fascinating story of Austin’s Inner Space Caverns, a natural underground cavern featuring spectacular stalagmites, stalactites, giant columns and animal fossils. Discovered by construction workers in 1962 while building the I-35 freeway, the caverns are estimated to be 90 to 100 million years old, as evidenced by finds of mammoth and saber-toothed tiger bones! Three different tours are offered, accommodating visitors of all ages.

For more activity ideas, read our list of the “Top 10 Family Must-Do’s” in Austin or speak with one of our experienced Concierges in the Hotel Lobby.

Four Seasons Spices it Up in June

Devil Went Down to Texas Cocktail

Some like it hot and we’re counting on it this month at Four Seasons Hotel Austin! Join us as we turn up the heat throughout June with the following special menu items, all featuring hot peppers:

Devil Went Down to Texas Cocktail
Rumor has it the devil went down to Texas and made a deal with mixologist Travis Tober. The result: a sinfully good cocktail, featuring Z Reposado Tequila, Domaine de Canton, grapefruit, lemon, Habanero-cilantro syrup and grapefruit bitters with a cilantro salt rim. Available for $14 each, the Devil Went Down to Texas cocktail is available in the Lobby Lounge bar.

Jalapeno Mojito
Using the words “burn” and “pool” in the same sentence is usually not advisable…unless you’re referring to the pool’s new Jalapeno Mojito. Made with Treaty Oak Rum, lime juice, jalapeno simple syrup, club soda and muddled mint, the $14 drink is the perfect mix of of sweet and spicy.

Molten Chocolate Cake
Moist and fluffy on the outside, rich and molten on the inside, this chocolate delight from Executive Pastry Chef Javier Franco has a spicy secret. Imported from Mexico, the chocolate used in the molten center is made with Ancho chiles, a trick that brings out the sweet flavor of the cocoa bean. Featured on the TRIO dinner dessert menu, the Molten Chocolate Cake is offered nightly for $10.

Barrel-Aged Hot Sauce
What do you get when you give a talented chef a bourbon-soaked barrel and some fresh Fresno and Habanero chiles? If it’s Chef Grant Macdonald, the dangerously creative result is a barrel-aged hot sauce. Divine served with chilled seafood platters, over eggs at breakfast or, frankly, alongside any other dish that calls for the hot stuff, the barrel-aged sauce is complimentary and available upon request in TRIO during all meal periods.

Sombra (Capsaicin) Cream
This month in The Spa, give sore muscles a touch of heat for cool relief with Sombra, a cream made with capsaicin – the ingredient in peppers that makes them hot. Available upon request as a complimentary add-on to any massage, Sombra targets sore muscles, aches and pains for a deeper, more penetrating relief.

Make it a Mother’s Day to Remember

One day to celebrate the many ways moms make a difference 365 days a year just doesn’t seem like enough. To simplify this seemingly impossible task, we present our Top 5 ideas for a memorable Mother’s Day in 2013:

Mother's Day Brunch in TRIO

1. Leave the cooking – and dishes – to TRIO, home of Austin’s best Brunch. Offered Sunday, May 12 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Mother’s Day Brunch includes more than 80 delicious food selections – ranging from omelets, pancakes and eggs Benedict to salads, sushi and a carving station – along with bottomless mimosas and champagne. For more details or to make a reservation, please call (512) 685-8300.

2. Treat her like a lady with an afternoon of tea in the Lobby Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Offered daily from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, the Afternoon Tea Menu features a choice of premium loose-leaf teas along with tea sandwiches, miniature pastries and scones served with Devonshire cream and lemon curd. Since all of the baked goods are made in-house, reservations should be made at least 24 hours advance notice by calling (512) 685-8300.

Give the gift of relaxation in The Spa

3. Over in The Spa, provide some pampering with a much-deserved day of relaxation. In addition to a variety of options for massages, facials, manicures and more, The Spa features a serene Relaxation Lounge, eucalyptus steam rooms and fitness center, all of which make it easy to escape everyday stresses. For more details or to set up a treatment for mom – or better yet, a Mother/Daughter/Son/Father Spa day – please call (512) 685-8160.

4. Let mom put her own preferences first for once with a Four Seasons Gift Card. Presented in an elegant folio, a Four Seasons gift card allows her to choose her own adventure, from a leisurely lunch overlooking Lady Bird Lake to a pedicure in The Spa or even an overnight stay. For more information or to purchase a gift card, please call (512) 478-4500.

5. If she’s ever exclaimed, “I wish I could just get away!,” make her dreams come true with a luxurious stay at Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Whether a staycation or a weekend out of town, a visit to the Hotel feels indulgent thanks to 24-hour room service, plush Four Seasons mattresses (hello sleep!) and a team of talented staff ready to exceed your expectations at every turn.