Hill country retreat

Canyon Ranch now booking stays for new resort in the Hill Country

Canyon Ranch Austin is opening in October 2026.

Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

One of the world's most celebrated wellness brands is finally ready to make its Texas Hill Country debut: Canyon Ranch Austin is now accepting reservations for stays beginning October 15, 2026, at its highly anticipated retreat in Spicewood.

First announced in 2022, Canyon Ranch Austin sits on a sprawling 600-plus-acre ranch at 600 Moonlight Bend in Spicewood, an hour from downtown Austin. The destination spa-resort boasts 141 luxuriously appointed guest rooms that overlook 1.5 miles of Lake Travis and the countryside beyond.

The retreat boasts the largest spa in Texas, at 40,000 square feet, encompassing 37 treatment rooms, whirlpools, therapy tubs, steam rooms, lounges, and more.

Canyon Ranch Austin will also debut a women-only wellness collective, which a press release states is "the world's only dedicated practice and program in a resort setting with specialized offerings for women in every chapter of life."

Canyon Ranch will also provide four food and beverage concepts for guests to enjoy. Notably, the resort's signature restaurant Estella will feature a world-class culinary program led by chef Val Cantú, who was born in Texas and whose San Francisco restaurant, Californios, just earned three Michelin Stars.

Estella Estella is the signature restaurant at Canyon Ranch Austin.Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

Courtesy of Canyon Ranch Austin

Find new tunes on vinyl in the music room.

Additional features of the property include:

A 27,000-square-foot barn that includes a gym, fitness studios, and an outdoor turf field "for fitness, movement, and leading-edge recovery"
A 12,000-square-foot medical center
Private beach on Lake Travis and space for watersports
Five miles of hike-and-bike ranch trails
Tennis, pickleball, and padel courts
Two outdoor pools
A wildflower workshop, garden, and equestrian program

The Austin-area resort is the fifth property in Canyon Ranch's portfolio. The premier wellness brand opened its flagship in Tucson, Arizona, in 1979 and is now headquartered in Fort Worth, home to a Canyon Ranch wellness club and spa.

Since its founding nearly five decades ago, Canyon Ranch has become one of the best-known names in the wellness and spa industry worldwide.

Canyon Ranch CEO Mark Rivers said the new Hill Country resort represents the brand's "bold vision for the future" that shows "what's next in the intersection of travel, hospitality, well-being, care, and culture."

"People today are seeking something fundamentally different from their travels and getaways — life-changing experiences, connection, health, wisdom, and joy," Rivers said in the release. "Time at Canyon Ranch answers the call, with stays inspired to help our guests live younger longer, pursue happiness, reconnect, or relax and feed body, mind, and spirit."

Canyon Ranch Austin will be surrounded by a 134-home residential community, The Ranch Home Collection, that will receive exclusive access to the resort and an on-site concierge wellness program. Homes are currently under construction, per the release.

Stays at Canyon Ranch Austin start at $1,325 per night, which includes a $200 nightly spa and fitness credit that can be used on spa and treatment services. Stays for more than three nights include an additional $300 health and wellness credit. Stays can be booked on canyonranch.com.

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TX to TN

FlixBus revives affordable route from Houston to Memphis via New Orleans

Photo courtesy of FlixBus

FlixBus is now cruising from Texas to Tennessee.

Traveling from Texas to Tennessee is about to get a lot easier, more affordable, and more scenic. Budget-friendly bus service FlixBus will relaunch its Houston-Memphis route later this month, with service starting Thursday, August 27.

FlixBus is the largest intercity bus network that offers passengers affordable and comfortable travel across 1,800 destinations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The signature lime green buses come with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating with extra legroom. Passengers can bring one carry-on and one stowed luggage for their trips.

The Houston-to-Memphis route will depart from 605 Gray St. in Midtown, and arrive at Memphis Bus Station at 3033 Airways Blvd. Travel times might vary depending on the number of stops, traffic, and other circumstances, but will generally be 14.5 hours long.

The seven stops along the Houston-Memphis route are:

Lake Charles (Lakepoint): 750 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601
Lafayette (Louisiana): 1701 N University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70507
Baton Rouge Bus Station: 1253 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802
New Orleans Bus Station: 1001 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70113
Hattiesburg: 6635 US-49 S, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Meridian Bus Stop: 1901 Front St., Meridian, MI 39301
Batesville (Terza One Stop Shop): 22023 MS-6, Batesville, MI 38606

The route will operate five days a week with an extended daily service in November to accommodate Thanksgiving holiday demand. Fares for the route start at $88.98 per passenger per way.

Another travel route from Texas to Tennessee
In addition to the return of the Houston-Memphis route, FlixBus just launched its first-ever direct route connecting Dallas to Nashville, with departures running five days a week.

Departures will be from the Dallas Bus Station at 9755 Harry Hines Blvd., and arrive at Nashville Bus Station at 709 Rep John Lewis Way South. Travel times will generally be between 11.5-14.5 hours.

The Dallas-Nashville route will also offer direct access to other travel hubs, including:

Sulphur Springs (travel center): 1600 W. Shannon Rd., Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
Texarkana (travel stop): 4020 S. Lake Dr., Texarkana, TX 75501
Memphis Bus Station: 3033 Airways Blvd., Memphis, TN 38131

The new Texas-Tennessee routes expand FlixBus' network across the South while offering travelers cost-effective and comfortable transportation to "major business, entertainment, and cultural destinations while providing access to smaller communities along the way."

"The South continues to see increasing demand for affordable, convenient ways to travel between major cities," Flix North America head of communications Karina Frayter said in a statement. "As more travelers look for alternatives to driving or flying, we're expanding our network to make it easier to reach the destinations that matter most, whether you’re traveling for school or work, visiting friends and family, or taking a vacation."

Passengers can book tickets for all destinations via FlixBus.com and the FlixBus app.

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