10 Incredible Picnic Spots in Austin, TX
Apr 3, 2023
Between busy social calendars, demanding jobs, and the hustle and bustle of city life, it can be difficult to find time to slow down and appreciate the people we love most. If you’re looking for a way to show your partner how much you care, nothing beats quality time away from our daily distractions.
Romance is hiding in your own backyard, and a delicious meal under the stars is a perfect way to enjoy your loved one’s company as you immerse yourself in nature. Today, we’re considering our favorite romantic culinary experiences to share with your partner.
Perched on your private veranda amid 1,000 acres in Vail, Colorado, it’s hard to believe that the two of you, at Collective Vail’s luxury 4 Eagle Ranch, are so close to Vail’s bustling streets. It’s wonderfully decadent to have the option to choose between doing a bit of everything ornothing at all.
After a day spent exploring surrounding trails by horseback and sipping fine wines, you will likely be thinking about dinner. On tonight’s menu: The BBQ Box + Bubbly and artisanal s’mores under the stars. Pull up a front-row seat and let the romance begin.
Collective Vail’s culinary experiences are more than delicious food. In fact, they are catered to fit right in with the retreat’s unique valley setting. Dinner from the grill pairs perfectly in the stunning valley setting. Our BBQ baskets include all the ingredients needed for a locally sourced cookout.
Bring the ingredients out to our grill stations with private tables. You’ll receive instructions for grilling times for guidance.
By the time dessert rolls around, you can enjoy decadent s’mores around the fire. All guests are invited to participate in our unforgettable nightly ritual. This is romance à la mode.
Are you more of a city slicker? Slip away from all the hustle and bustle for a romantic culinary experience just East of Brooklyn.
At Collective Governors Island, you will find an exotic farm-to-island menu that draws inspiration globally, paying homage to the retreat’s New York Harbor setting. Additional culinary perks include seasonally focused menus featuring nearby family farms as well as a wood-fired grill.
Every morning, breakfast food service begins at 8 a.m. Our last breakfast seating is 11 a.m. Our a la carte breakfast consists of healthy, made-to-order options served in the restaurant each morning for retreat guests. This sit down meal with table service is prepared by our culinary team in our open kitchen serving familiar nostalgic staples with healthy seasonal options.
Complimentary breakfast beverages are also served daily.
Room service is available daily 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Your room is equipped with a QR code that will allow you to place your order and pay right from your cell phone. No stress involved.
We offer complimentary happy hour for retreat guests 4 to 5 p.m. daily. Overlooking the retreat’s great lawn, the elevated deck offers shaded seating areas with unobstructed cinematic views of Lady Liberty and the illuminated skyline.
And don’t worry; we serve drinks all day onsite. The elevated deck provides plenty of shaded seating options for you to kick back and enjoy the awe-inspiring views of Manhattan — which only grow more beautiful as the sun sets — while you indulge in your favorite drinks.
S’mores are available nightly for retreat guests, sunset to 10:30 p.m. We have gluten free and vegan options available.
In the early evening, guests who have made a prior reservation have the opportunity to become acquainted with the retreat’s outdoor Argentine Grill. Nothing tastes better than a specially-grilled meal overlooking Lady Liberty.
Collective Governors Island knows how to play with fire, consistently transforming farm-sourced ingredients into rich, smoky meals with nothing more than a bit of charcoal. Not to mention, the thrill of watching your food roast on an open flame is sure to spark a magical moment for you and your partner.
The retreat’s à la carte menu also features dishes prepared over a wood flame, including contemporary seafood, organic burgers, and more.
Additionally, this menu includes kid-friendly options so that parents can find romance and family time all at once. You and your partner can embark on your flavor adventure on the picturesque harbor.
After an unforgettable curated meal, continue to treat your taste buds with the help of the chef, the retreat’s supplier of all things delicious.
Dinner beginning at 4 p.m. every day. Our last dinner seating is 8:45 p.m. And don’t forget to set a dinner reservation, just in case. Space in the restaurant can be limited. Help us make sure we have a table waiting for you by making a reservation!
If you are drawn to life’s simple pleasures, the Collective Gourmet S’mores Pantry is for you. At the end of the night, stop by the retreat’s cozy campfire for complimentary s’mores roasted to your liking.
You and your partner can top off your romantic day with a gourmet bite under the Milky Way. Think Jet-puffed marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate, Honey Maid graham crackers, and seasonal cookies. If you plan on staying the night, you will be offered a premium s’mores kit packed to the brim with elevated ingredients, including Sugar Rush marshmallows and decadent Lindt chocolate.
At the border between the American Southeast and Southwest lies Texas Hill Country. There, perched atop a ridge overlooking a sprawling ranch, sits the Collective Hill Country retreat.
Picture you and your partner out on your private deck, glasses of wine in hand, soaking in the golden hour and eagerly anticipating the next few days of your well-deserved luxury vacation.
Start tomorrow morning at the complimentary breakfast bar with crunchy market granola, fresh milk and juice, sun-kissed whole fruit, roasted coffee, and herbal tea. Maybe you will exchange bites with your partner in between sips of your warm beverages and pause to take in the sunrise.
You can plan to join in a live sound meditation, an expert-led horseback riding session from Collective Hill’s ranch, and a sunset hike.
Back on your deck, you and your partner can enjoy wine and snack on an expertly selected cheese platter. You can even experience a one-on-one lesson with the Collective Hill Country culinary team, during which you will brand your own personal cutting board as a thoughtful keepsake.
Tonight, after a wholesome dinner, you can finish the day with a time-tested ritual that’s been around since before you were born: classic American s’mores over a bonfire. As the sun sets on the hillside below, you and your partner can customize your sweet creations with treats from the Collective Gourmet S’mores Pantry.
No matter where you roam, nothing beats the simple pleasures of enjoying delicious food with the one you love most.
Whether you choose to indulge in the BBQ Box and Bubbly or Cowboy coffee, a burger cooked over a roaring fire amidst the greenery of Governors Island, or s’mores roasted under Texas’s shining stars, what matters most is the company you keep.
The next time you’re looking for a special way to show them how much you care, look no further than your own backyard.
Sources:
Historical Ecology of the Texas Hill Country | Austin Texas Government