We just spent three nights at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort near Austin, Texas, and here’s the thing nobody tells you about a mid-July trip: it might rain. Ours did. Two out of three full days were drizzly, overcast, and not exactly “pool weather.” And we still had an amazing time.
That’s the mark of a good family resort. When the weather doesn’t cooperate and your kids are still entertained, still happy, and still asking “can we come back?”… that’s a win. Here’s exactly what we did each day as a family of five (our kids are 8, 9, and 12) and how we made the most of a rainy resort trip.
Day 1: Arrival, Pool, Bikes & S’mores
We drove in from the DFW area, about 3.5 hours, and arrived ready to start vacation immediately. Checked into our suite, changed into swimsuits, and headed straight to the Crooked River Water Park.
The pool area has a lazy river, waterslide, splash pad, and a zero-entry pool that the kids loved. We spent the afternoon there just easing into vacation mode. No agenda, no schedule. Just sun and water.
Once we dried off, we explored the property on the complimentary bikes. Lost Pines sits on 405 acres of pine forest, so there’s plenty of trail to ride through without it feeling like you’re dodging other guests. The kids thought they were on an adventure.
We ended the night with s’mores at one of the fire pits. Perfect first day.
Day 2: Rain, Fishing, FIFA & the Pool Clears Up
We woke up to drizzle. Not a downpour, just that steady Texas mist that makes you wonder if it’ll clear. We started the morning at the on-property coffee shop (a must, every morning) and decided to lean into the weather instead of waiting it out.
Fishing in the drizzle. We booked the guided fishing experience on the resort’s stocked pond, and honestly? Fishing in light rain is kind of perfect. The kids caught a couple of fish (it’s catch and release), and the guide was great with them. It was one of the highlights of the whole trip, rain and all.
By the time fishing wrapped up, the on-property brunch at Heartwood Cafe had closed (it ends at 11am, which feels early). So we drove into Bastrop and found First Watch, which was an easy, solid brunch spot just a few minutes from the resort.
Back at the property, the drizzle continued, so we hit the arcade and the Hyatt playroom. This is a converted ballroom space with a bounce house, games, ping pong, and movies playing. It’s clearly designed for exactly this scenario: rainy day, restless kids, parents who need them entertained. It worked.
We headed back to the room to watch the FIFA game (World Cup summer, so this was a big deal in our house), and by mid-afternoon the rain finally cleared. The pool was waiting. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the water, grabbed snacks and drinks from the poolside cafe, and ordered room service for a low-key dinner in the suite.
Day 3: Petting Zoo, Maverick’s & S’mores Round 2
Another drizzly morning. Same routine: coffee shop, accept the weather, make a plan.
We walked over to the petting zoo first thing. They have alpacas, goats, and longhorns, and the kids loved it. It’s a quick activity (maybe 20–30 minutes), but it’s free and doesn’t require sunshine.
After that, we did breakfast at Heartwood Cafe, the on-property buffet. It’s $38 per person, which is steep, but it’s a full spread and we didn’t have to leave the resort. Typical resort pricing. Fine, not mind-blowing.
The rain was still going, so the Hyatt playroom got another visit. The kids didn’t complain. Bounce house twice in two days? They were thrilled.
We watched the first half of the FIFA game in the room, then walked over to Maverick’s Roadhouse for lunch and the second half. Maverick’s was the best meal on-property for us: Stefan got the wagyu burger, I had the brisket tacos, and the kids crushed chicken fingers and mac and cheese. Good food, sports on the TVs, and the kids could be loud without anyone caring.
The rain finally stopped after lunch, and we spent the entire rest of the afternoon and evening at the pool. Soaked up every last bit of sunshine. That night we did another bike ride, another round of s’mores (the kids insisted), and room service again for dinner.
Day 4: Checkout & Magnolia Table
We packed up and headed out around 9:30am. No rush, no stress. The drive home is about 3.5 hours, and we’d planned a stop to break it up.
About an hour and a half into the drive, we pulled off in Waco for brunch at Magnolia Table. If you haven’t been, it’s Chip and Joanna Gaines’ restaurant and it’s a perfect road trip stop. Great food, pretty space, and a chance for everyone to stretch their legs before the final push home. Highly recommend building this into your drive if you’re coming from the DFW direction.
What to Do When It Rains (Because It Might)
If you’re planning a Lost Pines trip and you’re nervous about weather, here’s what I’ll tell you: the resort has enough to fill rainy days without ever leaving the property.
- Arcade (tokens, games, prizes, the kids could spend hours)
- Hyatt playroom (bounce house, board games, movies, ping pong)
- Petting zoo (light rain doesn’t stop the animals)
- On-property restaurants (five of them, easy to stretch a meal into an activity)
- Room service (underrated. Kids in pajamas, movie on, food delivered.)
- Sports in the room (FIFA was our excuse to hang out together without anyone complaining about being bored)
The rain stopped enough each day for us to get solid pool time in, too. The vacation was far from a loss because of the weather. If anything, the rainy mornings forced us to discover parts of the resort we would’ve skipped if it had been sunny the whole time.
Would We Go Back?
Yes. The resort kept our kids busy and happy for three full days, half of which were rainy, without us ever feeling like we were scrambling for things to do. For a family with younger kids (ours are 8, 9, and 12), the variety is unbeatable: pool, fishing, bikes, petting zoo, archery, playroom, arcade, s’mores. You don’t need to leave the property, and you don’t need perfect weather.
The only thing I’d change? I’d try to book when there’s no rain in the forecast. But even when the weather didn’t cooperate, Lost Pines still delivered.
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