Ring in the New Year at the Lake!

It’s one of the most anticipated days of the year. You survived the big family Thanksgiving, you managed to wrap all the Christmas presents in time, and finally, the culmination of all the holiday celebrating is just around the corner. But planning a New Year’s Eve that lives up to the hype can be just as difficult as maintaining your New Year’s resolutions (maybe that gym membership didn’t get used as much as you thought…).

On the one hand, there’s the standard big neighborhood party where you make small talk with acquaintances until midnight. Or, there’s the classic bar outing where you pay an unspeakable amount to sip on a beer on a crowded dance floor. Maybe you’ve even tried the “stay home while the kids go out and fall asleep by 10 pm” celebration.

However, we believe that the best New Year’s Eves are spent with your loved ones, reflecting on the past year together. Whether it’s your parents, your kids, or your best friends, there’s something special about quality time with the people who matter most. Therefore, when it comes to New Year’s Eve ideas for families or couples, we can’t think of anything better than taking the celebration to Lake Buchanan.

In the peaceful setting of Willow Point Resort, removed from the distractions of your home, you can enjoy a relaxing vacation complete with lake activities, outdoor adventuring, and small-town charm. From paddle boarding to jet skiing, the group will never go bored. And for couples, we offer countless dreamy settings where you can bring in the new year in the most romantic way imaginable.

Whether you’re searching for New Year’s Eve ideas for families or New Year’s Eve ideas for couples, don’t miss out on all that Willow Point Resort has to offer. People love to celebrate at our resort for the following reasons.

It’s the ideal spot for both couples and families

Instead of planning a New Year’s Eve celebration that ends the moment the clock strikes midnight, plan a leisurely vacation to our lakeside resort where the party keeps going well after the new year arrives. Willow Point Resort has a wide range of activities to offer you and your partner or your family. The group is guaranteed to stay entertained from dawn until dusk.

For families that love water sports, Willow Point Resort’s location on Lake Buchanan is the perfect treat. This 22,000-acre body of water is the second largest lake of the Highlands Lakes in Central Texas. It’s clean waters and 124-miles of shoreline are a popular retreat for fishermen, campers, boaters, and beach-loungers. Luckily, Willow Point Resort has its own private beach front where you can fish, enjoy peaceful lakeside picnics, or warm up around the campfire. More so, we offer Winter boat rentals of kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and canoes exclusively to resort guests. As you’re celebrating the new year with family, why not organize a friendly canoeing competition? Or maybe challenge your kids to see who can catch the biggest fish? The winner gets to choose the dessert for your big New Year’s Eve feast!

Winter Activity Ideas

If your family loves hiking as well, you’ll find miles of trails around Willow Point Resort. The closest park, Inks Lake State Park, has nine miles of trails that lead through colorful rock outcrops and hills. Your family can visit Devil’s Waterhole, a hidden swimming cove, (definitely recommend coming back to visit in the Spring/Summer months) or pack a warm lunch to enjoy by the sparkling blue water.

Got any golfers in the group? Willow Point is also located less than a half hour from Delaware Springs Golf Course. A beautiful Texas Hill Country 18-hole course that offers year-round tee times. “When you come to play the Deleware Springs Golf Course, you will experience some of the best Hill Country golf. Whether you are wanting to improve your game, or simply savor a day of Burnet golf, our 18-hole championship course is a good choice for you.” Their prices are incredibly reasonable, and it’s such a fun activity to enjoy with your family members, friends, or significant other. You can also pick your ideal tee time and book online!

If you’re searching for New Year’s Eve ideas for couples…

Willow Point Resort is also the ideal spot for romance. Along with all of the exciting outdoor activities, our resort is within a 20-minute drive of three award-winning vineyards. Plan a romantic afternoon with your loved one at Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery, Perissos Vineyards, or Fall Creek Vineyards. As you sip on rosé or sauvignon blanc, you can laugh about the past year spent together and all the dreams you have for 2019.

Equally, as romantic Willow Point is the ideal location for a long drive down country roads or a visit to surrounding small towns with your partner. You’ll love the charm of the rolling hills and old brick buildings, full of boutique shops, cafes, and holiday decor. Long walks, hand-in-hand with your partner, are the perfect way to escape from the distractions of home and express your gratitude for one another, uninterrupted.

You can cook dinner together in private cabins

One of the best bonding activities is group cooking. Whether it’s with your family or your loved one, the kitchen provides an entertaining backdrop to experiment with new recipes, laugh together, and maybe get a little messy.

Our private lake cabins provide everything you need for a fun cooking party. The fully-equipped kitchens come with cooking utensils, a toaster, a microwave, and a kitchen sink plus dish soap and dish towels. Once you’ve cooked a delicious feast, take it to the kitchen table. Or, bundle up and have a seat at your own private outdoor picnic table. If you can’t imagine the celebration without grilled hamburgers or veggies, don’t stress! We’ve also outfitted all the cabins with their own charcoal grill and BBQ tools.

For New Year’s Eve ideas for families, we love the idea of assigning each family member a different cooking task. Have one person peel the potatoes and another chop the carrots. Then you can sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy that hard-to-find quality family time. Our Texas Lake House rental offers ideal accommodations for groups with up to 25 guests. Complete with a full kitchen and multiple indoor/outdoor seating areas. We make it easy to ring in the New Year altogether.

If it’s just you and your partner, what could be more romantic than spending the evening cooking your favorite recipe together in your own intimate abode, followed by a bottle of champagne under the stars on your front porch? We’d take that over a crowded party any day!

Or, you can take the family to a nearby restaurant

If you can’t imagine cooking another turkey after the Thanksgiving and Christmas madness, you’re in luck. Willow Point Resort is located within minutes of some of the Texas Hill Country’s cutest towns. Each with their own boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Instead of cooking a big feast with your family or partner. Rally the troops and visit one of the nearby dining destinations.  

Luckily, the nearby towns leave their holiday decorations up through the new year. This means you can stroll through the picturesque streets while they’re decked in Christmas lights, wreaths, and holiday displays. Burnet, just a twenty-minute drive from Willow Point Resort, recreates the Bethlehem village on their main street. As you walk to dinner, your family will love the festive set-up. Complete with baby Jesus and all the little farm animals. You’ll find plenty of no-fuss restaurants serving classic comfort food. We recommend Aranya Thai Restaurant, serving nearby traditional Thai cuisine. In the mood for Mexican?  Check out Tamale King Mexican Restaurant with a full bar and great margaritas, just a mile from Willow Point. Craving BBQ? Visit Spykes BBQ for authentic Texas-style barbecue. Even closer, with games and live music, is Reverend Jim’s Dam Pub. Located just minutes from Willow Point, they offer scenic views of the Lake Buchanan dam, good burgers, and lots of beer. 

Llano is also just a twenty-minute drive from Willow Point Resort. You’ll find the park lit up with canopies of Christmas lights for their event Starry Starry Nights. From a romantic evening with your partner to a big family dinner, Llano offers a range of highly-regarded restaurants. We love Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que for some of the best BBQ you’ll try in all of Texas! Or, for a more intimate setting, enjoy garden-to-table dishes paired with specialty cocktails from the new Badu 1891. No matter your palette, the towns around Willow Point Resort offer a range of cuisine fit for a New Year’s Eve getaway.

We allow fireworks!

New Year’s Eve and fireworks go together like Times Square and the ball drop. So of course, we expect nothing less here at Willow Point Resort! Fireworks are more than welcome; in fact, we encourage you to bring your own or buy some in one of the nearby towns.

As the clock finally strikes midnight, Lake Buchanan will light up with the colorful reflection of the firework displays. If you’ve never seen a firework show over a lake, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss this year.

Or, enjoy nearby firework shows

If you prefer to leave the firework shows to the professionals, the nearby towns organize impressive displays every New Year’s Eve. Whether you’re on vacation with your family or your partner. We guarantee you’ll enjoy toasting to the New Year with some sparkling apple cider or champagne on our private beach. The professional firework shows can be seen without obstruction from tall city buildings or pollution of city lights. These vibrant colors reflecting off the lake provide the perfect backdrop for a picture-worthy evening. We’re sure you’ll never forget this celebration as you welcome in 2019.

Sign up for the best New Year’s Eve celebration!

Ready for quality family bonding time or an intimate getaway with your loved one? When it comes to New Year’s Eve ideas for families or New Year’s Eve ideas for couples, there’s no better choice than an exciting Texas lake vacation at Willow Point Resort. For more information, give us a call at (512) 793-5000, or use our online booking system to reserve your spot for New Year’s Eve today.

Sincerely,

Gwen & Bryan Carpenter
Owners