Top 5 Austin Romantic Getaways

Austin, TX, might have a reputation for keeping it weird, but that doesn't mean that a romantic getaway in the city has to be. From unique boutique accommodations to natural surroundings, Austin features romantic venues that are anything but ordinary.

Austin's Inn at Pearl Street (1809 Pearl St., Austin, TX) converts two spacious houses into a boutique hotel/bed-and-breakfast melange that rolls out themed suites primed for romance. Add European flair to your getaway when you stay in the French Room, Venetian Room or European room. Get a flavor of the English countryside in the Oxford Room or the charm of Africa in the Safari Room. When it's time to explore, stroll hand-in-hand to museums and other attractions in the city's downtown arts district. Dance to live music at the Sixth Street Entertainment District or have a romantic picnic along the shore of Shoal Creek at Pease Park (1100 Kingsbury St., Austin, TX).

Hearken back to cattle baron days at The Driskill (604 Brazos St. Austin, TX). The Hyatt-owned hotel brings its original 1886 charm into the modern age with perks like a fitness center, free high-speed internet and plasma TVs. Romanesque architecture sets the romantic mood before you even set foot inside. Towering columns in the lobby, a stained-glass dome and marble floors are just a start. Check into suites with bathrooms decked in black Brazilian marble for spa-like ambiance. The LBJ Suite comes with a knotty pine fireplace, a stained-glass window and a balcony overlooking the city. The hotel's location at the corner of Sixth Street and Brazos puts you in the heart of walkable Austin attractions.

Nestle into your own little poolside bungalow at Hotel Saint Cecilia (112 Academy Dr., Austin, TX). The converted Victorian estate has just 14 suites, six of which are poolside duplex cottages. Relax on your private patio looking out at lush foliage or tiptoe down to the 50-foot-long pool for a late-night swim. Inside your bungalow, enjoy a soaking tub, a separate living room and handmade organic bedding by Hästens. Your room has a stocked mini-bar and spa bar, but you can also order in-room spa treatments. Check out vintage LPs to play on your suite's Rega turntables and Geneva sound system or borrow bikes to explore the Travis Heights neighborhood and South Congress entertainment district.

Nothing says romance like a country inn. Get away from the city hustle and bustle with a stay at Sage Hill Inn & Spa (4444 FM150, Kyle, TX), just 16 miles southwest of the city limits. The inn tucks on 90 acres of wooded hill country overlooking Onion Creek. Three miles of interlooping trails offer plenty of sites for hand-in-hand strolls and stolen kisses, as well as places to watch for deer, antelope, wild turkeys and other wildlife. Stay in the Wallace King Room or Nance King Suite and enjoy romantic amenities like a fireplace, a whirlpool tub and a private balcony or sunset-view window. You can upgrade your experience with a romance or honeymoon package that adds in chocolate-covered strawberries, flowers, a secluded dinner for two or a couples massage.

Enjoy grown-up romance at Zilker Metropolitan Park (2100 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX). Step into a romantic setting of natural grottoes, fragrant flowers and herbs, or butterfly haunts at Zilker Botanical Garden (2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX). Wander among sculptures and explore the art of Charles Umlauf whose works are in more public places throughout the state than any other sculptor's. Take a swim in the natural spring-fed Barton Springs Pool that has a year-round temperature of 68 to 70 degrees F. The pool is a federally-protected habitat that's home to the pink Barton Springs salamander, which is found nowhere else in the world.