the Kalahari ...
When I found out several months ago that Hubby would be attending a rural education conference with several of his colleagues at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, I immediately said, “Count me in!” We’d had the good fortune to go there last summer for a newspaper convention, so I already knew how nice and fun it was.
Named for the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa which covers much of Botswana, as well as parts of Namibia and South Africa, the resort is absolutely beautiful. From the regal sculptures of safari animals you first see as you drive up the winding path, to the custom-crafted artwork and furniture throughout the resort, Kalahari delights and excels in sharing the beauty of Africa with its guests.
There are only four Kalahari Resorts – Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin – and its biggest claim to fame is that it is home to the largest indoor water park in the nation. We’d done the water park, arcade and escape room last year when Daughter was with us, so we skipped those things this go round. While Hubby was in classes during the day, I primarily stayed in our hotel room, working remotely. Like so many of our trips, one of the biggest highlights was our meals. Kalahari has six distinct dining options for whatever your taste may be and I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. The first night there on this trip, we joined another couple and dined in the Double Cut Steak House. Like most steak houses, it was very dimly lit and not conducive to photographs but suffice it to say we had an incredible meal. Hubby opted for a New York strip, and I selected prime rib with garlic jus and horseradish cream. I ordered a loaded baked potato and we split an order of crispy Brussels sprouts. It was absolutely delicious, but we were miserable we’d eaten so much.
For lunch the next day we went to Cinco Niños, a modern Mexican eatery and tequila bar with fun, colorfully painted murals throughout. Hubby ordered grilled snapper tacos and I selected a Mexican Caesar salad and a cup of tortilla soup. Every single bite was delicious.
The second evening we dined at B-Lux Grill & Bar. Hubby enjoyed a pub burger which was a classic double-stacked burger with beer cheese, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, bacon, spicy horseradish mustard sauce, lettuce and tomato on a pretzel bun, served with classic crispy pub chips. For the life of me, I can’t seem to remember what I ordered. I even pulled the menu up online thinking it would jog my memory, but it didn’t. I know it was a burger, but as they have 14 different ones on the menu, I just couldn’t remember which one it was. Oh well.
A friend of mine had really bragged on the pizza there, commenting that it was the best pizza she’d ever had. We didn’t try it last year, so when Hubby had a luncheon to attend on our final day there, I popped into Sortino’s Italian Kitchen and ordered a slice of “Lotsa Meatsa” to go. It was sausage, pepperoni, ham, smoked bacon, ground beef and mozzarella cheese. I think it may be the largest slice of pizza I’ve ever seen. From the middle of the crust to the tip of the slice it was at least 12 inches long, if not longer. And it was excellent! My friend definitely knew what she was talking about.
If you get the chance to go to Kalahari Resort, I recommend it. It’s a neat place with lots to see and do.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
-- Anne Lamott
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