Local Tips From Our Guests

This page isn’t a polished brochure. It’s a running list of things guests and our team have actually noticed while staying on the North Shore. Some of it will save you a wasted trip. Some of it is just the kind of thing you’d only know from a local.

Tips From Guests & Our Team

Time the Hilltop Smokehouse for sunset. The reason to go is the hilltop view as the sun drops over the lake. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. The grills and fire pit are open to rental guests, first come, first served. See our Dark Sky guide → for why the stars are worth staying for.

The Trailhead Club has pools too. The Beach Club pools get lively on summer weekends. For a change of scene, the Trailhead Club has a lap-style pool, the children’s pool, a covered patio and a playground.

Bring shoes you don’t mind getting wet. When the lake level is down, the walk from a dock to open water gets longer and the shoreline gets rockier. Regulars keep a pair of water shoes in the golf cart.

Golf carts beat driving inside The Hollows. It’s an easy, fun way to get between your rental, the Beach Club, the marina, and the Smokehouse. See golf cart rentals →.

Stock up before you arrive. Jonestown has limited retail. The nearest full grocery run is Lago Vista (about 15 minutes) or Cedar Park (about 20 minutes), so grab what you need on the way in rather than after you’ve unpacked.

Ask about the marina before planning a boat day. Slip availability and lake conditions change fast. A quick call to Northshore Marina at (512) 267-6222 before you commit to a boating day beats finding out at the ramp.

Weekday wineries are quieter. Hill Country tasting rooms (Flat Creek, Pedernales Cellars, William Chris) get crowded on weekends. If your trip allows it, a weekday visit means less waiting and more time with the pourer. Check hours first, since some tasting rooms close early in the week.

Got One We Haven’t Listed?

We add real guest tips to this page every season: trail shortcuts, quiet corners, restaurant orders worth knowing about. If you’ve stayed with us and found something worth passing on, tell us below and we’ll credit you if you’d like your name on it.