Hip Hangout: Hotel San José

Bigger isn't always better--at least not in the case of swimming pools.

The one at Hotel San José in Austin measures 8 x 24 feet and never exceeds more than 5 feet deep.

That's a modest size, smaller than most backyard pools and only a fraction larger than the ones you blow up. Still, this pool rates as one of the coolest places to be in all of the Lone Star State. Surrounded by tall stalks of bamboo and Southwestern succulents, this dipping hole provides a Zenlike escape from the sweltering three-digit temperatures you endure in the Texas summer. Folks hang here with their canine companions, who are also welcome in the pool. Guests chill in the water while sipping wine or Shiner Bock beer. The vintage tables and chairs in the attached courtyard, where you can sit back and relax, offer some of the most happening seating around.

Crushed granite pathways connect the 40 rooms of the property, the lobby, the outside bar, and the pool. This hot spot captures what hip travelers love about the Texas capital--it's ultracool and edgy while remaining down-home and comfy.

Guest rooms come in several floor plans, from spacious suites with balconies to European-style efficiencies with shared baths down the hall. The low-lying platform beds, a basic mattress on wood slats, are covered with Indian-print bedspreads, while the polished concrete floors are softened with cowhide rugs. The place is sparse. Truly, though, that minimalism adds character, something the San José in no way lacks.

Left: The pool steps at Austin's Hotel San José make a great place to chill out.

NextFamily Favorite: Nickelodeon Suites Resort