Vacations Blog

Hiking is one of my favorite recreational activities. It isn’t just about great exercise, either. Hiking provides an opportunity to clear your head and enjoy a great conversation. You can marvel at the natural world and retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. What’s more, you can find something “walkable” almost anywhere you go and it’s absolutely free!

My favorite spot to hike in central Texas is outside the small town of Fredericksburg. As you drive through the rolling hillsides, dotted with oak and cedar, you will see a giant “bald” rock rising out of the landscape. This mountain is made of ancient pink granite and looks magnificent as well as out of place….standing sentry over the soft green landscape.

The park has many trails, but, you have to start with the climb to the top of Enchanted Rock. It is a short steep scramble up the granite. Once you reach the top and catch your breath, the view is inspiring. Gaze at the endless landscape of rolling hills and embrace the fierce wind that whips around you, carrying with it the scent of cedar and wildflowers .

Once you are done hiking, head back into the picturesque old German settlement of Fredericksburg.  Visit some tasting rooms (this is Texas’s wine country region), do some shopping in the many boutiques and antique stores that are on Main street and then indulge in some tasty German fare.

Food and wine never taste sweeter than after a hard day’s hike!

Where is your favorite place to hike?

Thanks to Krikit for the beautiful Enchanted Rock photo.

Last weekend, my husband and I slept in for the first morning in weeks. We woke up at the indulgent hour of 9am–yawned–stretched–looked out at the sunny warm day–and impulsively decided to go wine tasting in Dry Creek Valley! This is one of the many pleasures of living in the Bay Area. There are so many wonderful weekend destinations and fabulous day trips within an hour or two drive from home. Sometimes my head is dizzy with the possibilities!

As we are new transplants to California, from Texas, we had not yet been to Napa or Sonoma. We considered this to be our first “scouting” expedition. The car was soon packed with our map, bottles of water, and bag of fresh cherries for the road ( I love cherry season!) As we headed North up 101, the scenery transitioned from open bay and green mountains to dry rolling hills and groves of oak trees with the occasional vineyard coming into view.

We chose to drive to the small town of Sonoma and base our explorations out of there. I found the quaint upscale shops, cute restaurants, and lovely town square to be delightful—and also very familiar!

As I mentioned, I just moved to the Bay Area from Texas. Most of you may not know this–but, Texans have a wine country region of their own–the Hill Country is a precious gem, tucked into the rolling hills in the heart of central Texas. The topography of the Hill Country is quite similar to that of Sonoma and Napa counties. There are rolling hills and dry grasses with groves of oaks and wild flowers. My favorite place to visit wineries in the area is Fredericksburg. This is an old German settlement that has segued into a modern day tourist getaway.

If you ever have the good fortune to visit, you will quickly see why it is so popular. The main street is lined with cute boutiques and antique stores and peppered with great restaurants–from authentic German biergartens to upscale and cozy fine dining establishments. There are several museums, a beautiful public library, and a charming marketplatz (town square). If you have ever been to downtown Sonoma—it looks a lot like it!

Fredericksburg is also filled with small, locally owned bed and breakfasts. My husband and I used to love driving there on weekends. It is a very scenic drive and during the spring and summer you can stop at roadside farmstands–where there are crates full of locally grown tomatoes and ripe peaches–some places will cut up the juicy peaches right there and serve them to you over creamy vanilla ice cream!

Driving into Fredericksburg on Hwy 16, you can stop in at Gastehaus Schmidt on Main Street. This is the booking agent for over 100 B&Bs in the area, offering free rental services. You can “shop” for the perfect place to stay from placards along the walls. They have pictures of rooms along with amenity and pricing information. Find one you like and book it at the office–then head right over! You often get a pretty good deal as these are places that happen to be open for the night and want to be filled. However, if visiting near a holiday weekend, it is best to call ahead and make reservations.

Once you are settled into your lovely room, you can generally walk to the main part of town to shop and dine. You are also within a short driving distance of several wineries. Places like Torre di Pietra offer tastings and are usually set back on beautiful properties. Texas makes some surprisingly good wines and a wide array of varietals. Buy a bottle or two and bring it with you to dinner.

Fredericksburg, like Sonoma, is a wonderful weekend getaway. In addition to the restaurants, shopping, wineries, spas, and plethora of B&B’s–there is great hiking in nearby Enchanted Rock State Park and plenty of cold swimming holes and picnic spots. It is also a terrific base from which to explore many of the other small and charming towns in the Hill Country–like Bandera, Comfort, and Blanco.

So, if you are a vineyard enthusiast–feel ballasted by the fact that you don’t just have to venture all the way out to northern California to sample fine libations and the wine country lifestyle. Come to Texas!

Thanks to Mike Weston for the great vineyard picture!

There is no denying that Austin is a wonderful vacation destination. It is a beautiful city with abundant green spaces, a happening nightlife, interesting people, and a funky vibe. However, it doesn’t stop there. Austin also happens to be situated on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, which makes it a great base for exploring the cute towns and lovely scenery in this area.

If you are staying in Austin (I would recommend Hotel San Jose or the Driskill) and feel like taking a drive, one close and particularly charming town to visit is Wimberley. Grab your map, roll down the windows and head west out of town. It will take you about 45 minutes to get to Wimberley, driving on scenic and winding roads. Stop as frequently as you like, taking pictures of the beautiful Texas wildflowers on the side of the road or stopping at a farm stand to buy some fresh peaches.

Once in Wimberley, find a place to park and spend the afternoon strolling it’s picturesque downtown. There are many cute shops selling antiques, clothing, and gifts. Also, be sure to visit Wimberley Glass Works, where you can buy or view beautifully blown glass and even get a working demonstration!

If it is a warm day and you would like to go for a swim, check out the Blue Hole, a beautiful swimming hole tucked among cypress trees, right outside of town and named in the top ten swimming holes of Texas. It has cold clear water and the requisite rope swing. It is a great place to set up a blanket in the sun and just revel in a lovely spring day.

When you are ready to head back into Austin, take a look at your map and drive back through Driftwood on the way. Here, on FM 1826, you will find central Texas’s best BBQ at the Salt Lick (a bold statement, I know, but very true!). The Salt Lick is located in the rolling countryside on several acres of land. There is almost always a wait, but, you can while away the time at a picnic table under a large oak tree and drink your own beer, which you are allowed to bring into the restaurant as well. After a beer or two, your name is sure to be called. The large benched tables inside are situated under whirring ceiling fans and there are pretty views from all of the screened windows. My suggestion is to order “family style”. With a fixed fee, heaping plates of ribs, smoked chicken, brisket, potato salad, coleslaw, and bread are brought out until you can eat no more. All of this is served with the Salt Lick’s secret recipe BBQ sauce which will have you trying to lick your plate! If you have room (I dare you) get some fresh baked pecan pie or blueberry cobbler for dessert. You will be stuffed and happy for the short drive back to Austin.

This trip to Wimberley, through the Texas Hill Country is one of my favorite ways to spend a spring day. What is yours?

If you’re looking for a little adventure, take a walk on the wild side. Wild as in untamed, natural, one of the best times you will have anywhere! Texas has more than 70 guest and working ranches – complete with chuckwagons and cattle – and they just love to strut their stuff for “city slickers”.

Scenic Bandera, just northwest of San Antonio, is home to a number of ranches. Nearby Boerne features Western adventure and relaxation on the banks of the picturesque Guadalupe River.

These ranches offer you a wonderful opportunity to step back in time; while still able to enjoy most of the modern-day comforts we’ve come to love so well. And it’s not about sitting on a horse all day either (although I’m sure that’s an option if that’s your preference).

While you will certainly want to research all of the Dude Ranches, a great first experience can be found at the Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas. Just outside of San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country, the daily trail rides offer some of the most spectacular views to be found in Texas. But those views are nothing compare to the dining treats you will experience. From the Cowboy Breakfast cook-out to the Texas-sized steak at Hicksville (their little western town), you might find yourself having to unbutton that top pant button after partaking!

You can’t go wrong with this true Texas past-time. If you find yourself overwhelmed by technology and stress, this trip might just be what the doctor ordered. Have you experienced any of Texas’ working ranches? Do you have a favorite? Let me know, I’m always planning my next trip!

Until next time . . .

Paige aka PJsTravelinTexas