Category Archives: Accomodations

Fredericksburg Inn & Suites, Fredericksburg, Inn, Main Street, Stay

Fredericksburg Inn & Suites

Disclaimer: The Fredericksburg Inn & Suites provide a complimentary two-night stay in exchange for sharing my experience with readers. As always, 100% of opinions, photos and content are my own. 

On a rainy Wednesday evening, we arrived in Fredericksburg, Texas. We checked into the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites, right off Main Street in downtown, amazed at how close it was to the center of it all. Tired after a long drive from Fort Worth, we were ready to relax and get comfortable. Upon entering our room, I would’ve sworn this room was just for me!

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If you know me, you know I love rustic charm, barns, Luckenbach (it was on our list while in town) and live music. Upon entering the room, low and behold the first thing I noticed was the Luckenbach decor on the walls, exhibiting some local flavor. Next, the barn doors separating the living room, bathroom and bedroom. Ah – it was just for me!

The room itself (one of ten suites on the property) was in the courtyard area with a view of the heated pool, hot tub and lush landscaping. Inside, I met my relaxation! The living area includes a large couch which pulls out into a bed (perfect for the kids or a couple friends), a TV, fridge, coffeemaker and microwave.

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The bathroom was large and elegant. Perfect for privacy separating the shower and sink areas.

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The bedroom housed a king size bed and another TV with many, many pillows (again – this room was made for me). As soon as we arrived and saw the room, I thought, we’ve got to come back – two days won’t be long enough!

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Now, it rained the entire two days we were in Fredericksburg but honestly, we were in the perfect place. Complimentary breakfasts in the morning not only saved us money and time but it saved us from being in the rain and it was tasty! Texas shaped waffles, pancakes, muffins, scrambled eggs, bacon, cereal, yogurt and juices were all available. That’s one heck of a bargain especially if traveling with family (and saves money to purchase your favorite wine or item while visiting town). And don’t tell anyone, but I found delicious, warm chocolate chip cookies in the lobby one afternoon.

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Outside, the heated pool and hot tub were well occupied even if it was raining. A firepit, open stone gazebo, grill and lots of room next to Barons Creek to relax, have a picnic and even play a game of washers. It’s really a great place for anyone when traveling, rain or shine.

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The Fredericksburg Inn & Suites is also a historical landmark. The original home on the property is now the kitchen and dining area for breakfast. The interior holds the same walls and flooring and historical documents can be found throughout. It’s really interesting to see and feel what the space use to be like back when and how it remains in tact today. A little bit of Fredericksburg history and charm!

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We absolutely loved our time at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites and cannot wait to go back. We didn’t want to leave and felt completely relaxed in our home away from home. This is a place which we would highly recommend to families, couples and even single travelers. The location, accommodations, activities and price are all just right!

Let us know about your stay!

Be sure to check out the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites website as well as their Facebook page for more photographs of their renovated rooms. The rooms and the property are beautiful, (especially when it’s not raining).

For more information:
Fredericksburg Inn & Suites
201 S. Washington
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Facebook: Fredericksburg Inn & Suites

Need ideas on what to do while during your stay? Check out 48 Hours in Fredericksburg!

Fredericksburg, Texas, VisitFredTX, Wine Trail, Hill Country, Fredericksburg To Do, Becker Vineyards

48 Hours in Fredericksburg, Texas

Last week, we headed to Fredericksburg, Texas for a little wine and relaxation. Although we were only in town for slightly less than 48 hours, we made the most of it and you can too! There will be a lot more information on our getaway in the weeks to come but in case you decide to head down for a quick trip (as you should), I wanted to share how we made the best of our 48 hours!

Our trip was a Wednesday evening thru Friday afternoon. Fredericksburg is a town where there is so much to do that it didn’t even matter that the weather was less than stellar. If anything, it provided more of a reason to pour ourselves another glass!

Step #1: Find yourself a great place to stay.

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We started our journey from Fort Worth after work on a Wednesday evening. Three and a half hours later, we arrived. This gave us time to unwind after the long drive and left us with a full day to really take in the sights!

We stayed at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites, right off Main Street in the historic downtown. These accommodations were awesome!!! Not only is this a historic landmark, they provide a full breakfast in the morning, freshly baked cookies in the lobby in the afternoon AND our room was gorgeous. The icing on the cake – our room had a Luckenbach theme. It’s like they knew the way right to my heart!

Night #1: Check in, settle in, pop open a bottle of wine and kick your feet back and exhale – you’re on vacation!

Full Day #1
It was raining. Pardon me, pouring outside so a trip to the Enchanted Rock was out of the question. (If it’s not raining, definitely try to do this first thing in the morning!)

8am – Rise and Shine followed by delicious pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon and yogurt in the inn.

10am – We headed over to the Fredericksburg Visitors and Convention Center (CVB). This is a chance to find what it is we wanted to see. There is so much to do so we picked a few of our favorites.

11am – We were headed to the vineyard, Becker Vineyards that is. With little time to spare, it’s time to make it count! Becker Vineyards is about 10-15 minutes outside of town. Regardless of which vineyard you choose, use the morning to head out to spend time at an actual vineyard. We were the first to arrive! Oh the glory of having an entire tasting room to yourself!

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12:30pm – Time to find another winery. 4.0 Cellars was our choice. This was a slightly different adventure as there were three wineries in one location! That’s right – why have wine from only one winery when you can have three?! Easy choice!

2pm – Head back to town, it’s time to grab a bite to eat. We headed back to the Inn, parked and walked down over to Main Street. We are a little indecisive when we’re hungry but lucky for us the Fredericksburg Brewery is right on Main Street so we wandered right in. Grab a flight and pretty much anything off the menu. I’ve never had anything that wasn’t delicious!

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3:30pmShop This area is historic and there’s something around every corner. Peruse the stores. Everything from art, antiques, locally made goods. If shopping is not for you, there’s always starting the next event early…

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4pm – Downtown is also home of the Urban Wine Trail! The wine country has brought the wine to town! With at least seven tasting rooms within walking distance to each other, there’s no reason to drive outside of town, they’ve brought the good stuff to you! As we walked down Main Street, we made a stop to the Fiesta Winery tasting room.  How convenient it is to just pop on in and grab a glass.

Tip: Grab a glass to go! It’s legal to walk within the historic district of Fredericksburg with your glass.

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5:30pm – Peruse Main Street or explore the town! There’s so much to see and do that we really feel like we haven’t touched the tip of the iceberg. We found this gem in town while exploring.

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7pm – Dinner. Although we were in a German town, we went Italian and my belly sure was happy that we did. Pasta Bella, right off Main Street feels like a secret heaven, homemade Italian food. (Below: Seafood ravioli.) There’s plenty of options, search around and I’m sure you’ll find something you will love!

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Day 2

8am – Time to rise and shine, grab breakfast and check out of the hotel. A full day of activities ahead!

If there’s time before 11am, I highly suggest exploring the area. Take a detour off Main Street and explore! There’s so many historical buildings, the homes and B&B’s have an immense amount of character and the community of this town shines through and through.

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11am – Wine tasting – at it again bright and early. This had to be my favorite tasting of the entire trip – Lost Draw Cellars. Where to begin – there wasn’t a single wine that we didn’t enjoy, the hospitality and conversation was amazing (trust me – talk to Troy) and they’re authentic and focused on building a community.

Need an extra incentive, they have a tasting wall. Buy a glass and pay it forward or perhaps you already have one waiting for you. Hint: To the next Vermonter that walks in, your first glass is one me!

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12:30pmLuckenbach One of my favorite places in Texas, this is it. It’s not just a song, this place really exists. The post office, the bar, the stage, wild chickens, cowboy hats, BBQ and a dancehall. The best part is the authenticity and meeting people from all over! Stories are amazing! Reminisce in this little spot and enjoy the live music from those who step in (or join in yourself)!

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2:30pm – Eat lunch at the Hye Market. Just outside of town off Highway 290, lies the little town of Hye. The significance of the Hye Market location is that it is the post office that President Lyndon B. Johnson used for his entire life. (Read more about the history here from my last trip.) Today, it is still the functioning post office but it is also a market where you will have the best sandwich you’ve ever eaten in your life.

My recommendation: The Levi Local – Honey roasted turkey, swiss cheese, local herb aioli on wheat bread. I’m still trying to figure out how they made that sandwich so good. It disappeared right before my eyes!

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4pm – Garrison Brothers Distillery Bourbon you say? The scenery reminds me of Virginia. The country, rustic atmosphere, not a neighbor in sight and relaxing in nature…. add a glass of bourbon, have a seat in the rocking chairs and we’re all set! This tour was so interesting! We love hearing how businesses begin and this is no exception. The Garrison Brothers are passionate about their product. The tour walks guests through each step of the process including samples along the way.

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6pm – Time to head to the next destination or stay longer – that’s the best choice!

Tips:
– Swing by the CVB for information. Some pamphlets may have coupons for discounts or free products!
– Take advantage of visiting during the week!
– Most tasting rooms open around 11am.
– Give yourself about an hour at each tasting. Take your time, enjoy the wine, have great conversation with others. Some locations will even have cheese, meats and crackers available for purchase with your tasting.
– The majority of places close around 6pm (wineries and shops in town). If there’s somewhere you really would like to check out, research ahead of time.
– Looking for a B&B – see where I stayed on a previous visit.

Texas Day Trip to the Baker Hotel

Mineral Wells, Texas, Hotel, Haunted, Historic Landmark

Mineral Wells, Texas is known for their mineral water or “crazy water”. In this small town just west of Fort Worth, business was booming. People were traveling from near and far hoping to get their hands on this water that claimed to heal them of their ailments. After money was raised in a community effort, ground breaking began for what would be known as the Baker Hotel in 1926.

The hotel was magnificent, so they say. It did hold the first swimming pool at a hotel in Texas after all. Once completed in 1929, the structure would be 14 stories high, 450 guest rooms, two ballrooms, a bowling alley, gymnasium and of course the pool. Cost: $1.2 million (in 1929). The lights and fans were all controlled by the room key, ice water circulated to all of the guest rooms, valet laundry was available. The hotel prospered, visited by celebrities (Lucille Ball) and Presidents alike (Lyndon B. Johnson).

Mineral Wells, Texas, Hotel, Haunted, Historic Landmark

Over the years, the hotel changed owners (and investors) and slowly declined in business. At one time, the Baker hotel housed infantry soldiers when Fort Wolters opened nearby. In 1979, the hotel closed doors for the last time and has since been sitting vacant and the victim of vandalism.

Mineral Wells, Texas, Hotel, Haunted, Historic Landmark

If you research news the hotel, you will see there are plans of a renovation although I’m sure it was cost a unimaginable sum. You will also find photos from within the building. There’s also been numerous ghost hunters who have visited this hotel. Keep in mind, many people who were sick with disease and dying came to this hotel in hopes of a cure – some never left.

Today, if driving through Mineral Wells, it’s hard to miss this monster of a building. It towers above all. You can stop, walk around the building and take photos however it’s marked no trespassing. The pool sits next to the hotel, lifeguard stand is still there, waiting for new visitors.

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Mineral Wells, Texas, Hotel, Haunted, Historic Landmark Mineral Wells, Texas, Hotel, Haunted, Historic Landmark Mineral Wells, Texas, Hotel, Haunted, Historic Landmark

Have you ever visited or driven by the Baker Hotel? Do you know of any stories?