Category Archives: People

One of the Greatest Towns In Texas

Luckenbach, TX. Population: 3

By far one of my favorite places in this state. I light up whenever I talk about it and there’s not even that much there. Maybe that’s why I love it so! Maybe it’s because of the song. I’m not sure.

If you ever find yourself on Highway 290 between Fredericksburg and Johnson City, do yourself a favor and take a little detour. You’ll turn off 290, drive about ten minutes up the road and be careful not to miss your turn. You’ll find the general store (with a bar in the back), the dancehall and outdoor stage. Deep in the heart of Texas.

The general store has a lot of items that you can purchase. People come here from near and far, for good reason. This place is awesome! I mean, there’s even a cat that roams around, I like to think it’s the soul of one of original people from Luckenbach.

Luckenbach is incredibly unique. There are pictures, money, signatures, stickers, hats and pretty much anything you can think of covering the walls, ceilings and floor in the bar. It’s pretty awesome just checking out everything there and each time you go, there’s something new. (I stopped by twice on this trip. Once obviously wasn’t enough.)

While I was in the general store, a couple people were talking about the history of the town. Apparently, years ago, the town went up for sale. A local rancher purchased the town as it was a middle point between himself and a few friends. They used it as a place to get together in between their ranches and catch up, enjoy some tunes and have a few cold ones.

Had to get a picture with the bartender! When in Luckenbach, drink a Shiner. It’s the Texas way.

My first time visiting Luckenbach was a few years ago. When we had stopped, we asked the bartender who he had seen walk thru there. They pointed us to a man who was sitting on a bar stool and said “You should ask him. He’s been here a while.”. Well, this man had a patch on one eye and proceeded to tell us that Kenny Chesney was there the week prior, he had seen them all, George Strait, Willie and the list went on and on. To be a fly on the wall.

(Above) This band was playing in the dancehall on Saturday night.
(Below) This band was playing on the outdoor stage on Sunday morning.

Even the armadillos get in on the fun!
If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by. If you’ve been, I’d love to hear about your experience!

Texas Tuesday link up with Amanda from Princess of the Panhandle and Crystal from Masons Mama. This is a chance for any blogger to participate in a post on the greatness of Texas! There’s so much to explore!

Hyatt Lost Pines – The Food

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I’ve mentioned quite a bit about how beautiful and fun the outdoor atmosphere is at the Hyatt Lost Pines but I’m leaving something incredibly important out… the food (and I’m not even kidding.)

The Hyatt Lost Pines have a few dining options at their resort. I had the please of eating at the Firewheel Café and if you have the opportunity to dine there, do not pass it up!

When walking into the restaurant, as with the rest of the resort, you get the outdoors, indoors. It is especially apparent in the restaurant with large windows and special features throughout. One of the special features is the painted glass windows featuring some of the native flowers in the area (painted by a local artist). You will find yourself looking at them. They’re beautiful. Comfortable, relaxing, perfect for a solo, couple or family / group meal.

To get the most out of what was to offer (so I could share it with all of you) – I got the buffet. For $24.99, this all you can eat feast is well worth the price (if not for the dessert alone) and allows you to try a little bit of everything.

Warning: Do not judge by the amount of food that I tried (and I did go hiking prior to dinner so I’ll use that as an excuse of how I burned up an appetite).

Salad Bar – Everything is prepared. Three types of leafs, mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, carrots, eggs, croutons and by all means try out the raspberry vinaigrette!

Bread and Cheese – Three types of breads, two types of cheese. I mean, you really can’t go wrong with bread and cheese.

Main Dishes and Sides
Sweet Potato Casserole – This.Was.Perfection. The absolute best sweet potato casserole I’ve ever had. Sweet, but not overly sweet and was as smooth as could be.

Meats
Grilled Salmon was well done, flaky and moist.
Grilled Chicken
Sliced Beef – We are in Texas, right? It was extremely moist and I suggest pairing it with the BBQ sauce.

Soups
Jalapeno Corn Chowder – Creamy, creamy and delicious. I’ve noticed this as a Texas staple since I’ve moved here so everyone from out-of-state must try. When in Texas, do as the Texans do.

Baked Potato Bar
I think this may have been the first time I’ve seen this at a buffet (or maybe I just don’t frequent enough buffets). Regular baked potato or a sweet baked potato with all the fixings. I didn’t have enough room to try this but I’m going to take a guess and say it was pretty tasty. When is a loaded baked potato not savory? … Exactly.

Dessert
Don’t judge.
I have a sweet tooth and well, I have a sweet tooth. To be honest, I’m pretty sure I tried almost all of these. I mean, a girl can taste right (plus don’t forget I went hiking prior to dinner). Plus, all the desserts were in the “Mini” version, so it’s ok, right?!

Red velvet whoopie pie, pecan pie tart, lemon square, fresh whip cream, apple cobbler, brownies, lemon tarts and my favorite, the maple panna cotta. It tasted like maple pudding consistency but not an overwhelming maple flavor with fresh whip cream and a blackberry on top.

If dinner isn’t enough for you, each night in the large fire pits outside, you can enjoy s’mores, an outdoor favorite. (I obviously had to pass.)

Other Dining Options:
Stories Fine Dining – Elegant dining.
Old Bucks Place – Next to the pool, enjoy some fresh BBQ.
Shellers Barrelhouse Bar – Rustic, Austin inspired atmosphere. (Go here for nightlife.)
Major Neighbors Grill – Take the golf experience inside at the clubhouse.
McCade’s Emporium and Ice Cream Saloon – General Store feel, breakfast, candy and ice cream treats.

Note: For extra savings, be sure to check in with FourSquare. I believe I got a free beverage at McCade’s with my first check-in. Don’t pass it up!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated but did receive a complimentary meal at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in return for this post. All photos and opinions are 100% my own.

Rustic Log Cabin B&B, Fredericksburg, TX

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Fredericksburg, Texas holds just under 400 bed and breakfasts. That’s right, 400. If you plan on staying in this area, I highly recommend going this route. Not only does it bring comfort but also increases the sense of charm into where you are staying. Fredericksburg has strong and rich heritage and one might as well soak it in the best they can.

Absolute Charm is one of the main companies in town that helps to run the B&B’s (there are a few). Since there are so many B&B’s available, it eases making a reservation and coordinating this part of the trip. The neat thing about it is that you actually have to “go into town” to get your information, directions and keys to where you’ll be staying. To get my keys and directions, I headed to Absolute Charm on the west side of Main Street. I brought a sense of adventure.

To find the building, I was told to look for the quilts. That wasn’t a joke. There were beautiful, detailed quilts hanging outside but once you walk in, it’s taken to an entirely different level. I loved them so much, I had to share a few. You will be tempted to buy one or two. I was handed a folder of information, including directions, information about where I’d be staying and a coupon for my breakfast the next morning. The great thing about the B&B’s is you can choose what you are looking for, within town, outside of town or way out there in the country. There will be something that fits your taste.

My lodging was actually about five to eight minutes outside of town along Highway 290, called Cherry Springs Suite. Conveniently, next to the road leading to Luckenbach (I have a deep love for this place). The location and the type of B&B was right on the money for me. Quiet, country views, log cabin. My room, was adjacent to another room which shared a kitchen area but each room had a private living room, bedroom and full bath. Log cabin detail, with rustic detailing, wooden floors, leather couch, massive king size bed. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Cherry Springs was surrounded by a few other cabins, a small winery and a restaurant. If you were done with driving for the day, you definitely wouldn’t have to drive any further. What you needed was all within walking distance. On the flip side, if you did want to drive out to Luckenbach for some live music or to town for dinner, shopping, etc., it’s definitely within an easy drive.

My stay was convenient, comforting, accommodating, safe and most of all it provided a great feel for the area that I was staying in. If you go to the Hill Country, you want to experience it in every sense, that includes where you are staying.

Related Posts:

An Introduction to Fredericksburg, TX

The Enchanted Rock

History of Fredericksburg, TX

Disclaimer: I was not compensated but did receive one night’s stay at the Cherry Springs Suite in return for this post. All photos and opinions are 100% my own.