Category Archives: Travel

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

Lost Draw Cellars – Where You Want Everyone to Know Your Name

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There’s something that I love about visiting any brewery, winery/vineyard/cellar or distillery – it’s the people. For me, getting to know the people behind a name provides a deeper meaning into the heart of their product. I’ve noticed that some of my favorite conversations come from people I’ve met in locations such as these. Lost Draw Cellars is in this list.

The morning we visited Lost Draw Cellars, I left blown away and I’m not referring to a buzz from the wine. This wasn’t the typical tasting. Yes, the wine was phenomenal but the conversation and inspiration really kicked it up a notch. I met a man named Troy, who soon became my favorite person in Fredericksburg. Troy is one of three partners in Lost Draw Cellars and more importantly a man of the community which shines through in Lost Draw Cellars. A sixth generation Fredericksburg community member, his family helped found Fredericksburg and he believes in creating and keeping the community close. This isn’t just a business, he cares about each and every person that walks through the doors and brings a new level of honesty and integrity.

Lost Draw Cellars opened in 2014 – not that long ago. In that short time, they’ve won numerous awards including those from the San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Rodeo, Lone Star International and the Battle of the Texas Tempranillos (1st place in 2014) and had two wines featured in Texas Monthly’s Best Wines of 2015. That’s pretty impressive for being open for less than two years. Needless to say, their wines are spectacular. There has got to be something great going on when you’re coming out of the gates that strong.

Located a short distance from Main Street, Lost Draw is part of the Urban Wine Trail. Why leave the comfort of town when tastings are within walking distance?! Upon entering Lost Draw, one notices the details. First, it may the old fuel pump by the back wall or the windmill on the ceiling, the photos of family, friends and the operation on the walls. Inside, there is a sitting room and outside there is a large patio area for events and sunny days.

During our visit, we tasted six different wine and had an incredible conversation with Troy and Matt about how Lost Draw came to be. (Read more about their history here.) The grapes are grown in Brownfield, Texas, southwest of Lubbock on a 250-acre vineyard (one of the largest producers in the state). 75% of the states grapes are grown in this county. In 2012, Troy and his two partners Andy Timmons and Andrew Sides joined forces and started the vineyard. In 2014, Lost Draw Cellars opened and the rest is history.

Tastings:
2013 Gemütlichkeit “People gathered will have good fellowship / a good time.” Welcome to Lost Draw Cellars. This is the basis of their community and the goal when visiting the location, bringing together history, tradition and community.
2014 Viognier
2014 Arroyo Rosé – a dry rosé, not as sweet as a typical rosé but perfect for those warm Texas summer evenings. Featured on Texas Monthly’s Best Wines of 2015 list.
2013 Arroyo Rojo
2012 Tempranillo
2013 Sangiovese – 2nd wine featured on Texas Monthly’s Best Wines of 2015 list.

My personal favorites were the Voignier and the Arroyo Rojo, followed by the Arroyo Rosé and the Tempranillo. Well, let’s just say I loved every single wine we tried. Each brought a new aroma and body fit for the perfect day.

When visiting you’ll notice the details. The cabinets are made from wooden barrels, the mason jar with a blue ribbon from the Gillespie County Fair (ask Troy about this one for sure), the gas pump and the chalkboard on the wall.

The Pour it Forward chalkboard is one of my favorite aspects about Lost Draw Cellars – it’s holding onto the theme of bringing in the community. Buy a glass and pour it forward. Leave a name or description of who you’d like to leave a glass for – perhaps someone specific such as Diana from Down Home Traveler (hint, hint) or the next teacher, veteran or firefighter that comes in.

Come claim your glass!! I left a glass for the next Vermonter and I’m really curious to see how long that stays on the board so someone please let me know!

When in Fredericksburg, head to Lost Draw Cellars first.
The hardest decision that you’ll make is picking which one to bring home.

Lost Draw Cellars
113 E. Park St.
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
www.lostdrawcellars.com

For more information on our trip to Fredericksburg and what there is to do, see my previous post: 48 Hours in Fredericksburg, Texas

48 Hours in Fredericksburg, Texas

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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.

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!

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!

3:30pm – Shop 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…

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

12:30pm – Luckenbach 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)!

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!

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.

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.