For those of you who know my wife and I, it is no surprise we headed out to Texas Wine Country. I am pleased to say we got much more than just a few good glasses of wine. Fredericksburg, TX is an absolutely amazing town. Now we didn't see many colors in Fredricksburg, but it was nice to see green lush hills and great wooded areas. It was a great break from the busy city.
Our weekend started with one night in downtown Austin. Thanks to my amazing Mom and Dad, we had a top floor suite with a giant balcony over looking the State Capitol. We enjoyed our beautiful night view with a bottle of Champagne and a cheese platter before heading out to 6th Street for dinner and drinks. I must say, a vegetarian dinner and my first absinthe drink couldn't have come from a better restaurant: Peche! If you are ever in Austin, this is a must stop!
Thanks to the All Seaon's Collection, our next two nights were spent in absolute bliss at the Messina Hoff B&B. This quaint beautiful little cabin came with an amazingly soft King Bed and amazing space that we got to spend what little time we did in our room. Fredericksburg had an amazing amount of things to do, so much time in the room wasn't necessary.
One of the funnest moments of our trip was our Whiskey and Wine tour. We spent the day with two other couples enjoying some well crafted local whiskey and wines made right here in Texas. It is always a wonderful experience when you can bond with complete strangers. We ended the trip by exchanging information in hopes that we will one day enjoy some more fine adult beverages and catch up. Our first stop on the tour was the Garrison Brother's Distillery. This was a great experience for both myself and Rachel. It was our first Distillery tour and I wouldn't have it any other way. The people behind the making of this Bourbon have a true passion for what they do. It was truly inspiring just listening to them talk for an hour or so. Letting us into their daily life of a Bourbon maker was an honor. This really set the stage for the rest of the day. We got to see beautiful green flowing hills and wonderfully planted vineyards for the next 5 hours. It was really an amazing first time in Fredericksburg and we cannot wait to go back!
Our second day in Fredericksburg we decided to take a hike at LBJ State Park. The park didn't have an abundance of hiking trails, but we did get to enjoy about 2 miles or so of beautiful forestry. The rest of the park was LBJ's Ranch which you drive through. While this might sound a little lame, the scenery and views you get once you get to the top are amazing. If you ever happen to pass by the park, take the drive and experience an amazing Ranch.
I have recently been overcome with a slight fear of ill prepared foods. I don't know why, but meats tend to give me a little anxiety at times. That aside, we were determined to try some authentic German cuisine from the town of Fredericksburg, TX. So we chose none other than the most talked about place in town, Otto's. Now if you are like us, you think Otto is a person, well, it is actually a duck. Don't let that change your mind though, this food was absolutely amazing. My wife and I had the Wurst and Gnocchi for our dinner with the amazing Flammkuchen for an appetizer. I would highly recommend this same set up for any couple's first try. I know my wife and I will definitely be revisiting to try some more delicious dishes from Otto's.
One thing my wife and I like to do is walk around and explore. Fredericksburg offers an amazing Main Street to walk up and down. You can really get to know the town from what it has to offer. It has a lot of great stores and boutiques. I highly suggest taking a walk whether its during the night or the day and just enjoy it. Although the stores might be closed if you go too late!
Where will you take your next adventure?