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AUSTIN
The heart of the
Lone
Star
State
is the Hill Country region,
Austin is the jewel of the region and host to many outstanding
attractions and points of interest. History buffs can enjoy
Bob
Bullock
Texas
State
History
Museum
for a dynamic educational experience. The Story of Texas is shown
through a variety of programs and exhibits. Three floors of interactive
exhibits chronicle the region’s first inhabitants and early explores;
the fight for independence; and 20th century contributions to
space, industry and technology. 512-936-8746
866-369-7108 www.thestoryoftexas.com
Austin
bills itself as “live music capital of the world.” This is no idle
boast considering the numerous musical events held year-round. Downtown
is packed with bars, restaurants and intimate music venues where
everything from blues to country to punk rock can be heard.
SAN MARCOS
Situated between
San Antonio
and
Austin
,
San Marcos
remains a world away from the hustle bustle of big city life. From
tubing down the leisurely current of the
San Marcos
River
to bargain hunting at beautifully landscaped outlet malls, or exploring
an earthquake-formed cave and ride to the peak of the 110-foot
Tejas
observation
Tower
at Wonder World, here you will experience the beauty of the Texas Hill
Country. www.sanmarcostexas.com
One of the most outstanding attractions is
Aquarena
Center
. Glass-bottom boats take visitors over the San Marcos Springs, which
produce 150 million gallons of artesian water a day. This ride
introduces visitors to an excavation site from which artifacts dating as
far back as 12,000 years have been recovered. The Natural Aquarium
displays endangered species, and a 5,400 gallon tank is home to native
fish. A wetlands walkway is a great place for bird watching. There are
several nature trails and historic sites on the grounds.
512-245-7570
FREDERICKSBURG
German farmers settled
Fredericksburg
in 1846. Restoration and preservation are evident.
Fredericksburg
is considered one of the most attractive small towns in
Texas
. Many of the older buildings retain traditional German style, German is
still spoken occasionally and old customs are regularly observed.
www.fredericksburg-texas.com
One of the main attractions is a 9-acre complex,
National
Museum
of the Pacific War. The men and women who served in the Pacific and on
the home front are honored here. The museum features artifacts from
Pearl Harbor, Midway, Guadalcanal, the Mariana Islands and
Philippines
. Visitors can step into history in the George Bush Gallery, which
includes life-size exhibits such as the deck of the USS Hornet and a
fortified Japanese cave.
The
Admiral
Nimitz
Museum
chronicles the career of Chester W. Nimitz, commander-in-chief of the
Pacific Theater, born in
Fredericksburg
in 1885. The museum is housed in the restored steamboat-shaped hotel
built by Nimitz’s German grandfather in the 1850s. 830-997-4379
830-997-7269 www.nimitz-museum.org
The Fredericksburg Herb farm is a beautiful organic
herb garden. It has a tearoom, candle shop, day spa and retail area to
sell the herbs. www.fredericksburgherbfarm.com
The Butterfly Ranch is an educational experience
enjoyed by children of all ages. It specializes in Monarch and native
butterflies and is located in historic Loeffler-Weber House built in
1846. www.livebutterfly.com
Another attraction is Pioneer Museum Complex. The
1849 stone house with eight furnished rooms with a wine cellar served as
a pioneer house and store in 1920s. Other buildings include log cabin,
one-room-schoolhouse, a barn, fire museum, an authentic Sunday House and
a Victorian-style home. 830-990-8441
www.pioneermuseum.com
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area has a massive
dome of solid granite famed in Indian legend; said to be the site of
human sacrifices, some tribes feared to set foot on it; others used
height as rallying point; all held it in awe and reverence. Indians
believed ghost fires flickered on the crest on moonlit nights. A
National Natural Landmark, the dome is about 640 acres; 500 feet high.
Open year-round for hiking, rock climbing and rappelling as well as
picnicking in designated areas. This park is home to the second largest
granite outcrop in the
USA
. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/enchanted
Sauer Beckman Farm is a living history homestead
offering a glimpse into the farm family of a century ago in the Hill
Country. www.tpwd.stste.tx.us/park/LBJ
The nation’s largest working wildflower farm is approximately 7 miles
east of
Fredericksburg
. Wildflowers bloom from early spring through late fall.
The meadows” at the Wildseed farm features a 3,000 square-foot live
“Butterfly Haus”; more than 80 acres of flower fields, gorgeous
display gardens and colorful walking trail.
830-990-1393 www.wildseedfarm.com
STONEWALL
This Central Texas village is west of
Austin
established in 1870 and named for General Stonewall Jackson. This small
town is famous for LBJ Ranch, home of the late president Lyndon B.
Johnson.
Lyndon
B.
Johnson
National
Historical
Park
includes the LBJ Ranch. The tour begins at the LBJ State park Visitor
Center and includes the reconstructed Johnson birthplace, the family
cemetery and final resting place of the President, ranch show barn
areas, the one-room Junction schoolhouse, the Texas White House and a
drive across the 600-acre ranch. In the spring and summer, wildflowers,
so beloved by the former first lady, accent the picturesque countryside.
830-868-7128, ext. 231 or 244
www.nps.gov/ly10
Becker Vineyards is a rising star on the
Texas
wine scene and currently boasts some of the best wines in
Texas
. Becker Vineyards is a reproduction of a 19th-century German
stone barn and houses the winery and tasting rooms. There are 46 acres
of grapevines in production. The acres of lavender field blooms in
May/June. 830-644- 2681
www.beckervineyards.com
BANDERA
Founded in 1882 as a cypress shingle camp and site
of a Mormon Colony established in 1854, Bandera is one of the oldest
Polish communities in the
US
. It’s an authentic Western town surrounded by both working and guest
ranches and bills itself a “Cowboy Capital of the World.” Rodeos are
held at least twice weekly Memorial Day to Labor Day. www.tourtexas.com/bandera
www.banderacowboycapital.com
We visited Twin Elm Guest Ranch and Mayan Guest
Ranch. These were equipped
with all the modern conveniences.
Frontier
Times
Museum
housed Old West relics, Western art and antiques, plus Indian artifacts.
The variety of items range from centuries-old Chinese temple bells to
Buffalo Bill Wild West posters.
IF YOU GO
Accommodations:
Crystal
River
Inn
B & B
, a romantic 1883 Victorian Inn and garden complex
San Marcos
,
Texas
888-396-3739
Fredericksburg Inn and
Suites 830
-
997-0200
Tourist information:
Austin CVB
512-474-5171; 800/GO-Austin; www.austintexas.org
San
Marcos CVB
512-393-5900; 888-200-5620; www.toursanmarcos.com
Fredericksburg CVB
830-997-6523; 888-997-3600; www.fredericksburg-texas.com
Bandera County CVB
830-796-3045; 800-364-3833;
www.banderacowboycapital.com
Texas
www.TravelTex.com
No matter where you go, or what you do, you’re sure to find friendly
faces and hospitality like you’ve never experienced before. So, have a
great time in the lone
Star
State
.
GRAPEVINE
Grapevine is one of the oldest settlements in
Texas
, originating under the Lone Star Flag in 1844, or before statehood. The
settlement’s namesake was the tart and wild mustang grapes, which grew
so abundantly in the area. Grapevine celebrates its history with an
extensive restoration project, recognized by the National Register of
Historic Places.
Grapevine,
Texas
is a charming setting for both business and leisure visitors. Located
within the city limits is Dallas/Fort Worth
International airport. This city is located 21 miles northwest of
Dallas
and 19 northeast of
Fort Worth
. Shoppers find bargains galore at Grapevine Mills Mall and the Bass Pro
Shops. Grapevine Mills Mall
has over 200 irresistible stores, theaters and restaurants,
www.grapevinemills.com
972-724-4900. 817-410-3185;
Bass Pro Shops “Outdoor World” has only the finest outdoor
products available anywhere. www.basspro.com
800-457-6338; www.grapevinetexasusa.com
The city’s annual Grapefest celebration is held
the second weekend in September and in 2003, it was selected as one of
the “Top 100” events in
North America
by American Bus Association. It is the largest wine festival in the
Southwest.
Texas
wine growing industry is now the fifth largest in the country. Over half
of
Texas
wineries participate in Grapefest in some form.
Come to Grapefest to listen to live music; get into
the action at the competitive Grape-stomp as you stomp grapes for the
coveted Purple Foot Award; savor the flavor of award-winning Texas
wines; cast your vote at People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic; visit
Grapevines winery tasting rooms via complimentary shuttle and enjoy fine
wines and great food at a gourmet food/wine pairing pavilion, And there
are cooking demonstrations and award-winning chefs and more.
We visited Delaney Vineyards and Winery in a
picture-perfect setting nestled comfortably near groves of century-old
live oaks. This working winery is styled after an 18th-century
French Vineyard. It features a 5,000 square-feet Grand Barrel Room with
soaring vaulted ceiling, warm wood architecture, and beautiful vintage
French oak casks. 817-481-5668
www.delaneyvineyards.com
We also visited Cross Timbers Winery and Tasting
Room located in one of
Grapevine’s historic homesteads, the Brock Farmhouse.
817-488-6789
Offsite festival events enhanced Grapefest
experience. More than 140 rare Italian cars and motorcycles were on
display at Cross Timbers Winery. www.italiancarfest.com
We visited La Bodega Winery at D/FW International
airport Terminal D. Skilled wine consultants educate customers on the
intricacies of wine while providing a multi-sensory encounter in wine
tasting .La Bodega means “wine cellar” in Spanish. They have earned
the reputation of being an ‘ambassador to the world” for the
Texas
wine industry. www.labodegawinery.com
972-973-WINE.
Texas
is the fifth largest wine producer in the
US
and 95% of the wine produced in
Texas
is consumed in
Texas
.
Grapevine’s vintage railroad is timeless in
appeal. The 1896 steam locomotive chugs its way along the even older
tracks of the former Cotton Belt line, the remnants of an ambitious plan
to build a railroad from
St. Louis
to
Mexico City
. That project was never completed but “Puffy” still runs 21 miles
from Grapevine to Fort Worth Stockyards and back pulling 1920s Victorian
coaches. During its two-hour Stockyards visit, the train travels the
scenic 10-mile “Trinity River Run” along historic
Chisholm Trail
. 800-457-6338 ;
817-410-3123 www.gvrr.com
IF YOU GO
Accommodations:
The Grand Hyatt brings a level of sophistication and guest
services unequalled at your average airport hotel. It is located at new
Terminal D of D/FW International airport. It opened July 2005 and
features state-of-the-art accommodations. Access from airport is easy.
800-233-1234; 972-973-1234;
www.granddfw.hyatt.com
Tourist information:
Grapevine CVB
800-457-6338; 817-410-3185;
www.grapevinetexasusa.com
Grapefest
800-457-6338; www.grapevinetexasusa.com/grapefest
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