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Hill Country Bluebonnets are Coming!

Monday, March 18th, 2013

“The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland.” – Jack Maguire

Indeed, the bluebonnets of Texas have made their way into the symbolism and lore of our great state. Along with being the state flower, bluebonnets were believed to be messengers from the heavens by the Native American tribes of Texas. Their seeds were strewn throughout missions by early Spanish priests. This lead to the mis-belief that the Spanish brought the flower with them to the New World. However, two different varietals of the flower are native to Texas and found no other place on earth.

Hill Country Bluebonnet Tours

See fields like this during peak Bluebonnet Season in Texas Hill Country, from late March to early April.

Peak bluebonnet season is late March to early April. So make sure to plan your trip soon!
Although there are many driving routes, sometimes called bluebonnet trails, throughout the state, a good place to start is near the city of Burnet, which is known as the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas. Burnet is roughly 40 miles northwest of Austin. Follow Hwy 29 west out of Burnet for 3-1/2 miles, then turn right (north) on Ranch Road (RR) 234 and follow it about 6 miles. Turn left on Graphite Mine Road, which will eventually meet up with Hwy 29 again. Turn left on Hwy 29 to return to Burnet.

A variation of this drive will give you different but equally spectacular views of bluebonnets and a view of Lake Buchanan. Follow TX Hwy 29 west and again turn right on RR 234. If you stay on this road, you’ll have 15 miles of vistas before it finally dead-ends. You can return via the same route or make the turn on Graphite Mine Road.

If you want to see even more of the Hill Country, simply stay on TX Hwy 29 west all the way to Llano, a distance of about 30 miles. In Llano, turn left (south) on TX Hwy 16 and follow it to Fredericksburg (39 miles). In Fredericksburg, turn left (east) on U.S. Hwy 290 and follow it 32 miles to Johnson City, then follow U.S. Hwy 281 north 37 miles to Burnet.

Hill Country Lodging

We have member bed and breakfasts all over Texas Hill Country. Make your bluebonnet tour an overnight or weekend event! Plus, innkeepers can guide you to little known bluebonnet fields or hikes in their region with amazing views.

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Texas Hill Country Events: Live Music

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

The Hill Country has beautiful scenery dotted with idyllic small towns. Each small town has something that makes it unique and special. For this blog post, we are going to talk about some of the live music events in the Hill Country for the beginning of December. Remember, the quiet and serene nature of this part of Texas does not change, regardless of the season.

Hill Country Live Music in December

Cowboy Capital Opry – Tuesday December 4, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Silver Sage Corral Senior Center in Bandera.
This is Grand Ol’ Opry style entertainment. There is lots of good country western music and fiddle playing. Refreshments will be available and door prizes given away. $5.00 per adult; $12.00 family. Find a bed and breakfast near Bandera Texas

Suzy Bogguss – Thursday December 6, Uptown Marble Theater in Marble Falls. (more…)

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Fredericksburg, TX 4th of July 2012 Celebrations

Friday, June 29th, 2012
Celebrate July 4th in Fredericksburg, TX

Celebrate July 4th in Fredericksburg, TX

While you’re staying in the Fredericksburg bed & breakfast inns of the Texas Hill Country, don’t miss out on the local 4th of July events.

The charming and historic town of Fredericksburg pulls out all the stops for their 4th of July celebrations. In the great tradition of patriotic small American towns everywhere, local folks work together to make something for the whole community to enjoy. In Fredericksburg, the contributions of loyal sponsors, volunteers donating hours of time and enthusiastic townspeople make for an unforgettable Hill Country Texas Independence Day.

On Wednesday, July 4, 2012 Fredericksburg celebrates with a full day of events:

8:00 am: The day’s 4th of July activities open with the Children’s Parade held at the Fredericksburg Marketplatz, 100 Main Street.

If you want to watch the parade, you’ll want to arrive before the 10 a.m. start to claim a good spot. The 2012 Fredericksburg Independence Day Parade route starts at the Gillespie County Courthouse at 101 W. Main. Except for a U-turn on Washington, the route mostly follows Main Street until it ends at Bowie. Since it pretty much loops around on the same street, the parade runs east and west at the same time which is a terrific way to see a parade!

10:00 am: An aircraft flyover will mark the start of the parade. Enjoy marching bands, a procession of army tanks, red white & blue riders on horseback, shimmering floats and smiles all around. This is truly a great American parade and fun for the whole family!

11:00 am: The Patriotic Program at the Marketplatz begins after the parade is done. Enjoy patriotic tunes by the Sentimental Journey Orchestra. The award-winning Fredericksburg Theater Company will also entertain the crowd with 4th of July-themed performances. During the Patriotic Program, buy your drinks and goodies at the Marketplatz concession stand and the proceeds will support the Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation Foundation.

11:00 am – 6:00 pm: What Texas Independence Day would be complete without a chili contest? For only $5, you can sample the delicious entries at Becker Vineyards‘ Chili Cookoff. At 2:00 p.m., the judges will have the difficult job of selecting the winning chili. While you’re there, you’ll also want to taste Becker Vineyards award-winning Hill Country Texas wines. The vineyard also features three acres of beautiful lavender fields. Sip your wine and enjoy the fragrant view.

The day’s festivities wrap up at Lady Bird Johnson Park just east of the Gillespie County Airport:

7:00 pm: Top Flight, a pop music ensemble of the United States Air Force Band of the West, will play classic rock, R&B, country and other popular music in the Pioneer Pavillion.

Once It’s Dark: Let the show begin! Ooh and ahh to the loud booms and bright lights of the Fredericksburg Fireworks.

After the festivities are over, return to your home away from home at a Texas Hill Country bed and breakfast inn.

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Hill Country in Spring = Flowers

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

The Texas Hill Country in Spring means one thing and one thing along: wildflowers. Surround yourself with glory. Spend some time this spring in a Hill Country Bed and Breakfast.

Hill Country farmhouse with bluebonnets

A Hill Country farmhouse surrounded by bluebonnets.

Bluebonnets are blooming now, and should peak in a week or two. When bluebonnets fade, they are quickly replaced by red Texas Paintbrush, pink and yellow Indian Blankets, and cheerful yellow Greenthreads. Fields fill with rich, purple Winecups, yellow Primrose, Prairie Verbena, and more.

Texas wildflowers

Sunshiny wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country.

Travel the Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail through Brady, Burnet, Early, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Llano, Mason and San Saba. Keep an eye out for blooming Prickly Pear Cactus, tall Yarrow-Milfoil, and delicate Flax and Antelope Horns. Look for Mexican Poppies, Phlox, and Lemon Mint.

Chappell Hill Texas

Texas is glorious in the spring.

Yes, the Hill Country of Texas blooms each spring. The air is thick with the fragrance of flowers. It can fill a heart with joy for months.

Hill Country B&Bs welcome flower lovers this spring. Give yourself over to delight.

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Horseback Riding in the Hill Country

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Do you dream of mounting a horse and cantering off across a field in Texas? Can you imagine the scent of the tall grass, the feel of the reins in your hands, the rush of air against your cheeks? Yes? Then it’s time for a horseback riding vacation in Texas.

Horseback riding vacations in Texas

Make your dream come true. Go horseback riding in the Texas Hill Country.

Many of our Texas Bed and Breakfasts offer horseback riding. Some have horseback riding on site, as does Blisswood Bed and Breakfast in Cat Spring and 9E Ranch B&B near Smithville and Bastrop. Others, like McCardell Cottage in Livingston, can help guests locate riding opportunities. McCardell Cottage is near Lake Livingston State Park.

Many of us don’t have the opportunity to ride horses very often. We live in cities, and perhaps it’s not a priority. Yet it calls to us. Something seems so wonderfully freeing about horseback riding across a field or down a trail. The very thought conjures images of that American icon, the cowboy. If you’ve been horseback riding, you know what we mean. If you’ve never had the pleasure, you know you want to try it.

The Texas Hill Country is a wonderful place to ride horses. The land is lovely, the weather mild. Think about it, and then find a Texas Bed and Breakfast with (or near) horseback riding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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October is Texas Wine Month Trail

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Wine Cellar

The Wine Cellar at Spicewood Vineyards.

Wine tasting weekends in the Texas Hill Country are always fun. We hear all about it, for many wine tasters lodge in Hill Country Texas Bed and Breakfasts.

At the wineries, couples sit elbow to elbow sniffing, swilling, and searching for the most accurate description of the wines.  Friends turn wine tasting weekends into more social events, but still enjoy the tasting. Wine tasting can even be interesting and fun for solo travelers.

Yet in truth, wine tasting can become a bit tiring if too much of it is crammed into one weekend. While anyone can appreciate wine at one Texas Hill Country Winery, it takes a certain endurance to be able to appreciate the contents of the glass at, say, the fifth winery of the day.

The solution? Spread out the wine tasting.

October is Texas Wine Month Trail in the Hill Country. For $15/person, budding and seasoned oenophiles may taste wines at 27 wineries. In addition, participants will receive discounts on purchases. It’s worth the price of admission, and it’s worth visiting as many wineries as possible. It’s also worth taking your time.

There are 45 Texas Hill Country Bed and Breakfasts in our Texas B&B Association, scattered throughout the region from Kerrville to Dripping Springs, Brownwood to Boerne. Many of them are close to wineries. Take your time. Visit a winery, relax at a nearby Hill Country Texas Bed and Breakfast, and after a sumptuous meal the next morning, visit another winery.

Hopping from one winery to the next, one B&B to another – what a delightful way to spend the rest of October.

Additional information about Texas Wine Month Trail may be found at Texas Wine Trail.

 

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Hill Country Harvest Wine Trail

Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Grape Harvest

Celebrate the grape harvest in the Texas Hill Country.

The end of the grape growing season in the Texas Hill Country is celebrated the weekends of August 5-7 and August 12-14 with the 2011 Harvest Wine Trail. This is a great time to tour vineyards, meet vintners, and taste wine. Hill Country Texas Bed and Breakfasts welcome oenophiles!

The grape harvest is traditionally a celebratory event. It’s hard work, to be sure, and it needs to be completed in a timely manner. Everyone lends a hand, from farm hands to farm owners. This is when the most exciting aspect of wine making occurs – the crush – and folks on the 2011 Harvest Wine Trail will be well placed to witness it.

Each winery visit includes 1 to 3 complimentary tastes of wine and a 15% discount on certain purchases of three bottles or more. When you purchase your ticket, you’ll also receive a gift of Kerrygold cheeses. Pick it up at the winery of your choice and bring it with you as you taste, for nothing compliments wine quite like smooth, flavorful cheese.

There are nine Texas wineries in and around Fredericksburg, making Fredericksburg an ideal choice of lodging while you enjoy the 2011 Harvest Wine Trail. Yet there are Hill Country Texas Bed and Breakfasts throughout the area, in Comfort, Boerne, Marble Falls, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and elsewhere. Many are close to at least one of the wineries on the trail. Use one as a base, or wander from one Texas Bed and Breakfast to the next.

Additional information about the Harvest Wine Trail is available at Texas Hill Country Wineries.

27 wineries participate in the Harvest Wine Trail. Please pace yourself or have a designated driver.

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Top Texas Hill Country Restaurants

Saturday, May 28th, 2011

Finding great restaurants is one of the joys of traveling. Fortunately, there is no shortage of good food in the Texas Hill Country. Be sure to ask the innkeepers of your Texas Hill Country Bed and Breakfast for a list of their favorite spots to eat, and read on for few suggestions.

Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett likes the food at the Blue Bonnet Cafe.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas, has been serving tasty food since 1929. Locals and tourists alike line up for the Chicken Fried Steak and the wonderful, freshly baked pies. If it was good enough for President George W. Bush, singer Lyle Lovett, and former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach, there is a good chance you’ll like it, too.

The Hill Top Café is about ten miles outside of Fredericksburg, TX. It is said that the Hill Top is about love; “love of food, music, family, and friends.” You’ll love the food and the music, and you’ll feel like a friend by the end of the meal. It is worth driving out of your way to dine at the Hill Top Café.

Try The Creek Restaurant in Boerne, TX. Start with the Crab Fingers, and then move on to the Grilled Semi Boneless Quail or the Balsamic Glazed Seared Duck Breast. A glass of wine from the extensive wine list will make the meal complete.

Breakfast should always be enjoyed at your Hill Country Bed and Breakfast, whether in Fredericksburg, Marble Falls or Boerne.

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Cycling through the Hill Country

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Spring is a delightful time to cycle through the Texas Hill Country. Bluebonnets and wildflowers are blooming, and traffic is light. Cycle on gently rolling country, quiet roads between Texas wineries, charming towns, or Hill Country Bed and Breakfasts.

Cycle along Ranch Road 1 (RR1) from Fredericksburg to Stonewall – one of the flattest routes in the Hill Country. It’s about 17 miles one way – perfect if you start at a Fredericksburg Bed and Breakfast and end up at a Stonewall Bed and Breakfast.

Cycle the Texas Hill Country this spring.

 

Cycle the Hill Country Traditional, a 36 mile loop that locals affectionately call “Little Switzerland”. You will definitely look forward to relaxing at your Fredericksburg Bed and Breakfast at the end of that route!

Additional Hill Country bike routes are available at Cycle Texas.

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Texas Wildflower Days

Monday, March 21st, 2011

March 14 through May 31, 2011 are celebrated as Wildflower Days in the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas. Green grasslands and fields are transformed into a shimmering blue as bluebonnets blossom. The road beckons at this time of year; we feel compelled to hop on a bike or drive with the windows open, delighting in spring blooms and the fresh fragrance of spring.

It's spring! Come see the Texas wildflowers.

Follow the wildflowers.

Travel itineraries at this time of year tend to be built around what is blooming. A good place to start is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, at the University of Texas at Austin. The Gardens are expansive and diverse, showcasing gracious Live Oaks, large Mountain Laurel, and of course meadows full of Central Texas wildflowers. Before you leave, stop by the store to see the current exhibit, Ken Moore Bluebonnets, through May 30. His colorful oil paintings are a nice way to keep bluebonnets forever in bloom on your walls.

After learning a bit about the wildflowers native to Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country, take to the road. Traverse the Texas Hill Country, staying in Bed and Breakfasts from New Braunfels to El Dorado, Marble Falls to Boerne. Then head into Central Texas, over to Brenham and up to Madisonville. Enjoy lodging in a number of Central Texas Bed and Breakfasts and Hill Country Bed and Breakfasts as you go.

Additional information about Texas wildflowers may be found at Wildflowers in the Hill Country.

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