Texas: Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock

HOUSEKEEPING...knock knock knock...It is 8:00 am and she is making sure that we are awake. HOUSEKEEPING...so much for sleeping in at the Hojo. On the other hand, I might have missed breakfast and that was really yummy. The other two were able to rest some more so I blogged and generally entertained myself until 11:00. Then, it was off to walk Fredericksburg.

This town is very German in flavour. There are Bavarian style buildings and architechure. They even have some signage in German. Right here in the heart of agricultural Texas, you can have your beer and schnitzel, sausage and saurkraut. Most importantly though, there are wine tastings every other block and an incredible Chocolatier. If that doesn't suit you, then find the sellers of mustards, hot sauces or flavored butters. Free samples are everywhere. At first take, it really did feel like the town for "foodies".

On closer inspection, there is a quaint charm to this twon. In addition to walking to the historic markers, you can visit gift shops with some extraordinary wares. I was particularly taken with shoes that were art works in their own right. If you want to make a fashion statement, I am sure you could find your clothes here. It is much harder to find a bottle of water.

Glorious Shoes!

The place to find amazing chocolate

We ate lunch at a German restaurant before walking back up the other side of the street. We looked at more shoes, incredible clothes and prowled through a brief farmers market. Then, it was back to the hotel to read and relax by the pool. After finding out housekeeping didn't want to clean our room after all, we had the lovely lady at the front desk hand us some new towels and off we went.

However, we also wanted to go to Enchanted Rock so at 6:15, we piled back into our rental and cruised out of town. There were stunning vistas of farm land and once at the Enchanted Rock (which looks like a pink dome) we explored. We found lizards and the largest grasshopper I have ever seen. It is very beautiful with wonderful trails. I could definately get used to Texas...but then, I didn't run into a rattler either.

Picnic area at Enchanted Rock

Biggest hopper ever!

We came back into town at sunset. The hills rolled away and we pulled into Hondos for dinner. The music shortly changed our minds so we crossed over and had delicious steak instead. Today was fantastic. I would recommend visiting here to anyone!

Fredericksburg on Dwellable

ALHFAM TEXAS: Museum Snapshots

It is midnight on the Farmer's Branch Horizon. The buses have pulled in from Grapeville where we had the annual auction that was mercilessly interrupted by severe weather warnings and an amazing light show in the form of lightening strikes. The thunder has rippled across the prairie sky, but back in Farmer's Branch, the rain has yet to sweep in.

The best way to describe to day is Museum Snapshots. As a group, we toured the Dallas and Fort Worth highways to find as many museums as possible. I think you can say we succeeded. Since I am incredibly tired, but didn't want to delay the blog, I am going to revert to my list and brief comment style.

1. Texas Civil War Museum - This museum has some of the most incredible artifacts. There was a silver sword that belonged to Ulysses Grant, medical kits, and some amazing period dresses. It is a very complete Civil War collection.
2. Fort Worth Stockyards - This place had several points of interest.
a) The Herd Cattle Drive (slow and sultry)
b) The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum - some of the most amazing wagons and highlights the careers of significant rodeo specialists.
c) The World Class Rodeo exhibit and cattle show - features more rodeo history.
d) The Stockyard Museum - seems to be thin on rodeo stuff but had the most incredible chair.
3.The Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum - this one was my favorite for the photography and the interactives. You too could be part of your own poster.
4. Museum of Science and History - very child friendly and covered QR codes with the freedom riders, grossology, oil development and dinosaurs.
5. Cattle Raisers Museum - long horn cows and their relationship with the cowboy
6. Nash Farm - beautiful building and working farm.
7. The Cotton Gin Museum - stories of the cotton industry
8. The School House Museum in Grapevine - talks about schools in the region and Texas
9. The Grapevine City History Museum - The history of the city.
10. The Grapevine Railway Station exhibit. - An eccletic mixture of very interesting stuff.

Fort Worth on Dwellable