Category: Sunday Drive

Sunday Drive – Fredericksburg/Enchanted Rock

January 11, 2015 / Mike Fitch

My last trip to Enchanted Rock was a cold and rainy January day. The Summit Trail was closed due to the wet ground, but we decided to stay and walk around. It was only a couple degrees over freezing and we almost quit before we started. It ended up being a nice hike and we saw a side of the park that I had not experienced before. In a way, it was more interesting. Walking around the perimeter gave me a chance to appreciate the rock formations and natural habitat. Without having a “destination” – we were free to explore at our own pace.

Since Fredricksburg is right around the proverbial corner from Enchanted Rock, we decided to wrap up our day there. The Christmas lights were still on display and it made Main Street an even more charming site that usual. Fredricksburg has a couple too many trinket shops for my taste, but here are a a few things that I’ve found to be interesting over the span of several visits.

Stay – I’ve yet to find a really memorable place, but the Hampton Inn is at least clean and in the middle of the action.

Eat/Drink – Lincoln Street Wine Market is easily my favorite place to hang out. Nice atmosphere and the staff does a great job of making you feel at home. If you’d rather hang out on Main Street and watch the world go by, Silver Creek is a solid choice.

Do – The National Museum of the Pacific War is a surprisingly well done center for being in a small town. And I can’t vouch for much of the shopping, but It’s a Glow is a neat little shop worth dropping in to check out their honeycomb calcite pieces. I’m just hoping my Happy Stone lives up to its name. Here’s to a year of travel and new adventures.

Happy 2015

Sunday Drive – Houston

December 7, 2014 / Mike Fitch

Yeah – I know what you are thinking. Houston?? Blah. Unless you grew up there – or maybe even if you did – it might not be the first place you think about for getting away. Indulge me for a minute. Houston isn’t actually one place – it’s lots of little places. Give it a fair shot and I promise you’ll find a few you like. Among the urban sprawl and endless miles of highway – you’ll also find a world of museums, restaurants, & entertainment.

Houston is almost literally a blank canvas that you can paint the way you like. More often than not, you’ll find me calling The Magnolia Hotel my home away from home. There are lots of interesting places to wet your whistle, but a new discovery for me was the Nouveau Antique Art Bar in downtown, where the ceiling full of reproduction Tiffany lamps provides a unique backdrop. And given enough time, I’ll almost always try to sneak in at least one lunch at Goode Company Taqueria.

So, while it might not be Paris or Rome – or even your favorite place in Texas – Houston can be a great place to go exploring. Stay off the freeway and go find a neighborhood that appeals to your sensibilities (or lack thereof). And if you find yourself in the mood for some Vietnamese Crawfish...yeah they have that too.

Sunday Drive – San Antonio

October 5, 2014 / Mike Fitch

When I was a kid – we would occasional pile into the car on a Sunday afternoon and go for a drive. While the experience may not have been unique to my family, it was one of my first exposures to the concept of exploration and travel. Recently, I’ve resumed the practice of taking a Sunday drive as time permits. San Antonio is great spot for a mini-break from Austin without having to travel far.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way right off the bat. The River Walk is a tourist trap. It’s full of mediocre Tex-Mex restaurants willing to be the backdrop in the play. On the bright side, you can walk without destination in mind and be content just being in the moment. And because it’s a essentially a tourist/convention district – weekends provides ample supply of hotels for any taste at a reasonable price tag.

There are very few places I can earnestly recommend, but I’ve found a few spots that are comfortable and find their way on my regular rotation. The service at Ostra is always prompt and friendly. The bar is quiet enough that it’s easy to strike up a conversation with whatever (typically eccentric) character ends up on the bar stool next to yours. For reasons I can’t fully explain – Mi Tierra has become my touchstone in San Antonio and no trip is complete without a visit.

Hotels are obviously a matter of personal taste. Everyone should get a river view room at La Mansion Del Rio at least once. It might not be the nicest, but it’s quintessential River Walk lodging. My personal favorite is the Hotel Valencia. It’s a quirky boutique hotel and perhaps not for every taste, but it’s a nice place that’s right on the river while being off the beaten path enough to avoid the bulk of the crowds (and noise).

Oh….and Remember The Alamo. It is why you came after all – right?