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Texas Bed & Breakfast Hill Country Adventours: Texas History

April 27th, 2012 by Blair House Inn

Remember the Alamo

Anyone traveling the United States will say once they visit Texas they finally understand “Texas Pride”.  We are a pridefully state with rich history that runs through every river and hill.  Visiting the Hill Country offers an excellent opportunity to enrich your life with Texas History.  Wimberley is centrally located between Austin and San Antonio. 

San Antonio ~

The Alamo is one of the most important land marks in Texas.  This is were we lost our battle with Mexico and ignited a nation to fight.  To step foot on the soil were great men like Davy Crocket, Sam Houston, and Daniel Boone stared fear in the face to fight for honor and property is an honor for anyone.  This is one of the best tours you can find and is the most important monument for any Texan!

The Missions ~ After 10,000 years, the people of South Texas found their cultures, their very lives under attack. In the early 1700s Apache raided from the north, deadly diseases traveled from Mexico, and drought lingered. Survival lay in missions. By entering a mission, they forswore their traditional life to become Spanish.  When visiting San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, plan to spend at least a couple of hours - four hours if you have the time. Free guided tours, movies, and demonstrations are scheduled throughout the week.

Austin ~

State Capitol ~ When planning the building of the State Capitol after joing the Union in 1845, what better way to show our appreciation than replicating the Capitol in Washington DC.  Not only did we choose to build exact, but we all know things are bigger in Texas, and we decided to build one foot higher!  The great nation we live in  has many wonderful States with beautiful capitols and buildings face Washington DC.  The one exception of course is Texas.  Every Texan has the motto in their hearts “Remember the Alamo!” and that is exactly were our capitol faces. 

Texas History Museum ~ The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in downtown Austin, Texas, tells the “Story of Texas” with three floors of interactive exhibits, the special effects show, The Star of Destiny, in the Texas Spirit Theater, and Austin’s only IMAX Theatre, featuring the signature large-format film, Texas: The Big Picture. A 35-foot-tall bronze Lone Star sculpture greets visitors in front of the Museum, and a colorful terrazzo floor in the Museum’s rotunda features a campfire scene with enduring themes from Texas’ past. The Museum also has a Cafe with indoor and outdoor seating and a Museum Store with something for the Texan in everyone.

Texas Hill Country Top Ten Day Trips

April 20th, 2012 by Blair House Inn

Hill Country in blue...

 

Once you have experienced the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, you cannot deny the hold it places on your mind.  With crystal clear streams, majestic giant oak trees, and wildflowers that blanket open fields this is a place that seems to be another country.  Over 5 million visitors come to the Hill Country every year.  Wimberley is located in the beating heart of this enchanting land and offers new wonders and experiences for every kind of traveler. 

We have created our own top ten day trips for the Texas Hill Country that guest can enjoy:

#10 ~ Wimberley Square Shopping ~ Wimberley is full of unique shops that offer traditional and not-so-traditional art and wares. Although the primary shopping areas are clustered around the “Square” and “Olde Towne Plaza”, there are also shops sprinkled throughout other areas. Antiques and Art Galleries are mixed in and anyone is sure to find a dimond in the ruff.  The first Saturday of each month, March through December, Market Days draw visitors from around the state.

Rose-Red Wine...

#9 ~ Texas Wine Trail ~ Texas wineries have a special allure. Each is unique in its setting and personality, a distinctiveness found also in their wines. Wineries throughout the Hill Country offer public tours of their facilities and tastings for individuals and groups. It‘s an enjoyable day trip, weekend escape or vacation destination.  In ever-increasing numbers, consumers are visiting Texas wineries, attending community wine festivals and enjoying
the delicious difference of a fine, Texas vintage.

Colored Olives from Bella Vista

#8 ~ Bella Vista Olive Ranch ~ Located in the hill country of Wimberley, Texas. Designed to reflect a traditional Italian family farm, the ranch is home to over 1,200 producing olive trees, seasonal fruit and vegetables, a frantoio (olive press), a winery, tasting room and gift shop.  Bella Vista also offer tours of the frantoio, winery, orchards and gardens for individuals as well as groups. Tours provide you an opportunity to explore our orchards and gardens, learn about the agriculture and cultivation of their olives, grapes, and other fruit before participating in a guided tasting of our fresh-made products. Guided tours last about 1 – 1 1/2 hours long and there is a fee of $15.00 per person. 

Just a taste of the Texas Hill Country and the colorful culture that awaits the creative traveler.  Make sure to mark this as a destination for you to visit and this will just could become a top ten of your own!

Texas Bed & Breakfast Hill Country Adventures: Wildlife & Birding

March 23rd, 2012 by Blair House Inn

Hummingbird 12

 

The Texas Hill Country is majestic with life during Spring.  For all nature lovers this is a setting of wonder and enchantment.  Have you ever had an interest in learning about the Texasnature?  Weather it is the butterflies,bats or birds that get your wings flapping, or the vast height of the Champion Trees that crank your heads to new levels the 13th Annual Nature Quest is a journey for you.  There will be four days of first hand information from experts on topics such as Birds, Bats, Butterflies, Insects, Trees, Natural History, Plants, and Wildflowers.   Come and ignite your imagination and create a Wildlife Habitat in your own backyard.

13th Annual Nature Quest
April 25-29

Fieldtrip Leaders & Speakers Include
Tony Gallucci, Derek Muschalek, Tom Collins, Bain Walker,
Bob & Martha Sargent, Fred Bassett, Lee Haile, Sherry Collins,
Patty Leslie Pasztor, LeAnn Sharp & Anthony Sharp

You can choose from lectures and tours that range from bird banding, building specific bird houses for species of birds you would like to enjoy at home, medicinal plants, and the second largest Mexican Free-tailed Bat population.  There are numerous topics for the new adventurer and the seasoned hobbyist.  You can register online for the events and full list of the schedule here.

Romantic Texas Getaway & Wine Lovers Trail

March 13th, 2012 by Blair House Inn

It’s been a chilly winter and we’re all ready for Spring…wildflowers, warmth of the sun and of course, the Wine and Wildflower Trail! Get out and take a trip to as many as 33 participating wineries during this picturesque trail, April 13-22, 2012 while you take in the beauty of the Hill Country and the award winning wines from your Hill Country Wineries.

The Wine & Wildflower Trail has a few changes this year…there are 33 participating wineries, the trail is 10 days long and the price has been reduced! More wineries, more time (weekdays included) for a lower price, how could you go wrong?

Come out and enjoy the fruits of the vineyards with a minimum of 1 and up to 3 complimentary tastes from each winery and a 15% discount on 3 bottle purchases. Pickup your beautiful bluebonnet swag bag, provided by Wildseed Farms, from the winery of your choice. We all know h ow important the rain is to our beautiful wildflowers so your bag will include a rain gauge from Capital Farm Credit, wildflower seeds from the  Texas Department of Agriculture and Wildseed Farms and a few other treats.

Follow the Wine and Wildflower Trail through the Texas Hill Country Wineries in it’s finest hour. Enjoy the spectacular vistas along with the new releases born among the bluebonnets. Remember to pack your camera so you don’t miss out on photo ops all along the trail, at the wineries and in the vineyards. Wildflower pictures make great Christmas cards in a few months!

Your ticket includes:

  • 1-3 complimentary tastes of wine at each winery
  • 15% discount on 3 bottle purchases at each winery
  • One bluebonnet gift bag per ticket
  • One rain gauge per ticket

One Wildflower seed packet per ticket.

www.texaswinetrail.com
For Tickets

Texas Hill Country BBQ Picnic

March 7th, 2012 by Blair House Inn

the lonely bicycle

Calling all cyclist!!  It’s time for the  5th annual LBJ 100 bike tour.  Bring your bikes and your desire to succeed.  Below the information for this wonderful event in the beautiful Texas Hill Country!  Spring is blooming and the views will be extraordinary.

Event will be held again at the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, Texas. Complimentary technical t-shirts of wicking grade material are guaranteed for pre-registrants, a newly designed professional cyclist jersey is available for purchase, a $1,000+ Novara Strada Bike 2012 and a weekend in Las Vegas OR a Caribbean Cruise will be raffled, and the usual complimentary great food and beverages, along with the enlightening participant camaraderie, await you.

For further information, including route maps and registration options, click: http://www.lbj100bicycletour.org/

Brushing Meats with BBQ Sauce

After the long ride have your family members meet you to celebrate your victory with a down home Texas BBQ.  Lady Bird Johnson would be celebrating her 100th birthday.   Enjoy live music with the best BBQ in Hays County!

As part of the 100th year celebration of Lady Bird Johnson’s birth, the BBQ on the LBJ Ranch, a fundraising event for the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park, will be held on the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall, Texas, May 5, 2012, beginning at 4:00PM. And boys and girls, buckaroos and buckarettes, RIDERS IN THE SKY, the multi-Grammy award winning stars of stage and screen, will stop along the trail to pay a visit at the LBJ Ranch. They’re planning a 90-minute show of stories and music guaranteed to bring a smile. President and Mrs. Johnson hosted many barbeques in the 1950s and 1960s, and we’re re-creating those good times. Come on out for some great food, music and fun under the live oaks of the LBJ Ranch. Catering will be provided by the very well-known and popular Salt Lick Restaurant.

Texas Hill Country Butterfly Festival

February 16th, 2012 by Blair House Inn

Caterpillar

Spring is upon us and the weather is setting the mood for warm days and cool nights.  Rain has been abundant this fall and winter.  Mother Nature is helping to create a beautiful Texas Hill Country Spring.  The Emily Ann Theater & Garden will be hosting the 14th annual Butterfly Festival April 21st.  Sure to be a beautiful day with wonderful activities you will enjoy experiencing the release of over 3,000 butterflies to the wild.  Celebrate Earth Day with guided nature walks by the Hays County Master Naturalists, live music, carnival games, concessions, and Commemorative Air Force flyover.  The best news, the festival is FREE! (Donations are accepted and appreciated). 

 

Wildflower Center Tower and Arch

Lady Bird Johnson Wild Flower Center

Now we all know the most beautiful time of year in Texas is wild flower season!  Lady Bird Johnson was a pioneer in establishing and maintaining the beautiful sights of Central Texas.  Lady Bird Wild Flower Center was created in 1982 to help preserve and restore the beauty and biological richness of North America.  Texas jumped on board and the program has been a success ever since.  You can visit the WFC any time of year, but we suggest the Spring to truly appreciate the natural beauty.  (Below is the hours and days of operation)

 

 

Lazy Susans

Interested in creating your own back yard meadow with beautiful wildflowers?  Then you must visit Wildseed Farms.  Acres of wildflowers and seed production makes this location the largest working flower farm in the nation.  Crop production will be in various stages of growth during any visit ~ some fields in bloom, some freshly planted, and some may be ready for harvest.  You will enjoy the views and gain knowledge of local natural plants that will thrive in your personal haven you create.  The Country Store is open for purchase or pick up the free mail order catalog and have purchases delivered right to your door!

 

Reservations are booking quickly.  Now is the time to make sure you stop and smell the Flowers!  Call us or click here for availability and reservations.

Emily Ann Theater & Garden
Butterfly Festival
April 21, 2012
10 am – 4 pm

Wildflower Center grounds:
9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday
Closed Mondays except Labor Day

Wildseed Farms
Open Daily 9:30 am – 6 pm

 

2011 Texas Hill Country Wine Trail Vintner Dinners

January 9th, 2012 by Blair House Inn

Our Vintner Dinners, started in 2001, are held every Saturday evening during January and February. This is the 10th year of our series. Our dinners are a five course culinary adventure paring Texas Hill Country wines with mouth-watering fare.

This is an opportunity to learn about the wine making process, to taste and explore new wines and to understand how they enhance the flavors of the foods they are paired with. Vintners and/or their Representatives will be on hand to explain their wine making process and the unique character of the wines they create.

Our innovative Chef Sebastian is committed to preparing a truly memorable dinner. Choosing high quality, fresh ingredients his masterful creations are specifically designed to highlight the unique character of the various wines being offered. This year the Vintner Dinner Series schedule is as follows:

DisplaykehJanuary 21st- Bell Springs Winery
January 28th- Woodrose Winery
February 4th- Solaro Estate
February 11th – McReynolds Winery
February 14th- Pleasant Hill Winery
February 18th- Dry Comal Creek
February 25th- Driftwood Estate

 

For many foodies and wine enthusiasts the big question is not, “are you going to a vintner dinner?” but “which one?”  Ah, these difficult decisions. With the efforts of owners Mike and Vickie Schneider, Chef Sebastian, and award winning Texas wineries each dining experience is meant to be savoured and shared.  Be sure to book your reservations, as these dinners will sell out.

Our distinctive Saturday evening dinners are offered to the public for $66.50 per person, plus tax and gratuity.  Remember, reservations are required to participate in the festivities. Please call the Blair House Inn at(512)847-1111or toll free at 877-549-5450to reserve your table.

Baa-d Cravings

HDR - The Autotune of the Photography World

Chef Sebastian will be presenting at It’s About Thyme Garden Center

September 15th, 2011 by Blair House Inn

Kitchen garden at Bolen residence

There is no better way to try and beat the Texas heat than start by planning a kitchen garden for your home.  Our very own Chef Sebastian will be giving a presentation at It’s About Thyme in Austin, TX on September 25th at 2 pm.  He will give his own advice paired with the experts at It’s About Thyme on how to produce a striving home garden.  Texas has some of the richest soils, but you have to keep in mind of the drought conditions. 

Chef will also be giving a cooking demonstration with the herbs that you could choose to grow in your garden.  If you don’t have the green thumb you wish you had, you can still use the wonderful recipes by shopping at your local farmer’s market.  Fresh herbs can take any dish to the next level and give it explosive flavor.

If you  are not available to join Chef Sebastian for his presentation you can look into joining us for our ever popular spring cooking schools Cooking with Fresh Herbs and BBQ with Fresh Herbs.  We have to have faith that this drought and heat can’t last forever!  Keep a view to the horizon and dream of cooler and moister rich days to come.

 

 

Enjoy Texas Hill Country Views on a Relaxing Bike Ride

April 27th, 2011 by Blair House Inn

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Wimberley, TX has some of the most breath taking views of the Hill Country.  You can easily access one of the most unknown bike trails with minimal traffic just down from the Blair House Inn.  Bikes and helmets are available complementary for our guest, or you could bring your own.  Call us for more information or visit our website.

Texas Hill Country Spring Brings Wild Flowers

February 22nd, 2011 by Blair House Inn

Helenium autumnale  ~ Solbrud

It is that time of year again.  Wildflowers are due to bloom just around the corner.  You can’t miss this breath taking time of year in the Texas Hill Country.  Rooms are filling quick so call us or make your reservations online.

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