Well the past few weeks have been overwhelming. I found out my brother passed away unexpectedly, which turned my whole world upside down. In shock and under the impression I'd have to return home immediately, I cancelled our trip to Fredericksburg. The next day I found out that services were postponed until the end of the month, so my brain shifted and told me to re-book.
I'm sure there are people that will consider this insensitive or judge me for taking a "vacation" during a time of mourning, but this is exactly what I needed.
Loving the tree swing at the Pink Haus, Fredericksburg TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Amy, the owner of the Pink Haus in Fredericksburg, was extremely understanding and accommodating while I flip flopped on plans. Obviously overwhelmed with emotion, I rode most of the drive there in silence. When we arrived, just seeing the bright pink house brought a smile to my face. In the front lawn, a swing hung from the tree and my daughter instantly spotted it. Seeing her laughing on the swing took me away for a minute.
The kitchen and living room at the Pink Haus, Fredericksburg TX
The Pink Haus is true to its name - the interior has bursts and hints of pink. There are 2 neon signs - one in the living room, and one in the dining room that glow - perfect for those Insta-worthy photos. The house has 3 bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen: I loved that there was coffee stocked in the kitchen. The dining area was very spacious and opened up into a gigantic living room with the most comfortable sectional couch. I also appreciated that the bathroom had 2 hairdryers - for anyone traveling there with girlfriends!
One of three bedrooms and the fun chair at the Pink Haus, Frederickburg, TX
I can honestly say this is one of the best Airbnb's we've experienced yet. My daughter and I loved the decor. The home had everything we needed - there is nothing that I felt was missing. The outdoor space (backyard) was also quite large and thoughtfully laid out. Unfortunately the mosquitoes were quite active when we were there, after all the rain, so we didn't take much advantage of it while we were there. But the seating area around the firepit and cornhole would make for a fun evening there!
Sitting area and firepit in the backyard of the Pink Haus, Fredericksburg TX
The Pink Haus is managed by Cozi. One feature that I really enjoyed from their virtual concierge - a large smartscreen in the kitchen where you could browse for tourism information, connect with the host, and find check out instructions. I also enjoyed the list of recommendations from Amy on the fridge.
Located about a mile from Main Street, I wouldn't say that this house is walking distance (at least for us with a toddler), but it's a really easy drive and in a quiet neighborhood.
While in town, we found time to visit the following:
WINERIES
402 East Main Street
Johnson City, TX 78636
Outside + inside the "Tipsy Trailer" at Farmhouse Vineyards in Johnson City, TX
Farmhouse Vineyards is not actually in Fredericksburg, rather, about 30 minutes away in Johnson City. If you're checking out other wineries along the 290 wine trail, it's not far out of the way. We had the chance to taste their wines at the Brownfield location and were super excited to visit them in Hill Country.
The Farmhouse Vineyards Marketplace has a similar feel as the Whitehouse Parker (Brownfield) location. The main shop is a converted house that has multiple tasting rooms to hang out in. We had the pleasure of doing a tasting in their "Tipsy Trailer", a renovated Airstream trailer, with Summer. They also had an adorable puppy on site, dogs always earn bonus points in my book. This tasting, we were feeling the Cultivated, a dry red blend of Dolcetto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Counoise and Cinsault. I highly recommend making reservations for their tastings on their website via Tock.
12346 E US HWY 290
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
The view from the patio at Hilmy Cellars is just perfect in Fredericksburg, TX
While visiting Farmhouse Vineyards and getting to know Summer, we learned that her husband Casey was the COO at Hilmy Cellars. Conveniently located on the way back to town, we decided to stop in for a taste. We arrived around 4:30 PM on Monday, and we were the only ones there - it was so peaceful. We opted for a bottle of the 2016 DOO.ZWA.ZO, a crisp, dry white made from Chenin Blanc and Marsanne - such a perfect glass to sip on in the sun. Their outdoor patio area was so relaxing, overlooking the vines.
The Edge Tasting Room @ The Resort @ Fredericksburg
3567 U.S. Highway 290 E.
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Views from inside The Edge Tasting Room in Fredericksburg, TX
In terms of tasting room amenities - The Edge is the standout thus far of all my Hill Country experiences. The Edge Tasting Room is part of The Resort at Fredericksburg. Just opened on the 4th of July weekend, parts of the property are still under construction, but the tasting room is open to the public.
Although they do not have their own label, The Edge currently features wine from English Newsom (Lubbock) and has their own wine club. The indoor space is gorgeous - featuring the tasting bar right in the middle with various high tops and couches throughout. The space is both rustic, yet modern - a relaxed but upscale atmosphere.
The golf green, tasting room and future event/ wine club members space at The Edge
The outside is equally beautiful with a covered patio overlooking the Pedernales River. Off to the side is an area with covered cabana seating and a chipping/putting green. This was absolutely perfect for us - we enjoyed a bottle of the Rainy Rose and practiced for a while...
3915 US 290 E
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Loved the small charcuterie board + Dirt Farmer wine at Bingham Family Vineyard, Fredericksburg TX
Just down the hill from The Edge is the Bingham Family Vineyard Tasting room, one of their 3 locations in Texas (the other 2 are in Grapevine and Meadow). The tasting room is adjacent to the Yee Haw Ranch Outfitters and has a very rustic, barn kind of feel. To be honest, the presentation and atmosphere were mediocre in our experience, but the wine was worth the stop. Although many of their wines are single varietal, our favorite here was the Dirt Farmer - a dry red blend of Tempranillo, Merlot, Carignan, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
FOOD
107 North Adams Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
The seafood tower from Martini's in downtown Fredericksburg, TX
Although finding information on Martini's is not the easiest, I'm glad we made the stop. Listed as Fredericksburg's only seafood restaurant, we were excited to find it and try their seafood tower. Although pricey at over $100, we could only eat about half - so it's a pretty good value for restaurant served seafood. Also note that all of the seafood is served cold on ice - I definitely prefer my lobster and crab warm... But the tower includes 2 lobster tail, 12 jumbo shrimp, 12 raw oysters and 4 crab clusters. As their name suggests, they also have a great list of martini's to try.
It's a small space, but I really loved the ambiance and intimate feel with Dean Martin-esque music playing in the background. We had so much food leftover, we ate the rest for dinner the following night...
305 S. Lincoln Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Woerner Warehouse has extra thick sandwiches in Fredericksburg, TX
For a more casual meal, check out Woerner Warehouse. We stopped there after golf for lunch and they had a really nice selection of sandwiches and salads. Additionally, they had an extensive coffee bar and pastries for sale. We found all of the portions to be quite large. When you're done eating, you can browse around the rest of the warehouse for home goods.
ACTIVITIES :
GOLF
341 Golfers Loop
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
The view from Hole 1 at the Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course in Fredericksburg, TX
We have not had the best luck visiting this course. The first time we played, we had a delayed start due to rain...and by rain, it poured. So the course was wet and unforgiving when we finally got out. On this trip, only the front 9 were open for course maintenance, so we only got to see half the course.
But despite that, our 10:30 AM Monday tee time was very quiet. I find this course does give women an advantage from the ladies tees, which I appreciated!
SCENIC TRAIL
N. Milam Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
The top of Cross Mountain in Fredericksburg, TX is a wonderful place to find some peace + quiet
Depending on where you're coming from, this is a short scenic trail that ends at an elevation of 1,951 feet, featuring beautiful views and sitting areas. This is a historic area, originally used as a lookout point by Native Americans. When Fredericksburg was settled in the 1840's, a cross was found at the top, so the settlers named it "Kreuzberg", or Cross Mountain.
The Pink Haus is located about a mile away, so I chose to walk from there. Walking from the house to the top of Cross Mountain, taking some photos and some time to think, then walking back, only took about an hour. If you drive to the base, you can get to the top quite quickly - in a matter of minutes if you're in good shape. The first section is fairly steep, but manageable for most, I'd say.
Given the current situation, this time alone was really meaningful. It gave me the chance to sort through all my thoughts and feelings and take some moments to honor my brother. It was a really powerful experience, of which I really needed at the time.
Final Thoughts
The amazing dining room at the Pink Haus, Fredericksburg TX
Although the Pink Haus might initially attract groups of girls or those looking for an Instaworthy stay with all the pink decor, it's an amazing place to stay as a family - I think my husband was starting to enjoy the pink by the end ;) . My only complaint is that our dog was unable to come, but understand why places have a pet free policy for those with allergies. Amy and Cozi were both very responsive any time I contacted them (which was a lot).
Our visit fell on a Sunday - Tuesday; although I enjoyed the slower pace during the week, we found that some restaurants and wineries are not open Monday/Tuesdays. Additionally, we found that places who were open, were not offering the same food options as on the weekend or sold out from the weekend. So something to keep in mind while planning a trip.
The Pink Haus holds a special place in my heart now and I am forever grateful for owner Amy, the crew at Farmhouse Vineyards (especially Summer), and Dani at The Edge for being so accommodating during our visit. I can't wait to come back soon!
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