Ellis County Courthouse

[The Barbarian]

[mommydi]

Beautiful. I'm going to the Hill Country this summer. Maybe I'll make a swing through Waxahachie on the way down so I can see this in person.

[Jaime]

Where in the hill country are you going?

The Frio River is beautiful.

[mommydi]

Where in the hill country are you going?

The Frio River is beautiful.

OK, Jaime, I'm adding the Frio River to my list of places to see while I'm there because it looks gorgeous, and I missed it the last time I was in the Hill Country. I'm just now starting to plan my trip, but I want to go to San Marcos, Fredericksburg, and Luckenbach, for sure. I've about decided to fly into Austin instead of driving it. I'd rather spend my time exploring the Hill Country than highway time driving all the way through Oklahoma and Texas.

[Texas Conservative]

Texas has hills like Oklahoma has mountains?

[Jaime]

Texas has hills like Oklahoma has mountains?

Yes, we have Hills:



and some "mountains" in Far West Texas, the Davis Mountains:



And in Big Bend:

[Jaime]

One of my favorite places in Big Bend, Santa Elena Canyon. Great float trip.

[Jaime]

Class 4 at normal flow, Class 6 at high water flow, rapid at the Rock Slide in Santa Elena Canyon:






I was rafting through the labyrinth one time and a metallic glint caught my eye above my head. I looked up and it looked like a large piece of aluminum foil plastered against one of the house sized boulders about 20 feet above my head. At closer investigation, it was an aluminum canoe that must have washed down during a time of high water flow. Hopefully nobody was in it at the time.

[Jaime]

My favorite golf course, Blackjack's Crossing located in Lajitas

[Jaime]

Night sky at Big Bend



One of the most amazing things I ever witnessed was the Perseid Meteor shower during a 3 day float trip in Big Bend. It literally looked like a fireworks display!

[Alan]

Looks beautiful! I'll add Big Bend to the list for my retirement/motorhome adventures.

[The Barbarian]

I'm just now starting to plan my trip, but I want to go to San Marcos, Fredericksburg, and Luckenbach, for sure.

Took a trip down there earlier this year.   I was sad to see how commercialized Fredericksburg has become since I was there last about 30 years ago.   But if you're going between Austin and Fredericksburg, stop here:


Hye, Texas.   Little bitty town, but interesting.   Supposedly, LBJ mailed his first letter from this post office.

[The Barbarian]

Hye, Texas

The Post office/general store/deli is very nice for a stop, and the people are extremely friendly.

[The Barbarian]

Don't park in the lot across the street, though:

[The Barbarian]

Instead of eating at one of the touristy places in Fredericksberg, you might want to take a look at where the locals eat:
https://www.google.com/search?q=seafood+restaurant+fredericksberg+texas&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#tbm=lcl&q=catfish+haven+fredericksburg+texas&rlfi=hd:;si:1341229844934501378;mv:!1m3!1d223.4639891790794!2d-98.88533160000001!3d30.28475259999999!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1260!2i797!4f13.1

It's a few blocks north of downtown.   Oh, and if you like sauces, there's a place down on the main drag that not only has a huge selection, but has most of them out for tasting.  Worth a look.

And be sure to see the Lutheran Church and the old and "new" St. Mary's churches, close to downtown.

You can go inside them.   Each is beautiful in its own way.   

[mommydi]

My list of places to see and places to eat is growing longer by the minute!  I was planning on a week in the Hill Country, but I might make it two. Why not?

[Jaime]

One of my favorie reataurants in Fredericksburg is the Cabernet Grill in the old gin, a couple of miles west of town. Great hazelnut cappucino cream brule' (sp?). I have eaten at the catfish haven and it's pretty good too. Also gotta go for the chicken fried portabella strips and strawberry margaritas at Mamacitas! Or the chili rellenos there. (Jaime knows food).

[Jaime]

Also, Mommydi, ya gotta go to the Lost Maples Diner in Utopia. Chocolate cream and Coconut cream pie to die for.

[mommydi]

OK, that did it. It's definitely going to be a two-weeker trip.


I realize how much I missed when I traveled through there in 2010.    I went to Austin for a concert, then drove through part of the Hill Country to see the beautiful bluebonnets in peak season. Since I'll be there in the summertime this year, I'll miss the bluebonnets, but I'll have all these other gorgeous places to see.   

[The Barbarian]

Catfish Haven:


Mrs. Barbarian at the salad bar.

[Alan]

Never really acquired a taste for catfish, I had it cajun style which I normally love,  in New Orleans, it was okay but not as good as other fish, maybe it was the preparation. 

[Jaime]

Catfish is like acappella music. Nothing better than good acappella and nothing worse than bad acappella.

[The Barbarian]