The tuba gets there first. Somewhere under a striped tent on Marktplatz, an oompah band finds its footing, and the sound rolls down Main Street past the limestone storefronts. By the time you reach the gate, the air smells like grilled sausage, and a few hundred strangers are getting ready to do the chicken dance together without a trace of embarrassment.
That is Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg, and this year it runs October 2 through 4.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle, Travel
There is a particular kind of restaurant that Dallas doesn’t have enough of — the kind where the building itself is the first course. The Rathskeller in Fredericksburg is that restaurant. Fredericksburg sits about four hours southwest of Dallas in the Texas Hill Country, a small German-settled town of 12,000 people surrounded by vineyards, peach orchards, and limestone hills that turn gold in the afternoon light.
You walk down a flight of limestone steps off Main Street, duck through a low doorway, and find yourself in the basement of a building that was already old when Teddy Roosevelt was president. The walls are 1880s Hill Country limestone. The ceiling is low. The light is warm. The food is better than a room like this has any obligation to produce.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Invention Vineyards is raising a glass to summer with a new lineup that’s turning heads in Texas Hill Country. Visitors can enjoy the full experience through the Classic Tasting at the winery for just $30, featuring a curated selection of standout wines. This season brings two exciting new releases along with returning favorites—each showcasing the craftsmanship and creativity that defines the Invention portfolio. Whether you’re relaxing on the patio or planning a trip to Fredericksburg, these wines are made for warm-weather enjoyment.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
