Fredericksburg, Texas

Marble Falls, Texas

Weather: low 37 degrees, high 64 degrees, mostly clear skies

We finished a trip today that we started last week. On the day that we toured the LBJ Ranch, we had planned to go to Fredericksburg, but were side tracked by the ranch and other things. So, today was on to Fredericksburg to see what that area is about and I have to say, there's a lot to it. History, shopping, eating, beautiful sights, wineries, museums, golf courses....... There's much more here than we could do in one day.

The population of the town is about 10,000, but it probably has many more people than that on weekends and in the summer. It was settled by Germans in 1846, and the German influence is seen in the architecture and food. Gillespie County, where the town is located, was one of the few counties in Texas that voted against secession before the Civil War.

When we got into town, we decided to drive through town and out the other side to get an idea of what was where. On the way back in, we stopped at the Amish furniture store and drooled over the beautiful and functional furniture. If we ever live in a house again, it would be nice to have some of this well-crafted furniture in it.

Then we walked down the street about a block to Chocolat, a candy store that specializes in handmade chocolate candy. As we walked in the store, we were offered a free sample of their liquid center chocolates, filled with wine, liqueur, coffee and other liquids. I tried the tawny port and Carolyn tried a coffee filled one. My sample was really good, but for some reason I couldn't talk the girl into giving me another one. That reminds me of a visit we made to a brandy distillery in Oregon. I'll tell that story sometime.

When we left the chocolate store, we drove some of the backstreets, admiring the old houses that have been preserved so well. Then it was out to the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, which contains ball fields, walking trails, a golf course, and an RV park, all owned by the city. It is located adjacent to the airport. Looks like we may have found another place to spend some time in the future.

When we got back into town, we stopped and looked at some of the stores and businesses located near the center of town. I'm always looking for a photo opportunity, so when we saw the old court house, out came the camera. The old building is now being used as the public library. Next to the old court house is the court house that was built to take it's place. Quite a contrast, isn't it?

















Here's a picture of the old jail. I can't imagine that any time spent in a jail would be pleasant, but time in something like this must have been really hard time.

We were starting to get a little tired, so we started back toward home. Before we left the area, we stopped at The Wildflower Farm, which specializes in (you guessed it!) wild flowers. Unfortunately, it is still a little early for the flowers to be blooming, but we still enjoyed looking at all the neat things that can be bought for a home flower garden.






More later, be safe.

Today's Town - Llano, Texas: The Hub Of The Hill Country

Not all who wander are lost.