Travel Texas ~ Spring, Texas

 

One might not think of Spring, Texas as a destination in itself, but Old Town Spring is a great stop to make when you're down south near Houston. We happened to have a couple of days to visit with our oldest, and I found a perfectly located bed and breakfast in Old Town Spring.

The August Inn is conveniently located right at the edge of the winding roads of Old Town Spring. With easy direct booking and being walking distance from all the shops and dining, August Inn is your perfect choice for overnight accommodations. They currently offer four rooms, all downstairs, with open space for guests to relax with a book or do a little work while visiting. Breakfast is typically served at 9:30 a.m., which depending on your schedule can work out well or seem a little late, the majority of the shops don't open until 11 a.m. or later. If you're having a casual vacation and not on a work schedule, breakfast that late might work out just fine. Our room was a lovely king room with a walk-in shower and lovely shades of blue throughout. The inn is located right next to the railroad tracks, so if you're a light sleeper, they provide earplugs to help with noise reduction. Little touches like that make each visit special.

Old Town Spring is a little village filled with everything from tiny buildings to old historic ones. Restaurants, bars, shops, and candy stores line the streets, the only thing missing seemed to be a bookshop. Quite a few of the buildings looked like they had been there for years, while others looked like outbuildings built to fit the space. Since it's summer and hot, the reprieve of walking into an air-conditioned space was lovely.

Dinner our first night was at a tapas bar, Mesón Sommelier, with amazing food and wine. I feel like we ate their entire menu, but thankfully we did not. Good food and conversation flowed well all evening; the highlights were the Cod Croquettes and the Tarta de Chocolate. Nothing went unfinished, and we even had to ask for more bread to help soak up all the amazing sauces. The interior of the restaurant looked like an airplane, with seating by old plane doors, a raised dais, and lounge-style furniture. Customers can also sit and enjoy drinks at the bar. If you only eat once while in Old Town Spring, make this your place to stop.

We did not stay in Spring the entire time we were visiting our oldest. We also ventured over to St. Arnold Brewery. She prefers cider to beer and has enjoyed St. Arnold's ciders before, so when she found out about their operation located in Houston, she knew we'd want to visit. What a fantastic stop it was; our visit here did not disappoint. They have grown and adapted over the years and have expanded their tasting room. Once inside the main brewery, you'll find St. Arnold's has since created a porch-like atmosphere, with a large covered area filled with picnic tables and additional seating. When you visit, you can enjoy beer and cider along with a great brewery menu. We happened to be there at the right time to grab a quick tour after our meal. The tour was the perfect touch to end our evening at the brewery. It should be on your travel list if you're ever in the Houston area. The food was wonderful, and our tastings were delightful as well.

Even though we did not visit NASA or travel as far south as Galveston, we really enjoyed our trip south.  Between the small-town charm of Old Town Spring and a short drive into Houston for a stop at St. Arnold, this trip ended up being the perfect mix of slow mornings and good exploring. It's an easy weekend getaway, whether you're visiting family in the area or just looking for a low-key escape with great food, good drinks, and plenty of character. We're already looking forward to our next visit. 

Around Town ~ Vino Lounge

 

For all of our wine lovers out there, have you tried Vino Lounge, located at 223 Main Street in Sulphur Springs? It's quickly become one of our favorite stops downtown. And if wine isn't your thing, no need to worry, they also pour craft beer, with several great options on tap or by the bottle.  Their hours of operation have changed and are now Wednesday & Thursday: 3–9 p.m. and Friday & Saturday: 3–10 p.m.

Owner Windi has built a wine list that stands apart from anything else in Sulphur Springs.  Bold reds from Argentina, crisp whites from California, and sparkling options that go beyond the standard champagne pour, including fruit-enhanced bottles perfect for celebrating something big or nothing at all. “I wanted to share wine that I enjoy with all of our customers, so many of our reds are drier but with a bold flavor,” Windi explained.

Glasses run $12-15, flights are $20-25 and bottles start around $24 each, reasonably priced for the quality you're getting in the glass. Our Espresso Martini flight was customized to our taste and started at $25.  The perfect amount of each drink to share with a friend, in order to sample and discover the one you love the best. 

Vino Lounge doubles as an event space, for showers, meetings, birthdays, or just a reason to gather people you like. They provide the space and the drinks; you bring the guest list. Give them a call 903-413-7929 to reserve your spot, to help plan your exciting next event or meeting. 

Live music from local musicians is coming soon, and you're welcome to order in from any downtown restaurant to pair with your glass while you're there.  Be sure to check out their social media pages for upcoming events, drink specials and more. 

For something quieter, ask for the Red Room. Bottles line the walls floor to ceiling, the lighting dims just enough, and it's the kind of space built for a slow evening with someone you like. Order a charcuterie board, split a bottle, and let the night take its time.

Loved what you tasted? Bottles are available to buy on the spot, whether you finished a glass in-house or just want to grab one on your way out. Windi is also hoping to plan a wine club, with a curated selection picked up monthly, so you always have something new to try at home.

We tried the red wine flight alongside the espresso martini flight, and they couldn't have been more different. Each one earthy and structured, the other rich, a little sweet, and served in glasses too cute to leave on the shelf. Both were the kind of thing you want to linger over, not rush through.

Grab your friends, grab someone special, and head to Vino Lounge this week. Whatever you order, it's worth the trip.

Travel ~ Mineral Wells, Texas and The Magpie Inn

     

   Mineral Wells, Texas boasts the home of Crazy Water.  The story goes that a woman who was suffering from her mind failing, came to Mineral Wells and drank the healing waters and recovered.  Thus, Crazy Water was born.  There are four levels of Crazy water to choose from, based on the mineral content.  One being the lowest amount to four being the highest amount.  No matter where you go in town you are bound to experience Crazy Water.  While I was there, I tried number two and felt that by itself, it had too much mineral flavor but with food, it evened out to have a "regular" water flavor.  When you plan your stay, be sure to check out the Crazy Water to discover your favorite and see if it helps you to feel better mentally.

 

    Of course, during my visit, I had to check out the downtown area of Mineral Wells.  It was a short walk from the Magpie Inn, where I stayed the night.  While making my way downtown I saw quite a few murals on the exterior of the buildings and just loved the different images they portrayed.  Murals are such an easy way to incorporate art into your downtown area that can also be a draw for people to visit.  Hint, hint City of Sulphur Springs. 

 

    I decided to step into one of the shops which ended up leading me to four different shops.  It was pretty cool how they were all connected and just flowed from one to the other.  There was a little eatery in one of spots.  Here you could order sandwiches or salads, along with some fresh meat, pasta and sauces as well.  It was cute little spot to enjoy lunch, grab something you might be missing for dinner, to a souvenir to take home and enjoy later. 

 

    One of the staple shops of Downtown Mineral Wells sports a two-story building that literally has something for everyone.  From olive oil to balsamic vinegars, housewares, kids clothes, and even something for the men in your life.  The Market has a little bit of everything, including a cocktail and coffee bar for guests to enjoy while they shop or just to sit awhile and enjoy. 

 

    I even managed to make my way to the brewery, Rickhouse Brewing, that is located downtown in the same building as the Crazy Water Hotel.  I tried a flight of beers and did not find one that I didn't like.  Each one was unique and with a story that resonated with the brewery, creating a history for why they brew the beer and the name given.  Their brew space is right where guests can see it all and I was really impressed with the quality and quantity of beers that they create in the space allotted to them.  You can regularly find musical groups playing at the brewery and a good conversation if that is what you are looking for.  Be sure to ask about the beer stories while you are there and of course find your favorite.

 

    My favorite part of my visit was staying at The Magpie Inn.  This Chef owned and operated inn is a short walk from the center of downtown and is a lovely getaway for couples.  Select from five rooms and enjoy a group breakfast or an in-room breakfast during your stay.  Be sure to look for Waldo, the tortoise, during your stay.  He is definitely part of the Inn experience.  Each room is designed with your comfort in mind and is welcomed retreat during a visit to Mineral Wells. 

 

    If you are visiting family or just looking for a getaway you can't go wrong with a stop in Mineral Wells.  There is plenty to do and see during your visit, and of course wonderful places to stay, eat and drink.  Explore Clark Gardens or hop on over to the lake or take a tour of local wineries or a history tour.  Don't forget to grab a bottle of Crazy Water and find out which level you like the best. 

Let's Eat ~ Foster's Place

 

    Foster's Place located at 15244 SH-11, Pickton, TX, is a long standing local restaurant that has seen it's fair share of regular customers and those that stop in for a pint and a burger.  Foster's currently has hours, Saturday 11 a. m. - 10 p. m., Sunday 11 a. m. - 9:30 p. m., and Monday 4 p. m. - 9 p. m.  Bring the whole family or just your friends to enjoy a meal or live music, most weekends on Saturday night.  The spring and summer are get times to visit as well, with their outdoor dining options, and a great stage to see those who come out to play some tunes.

    The core menu at Foster's is made up of pizza, wings and burgers.  You can select your pizza from an option they have put together or build your own.  Same with the burgers, they have three selected options or you can build your own.  All of their beef comes from local butcher, Rail 19 and much of their produce also comes from local growers.  Foster's strives to use, people in the community to provide the freshest ingredients for their customers. 

    Along with the core menu Art has created daily specials that will be a little more creative and fun for your dining experience.  These daily specials are always changing so it makes each visit worth the time.  We had a poblano chicken mac and cheese, which was from the specials menu and it was delicious. You could taste the peppers and the cream sauce on the mac and cheese was just perfect.  

    We also enjoyed Foster's Fries as our starter, that are made from a special cut potato so diners can experience the softness of the potato with a bit of crisp on the end.  Plus the homemade Foster's seasoning on the fries makes them just perfect.  The seasoning can be purchased at Foster's or at Lander's Creek in Sulphur Springs.  You might want to pick some up to place in some stockings for this holiday season. 

    That's not all you can get from Foster's.  If you enjoy craft beer, this is the stop for you.  They regularly do a nightly beer special and they feature a wide variety of choices from around the state.  The fun does not stop there, they can customize a pack to go home with you at the end of the night mix and match the beers you tried or bring  home something new.  Either way you will no be disappointed with your choices in restaurant or at home.  

  Foster's also happens to carry a large variety of whiskey for the whiskey lover in your house.  If you want something a little stronger for your visit and have a designated driver, be sure to try something new when you stop in.  We have sent guests down there for that reason alone, and they enjoyed their entire visit.  Art and his staff are attentive and ready to help answer any questions you might have.  Art loves to visit with his guests and will probably stop by your table when  you stop in for a bite to eat.  Be sure to check their Facebook page for Holiday hours, since the big days this year are on the weekends.  After the holiday's for sure plan your next night out for lunch or dinner to Foster's, or on your next stay while at The Oaks.