Welcome Back Bloomers
How many of you have the Hill Country on your bucket list? This was definitely on my list and hubby and I were able to scratch it off the last weekend of September. Because we had to cancel our vacation to Cabo, due to my passport taking longer than expected, this left us on the search for a getaway within driving distance. Then I got an amazing idea…. HILL COUNTRY. I had been following La Cantera Resort & Spa instagram account for quite sometime and knew this was definitely the place we needed to stay.
We booked the Deluxe King Hill Country View Room with their Fall Together Offer. This specific offer saved us 20% off for our four night stay, a cozy blanket, a half bottle of wine, and a charcuterie board for two. Talk about a DEAL. The staff was very hospitable and friendly. We were given wrist bands for the adult pool at the lobby during check in and escorted to our room. Our room had a beautiful view as on the 4th floor and we had a beautiful view of the pools and could see the golf course. Our room had a mini fridge and the bathroom had rainfall showers which are always a favorite of ours. This resort is so beautiful and has 5 pools including an adult only pool which is always a must for hubby and I as we do not have kids at the moment. However, shocking as it may be there was not many families at the resort during our stay and the children we did see were about pre-teen age and not running havoc. The resort also has a variety of restaurants to choose from on site. Although we did not try every one I will share our experiences from the ones we did try. We were hoping to get couple massages but unfortunately we did not book in advance and they did not have any openings during our stay. I highly recommend booking in advance some say that a month in advance would be ideal to secure your appointment. So let’s dive on in to the good stuff!
A TOUR OF THE GROUNDS
SweetFire Kitchen
This was our breakfast go to. We dined at SweetFire multiple times during our stay. The food was very fresh and the presentation was always great. I am a huge fan of avocado toast so I tried their Avocado Toast with smoked salmon, pickle onions, and dill as well as their Avocado Toast with prosciutto, balsamic reduction, and arugula. Both of these dishes were $15. In addition to this I also tried their Two Eggs and A Biscuit ($14) meal. Marcus enjoyed their Steak and Eggs ($22) the Two Eggs and A Biscuit, and The Works Omelet ($15).
TIME FOR WINE
After doing my research I picked a few wineries for us to visit for tastings. We then settled on two Baron Creek Vineyards and Adega Vinho. I went ahead and booked reservations and we arrived early to both which definitely worked out in our favor and I would highly recommend. I choose Baron Creek Vineyards based off their award winning wines and their vineyard. I then chose Adega Vinho based on their watermelon, strawberry, and tangerine notes. They are well known for their Rosé wines which is a favorite of mine.
Baron Creek Vineyards sources their wine from Texas, California, Washington, and Spain. Marcus and I booked the Ultimate Wine Experience which was about an hour and a half. This included tasting 6 different types of wine paired with cheese, chocolate, and fruit specifically picked for each wine. I highly recommend this experience. We enjoyed being educated on the different notes and tamarinds. After our tasting we decided to purchase their 2020 Sauvignon Blanc which was one of our favorites. We also enjoyed the Cava Rosé which was a sparking Rosé and the Le Baron red wine.
Adega Vinho is a Texas winery in Stonewall. Their wine takes on a Portuguese approach and aesthetic. They grow five different types of grapes: Mourvedre, Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, and Arinto. We fell in love with their Sangiovese which is a red wine with cherry, red apple, and cranberry notes. This wine pairs well with steak, chicken, and red sauces. Red sauces are something that we cook weekly so it was only right we chose this wine. Our tasting included 6 pours: Rosé of Syrah/Merlot 2020, Rosé of Temp Est. 2020, Sangiovese 2018, Pordosol 2018, Mourvèdre Reserve 2018, and Tempranillo 2018. Out of the 6 our top picks were the Rosé wines and Sangiovese.
What is a vacation without DRINKS? These drinks were mighty delicious and if you are anything like me and enjoy some fruity drinks these are a must!
DRINKS. DRINKS. DRINKS
La Margarita Restaurant
We dined at La Margarita during Day 2 prior to heading to the San Antonio Riverwalk. I enjoyed their Enchiladas Tres Colores and Marcus had the Seafood Platter. I mean how delicious does this food look? Of course it was a must to get margaritas so that is exactly what we did. Their mango margarita was so yummy and Marcus had the magnifica which he states was a great selection. This restaurant was located in the Market Square and unfortunately when we arrived shops were closed for the day. The food was delicious and very flavorful. My favorite enchilada was the Verde. La Familia Cortez Restaurants have been around for 75 years and was founded by a Mexican immigrant from Guadalajara. There is so much culture enriched in this restaurant and Market Square.
Sunset Grill
On our day trip to Fredericksburg we dined at Sunset Grill for brunch. I chose this restaurant because of the great reviews. When we arrived this was definitely the place to be and the crowd showed that. We had a 20 minute wait give or take. WELL WORTH IT. I enjoyed their pomegranate mimosa which was divine. My meal of choice was The Josephine and Marcus had the Eggs and Bacon. Meals were affordable and great portion sizes, majority of all meals were under $20. Their potatoes were delicious and had a sweet and savor flavor. Reminded me of the way they served potatoes in Iceland. We loved the fact there was outdoor and indoor seating. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.
Smashin Crab
A vacation is only right if we are having seafood. For all my seafood lovers out there THIS THE PLACE TO VISIT. Hubby and I ordered their Perfect storm dish which included king crab, shrimp, mussels, veggies, corn, and potatoes. We in addition added sausage. This dish cost $75 but the amount of food was perfect for 2 people. I have never had veggies in a boil but baby when I tell you this is definitely something I could get into. The veggies included cauliflower, broccoli, and bell peppers. They have a huge menu selection and the restaurant was filled with people so we opted to eat at the bar due to us having a 45 min- 1hr wait give or take for table. One thing that was interesting is the amount of heat levels they offer. I believe we stuck with the #2 which was perfect paired with their Trinity sauce. I guarantee you will love this restaurant as much as we did. The bartender was AMAZING. I was completely impressed at how skillful he was. Although the restaurant was busy he ensured those at the bar was well taken cared of.
Our last dining choice was Brasão Brazilian Steakhouse. This was our first time dining at this particular restaurant. I knew there was a new local one that opened in Plano, TX and many influencers in the area raved about it so it was only right for our date night to be at this restaurant. To our surprise there was a location less than 10 minutes away from the resort. WINNING! We were so famished by the time we arrive we skipped the salad bar and went straight to the meats and sides haha. All sides were delicious and my favorite were the mash potatoes and plantains. Their dessert menu will blow you out the park. We shared the Strawberry Cheesecake and it was by far the best I have ever had. As meats are concerned we tried a little of everything but I admit my favorite was the chicken legs. Can you believe that! When you taste them you will understand. We even tried smoked pineapple for the first time and could not believe how delicious it was. The experience at this steakhouse was superb. Hands down will visit again and I give it a 10/10.
A Day on Main St. in Fredricksburg
On this day after our first winery tasting we headed over to Main St in Fredericksburg for about an hour and a half to tour the sho ps. We found some great local places with plenty home decor must haves. Below you will see some pretty quirky dishtowels and some beautiful handmade pieces.
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