A Holiday Roadtrip to Texas Hill Country and Austin
I should say first, Austin is one of our favorite cities. Bret and I loved it independently before we met one another. Then we traveled there many times as a couple, and we got married in ATX in 2018. So…I could go on for days! Here, I included some pictures from our most recent trip, which happened during the holiday season, along with some of our favorite spots!
Bret’s parents and sister live in West Texas, so after a visit to see them, we took a little road trip through Hill Country, ending in Austin. As we made our way from my in-laws toward the Texas Capitol, we stopped first in Mason, Texas (okay, it was technically second, after a stop at a Lubbock Whataburger…IYKYK).
Mason is incredibly charming. The Le Lou Co-op and Lodge are right on the square, along with ample wine tasting rooms and cute shops. One of the store managers we spoke to said the town was kind of like a ‘little Fredericksburg’, seeing more and more tourism from people headed to the better-known German wine enclave, just 40 minutes south. The courthouse was badly damaged in a fire in early 2021 and a fundraiser was going on when we were in town, to help with repairs. You could tell there’s great pride in seeing the town square thrive.
Afterwards, we made the final drive to Fredericksburg where we were staying overnight. I can’t recommend enough booking a stay at The Herb Garden. Each little cottage has a front porch, perfect for enjoying coffee in the morning. The rooms and bathrooms are spacious, and breakfast is provided. There’s a restaurant and spa on site too.
We walked through town upon arrival and took in all the Christmas décor. A few favorite food and drink spots are Otto’s — a cozy German spot with inventive, modern fare, The Auslander — great for grabbing a pretzel and a German beer and Chase’s Place — a fun spot for creative cocktails and eats. The next morning, we made a stop at our favorite shop in town — Vaudeville — home to the fabulous disco ball tree, pictured below. The main floor is a homeware boutique (and I want every candle and coffee table book), and the lower level is a lovely bistro.
Then, we hit the road, and I got to pick one winery to stop at en route to Austin — a tough choice because there are dozens, all around Fredericksburg. I selected Signor Vineyards, with it’s classic aesthetic and cheery holiday décor. Can I just say, Christmas greenery and temps warm enough to sit outside are my ideal holiday scenario. I love bubbles, so we settled on the Blanc de Blanc, which was delicious.
Then, with windows rolled down and Nathanial Rateliff on the repeat, we headed to Austin!
Hello, Hotel Ella! We rolled into Austin mid-afternoon, and checked-in to our favorite Austin accommodations. Hotel Ella is historic mansion, turned boutique hotel near the UT campus. It also happens to be the site of our wedding reception, so staying here is always special. There’s little that makes me happier than sitting in the peacock chairs on the wraparound porch with a coffee or a cocktail.
Ella was even prettier at Christmas, and we grabbed a drink at the Parlor Bar, wandered the grounds and got settled in our poolside room. The pool itself is wonderful. It was almost warm enough in December to sit out there. In the summer, it’s the perfect escape from the Texas heat.
We also made sure to eat breakfast at Goodall’s at least once on our trip. Goodall’s in the restaurant on site at Hotel Ella, and really, you can’t go wrong with any meal there.
Gosh, there are so many wonderful places to go in Austin. Walking distance from Hotel Ella are a couple of Bret’s favs: Texas Chili Parlor and The Cloak Room. At the former, expect a no frills interior, yummy margs and of course, chili! The latter is tucked away on the edge of the Capitol grounds. This basement lounge is dimly lit, and it's rumored to be the site of under-the-table political deals and such. It’s a kitschy, wonderful place, if you can find it!
This trip, we also made a stop at Irene’s, a spot on West 6th Street with retro vibes, fun cocktails and yummy food. You can sit down for service or there’s a walk-up window where you can order everything from drinks to slices of cake.
We scooted (yes, like took Scooters :)) our way through ‘Dirty 6th’, perhaps Austin’s most iconic spot for partying and live music, and went all the way over to East 6th, where we stopped at the new location of Easy Tiger, a beer garden and bakery and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon.
We also went on a lovely morning run one day, from our hotel down to South Congress. We grabbed coffee at Jo’s, where you can get your picture with that iconic ‘I love you so much’ sign. South Congress is full of quirky shops, nestled next to big names like Kendra Scott. There are tree shaded patios, music venues like The Continental Club and more. We happened upon a sidewalk market, and I got the sweetest hair clip.
If you feel like splurging, Dinner at Uchi is a must. Truly the best sushi I’ve ever had. We were lucky enough to end up seated at the bar, and the chef that night gave us great recommendations on what to order.
Other spots I highly recommend in a visit to Austin:
Lady Bird Lake - Right in the middle of town, you can kayak here with Rowing Dock rentals! We had so much fun renting a double and taking it out for the day. They also offer paddle boarding, canoeing, and occasional night excursions to see the famous Austin bats!
Barton Springs - If you're looking to cool off, check out the Barton Springs Pool located in Zilker Park. We have waited in pretty long lines to get in on occasion, but it's worth it! There are lots of big rocks to lounge on, and the pool is filled entirely with water from the nearby natural springs.
Magnolia Cafe - An Austin staple, this diner style spot is open 24 hours a day. It's comfort food with a twist. Think gingerbread pancakes, migas multiple ways or even a hummus tabouli plate. Or you can just a get a nice, standard omelet!
Dive Bar- Near Hotel Ella, we went here after our wedding reception, and now we make a point to always stop back. It’s not a dive bar in the traditional sense - rather it’s scuba dive themed, with quirky aquatic inspired art. It’s definitely a neighborhood spot, with great cocktails to boot.
Rainey Street - A block of cute bungalows turned into restaurants and bars. It's a great place to grab a drink and play some yard games under twinkle lights. It can get busy on weekend evenings!
Buenos Aires Cafe - One of our FAVORITE restaurants in ATX, nestled on East 6th Street, alongside funky bars and breweries. The gnocchi is to die for, and we'd recommend ordering a caipirinha from the bar.
Odd Duck - On South Lamar, we love the brunch at Odd Duck, and there's something for everyone (i.e. cake donuts for Alexandra, and a plate full of greens for Bret).
La Condesa - Delicious, contemporary Mexican food, in colorful digs, just north of the river. The short rib is SO GOOD!
