REVIEWS Archives | TRAVELS WITH TAM

You Will Love the San Gabriel House Bed and Breakfast in Georgetown Texas!

October 8, 2017 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

The end of September found me in Georgetown, Texas enjoying their annual Wine Festival. I had the most wonderful weekend, and part of the reason why is the San Gabriel House Bed and Breakfast at University and Olive, across from Southwestern University.

San Gabriel House has a long history, it was built in 1908. There is a huge main house with a carriage house in back. Walking into the BNB is like going back in time. I almost wondered if my Grandmothers were around somewhere! Feast your eyes on these photos of this exquisite Bed and Breakfast, and click HERE for the history of this beautiful home! Sadly there are no photographs of my two breakfasts, which were incredible, but I ate them before I remembered to get photos! There was a Grilled Grapefruit and French Toast the first morning, with a never ending flow of coffee and juice. The second morning was an egg casserole, biscuits, and a couple from Zimbabwe with whom I spent a lovely hour.

San Gabriel House, Georgetown texas bnb, bed and breakfast — Entry, with two rooms left and right.

Obviously, I give a wholehearted recommendation to visit Georgetown, and to stay at the San Gabriel House! Tell them Tam sent you!

You Should Experience Amazing and Beautiful Georgetown, Texas!

October 3, 2017 By Tam Warner 17 Comments

See Georgetown and the Texas Hill Country in an RV! Georgetown RV rentals are rented out by the owners! https://rvshare.com/rv-rental/georgetown/tx

visit georgetown texas, georgetown, Texas Hill Country — Pretty, pretty Georgetown!

You should experience Georgetown! During 2017 I have been exploring and traveling in the Texas Hill Country. I recently paid a visit to Georgetown, Texas, 30 miles north of Austin, to experience the Georgetown Wine Festival, but I ended up experiencing so much more! Marcy, from the Visitor’s Center, took me on a wonderful tour of downtown Georgetown, and I learned about a lot more than wine.

This was the first time I actually went into the historic district of Georgetown. I have to say that Georgetown has the prettiest town square I have seen so far in the Hill Country! The courthouse is in the center, surrounded by historic buildings, cute shop fronts, and a grassy lawn. Georgetown is in Williamson County, Texas, and has a rich history. Williamson County is named after a Texas judge and statesman, Robert McAlpin Williamson, aka Three Legged Willie! Willie was three legged because of contracting polio which deformed his leg so that it could not bend. In order to walk, Willie constructed a peg leg and was thereafter known as three legged Willie! You have to admit that is quite a story!

visit georgetown texas, texas hill country, georgetown — And here is a statue of the famous Three Legged Willie!

visit Georgetown Texas, Georgetown, Poppies, Texas Hill Country — Original stairs on historic building

Poppies are a big theme in Georgetown. There are shops and restaurants that display poppies, and Marcy filled me in. They actually have a Poppy Festival every April. The story is that a guy named “Okra” (yep, Okra!) aka Henry Purl Compton, a soldier in the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, loved the poppies in Europe and sent seeds home to his mother, who planted them. They became popular in Georgetown and grew everywhere. Now, they celebrate a Poppy Festival every April, and I’m sure that would be wonderful to see!

The Williamson Museum is chock full of fascinating facts, and is in an old bank building. The building was actually built around the safe! The builders wanted to be sure the safe could not be stolen, so they built it first. Another tidbit of Georgetown history is the Ku Klux Klan trials in the 1920s. Georgetown was the first to successfully prosecute Klan members. The District Attorney was Dan Moody. Talk about a history to be proud of!

“THESE TRIALS WERE CONSIDERED THE FIRST PROSECUTORIAL SUCCESS IN THE UNITED STATES AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE 1920s KLAN AND QUICKLY WEAKENED THE KLAN’S POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN TEXAS. FURTHER, THE PUBLICITY GARNERED BY MOODY FOLLOWING THE TRIAL LED TO HIS SUCCESSFUL RUNS FOR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 1924 AND TEXAS GOVERNOR IN 1926 AND 1928. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON EVER ELECTED TO BOTH STATEWIDE OFFICES.” Williamson County Historical Commission.

visit Georgetown Texas, georgetown, texas hill country, poppy festival — The safe!

The Georgetown Wine Festival took place on the town square, and some of the roads were closed off to be sure there was no problem with traffic. The festival included several wineries, food trucks, and booths. A fun day with perfect weather! It could not have been nicer! I wandered around, taking photographs, just enjoying the beautiful day and the people.

In closing I want to thank the Georgetown Tourist Office and Visitor’s Center for such a wonderful day! What a great place for a Texas trip! There is more to come from me about Georgetown!

My First Live Television Interview went so Quickly!!

September 30, 2017 By Tam Warner 6 Comments

author, live television interviewl, san antonio living — With Shelly Miles of Channel 4 San Antonio Living! So exciting!

My first live television interview! I am so thrilled that my first book has gotten attention from the media! I was asked by Channel 4 San Antonio Living to make an appearance on September 26, and of course I went! Not knowing what to expect, I was a little nervous. I became more comfortable as it went on, and I believe I will be ready for the next ones! Yes, I have more interviews on television, radio and print coming up! You can find my updated schedule on my author page at http://tamtravels.wpengine.com/tam-warner-minton-author-page/. As more appearances are scheduled, I will update the page!

My first book, ALL FISH FACES, is the first of a series called OCEAN FRIENDS. I want to inspire this generation and the next to preserve our oceans, which are in such critical condition. I also want to continue my solo travels, my citizen science trips, and I will continue to urge all to #exploremore and know that it is never too late to make a difference!

The Highlights of a Trip to South Africa

August 25, 2017 By Tam Warner 8 Comments

South Africa is a popular destination on travel bucket lists, and a quick glance at what the country has to offer can help you understand why. It’s a beautiful country combining the charm and adventure of rural Africa with bustling urban destinations and pristine coastline. There’s an international flavor to much of the country given that it attracts visitors from all over the world, and the truth is it’s pretty easy to enjoy yourself there. Even so, we’re going to point to some of the highlights you should be sure to check out if you’re fortunate enough to travel there.

cape town, south africa, travel tips — Nobel Square: founders of democracy in South Africa

A Resort In Cape Town

Cape Town tends to be the main draw for people who are traveling to South Africa, and it’s largely because of what the city looks like. Looking up images of the city, one gets the image of a cliff-side party town up against the water on the southern tip of Africa. It seems all at once impossibly exotic, wildly attractive, and intriguingly luxurious. It’s also the last point that you can really explore by staying at a resort, and you may recall that we’ve actually highlighted the best one before. The One & Only Cape Town suites are about as good as it gets, and are well worth their hefty price tags if you’re going all the way to South Africa for a vacation.

A Horseback Safari

When you look up fun activities to enjoy in South Africa, you don’t get your typical vacation checklist. There are a lot of wild things to try in the country, and one that you won’t find in a lot of other African destinations is a horseback safari. One list of awesome South African activities noted that you can try this at the Isimangaliso Wetlands, and the experience is like nothing else. You can ride horses alongside wild wildebeests and giraffes for an up close and personal view of African wildlife.

Kiteboarding Lessons

Kiteboarding is becoming one of the trendier watersports in the world, and some of the beaches near Cape Town are particularly well known for it. Destinations like Langebaan, Bloubergstrand, and Cannon Rocks are all noted as good spots to give it a try, though you may need to cough up a bit of cash to have some lessons if you’ve never tried this sport before. It’s tricky to get the hang of, but it’s a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. This is also a great opportunity to try one of the better spots in the world for the sport.

A Casino Visit

Casinos rarely pop up as factors in travel decisions anymore, and it’s easy to understand why. Online versions of casino games have become incredibly sophisticated, and offer a wide range of classic games to play. This includes everything from traditional slots and card games to games like roulette, which has been enjoyed by casino goers all over the world for generations. With so many options available at their fingertips, it’s no surprise that real life casinos have fallen by the wayside, but ignore visiting one at your own peril. Throughout the world there are still casinos worth seeing in person, and a few of them are located right in South Africa. The Sun City Resort outside of Johannesburg is truly a sight to behold, built like a palace sticking up in the middle of the bush, and filled with all the fun and amenities of a classic casino.

cape town, south africa, visit south africa — Cage Diving with Great Whites off Seal Island!

Diving Expeditions

Cape Town boasts a lot of great scuba diving activities, including both reef and wreck dives. But that’s not all you can find there. You can also find dives that put you in close proximity to friendly seals. If you really want to give yourself an adrenaline rush, you can sign up for a dive where you’ll be in an underwater cage swimming with the sharks. These activities aren’t necessarily unique to South Africa or Cape Town, but many find the diving at this destination to be particularly good.

A Tabletop Mountain Hike

Last but not least, you should also make time for a hike up Tabletop Mountain, which is the cliff-like plateau that looms over Cape Town. This is a manageable hike for those inclined to try it, and we’re not talking about monstrously high altitudes. It’s definitely something to try, if only to enjoy the view from the top. It’s truly a sight unlike anything you can see elsewhere in the world.

south africa, cape town — You meet interesting creatures on Table Mountain!

Guest blog by Philip White

Have You Ever Been to a Grape Stomp? Amazing fun!

August 22, 2017 By Tam Warner 8 Comments

The last Grape Stomp Event at Fall Creek Vineyards is on Saturday, August 26! Make plans and go!

grape stomp, Fall Creek Vineyards, hill country, texas hill country — Entryway to the charming Driftwood Vineyard location of Fall Creek Vineyards!

I grew up with one image in my mind when it came to Grape Stomps at Winery Harvests: I Love Lucy, going deeper and deeper into her barrel of grapes! Also, there is a video out there of a woman in a super small barrel/bowl who fell off of a platform while stomping, and you don’t want to do that, do you? Don’t worry, there is a perfectly safe way to do a grape stomp…go to the Hill Country of Texas and enjoy the Grape Stomp at Fall Creek Vineyards in Tow, Texas, west of Austin! I was thrilled to be invited to the Grape Stomp Events at Fall Creek Vineyards. First, luncheon with celebrity chef, Jay Hunter, from the Horseshoe Bay Resort, then stomping grapes, followed by a fabulous wine tasting with Sergio Cuadra, the Director of Winemaking!

Driving to Fall Creek Vineyards from Dallas, I decided to take the scenic route instead of the horrible rush of I-35. From Dallas I took 67 to 281, and drove down to Johnson City (hometown of President Lyndon Baines Johnson), then to Driftwood, Texas, where Fall Creek Vineyards has a lovely, small vineyard of young grapes with a beautiful tasting room and a bed and breakfast. The vineyard is directly across from the entrance to the famous Salt Lick BBQ! I enjoyed exploring the vineyard, and spending a comfortable and quiet night. The next morning I drove to Tow, Texas, to the main Vineyard of Fall Creek. Tow is northwest of Marble Falls, and is in the real Texas Hill Country! I loved the drive, it was so beautiful.

At the luncheon, I met Susan Auler, one of the owners of Fall Creek, and she was absolutely delightful. Her warmth toward every visitor is a perfect example of Texas Hill Country hospitality! I was seated with fellow journalists, Ed and Glynnis, and we spent a lovely hour being treated to a two course luncheon. First, a beautiful salad, followed by the tastiest salmon dish I have ever had. Both dishes were beautifully plated. We enjoyed a lovely Fall Creek Vineyards Rose and a Merlot with lunch.

Jay Hunter and assistant show off their plated salads!

As wonderful as lunch was, I couldn’t wait to go and stomp on some grapes! Now, don’t worry, the grapes you stomp on do not go into the wine making. Two barrels were on a platform, full of grapes, and children and adults were thoroughly enjoying stomping! You can even buy a t-shirt to make your purple footprints on, showing that you stomped grapes at Fall Creek Vineyards.

Everyone was enjoying the events!

As fun as stomping was, I did have to hose off and head for the wine tasting with the Director of Winemaking, Sergio Cuadra. He showed us the vats where they “make” the wine, and we tasted out of the vats. The unfinished wines were almost creamy in color and consistency. The bouquet wasn’t yet strong, and the taste was a bit weak, but I actually enjoyed the unfinished product.

Next, we saw grapes that needed to be “pressed”. They are pressed three times a day, and I tried it, it is a little difficult!

What a day! I had so much fun, and met many people from all over Texas at the different events I attended. The luncheon and wine tasting require tickets, so be sure and get them here. I had no idea how much fun events at Fall Creek Vineyards could be! A band played, people had food, sodas, and seating available and brought their children, grandparents and dogs to the event. There are goodies for sale, especially fabulous Texas wine. I had a wonderful adventure and I urge you to head down to Tow on August 26! Enjoy!

hill country, wine, texas wine — You can shop!

My thanks to Fall Creek Vineyards for hosting me, you can be sure I will be back!

I Love that my Daughter took me on a Surprise, Peachy Excursion near Dallas!

August 15, 2017 By Tam Warner 3 Comments

peach, ham orchard — We can be a bit silly!

My lovely daughter, Alexandra, is a sweetheart. Last week she called me and told me to be ready at 745a on Saturday for a surprise excursion!

I tend to be overly enthusiastic…well, I get very excited at certain things, events, animals, etc. My family loves to surprise me, or be with me on these occasions. Apparently I make sounds they find hilarious. The best examples I can think of are roasted corn, ostriches and giraffes. And deer. And Elk. If I saw a moose I would have trouble containing myself! Something else I get excited about and love? Peaches. Fresh, juicy, lovely peaches.

My daughter surprised me with a visit to Ham Orchard‘s in Terrell, Texas on their last day of the season. Yes, I squealed! Anything peach you can possibly imagine was at this peach farm! Peach salsa, peaches, preserved peaches, bottled peaches, peach jam, peach spread, peach pulled pork, peach cobbler, peach pie….I sound like Bubba in Forrest Gump about shrimp, don’t I? But they had as much available in peaches as Bubba could name about shrimp. By the way, the blackberries were huge and they are delicious!

Ham Orchard also has barbeque! And peach soft serve! Photo by Alexandra Minton

ham, peaches, peach, surprise — Ham Orchard’s BBQ! Photo by Alexandra Minton

The building is very small, and people were lined up to get in before opening! The cute little white building reminded me of a fruit farm we visited when I was growing up…Mumma’s Fruit Farm in Dayton, Ohio. The smell of fresh fruits and vegetables took me back! My daughter and I had to have peach ice cream. What is better than ice cream with peaches? Or peach soft serve? Not much. So we bought a cone and a cup, and Alexandra photographed the sweets, peaches, bottles and buildings. I am very proud of my little girl, she is a professional photographer at Alexandra Minton Photography. She shoots weddings, engagements, portraits, families, newborns, and food. She just started an Instagram account called Sweet, Sweet Dallas, and has been chosen for one of D Magazines food photos of the week! Sweet, Sweet Dallas is purely an account for desserts around and in Dallas, Tx. If you like food, you need to like Sweet Sweet Dallas on Instagram! All foodies, click that link!

ham orchard, alexandra minton, sweet sweet dallas — SWEET SWEET DALLAS! Photo by Alexandra Minton

ham orchard, bbq, peaches, sweet sweet dallas — I remember barrel tables and chairs from my childhood. Photo by Alexandra Minton

Ham’s Orchard will reopen on May 12, 2018! I know I will be there!

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