Denton County Living Well Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 42

One Tank Wonders

W

Staycation Destinations in just a Short Drive

e call the Lone Star State home, all 267,339
square miles of it. As Texans (born or
transplanted), we take pride of ownership
in this great state. It’s amazing and diverse,
filled with culture, natural wonders, and wine––glorious
wine. Vacation destinations are virtually state resources,
so there’s no need to make vacationing a monumental
event any longer. All you’ll need for these weekend
getaways is one tank of gas and a sense of adventure.

Muenster, TX

This inviting German town is chock-full of treasures. Just
northwest of Denton, Muenster is hands-down the place
to experience Oktoberfest. If beer isn’t your thing, or
you simply can’t wait until October to motor on over to
Muenster, drive up for an award-winning wine affair any
time. A 30-minute loop will afford you a three-winery tour
of Texas wines you’ll remember long after the weekend
is over. As far as unforgettable wines go, the fruit
wines at Weinhof Winery are among the most unique;
the pear wine is a local favorite. Both Arche and Blue
Ostrich are a few miles outside of town in Saint Jo. Hit
the year-round tasting room at Arche for an impressive
list of award-winning wines, especially the Roussanne
2012. You’ll want to give Blue Ostrich a call before you
head over; the staff will organize a special tasting and
tour package, complete with cheese pairings, souvenir
wine glasses and a face-to-face meeting with their
ostriches! Then nestle in to a unique tree house cabin
at Wildcat Ha’ven Ranch, or opt for a sustainable stay
at Elm Creek Manor. At this luxury spa-resort, you’ll
enjoy a mineral shower before indulging in a gourmet
5-course farm-to-table meal. Breakfast at Bayer’s
Kolonialwaren bakery will leave you completely satiated.
They specialize in 11 flavors of strudel, six kinds of
meat Kolaches, chicken and peppers, and donuts.
After you pop a button, or two, spend the remainder
of your pre-nap day at Fresh Fellas Furnishings. This
flea market style shop offers “a fresh take on vintage
home décor” to make Joanna Gaines swoon.

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DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SUMMER 2015

By Stacy Apple
Glen Rose, TX

You’ve probably heard of Glen Rose before and
for good reason. This 2.7 square mile town is
simply bursting with memory-making prospects.
For an all-inclusive experience, drop your
luggage at the casually elegant Rough Creek
Lodge. From tomatoes grown specifically for
Chef Gerard Thompson, to locally grown organic
micro-greens, and specialty products like fresh
grits from a small Alabama mill, your meals at
the Lodge are not only included, but are sure to
make memories of their own. During your stay,
their guest services staff can provide all the
accessories you’ll need to explore the 11,000acre property. Your stay includes a vertiginous
variety of specialty sports and recreation
activities, such as tomahawk throwing, archer,
digging for fossils, fishing, shuffleboard,
miniature golf, zip lining, and so, so much more.
Rough Creek Lodge will even kindly book your
adventure to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. This
conservation and learning center sits on 1,500
acres, where hundreds of rare and endangered
animals roam free. A short drive to Dinosaur
Valley State Park will transport you into a time
when dinosaurs roamed this part of Texas. Here
you can follow dinosaur tracks in the bed of the
Paluxy River, or make tracks of your own along
15 miles of limestone ridged trails. If you’re
maxed out on outdoor adventures, we promised
Texas wine, and this weekend getaway delivers.
Glen Rose is nestled between several vineyards.
Due south you’ll discover Red Caboose Winery;
utilizing geothermal cooling and photo-voltaic
cells, these wine makers have been deemed
trailblazers by Wine Business Monthly. Just north
of town Bluff Dale and Barking Rocks compete
for love, but you certainly don’t have to choose,
as both offer unique settings and varieties.