Spending five weeks together driving across America is a great test of a marriage. We have always done everything together – just not four hundred miles a day for so many days. The results were a stronger relationship, so many more memories together, shared delight in the God moments we witnessed, and a greater appreciation for the beauty of and freedoms enjoyed in America. This was our 2023 journey. We hope you will plan your own…
We got to Santa Fe early so we stopped at the first casino. We won! There are at least 4 casinos in Santa Fe.
Then we stopped at Cowgirls BBQ, 319 S Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, for dinner and enjoyed a special treat of music by Bill Hearn.
We had met Bill when he played in College Station, Texas several years ago.
Our hotel, The Inn of the Governors, 101 W. Alameda St., Santa Fe, NM 87501, www.innofthegovernors.com, was so inviting.
Upon arrival we were given a flight of four sherries with the traditional biscochitos cookies, macadamia nuts, dried figs and apricots. Very nice cotton waffle robes and good in-room coffee made for a wonderful evening.
Complimentary breakfast at Inn of the Governors in Santa Fe was exceptional. We ordered from the menu and enjoyed fresh from the griddle eggs, bacon, and toast.
Roswell, New Mexico, was a place that we had not visited but wanted to know better. One of our growers, Bill Day, came from Roswell. The Roswell Visitor’s Center, 426 N. Main St., Roswell, NM, open 10 am-5 pm, offered great advise and photo opportunities with aliens! It is inspiring how the city has taken an event in 1947 and turned it into a marketing tourism draw.
Meet our new Alien friend!
The International UFO Museum, 114 N. Main St., Rosewell, NM, which is open 9-5 and costs $7 per person is recommended but we did not have time to go.
Pecos Flavors Winery & Bistro, 412 W. 2nd St., Roswell, NM, opens at 11 am. It is a great restaurant winebar that features a large variety of New Mexico wines. They even let you taste before you buy. Quality Liquor, 1400 S. Main, Roswell, NM also carries a selection of New Mexico wines. We always appreciate those retailers that support the local wineries.
The miles between Roswell and Big Spring were barren miles of sand and oil wells. Just north of Plains coming into Texas through Tatum, NM, we saw three large blocks of vineyards. These were the only vineyards we saw along the way.
In Big Spring we stayed at the Hotel Settles, 200 E. 3rd St., Big Spring, TX 79720. It was originally built in 1930 but fell into disrepair over the years. In 2006 G. Brint Ryan purchased the hotel and renovated it to its original grandeur. It is a beautiful hotel filled with history and worth the stay. The food at Settles Grill was excellent Texas comfort food and they have a reasonably priced wine list. We just happened to be there when the tv station was there to do a live interview with the Food and Beverage manager. www.hotelsettles.com
Driving from Big Springs to Fredericksburg there was not much to see. Miles, miles, and more miles of dessert, sagebrush, and pump jacks prepare you for a pleasant surprise of green as you enter Harper and Fredericksburg, Texas. Small town Texas feels like home.
It felt like home when we entered Pasta Bella for lunch and Paul was immediately recognized. There is no place like home. The Italian food at Pasta Bella is delicious with lots of garlic. We had the Messina Hof Cabernet Franc for the first time in a month. It was delicious! 103 S. Llano St., Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 www.pastabellarestaurant.com
At the winery we were greeted with a full house of visitors loving Messina Hof wine and our attentive Messina Hof team. The personal touch makes such a difference.
One of our favorite places to stay is the Manor Haus at our winery. It is quiet, dark, and so comfortable. It is where we go to refresh after a busy season and was the perfect place to finish our road trip before heading to Bryan.
The very best pretzel of all was at the Fredericksburg Brewing Company. 245 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 www.yourbrewery.com
