5 great weekends to liven up your spring
1. Texas hill country
Tour Texas wine country; That’s right, Texas wine country
About 500 miles west of Baton Rouge sit dozens of Old World-style vineyards that are starting to squeeze out award-winning handcrafted wines, and visitors are discovering its appeal as a vacation spot.
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Texas wine country produces everything from Albarińo to Zinfandel. With more than 5 million annual visitors to the region, it’s no wonder Texas has become one of the fastest-growing wine destinations in the country, second only to Napa Valley.
Getting there
Take 1-10 E toward San Antonio, but before you get there take the appropriate exit, depending on which wine country city you’re starting with: Stonewall, Fredericksburg, Austin, New Braunfels, to name a few. Expect about an 8-hour drive.
What to do
Visit the vineyards, stay at quaint bed and breakfasts. For example:
Becker Vineyards. Featured in Wine Spectator and on the Fine Living Channel, Becker’s award-winning, Rhone-style wines have been served in the White House. Stay next door at the Homestead Bed and Breakfast and sample to your heart’s content. beckervineyards.com
Fall Creek Vineyards. Established in 1975, Fall Creek is the region’s oldest vineyard. Its double-gold award-winning Meritus, a full-bodied blend of cabernet sauvignon and other varietals, has amassed a cult-like following. fcv.com
Messina Hof Winery & Resort. Not only does Messina Hof make an exceptional crisp Riesling, the overnight accommodations at The Villa bed and breakfast are top-notch. Gourmet dining at The Vintage House makes this resort winery a great place to settle in for a long weekend. messinahof.com
Other accommodations
Fredericksburg Inn & Suites. Just a block from downtown Main Street, the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites provides resort-style accommodations with an easy walk to dozens of art galleries, boutiques, museums and restaurants. The 103-room hotel sits on five acres along Barons Creek and features two pools, a hot tub, outdoor cabana with fireplace and TV and a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. fredericksburg-inn.com
Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort. This legendary members-only resort has been the playground for the rich and famous for more than 30 years. Today it’s a 349-room AAA Four Diamond Marriott luxury hotel complete with a full-service spa, a marina, tennis courts and award-winning dining at the Lantana Grill. As a guest of the hotel you’ll receive temporary membership to the resort and access to all of the amenities, including the three Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship golf courses. horseshoebaymarriott.com
Where to eat
Cotton Gin Restaurant & Lodging. Dine in an authentic 1870s log cabin village surrounded by limestone walls, waterfalls and herb gardens and experience unparalleled dining, featuring an extensive wine list. cottonginlodging.com
Austin’s gourmet cuisine features French, Mediterranean and Asian specialties, an extensive wine list and spectacular views. Reservations are recommended. rose-hill.com
—SARAH YOUNG
2. Point Clear, Ala.
Head east toward Florida, but stop waaay before that
Long before Panama City Beach, Pensacola and Gulf Shores sits a hidden gem of a resort that, under various names and owners, has hosted world-weary Gulf Coast vacationers for 150 years.
The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa is a one-stop destination where you can relax, recharge and revitalize.
A few years ago the owners added 20,000 square feet to the Grand, including a European spa, indoor pool, salon and new guest rooms.
Those recent additions, combined with the hotel’s oft-lauded restaurants, marina, tennis courts and two 18-hole championship courses make for a dizzying range of choices. Rooms start at $189 per night.
Getting there
Take I-10 east past Mobile and across Mobile Bay. Take a right onto Scenic Highway 98. Pass Daphne and Fairhope, and find The Grand Hotel at 17855 Scenic Highway 98.
Where (else) to eat
If you feel the itch to leave the arms of the Grand—and you’ll be tempted to remain cradled for a long weekend—there are a handful of shopping and dining options nearby.
The Wash House is casual and specializes in andouille-encrusted snapper with etouffee and tomato grits, and Godiva chocolate pecan pie. fairhopeeateries.com/thewashhouse
The Fairhope Inn & Restaurant is more upscale, serving delicacies like roasted lamb tenderloin and sesame-crusted tuna. thefairhopeinn.com
Mr. Gene’s Beans serves gourmet coffee, desserts and ice cream, should your afternoon of shopping in downtown Fairhope spur cravings for something sweet. (251) 928-6915.
Finally, for a stylish, contemporary dinner, make the drive into Mobile for NoJa and its rotating seasonal menu. Try the panko-crusted fresh fish with edamame and nappa-scallion salad, and finish with their ginger donut, a beignet rolled in ginger and sugar and topped with vanilla bean ice cream. nojamobile.com
—JEFF ROEDEL
3. Jackson, Miss.
Jackson’s hopping St. Patrick’s Day Party
Party like your name’s Finnegan at the South’s biggest St. Paddy’s party
Last year’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade in Jackson was such a debauch that for weeks afterward local newspapers ran letters galore denouncing the event. Now that’s our kind of party.
Only two hours north of Baton Rouge, Mississippi’s Capital City boasts one of the most spirited celebrations around, even if it is a young party. Jackson didn’t even celebrate St. Paddy’s until the early 1980s when a local restaurateur, owner of a place called Hal and Mal’s, decided to emulate Mardi Gras with an Irish parade.
It started humbly, as a pub crawl, but quickly morphed into an all-day downtown o’fair. Various parades all end at a large street party featuring the Bible Belt’s most enthusiastic booze hounds. Don’t forget to grab the paper the next day for laughs.
Getting there
Take I-55 north to Jackson, about a 2 1/2-hour drive.
Accommodations
Budget: Try Holiday Inn Express, 310 Greymont Ave., at $94 a night. It’s within a 10-minute walk of the St. Paddy’s festivities. Enjoy the free wireless Internet access.
Luxury: Splurge at the Jackson Marriott Downtown, 200 East Amite St. For $169 a night, stay in the heart of the action, as close to the lap of luxury you’ll find in the “City with Soul.”
What to do
Join the street party near Hal and Mal’s and watch the parade from there, then bounce around at some great local bars: Fenian’s Pub (fenianspub.com), Hal and Mal’s (halandmals.com), and Martin’s Restaurant & Lounge (martinslounge.net).
Where to eat
Pizza Shack, 1220 N. State St., a hole-in-the-wall pizza and beer joint.
Julep Restaurant & Bar, 1305 E. Northside Dr., #105, Old South, deep-fried standbys on a white tablecloth.
Cool Al’s, 4654 McWillie Dr., old-school burgers with a flare-up of nouveau offerings.
—MARK F. BONNER
4. Houston
Forget traffic: This city’s about much more than that
Houston! Be honest—you’re picturing gridlock, right? Here’s the beauty of H-Town now: Baton Rouge traffic has gotten so bad, Houston doesn’t seem so bad! OK, perhaps that’s a stretch, but if you carefully time your arrival and pick a smart route, you can zoom through the sprawling city’s interstates and plan a weekend to remember.
This spring is your last chance to glimpse “Lucy,” the world’s oldest human, whose remains are on exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural History through April. And there’s always the same museum’s stunning butterfly atrium.
The Rothko Chapel is a must-see place for those seeking a meditative sanctuary. Surrounded by the ceiling-to-floor paintings of Jewish-American abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, it’s a tranquil venue that’s been frequented by the Dalai Lama, Jimmy Carter, Dominique de Menil, among others. Free to the public. rothkochapel.org
Head over Friday night for dinner and margaritas at El Tiempo, voted best by the Houston Chronicle. eltiempocantina.com
To cap off the evening visit the SculpturWorx Studio, a warehouse space complete with presidential busts and a 36-foot-tall Beatles sculpture.
On Saturday morning, the farmers market at T’afia is perfect for breakfast and produce perusing. Ibiza restaurant provides ample style for dinner. There, cocktails and an impressive wine wall make for a distinct dining experience. tafia.com, ibizafoodandwinebar.com
Treat the family to the most inexpensive yet delicious “slice of heaven on earth” at House of Pies. On Sunday, enjoy jazz brunch on the patio at the Backstreet Café. houseofpies.com, backstreetcafe.net
Getting there
Hit I-10 west until you land in the 713. The drive takes about five hours if you reach the city between rush hours.
Accommodations
Luxury: The Hotel ZaZa in the museum district offers visitors indulgent and fashionable accommodations. Rooms start in the low $200s per night. Note that fees in March are higher because of the “Lucy” exhibit at the nearby Houston Museum of Natural History. hotelzaza.com
Affordable: Rooms at the Houston Marriott Westchase, on Briarpark right off Westheimer, range from $119 to $169 a night. marriott.com
—MARY HELEN CRUMPLER
5. Miami Beach, Fla.
It’s like leaving the country, but you don’t need a passport
Long drives not your bag? If that tax refund is burning a hole in your overnight bag, plan a spicy weekend in Miami, Florida’s international city for fabulous food, raging nightlife and picturesque beaches.
Getting there
Drive to New Orleans and catch a direct flight on American Airlines, or a one-stop flight on a half-dozen other airlines. Flights leave throughout the day, and only take about an hour and 40 minutes, and range from $200 to $300 roundtrip.
Accommodations
Loews South Beach. A mod, stylish hotel for the hip crowd. loewshotels.com
The Palms. A traditional Miami hotel, situated on the beach. thepalmshotel.com
Catalina. An affordable hotel option with rooms around $200, right across the street from the beach. catalinahotel.com
What to do
Head over to One Ocean Drive and soak up the rays at Nikki Beach Club, a place for celebs, tycoons and the fashionable alike. Spend the day mustering stamina for the night ahead.
Some popular nightclubs include:
Rain. Super-chic bar serving up cocktails and tunes from renowned DJs.
Mansion. A well-appointed home meets strobe lights sums up the design of this venue. theopiumgroup.com
Bed. It’s the acronym for Beverage, Entertainment and Dining. The restaurant turns nightclub after dinner. bedmiami.com
Where to eat
Barton G. An eatery that offers a contemporary twist on classic fare. bartong.com
Sushisamba. A fusion restaurant blending Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine. sushisamba.com
Grillfish. Affordable and fun. This casual restaurant features seafood and pasta. grillfish.com
—M.H.C.
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