BBQ on a beautiful day

To celebrate my new job and getting into grad school, Adrian and I decided to celebrate by trying out the all-you-can-eat BBQ we had been hearing about at the Salt Lick in Driftwood.

Enjoying the beautiful day while waiting for a table.

The open pit where all the meat is cooked. Mmmm.

We arrived two hours after they opened and already they had a wait. This gave us a little time to check out the grounds and the open fire pit where all the meat was cooking. Before we knew it, we were seated at a picnic table and ready to order. The all-you-can-eat menu included sausage, brisket, pork ribs, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad and bread. Our favorite is the brisket — it was so tender and the smoky taste was amazing. Next time, we want to try out the beef ribs and chicken. 

Our first plate of food.

After stuffing ourselves, and getting some blueberry and peach cobblers to go, we headed across the street to a park to take a nap and walk around. Driftwood, in addition to offering some great BBQ, is also a scenic and beautiful area. You can see the rolling hills, a river and even some stone cliffs. After waking from the perfect, relaxing nap, we decided to drive through Driftwood a little more.  Not much farther, we ran into one of multiple vineyards in the area.

The wine tasting building has an Italian feel.

We stopped by the Duchman Family Winery and learned that central Texas weather is comparable to Italy so some of the same grapes are grown in both areas. We were walking around the grounds just as the sun was setting behind some of the new grape vines. Since this first trip into the country was such a success, we're thinking on the weekends we just get in the car and drive. Who knows what we'll run into next.

Follow the long line

This morning, while running some errands in Round Rock, we drove past a donut shop with long lines out the door and in the drive through. I had never heard of Round Rock Donuts, but Adrian said, wherever there's a long line at a restaurant, stop and try it out -- so we did. I may have gone a little overboard, ordering a dozen mixed variety and a couple sausage kolaches, but I needed to try them all to choose a favorite.

From all the taste testing I put myself through, I would say my favorite are the fruit variety, whether center filled or filled. I've never tasted such authentic fruit flavors on a pastry before. The cherry, raspberry, apricot and pineapple were all amazing. Also, the sausage kolaches were quite scrumptious. The sausage stuffed with jalepenos and cheese was just the right amount of spicy.

The bakery shop has an illustrious history and is touted as a piece of Texas history. I'm excited to have stumbled across such a great shop. We'll be back, especially since I missed a few varieties of donuts in my taste testing and I can't have an unfinished study. Gotta be thorough!

This is Texas?!!

It was exciting to find out that Lake Travis is only 30 minutes away, but I was not expecting what I saw. Since Adrian's dad was visiting, we decided to take the drive and check out the lake and its surroundings. This part of Texas is hill country (before I moved to Texas I had assumed all of it was flat desert). The hills are not as grand as the Rocky Mountains but the green makes up for it, especially since its winter and the color is still vibrant. Though it was a rainy, cloudy day, we still had a great view of the lake and the hills.

And in addition to the wonderful, natural views, there are these amazing houses that belong in the class of European villas. Tiled roofs, stone walls, vibrant yellows — I was expecting small beach houses but these are mansions with exceptional views.

Looking out on the lake, some people were braving the cold water to go boating and water skiing; I'll wait till the temperature is warmer to enter the water. But no matter what, we'll be back to soak in the views and get inspired by our surroundings. I know this is just the beginning of what Texas has to offer.  

As the clouds clear, a view of the winding waterway.

The mansion on the left is owned by a Mexican man who started a grocery chain. This picture does not do the home justice.

More "homes" on the hills.