Imagine my surprise when I found a paradise practically in my backyard!  Just four hours away from Dallas-Ft. Worth, one hour from Austin, two hours from Houston, three hours from Abilene, eight to ten  hours from bordering Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana is the paradise of the Texas Hill Country!  Located along this area is the beautiful Colorado River which flows through the city of Marble Falls and Horseshoe Bay.  Traveling through the rolling hills, I wondered how this area’s attractions could appeal to the senior crowd.

What do rolling hills, valleys, and moderate temperatures year around have in common?  Vineyards!  Herein is the connection to seniors.  Fabulous wine tours throughout the Texas Hill Country are available most days of the week.  Horseshoe Bay Marriott has created unique wine and accommodation packages, along with the opportunity to tour four exceptional wineries (Fall Creek Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate Winery, Spicewood Vineyards, and Lost Creek Vineyards) with transportation and meals provided.  This would be the Gold Wine Package starting at $269 per night which includes:  “Deluxe accommodations for Friday and Saturday night, breakfast buffet for two on Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Lantana Grill, and Bar, two complimentary glasses of wine from participating wineries at the Lantana Bar, tours of four exceptional Hill Country wineries (California beware - Texas is creating award winning wines both nationally and internationally), including transportation provided and gourmet boxed lunches for two.  A Silver Wine Package includes deluxe accommodations for Sunday and Monday, Monday and Tuesday, or Tuesday and Wednesday nights, two breakfast buffets for each guest at the Lantana Grill and Bar, two tours – your choice – of the surrounding Hill Country wineries, transportation provided, and a gourmet boxed lunch for two.  The Silver Wine Package starts at $215 per night.  These rates will be good through March 1, 2006.  Reservations are required due to the popularity of these packaged vacations. 1-830-598-8600

From personal experience, I can recommend this mini vacation be stretched into a week if you’ve got the time.  The Horseshoe Bay Marriott is serenely beautiful.  Appointments of fall colors can be seen throughout the resort.  Each deluxe room is dressed with uniquely designed lightweight comforters, comfortable beds,  exquisite views of oasis designed optic lit  pools, putting course lined with exotic tropical plants and birds, high speed internet service, writing desk, refrigerator, coffee maker,  27 inch television, hair dryer and personal care amenities.  Guests of the Horseshoe Bay Marriott can enjoy complimentary temporary membership privileges to the exclusive facilities on the resort property. This includes over a dozen world class tennis courts, Whitewater putting course, a marina, spa, private airport, and three Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship golf courses.

The Whitewater putting course is one of the best around.  Eighteen holes challenge the best putters around!  A par 72 putting course with narrow necks and multi-level greens will keep you pushing yourself to improve your putting.  The lush tropical foliage lends to an exotic atmosphere.  Flamingos and parrots can be seen and heard along with exquisite waterfalls.  Statuaries and bridges wind through the putting course giving one the sense of being in a botanical garden.  General Manager, Ron Paynter says, “The course and landscaping is designed to privatize the tennis courts.  You would never believe there are 12 tennis courts scattered through here.”  He’s right, unless you really study beyond the initial visual experience, you can’t realize the tennis courts are really there.  An aerial view clarifies how every amenity blends so well together.  The overall ambiance of Horseshoe Bay Marriott is exquisite world class.

For those grandparents who travel with their grandchildren, Horseshoe Bay Marriott has a children’s club devoted to children’s interests while parents and grandparents find their own entertainments. 

Wine touring is one of the highlights of Horseshoe Bay Marriott.  Here you’ll meet the owners and viticulturists who care for the vineyards.  Since winemaking is 75% art and 25% science, each wine sample you experience will enlighten your palate.  For those who like wine, this is your chance to compare vintages, blends, and new releases.  Flat Creek awards to the top left.  Enology (winemaking) is one of the greatest economic developments in Texas.  On these tours you’ll have the opportunity to talk with winemakers (Enologist) such as Craig Parker, an Australian winemaker who joined the Flat Creek Estate Vineyard and Winery (left) in 2001. His knowledge of combining science with the soils of Texas and variety grapes produces a work of art seen in their Sangiovese, Shiraz, Muscat Canelli, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Tempranillo, and several Ports.  1-512-267-631.   Other tours include Lost Creek Vineyard and Winery with David Brinkman, winemaker.

Here you’ll meet the great staff at Lost Creek and get to meet Buddy, a working breed dog who has a nose for grapes.  In fact, he’s such a connoisseur; he has a blend named after him, Buddy’s Blend.  I’ll warn you now, don’t get started feeding Buddy the cheese and crackers as you sample the wines.  You’ll be so busy trying to keep up with his pawing requests for more, that you’ll miss out on enjoying all the samples available (Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot and three proprietary blends; Shiraz/Merlot, Ranitas, and Sinfonia de Ranas, Chenin Blanc, Blanc Du Bois, White Swan, and a

“Vintner’s Reserve” Shiraz.  

Fall Creek Vineyards embody all that is Texas.  Through adversity this vineyard knows how to comeback and take center stage.  With over 500 awards nationally and internationally, the wines of Fall Creek have been served at four Presidential Inaugurations, dignitaries of state, and can be found at fine restaurants.  Owners Ed and Susan Auler established Fall Creek in 1975.  Susan Auler has been recognized as one of the top 50 people in the world wine industry.  Fall Creek Vineyards is located on the northwest shores of Lake Buchanan, at Tow, Texas, in Llano County.  Brands include:  Meritus, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Merlot, Reserve Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Johannisberg Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Granite Reserve, Granite Blush, White Zinfandel, and Muscat.  A Twin Springs Brand includes Sweet Red, Sweet White, and Sweet Blush available to all and quite affordable. The other nearest vineyard to visit is Spicewood Vineyards.  Award winning 100% Estate bottled wines from the Texas Hill Country.  Ed and Madeleine Manigold grape growers and wine makers began in 1992 winning a silver medal with their first Chardonnay.  Spicewood takes its name from the abundant spicewood bush growing alongside the creeks of the vineyard.

With so much to do and see in this area of Marble Falls, Texas and the Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort, seniors will want to visit frequently to savor all!

Happy Traveling

(Photos are courtesy of Horseshoe Bay Marriott Resort, Flat Creek Estate Vineyard and Winery, Lost Creek Vineyard and Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, and Spicewood Vineyards, photography of Rhonda Pipkin)