U is for Uncertain

There are some letters that offer a lot of choices and then there are some letters that will be a struggle to find a town I want to visit.  I was so excited to discover my U town . . . Uncertain!  When I realized Uncertain was on Caddo Lake, Texas' only naturally made lake, I was absolutely certain this would be on my list of places to visit.  In fact, I planned my other East Texas locations around Uncertain.

Uncertain is on Caddo Lake and I found the perfect place to stay.  Spatterdock Houses is owned by a retired teacher and on the water.  It's a collection of guesthouses of all sizes and I'm not lying when I tell you how perfect it was.  The owner, Dottie Carter, is a lifelong resident of Uncertain and an amazing artist.  Her eclectic works can be seen throughout her property.  It's like you're staying in on outdoor museum.    Even though I had a kitchenette, I opted to eat at the local establishments, Caddo Lake Lighthouse and Caddo Outpost.  Like Jefferson, several of the restaurants aren't open in the middle of the week, so I missed out on the classic Big Pines Lodge, which has been around since the 1940s.

I stayed in Cricket.  Isn't it the cutest?!?

    

The view from the end of the pier.

No trip to Uncertain is complete without a boat ride on the lake.  I enjoyed a two hour ride on the lake, complete with lessons on the history of the lake, the town, and wildlife sightings - turtles, snakes, Ospreys and baby alligators!  Although it was a cool day, the sun was shining which made it that much more gorgeous.  Caddo Lake is in both Texas and Louisiana; it was formed by the Great Raft, uprooted trees creating a log jam in the Red River for over 80 miles.  

While I didn't have time to go into Caddo Lake State Park, I did go to the visitor center.  As always, Texas Parks and Wildlife does an amazing job of telling the history of the region and explaining the various ecosystems that make up the Piney Woods. 

  

If you've never visited East Texas, I hope you'll consider it.  From outdoor opportunities to history and everything in between, there's something for everyone.  I'm certain you'll love it!

K is for Karnack

Unless you are from East Texas, you probably haven't heard of Karnack. I hadn't either, until I started researching for my ABCs of Texas. Karnack is home to the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the birthplace of Lady Bird Johnson. After spending time in this neck of the Piney Woods, it is easy to understand why nature and conservation were so important to the former First Lady.

The Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge has only been existence since 2000. Prior to that, it was the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant for much of the 20th century. The refuge is a bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem and provides sanctuary for migratory birds, as well as other types of wildlife.  While there are horse and hiking trails, you can also drive through the refuge.  The day I visited, there was a prescribed burn in action which was really interesting to watch (from afar).  After watching the crew in action, I drove the six mile auto route, stopping along the way to take in the views.

These concrete structures are what's left of the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant.  In the beginning, TNT was made here for use in World War II.  As warfare evolved, the product varied; the plant also played a part in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  This area was originally chosen because of its proximity to rail lines and water transportation, yet it was also far enough removed from major population centers.

 

J is for Jefferson

Jefferson is a town in East Texas with fewer than 2000 people but with a lot of history.  In the mid 1800s, Jefferson was actually the leading inland port and the commercial hub for northeast Texas.  As the railroad replaced the steamboat though, Jefferson's role in commerce declined as did its population.  Today, Jefferson is know for its bed & breakfasts and is purported to be one of the most haunted towns in Texas.  There are a ton of unique restaurant, boutiques, and antique shops to visit, as well as several historical sites.  The day I visited was cool and sunny and I spent my time time going in and out of the many shops.  A word of caution for when you visit.  Several restaurants & shops are closed on Tuesday and even Wednesday.  While I was able to enjoy my time, I would have had more options later in the week.  I happily recommend both places I ate; A Taste of Caddo and 1852 on Austin.  A Taste of Caddo is all about southern comfort food; I enjoyed a basket of fried fish and shrimp. 1852 on Austin is more upscale, although there isn't a upscale dress code.  The wedge salad was delicious and I was able to save room for a slice of Bourbon Pecan Pie.  You can easily turn Jefferson into a weekend trip with friends.

  

From A Taste of Caddo . . .yum!

Be sure to read about Jay Gould and Jefferson here.  Love the irony.

L is for Lindale

Lindale, a town of about 6000, is north of Tyler and most notably, the hometown of Miranda Lambert.  Even though I've passed it a million times since my parents moved to Tyler in the 90s, I've never spent anytime there.  That changed this week as I made it stop #1 on the East Texas leg of my Texas ABCs.  It was a short stop, as my main goal was to visit The Pink Pistol.  The Pink Pistol is part of The Cannery, which has shopping, food, entertainment and the Lambert's winery, Red 55.  There wasn't much going on since it was a Tuesday morning, but it was fun to shop and grab my coffee at Roots.  After perusing VisitLindale.com, it looks like there is more to this little town than meets the eye.  I think another visit is definitely in my future.

  

   

G is for Granbury

My second ABC adventure is to Granbury, Texas.  Granbury is a rural town of about 10,000,  40ish miles southwest of Fort Worth.  It can easily be a day trip, but when you do your research, you discover there's so much to do and there's the cutest boutique hotel ever, you really have to make it a weekend trip.  Thanks to my friend Hannah for suggesting it as an adventure and going along for the ride.

Hotel Lucy is across the street from the Granbury City Beach and it is so precious.  The owners have paid great attention to every detail, down to the bath salts they leave in your room for a relaxing soak in a gorgeous clawfoot tub.  In addition to the unique & beautiful decor, the staff is incredibly attentive.  I received a couple of texts leading up to our reservation, checking in to see if there was anything  needed before our arrival or during our stay.  I really cannot say enough about this hotel.  More expensive than my typical hotel stay, the experience was worth every penny.

Hannah and I signed up for the Granbury Wine Tour.  We visited three wineries that all had something unique about them.  The tour took us to Bluff Dale Vineyards (Bluff Dale), Bar Ditch Winery (Stephenville), and Barking Rocks Winery (Granbury).  It's hard to pick a favorite after hearing all of the stories, but they are all worth visiting.

Bar Ditch Winery

 

Barking Rocks Winery 

     

Bluff Dale Vineyards

 

In addition to the wineries, we spent a lot of time on the Granbury Square.  So many boutiques and fun restaurants.  Who would have thought that Granbury had such an amazing food scene?!?  (I forgot to take pics at Paradise Bistro & Coffee Co., but their pancakes were fabulous!)

French Toast at Square Cafe

Shrimp & Grits at Christina's

Not on the square, but definitely worth going to is Stumpy's Lakeside Grill.  Do yourself a favor and get the catfish and shrimp basket.  A great price for a ton of delicious food.  And if you need something sweet afterwards, you can pop into their sweet shop.

A visit to Granbury isn't complete without a stop at the Silver Saddle Saloon, the local ice cream hang out.  These may or may not be adult shakes.

There's a reason Granbury wins a lot of awards, including best historic small town in America.  The town has so many fun things to offer, whether you're looking for a girls' weekend or a family vacation.  I hope you'll add it to your list of places to visit.

  

  

Until next time . . .