It’s not the destination, but the journey….
I’m always looking for roadside surprises on our frequent trips from Austin to visit family and friends in Hico and Llano. When Hico bound, we often stop to fill up at the H-E-B in Lampasas, renowned for its cheap (if that’s what you can call it these days) gas. We then guzzle milkshakes and cheeseburgers alfresco a few blocks ahead at Storm’s Drive-In (Elvis ate here). Down the road, on US 281 north of Hamilton, we’ve been known to pick up a weekend’s worth of comestibles at Dutchman’s Hidden Valley Country Store: smoked meats and cheeses from the deli, cinnamon rolls and other treats from the bakery, and sweets at the old-fashioned candy counter. Don’t forget Dutchman’s own dressings and other Texas food products—and the antiques and knickknacks for sale.
I’ve already blogged (on July 9) about my favorite stop on the way to Llano, the plant/pottery paradise known as Sam’s Dam Ranch, at FM 1431 and Texas 29 in Buchanan Dam. A diagonal jaunt across the corner will take you to the aptly named Tamale King restaurant (we usually pick up a dozen or two to go).
Reading Senior Editor Nola McKey’s blog on her kolache quest in West, along with Senior Editor Lori Moffatt’s Italian food find in Sanger and Editor Charles Lohrmann’s ode to Carl’s Corner (all just off of I-35), makes me think we ought to start a list of prime pit stops. What are your favorites?
October 1st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I always stop at Hruska’s in Ellinger when traveling via Highway 71 to Houston. It’s located within that 1-mile or so stretch on 71 where the speed limit drops to 55 (so hopefully you’re paying attention!)They have incredible kolaches — all sorts — which I can never resist. I do try to resist the coconut macaroons, snickerdoodles and other cookies and pastries they make there, too, but they are soooo good it’s difficult to pass up sometimes. I take kolaches and cookies to my family in Houston, then buy kolaches for myself on the way back. It has all the basics of a convenience store (gas station, too), but it’s much more than that. They are chockfull of souvenirs, ornaments, clothes, specialty foods, home decor items and all the kind of things you didn’t think you needed until you saw them. More in lines with a Hallmark shop.They use to have the best (big) scrapbooking section with the most beautiful papers, though I didn’t see them on my last visit. Hopefully they were just in the middle of reorganizing the store.They also have nice, clean bathrooms, too. That’s important for a traveler.The other two things that make me happy about Hruska’s are:1. It kind of marks my half-way point, and I-10 is just around the corner. 2. There’s a sign next to (but I don’t think associated with) Hruska’s that would make Jay Leno snicker. It has the word "Pecan" smack dab in the middle. Encircling the word "pecan" are these words: " We buy sell crack." I know it’s so fourth grade, but I get a kick out of it every time.