This Blanco-Luckenbach-Stonewall-Fischer Loop is a good half-day drive, that can turn into a full day depending on the *stops, shops, and treats along the way:
From the Inn make a left onto Fischer Store Road, Turn Left onto FM 2325, and go 12 miles to 165W; Stop at the *Arnosky Family Farm which is a big blue barn where you will find fresh flowers, plants and maybe some fresh eggs or goat cheese.
Turn left onto FM 165W (If you love antiques and it is the weekend drive about 6 miles and stop in at *Ledgestone Farms Antiques where you will find wonderful old pieces and friendly owners and staff. Turn left out of their driveway and continue for 1.5 miles to Chandler Street and follow the signs into Blanco, where you should stop for lunch at the *Redbud Café or for more antique shopping.
From Blanco go west on River Road, drive 16 miles and take a right onto FM 1376, drive 1.7 miles to Luckenbach where you absolutely must stop in to see this iconic town (population 3) that Waylon and Willie made famous. *The old post office is a perfect picture-taking moment, and it is rare that you won’t find someone famous (or not) playing great tunes (usually country or folk) either out under the old live oak trees or in the old Dance Hall.
From Luckenbach Loop turn left and drive about 5 miles to US-290. If you go left on 290 you will run into *Fredericksburg for tons of shopping and restaurants. But if you want to save Fredericksburg for another day, turn right and drive to Stonewall, continue driving on 290, and stop in at *Lydon B Johnson State Park and Historic Site on the left where you will likely see tons of beautiful wildflowers, or stop at *Fredericksburg Trade days on the right if it is the 3rd weekend of the month for some one-of-a-kind shopping. You will also find several beautiful *wineries to stop in and taste on US 290.
For another scenic route back, from Stonewall turn right on Lower Albert Road, turn left onto FM 1623, and stop in for a drink and likely some live music at the *Albert Dance Hall. Get back on 1623 and drive back to Blanco.
For another scenic drive from Blanco to the Inn take FM 32 and turn left at Fischer unto Fischer Store Road, and look for two adorable *donkeys (whom I have named Daisy and Buttercup) who will be grazing in a wildflower-covered pasture across the road from Fischer Hall and the old bowling alley. (These two special donkeys will forever be enjoyed because of a gift Lynn gave me for my last birthday … a painting now above my fireplace painted by our friend and local artist, Sharon Carter).
After stopping for pictures of the old iconic Fischer Hall and the donkeys, take Fischer Store Road about 5 miles to the Inn on the left.
Okay, so that would definitely turn into a full day’s drive with all the stops. But what great memories!
Happy Trails,
Lynn & Diana
