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When the leaves begin to change colors and fall from the trees, there's no better time for an adventure. The changing of the seasons is a beautiful time of year that brings about new activities and smaller crowds at your favorite locations. Here are three fun fall activities you can drive to from Fredericksburg, TX. Photo by: pixabay.com more Fredericksburg Pumpkin Patch & Hayrides Fredericksburg Pumpkin Patch & Hayrides is a fun family event that takes place at the Small World Farm on weekends through October. With hayrides, farm animals, pumpkin picking, and a corn maze, you can have plenty of fun with the whole family. There's also an event for kids called "Pumpkin Painting with Emily," where kids can create their own pumpkin designs. This event is perfect for families with kids of all ages. If you enjoy exploring the beautiful autumn leaves or just taking time to smell the fresh air, then this is the perfect event for you. With hayrides, farm animals, pumpkin picking, and a corn maze, you can have plenty of fun with the whole family. Go Leaf Peeping Fall is one of the best times to go leaf-peeping. To enjoy the leaves at their peak, you'll want to visit the Texas Hill Country in late September or early October. You can find great fall colors at places like the Blanco River and Lost Pines in the Texas Hill Country, where the leaves turn bright shades of red, orange, and yellow. The best time to visit this area is in the last two weeks of September. Another great location to see fall colors is the Colorado River. There, you'll find vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds. You can also visit the Colorado River in the first two weeks of October. You can find great fall colors in places like Lake Colorado. Or, you can take a scenic drive with a stop along the way to see fall colors. Go Binging at Bracken Cave Huge colonies of bats live near the Guadalupe River year-round, but in the fall, the number of bats dramatically increases as the population grows. The bats usually leave the roost at sunset each day to forage for insects. The best time to see the bats fly out of the cave is from late August to early October. The best way to experience the bats is via a bat tour. Tours are offered at Bracken Cave during the fall. During the tour, you'll walk out onto the large rock shelf inside the cave where the bats roost. You'll hear the bats squeaking and feel the ground vibrate as they fly out. If you're lucky, you might even get to see a few bats fly out of the cave. Fall is a great season in Fredericksburg. Temperatures dip down low enough to allow for the cool air and crisp leaves that make us love this time of year. The new Jeep Gladiator is a fantastic car to take on any of these parks near Fredericksburg. It has plenty of space to store all your gear, and it's a comfy ride for the driver and passengers. Make sure you stop by Crenwelge Motor Sales to find a vehicle that fits your needs.

Known for its German heritage and culture, the city of Fredericksburg, TX has a population of a little over 11,000 and is not far from some of the largest cities in the state, including Austin and San Antonio. Whether you live in Fredericksburg or are visiting the area, there are some excellent day trips you can go on without having to drive too far from the city. Pack your things, bring your friends or family, and hit the road now! Photo by: Steady Content 3 Unforgettable Day Trips You Can Take From Fredericksburg, TX 1. San Antonio, TX The city of San Antonio is one of the best destinations for a day trip or a weekend escape in the entire state of Texas. Home to one of the most vibrant and beautiful river walks in the southern United States, as well as historical sites such as The Alamo and the San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio attracts millions of visitors from all over the country every year. Getting here from Fredericksburg takes a little over an hour by car. Once you make your way to the San Antonio city center and find a good parking spot, you can begin exploring with a walking tour along some of the area's most famous spots. Head to the Tower of the Americas for a stunning panoramic view of the city, then check out the La Villita Historic Arts Village before going for a stroll along the San Antonio River Walk towards The Alamo. 2. Austin, TX Located a little under 80 miles east of Fredericksburg, the capital city of the state of Texas is another excellent urban day trip destination. The Austin metropolitan area has a population of just under 2,3 million and is known for its many music venues and cultural sites, as well as for being home to the University of Texas. Getting here by car takes a little over an hour and a half, driving along route US-290 E. Although Austin is smaller than San Antonio and does not have the charming river walk of its southern neighbor, it also has several touristic spots that attract visitors from all over the country. Some of the places you should not miss during your visit to Austin include the Texas Capitol building, the Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park, and the small restaurants, cafés, and shops along Congress Avenue in the city center. 3. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area If you are looking for a place to get lost in nature and get away from the stress of the city, the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is an excellent day trip destination. Located just 17 miles north of downtown Fredericksburg, it offers visitors some challenging hiking trails and the best views of a huge pink granite mountain. Getting here takes a little over 20 minutes by car, driving north along Ranch Road 965. Are you planning an exciting day trip to take your friends or family on an adventure? Stop by Crenwelge Motor Sales and check out the different new and pre-owned vehicles we have available for you.

You'll find delicious barbecue restaurants and diners when you visit Fredericksburg, TX. Whether you enjoy hickory-smoked chicken, beef brisket, or ribs, you'll discover some of the best barbecue joints in and around town. Photo by: Steady Content 6 of the Best Barbecue Joints in Fredericksburg, TX 1. Backwoods BBQ This family-friendly restaurant features a rustic, cozy dining room and lots of space for large groups. The menu features traditional American barbecue dishes, including steak, beef brisket, chicken wings, and sausage. This locally owned diner features live music every Friday after dinner and a fantastic selection of homemade pies, cakes, beer, and wine. Private group bookings and catering services are available. Please drink responsibly and in moderation. 2. Läkenvelder BBQ, Bar & Grill If you're looking for authentic, Southern-style comfort food, you'll love the barbecue joint in Fredericksburg. Lakenvelder's signature dishes included Texas cheesesteak, mesquite-smoked brisket, baby back ribs, and much more. You'll love the down-to-earth dining area, friendly staff, and exceptional service. The restaurant is locally owned and operated, offering high-quality meals and catering to Hill County and Fredericksburg areas for over ten years. 3. David's Old Fashioned Pit BBQ This fantastic barbecue place is conveniently located downtown and open seven days a week. David's Old Fashioned Pit BBQ features amazing slow-cooked meats, pulled pork tacos, and classic homemade sides. The diner serves amazing breakfast tacos early and lots of great platters and specials for lunch and dinner. You can book your next wedding, birthday party, or outdoor event with David's Old Fashioned Pit BBQ to enjoy delicious, homemade food for any occasion. 4. Mac's BBQ and Catering Mac's BBQ and Catering offer delicious sandwiches, smoked meats, tacos, burgers, wings, and more. Since 2013, the restaurant has expanded to include more locations in Lubbock and Midland. You'll enjoy the diner's traditional Texas-style barbecue cooking with lots of home-cooked favorites and side dishes prepared to perfection. Mac's provides private party catering, delivery, and takeout services. It's a great spot to dine with the family or place a large order for an event at home. 5.Hondo's on Main Hondo's is a local favorite that features all the top barbecue meats and dishes served in a cozy dining room and outdoor patio. The menu includes Tex-Mex platters, burgers, and lots of great classic dishes. Hondo's is often busy due to high demand, and reservations are highly recommended. You'll enjoy the excellent service, live music, and self-service stations for your convenience. It's a great spot to enjoy a few drinks and a mouth-watering meal. Do not drink and drive. 6. Bill's BBQ This fantastic spot is located near Kerrville, offering over 40 years of high-quality smoked meats and tasty dishes cooked from scratch. All ingredients are locally sourced and served in generous portions. Bill's BBQ offers catering services for large events. If you're looking for amazing barbecue dishes and tasty home-cooked meals, there are lots of options in and around Fredericksburg. Visit us at Crenwelge Motor Sales and view our fantastic inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles on your next trip to town.

There's a rich history of wine production in Fredericksburg, TX, and today there are over 100 wineries and vineyards in the Texas Hill Country. Fifty of these production sites and taprooms can be found right here in the city. Photo by: Steady Content Discover These 4 Great Wineries Near Fredericksburg, TX 1. Augusta Vin Winery Augusta Vin Winery produces Texas wines made from Texas grapes. Their vineyard is spread over 60-acres of land and boasts 12 varietals and 60,000 vines. The Augusta Vin produces a large range of wines that can all be enjoyed at their tasting room. They offer a wine tasting experience that includes the tasting of five wines guided by their knowledgeable staff. If you'd like to learn the ins and outs of wine production, book an exclusive VIP production tour. You'll be guided through the estate, learning the practices, techniques, and history. After the tour, guests enjoy a relaxed and educational tasting and get to take home an Augusta Vin Wine Glass. They also hold special events such as the Valentine's Wine Pairing. Please remember to drink responsibly and do not drink and drive. 2. Grape Creek Vineyards Founded in 1983, Grape Creek is the oldest winery on highway 290. They produce around 700,000 bottles of wine each year, crushing 800 tons of Texas grapes each harvest. Their cellar holds over 2000 barrels of aging wine. Guests are welcomed for both tasting and tour experiences. Their tour experience includes a tram ride across the entire estate, touring through the vineyards and production facility. Tasting aging wines from the barrel and then finishes up with a wine flight in the intimate tasting room. The on-site chef-inspired vineyard restaurant is for members only and offers seasonal menus along with a small bite menu, perfect for pairing with a glass of wine. They also hold a range of events, such as tank testings and dining events. 3. Signor Vineyards Signor Vineyards at 362 Livesay Lane is situated on 200 acres of land, where the Pedernales River meets Grape Creek. The vineyard is open daily for tastings, and guests can sit at the wine barn, vineyards, and great lawn. Wine is served by the glass or bottle and charcuterie and limited menu items are also available. You can also find the farmhouse-inspired Joanna's Market. On sale are hand-curated gifts, gourmet bites, and bakery items from Emma & Ollie bakery. 4. Fredericksburg Winery USA Today named Fredericksburg Winery as one of the top three wine producers in Texas, Fredericksburg Winery is a family-owned and operated winery. Located on Main Steet, they've been producing wine for over 20 years, and all wine production is done on-site. The winery is open five days per week and they invite you in to taste and learn about their range of wines. Their expert team will guide you through their offerings and help you find your new favorite wine. There are dozens more wine growing, producing, and tasting establishments in and around town with hundreds of different wines for you to try. While you're in the area, drop by Crenwelge Motor Sales and check out our range of new and used cars.

Life is busy. With work, school, activities, sports, and all the other things that have to be done each day, there's hardly any time left to just enjoy the finer things in life. However, it's important to take time out of your busy schedule to do things you enjoy, like grabbing a drink with your friends. Luckily, Fredericksburg has some great places to do just this. Check out a few of our favorites. more Crossroads Saloon & Steakhouse The Crossroads Saloon & Steakhouse is an upscale restaurant that features an elegant bar. You can enjoy a nice glass of wine before your meal, or try one of their delicious cocktails made from fresh ingredients and quality spirits. They also have a great selection of local beers made in Texas and always served cold. While you're here, you should definitely try one of their steaks. They're grilled to perfection. In fact, everything they serve from their scratch kitchen will delight your senses. Stop in on Friday or Saturday to hear live music while you enjoy your drink. Fredericksburg Brewing Company A staple in the downtown Fredericksburg community and one of the oldest brewpubs in Texas, the Fredericksburg Brewing Company is a great place to grab a drink with your friends. You can order one of their six award-winning beers available on tap, which includes German lagers, fresh ales, and more. Seasonal specialties are also available, so you'll have to come back to try the newest selections when they arrive. A full menu of German food will supply you with all the tasty eats you want while you sip on your tasty brew. If you want to stay a little longer, there are 12 rooms for rent above the brewpub. The Stable Cocktail & Coffee Bar Located only a few blocks from Main Street, The Stable Cocktail & Coffee Bar is open seven days a week. Locals will tell you this place has some of the best cocktails in town. Their bar is stocked with over 100 spirits for making a variety of delicious specialty drinks and some well-known ones too. If you're not sure what you want, try the tasting board. You can get tasting boards of spirits, beers, wines, and even meats and cheeses. With a full coffee and espresso set up, you'll also be able to enjoy a hot coffee beverage. Elk Store Winery & Distillery Elk Store Winery & Distillery is one of Fredericksburg's premier wine and spirits bars, Cocktails are crafted from their own distilled moonshine, gin, rum, and charter. In addition to the selection of spirits, you'll find a variety of over 100 internationally chosen wines. You can enjoy them by the glass or by the bottle. The relaxing atmosphere makes for great conversations with friends while you enjoy your favorite beverage. Pair your drink with a fresh-made sandwich or tasting board loaded with your favorite treats. When you're looking for a nice place to grab a drink and relax with your friends, try one of these great locations in Fredericksburg.   Image via Pixabay.com by janetrr

If you are looking for the SUV that is much more than that, look at the new 2020 Dodge Durango. With nothing but power, all trims offer incredible performance. There's no hybrid or fuel economy engine here, just raw American muscle. This is the breakdown of why the new Durango is a muscle car in an SUVs body. more The Engine Options For the new Dodge Durango, your base model engine is the 3.6-liter V6 engine, with 295 horsepower and 260 pound-foot of torque. With plenty of power for towing and getting down the road in a hurry, the R/T has a 5.7-liter V8 engine with 360 horsepower and 390 pound-foot of torque. For those who want a real muscle car engine, the SRT comes loaded with a 6.4-liter V8 engine, with a massive 475 horsepower and 470 pound-foot of torque. The Suspension The stock suspension on the new Durango is a perfect balance of stiff and sporty, with just the right amount of comfort. As you get higher in the trim levels, Dodge makes some serious performance upgrades to suspension and braking system components. Giving this SUV the real muscle car performance, you would never expect to get from your family SUV. Brembo Brakes, and performance-tuned suspension, dropping the body of this SUV lower all add to the Durango SRT's exceptional performance on the road. The Transmission and Drivetrain The new Durango's automatic eight-speed transmission paired with the rear-wheel-drive or optional all-wheel-drive Drivetrain makes your drive flawless. The transmission shifts smoothly and when paired with the all-wheel-drive package, you get superior performance on the road. The standard rear-wheel-drive does make the Durango a fun, sporty ride as well. The responsiveness of this SUV is what makes the new Durango stand out of the pack. Even with the V6 engine, this SUV is quick and sporty. The Interior The interior of the new Durango is sporty and comfortable, just as you would expect from the finest of muscle cars. With optional leather packages and bucket seats, this SUV's interior is set to give you the ultimate feeling of being in a muscle car, so much so that you could almost forget you were driving an SUV. The 8.4-inch infotainment system is one of the best in modern automotive technology and has features like Apple CarPlay and Android Connect accessibility. The SUV has adaptive cruise control and tons of great safety features, like blind-spot assistance and emergency braking. The styling of the new Durango is made to feel sharp and aggressive. While being a powerhouse that is comparable to any modern muscle car, this SUV is exceptional for towing and still gets a fair amount of fuel economy. If you are looking for the ultimate sport SUV, check out the 2020 Dodge Durango, With the right performance upgrades, you are sure to feel a rush every time you get behind the wheel. So if you are ready to take the leap, come down to the dealership and test drive a new Durango today.   Image via Dodge.com

Jeep and the Texas backcountry are perfect for each other. These rugged vehicles easily handle anything the area has in store. Here are a few things to consider when looking for the perfect Jeep to handle your next backcountry adventure. more Renegade While the Jeep Renegade is comfortable on a paved road, it is more at home once you turn off the paved road. Use the vehicle's Selec-Terrain Traction Management System as you maneuver through the backcountry. You can choose between five different settings by turning the dial on the dashboard. The five settings include auto, snow, sand, mud, and, for added fun, rock. You can also use the hill descent control to stay in control regardless of how steep a hill you work down. Beyond the traction abilities, the Renegade is trail-rated with water fording to protect sensitive electrical systems. There is also quite a bit of ground clearance, allowing you to clear any obstacle. Wrangler The legend of the Jeep Wrangler grows as soon as you get off-road. The best Wrangler for off-road fun in the backcountry is the Rubicon. It comes with 33-inch all-terrain tires. The standard rock rails help protect the door sills from debris as you enjoy your adventure. The winch-capable steel bumpers have removable end caps so you can have even more fun. The Rubicon also includes a 4:1 low gear ratio that helps with the performance and handling under rough conditions. The electronic sway bar disconnect system lets you disconnect the sway bar, so your front wheels drop and compress for better suspension on harder terrain. Traveling in the backcountry is fun, but it can be dangerous. If you find a disabled vehicle while you are having fun, use the front or rear heavy duty towing hooks to pull them to safety. Grand Cherokee The Jeep Grand Cherokee is perfect for taking your friends and family on your next adventure. The powerful V-8 engine gives you enough force to get through any obstacle. You can easily switch from pavement to off-road with the Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive system. It is designed to provide you with peak performance regardless of the weather or terrain. You can also use the vehicle to haul your favorite outdoor toys up to 7,200 pounds. If you are planning an off-road trip, consider a Grand Cherokee with the Selec-Terrain system. It gives you the ability to adjust the vehicle for coming terrain changes with a quick turn of your wrist. The system adjusts the power distribution to all four wheels to give you the most traction possible for the terrain. As with both the Wrangler and Renegade, the Grand Cherokee is trail rated. It has the same water fording abilities to protect sensitive systems. The undercarriage skid plates protect your vehicle while you enjoy off-road fun. The skid plates are available for the Trailhawk trim. If you want to narrow your choices down further, stop by Crenwelge Motor Sales. We will gladly let you explore all of your favorites until you find the perfect Jeep for your adventure.   Image via Jeep.com

The quaint town of Fredericksburg, Texas, is a German town that knows how to celebrate the holidays. With a lavish parade, festive parties, holiday wine trails, and fun shops, it's easy to get into the holiday spirit in Fredericksburg. more Watch the Parade and Party For more than 20 years the town of Fredericksburg has hosted the Light the Night Christmas Parade at the beginning of December. Bring a chair or blanket and have a seat along historic Main Street or purchase a ticket for a reserved seat in the viewing stand. Marvel at the colorful lights, music, and motion as they blend together to create a magical parade that will certainly get you into the holiday spirit. The parade features more than 130 floats, bands, animals, and more and takes place rain or shine. The parade route runs along Main Street, between Washington and Edison Streets. After the parade, head to Fredericksburg Marktplatz for the AfterGlow party. The party is free and features food, local wine, shopping, and entertainment. Be sure to stop and have your picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus too. Make a Toast When the holidays approach, the local vineyards and tasting rooms are adorned with Christmas lights that beckon you to toast the season with a glass of wine at the annual Christmas Wine Affair. Take the Holiday Wine Tour where you'll enjoy tastings of local wine, enjoy the beautiful light displays, and participate in holiday-themed activities. Have a seat in front of the fireplace at the wineries, snack on special treats, and sip on your favorite vino. Listen to the Christmas carolers sing festive tunes or join in the fun and sing along. The wine trail tour is self-guided and includes tastings at participating wineries. A limited number of tickets are available and must be purchased online. Shop Down Main Street During the holiday season, Marketplatz on Main Street is aglow with twinkling lights and a 30-foot Christmas tree that will leave you in awe. Grab your friends and family and spend the day exploring the unique shops that line the street and pick up some unique gifts. A store not to be missed is the Fredericksburg Christmas Store. This festive shop carries a large assortment of Christmas décor that will delight your senses. Browse the country's largest selection of Christopher Radko ornaments, as well as the largest display of Department 56 Village houses and accessories. Fill out your own collection and start a new collection of Snowbabies porcelain figurines, Fontanini nativities, or Kurt Adler nutcrackers. After loading up on Christmas décor, step back in time by stopping by Dooley's 5, 10 & 25 Cent Store. This novelty store will remind you of your youth and thrill your kids as well. Inside, you'll find everything from classic and new toys and games to clothing, baby dolls, and more. You'll find gifts for every member of the family, including Fido, to wrap and place under the tree or fill up the stockings. Celebrate Christmas by exploring all that Fredericksburg has to offer. You won't be disappointed. Image via Pixabay.com by gurlwithapen