Day Trips

Photo by Gerald E. Mcleod

The Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg engulfs you in a world far away from the ordinary. It's a world of airplanes with a touch of the classic 1940s era and a friendly Texas accent.

Even though the two-story building with a half-moon roof looks as if it might have been built a generation ago, it was actually constructed specifically for the hotel. The lobby is reminiscent of a historic inn, with clocks above the front desk displaying time zones around the world. A telephone booth in the corner adds to the nostalgic ambience of polished wood and leather.

The rooms are nicely appointed with modern conveniences such as big-screen TVs and high-speed Internet service. It is the little touches, such as the black-and-white tile in the bathroom and the rotary telephone on the nightstand, that add to the fun of a night's stay at the Hangar.

The hotel is on the flight line of the Gillespie County Airport, so you're removed from the hectic tourist center of Fredericksburg. You might as well be hundreds of miles away. If you want to kick back and relax, the Hangar is a world of its own.

While some hotels have nice little gardens to enjoy, the Hangar Hotel has a second-floor observation deck where you can sit and watch the airplanes take off and land. Downstairs, the Officers' Club offers a comfortable hideaway with a grand piano, pool table, and special martinis.

When you roll out of that big, comfortable bed in the morning, you won't be able to not smile to yourself knowing that breakfast at the Airport Diner is just a few steps from the front door. The eatery is modeled after old roadside diners with lots of stainless steel and a lunch counter that runs most of the length of the room. You'll feel like you have stepped onto a movie set.

Even if you don't stay at the Hangar Hotel, the Airport Diner is worth a visit. The large windows look out on the airport's runway. The fare is solid Americana, from a three-egg omelet for breakfast to a rib-eye steak sandwich washed down with a vanilla Coke for lunch. Save room to share a banana split or a hot fudge sundae. The only thing missing from the menu is good old American apple pie.

The Hangar Hotel is brought to us by the same good folks who own the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, a downtown landmark since 1994. Richard and Rosemary Estenson recently converted the Fredericksburg Herb Farm into a spa with cabins and a much-improved restaurant.

The Hangar Hotel is 2.5 miles south of Main Street in Fredericksburg next to the county airport and Lady Bird Park off TX 16. The Airport Diner is open Wednesday through Sunday until 2pm except on Saturday when it closes at 4pm. For information, call 830/997-9990 or go to www.hangarhotel.com.

1,025nd in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips" 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.