Tuesday, November 22, 2016

The 2016 Holiday Season in Historic Missouri Wine Country

The Holiday Season is Approaching in Historic Missouri Wine Country!

Wanting something to do during November and December?  There's a lot to choose from in the beautiful rolling hills between Defiance and Augusta.

November:

Specialty Dinners --

Montelle Winery has private pairing dinners that are unique as well as delicious. Call to inquire.
Wine Country Gardens offers several seatings for a Thanksgiving Day feast. Reservations required.
The Silly Goose always has something different and unique on their menu. Eat Southern - yum.

Shopping --

Gallery Augusta regularly gets in unique furnishings as well as art work.
The Robin's Nest in Defiance has just decorated for the holidays and there are many gift items for everyone on your list.
Frisella's Nursery offers gifts that are for the house or garden.  Stop by to find some real gems.

Defiance Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony - Saturday, November 26th at Vera Jacobsen Park (next to the Trail Smokehouse) at 4:30 pm.


December:

Friday December 2nd -
Augusta Christmas Walk
Stroll around historic Augusta, shop, and dine amid streets lined with luminaries
Daniel Boone Home Candlelight Christmas Walk
Enjoy a guided tour of the Boone Home and explore the Boonesfield Village complete with period characters all amid the glow of candlelight. The Daniel Boone Home is now one of St. Charles County's fabulous parks.

Saturday December 3rd -
Defiance Christmas Festival:
- Dashing Through Defiance 5k Run.  Get registered through Fleet Feet.
- Breakfast Buffet at The Defiance Roadhouse Restaurant.
- Annual Defiance Christmas & Pet Parade at noon.
- Wine Country Market with vendors in the Mason's Lot in Defiance.
- Fun happenings at Sugar Creek Winery and Frisella's Nursery
- Yellow Farmhouse Winery end-of-season chocolate, wine, salsa, beer & fun evening.
- Daniel Boone Home Candlelight Christmas Walk

Friday December 9th -
Augusta Christmas Walk
Stroll around historic Augusta, shop, and dine amid streets lined with luminaries
Daniel Boone Home Candlelight Christmas Walk
Enjoy a guided tour of the Boone Home and explore the Boonesfield Village complete with period characters all amid the glow of candlelight.

Saturday December 10th -
Daniel Boone Home Candlelight Christmas Walk

Don't miss out on all the fun!

Monday, October 24, 2016

Autumn in Wine Country

If you wonder why we haven't been on top of our blog lately, it's because Autumn in Historic Missouri Wine Country "busy season" actually begins for us around the first week of September. We've been busy sharing with our guests all there is to do in our beautiful region.

There is something very magical about driving down the winding roads in St. Charles County, especially Highway 94.  Dotted with quaint wineries, micro breweries, restaurants, antique stores, "pick-your-own farms", river outfitters, boutique shops, a distillery, the Katy Trail, and picturesque landscape amid the changing colors, it is an escape just a short drive outside of St. Louis County.

Scenic Drive by Augusta as seen from Montelle Winery
  
And after the trees change color, the scene below shows the Autumn beauty of the region

Trees changing behind the vineyards at Noboleis Winery
 
View through the vineyards

Whether you are able to take a road trip for a day or spend a little more time in Historic Missouri Wine Country, it's like you are a world away from the city.  A Wine Country Getaway is Closer Than You Think!


Thursday, July 7, 2016

Dog Days of Summer on the Katy Trail

You've gotta love the changing seasons and temperatures of Missouri.  You've heard that saying, "if you don't like the weather in Missouri, just stick around.  It'll change four times in a matter of hours!"

So today we went from a cool summer morning, to hurricane-force winds and torrential downpours, to a hot and humid afternoon that leaves puddles off your skin like a kid with a melting ice cream cone!

Through it all, I've watched groups of steadfast Katy Trail Bikers keep powering through, with and without raingear, with and without layers of bike clothes, and with and without mud stripes up their backs.  Here at the Inn we've had our share of bicyclists and we've had to hose people down, cool people down, and send people in the right direction when lost.  The part I usually dislike is sending a bicyclist to a different lodging facility because they didn't plan ahead.

Many lodging facilities (B & B's, Inns, Guest Houses, etc.) on the trail just aren't set up for "walk-ins."  It's best to always plan ahead and make reservations where you are wanting to stop.  I know, for many of you that takes the "adventure factor" out of the adventure!  But there's nothing worse than being caught in a horrendous severe thunderstorm, only to ride up to what you feel is a place of refuge, only to find it as a place of "refuse", because they operate by reservations only.  Over the past three years that we've been in operation, we've found various notes stuck to the front door that read, "went next door for a cold beer and will check in after a few hours."  Those notes were usually found a day or two later after we were away on a trip ourselves!

We are avid bicyclists and can be found on our days or hours off riding the Katy Trail ourselves.  Do yourself a favor and plan ahead for your lodging when riding the trail.  You'll be glad you did!

We're sending a "Shout Out" to these lodging facilities who really treated us royally along the trail:
The Alpenhorn Guest House in Hermann, The Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City, The Frederick Hotel in Boonville, and The Bothwell Hotel in Sedalia.









Tuesday, June 7, 2016

2017 Solar Eclipse Here in Defiance

Spectacular Solar Eclipse Will Be Seen Here in Defiance August

If you would like to see a once-in-a-lifetime event, August 21, 2017 is the date to come out to Historic Missouri Wine Country and see a total solar eclipse around 1:00 p.m. CST.






Yes, the Defiance and Augusta Missouri areas will be in the direct path of this wonderful event.  Make plans to come out to experience the 2017 Solar Eclipse!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Wine Country Fest June 17-19 2016

Father's Day Weekend has it all in Defiance


The Defiance Merchants Association has put together a fun-filled weekend over Fathers Day that is sure to have something to please everyone!  For more details or to register for some events go to:
WineCountryFest.com 


The weekend kicks off with Dancing in Defiance at Sugar Creek Winery.
Advanced Tickets can be purchased online for this evening of music & dancing above the Missouri River Valley in Historic Missouri Wine Country.


On Saturday, two events will be happening both in town and along the Katy Trail.  The Wine Country Market will be held in Masons Park, and the bicycle Pedal Poker Run will provide a fun 6.5 mile leisure ride along the Katy Trail, beginning at Wine Country Gardens, stopping at select locations, and ending at the Trail Smokehouse.








Sunday, Father's Day, wraps up the Fest with a second Day of the Wine Country Market, as well as a BBQ Competition at Chandler Hill Winery.






Admission to the BBQ competition is free for spectators, but competitors need to register online at ChandlerHillVineyards.com


Come on out to Historic Missouri Wine Country to enjoy Father's Day weekend!


 

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Spring is finally Here and so is the Plein Air Art Festival

It doesn't seem possible, but the first time we learned of the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival was three years ago.  We were getting ready to open up the Inn, and Nick and I stopped in Augusta to grab some breakfast. There were scores of people milling around and we found that they were all artists, here in the region to paint outside.  Who knew?  Apparently we had a lot to learn.

That same day one of the artists, Spencer Meagher, met us at our yet-to-be-opened bed & breakfast to paint some landscapes.  From that day on we were hooked on Plein Air!


Augusta will be hosting their 2016 Plein Air Art Festival from April 21st through May 1st.  Award-winning artists from across the country will be flocking to the Historic Missouri Wine Country to paint throughout the countryside.

Want to be part of something fun?  Come on out to one of the events to watch these beautiful creations.  You can get more information about the daily events below at:

http://www.augustapleinair.com/about-plein-air/

We are helping to co-sponsor one of the daily events with our friends at Sugar Creek Winery on Tuesday, April 26th from 9 am until 2 pm.

We currently feature several Plein Air artists in our Gallery at Defiance:

Teddy Jackson, Tammie Dickerson, Spencer Meagher, Tatyana Robberts, and Mike Phelps

If you're looking for a fun way to spend a day, come on out to one of the open events or come to the final sale on May 1st.

 

Friday, January 1, 2016

Ringing in the New Year

A big "thank you" to all of our guests and business partners!

It's hard to believe that another year is coming to a close.  It seems that as you age time accelerates, or so it seems.

We've had a great 2015 here at the Inn.  Here's a recap of some of our more "memorable" moments throughout the year:

Spring 2015:
Rain, rain and more rain. 
Augusta Plein Air Art Festival's "Day in Defiance" with over 110 artists and friends here.
Defiance Merchant Association's Katy Trail Bike Ride to benefit the Asthma & Allergy Foundation.
An impromptu bonfire with guests in the back of the property.
Trail Smokehouse opens down the road (yum).

Summer 2015:
Chef John Richardson hosted an amazing beer-pairing dinner with Augusta Brewery.
More rain.
Great fireworks display in Augusta.
Freak storm toppling a tree at the Yellow Farmhouse Winery and shooting flames into the air.

Autumn 2015:
Harvest Festival activities.
Sporadic rain.
Harvesting grapes at neighboring wineries.
A bonfire with guests in the back of the property (who brought the White Castles?).
Hosting winemaker Grant Long, Jr.
Chef John Richardson marries long-time sweetheart, Kirbie Mikeska.

Winter 2015:
Didn't think we'd be saying this one, but rain, rain, rain and more rain.
Thankful for Koziatek Contracting - great roofing experts (see the rain item above).
Defiance Christmas Lighting Contest.
Defiance Christmas Parade & Festival.
New Year's Eve fireworks at Chandler Hill Winery.

As you ring in 2016, we'd like to thank you for entrusting your "get away" this past year to us.  We hope to see you back in 2016, and we'll keep you apprised of any fun events out our way.  We are scheduled to reopen for the season the first weekend in April.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2016!

Cheers,

Jeff & Chris