What started with just two grape vines back in 1969 is now a thriving vineyard with 1800 vines. Although the Estate Reserve Blanc du Bois is the only one of their award-winning wines that is made 100% from grapes grown at the Haak Vineyard, all of the grapes used in Haak wines are Texas grown.

Winery tours are run hourly, seven days a week (except during events). On the short tour you will see the vineyards, grape crushers, wine cellar, and the bottling and corking area. The best part comes at the end of the tour, though, when you get to taste some of the Haak wines. The basic tour is $5 and includes tastes of a selection of four wines. For $15 you taste seven wines and get a logo wine glass to take home with you as a souvenir of your visit.

The Haak Winery hosts a number of events, such as concerts, wine and cheese tastings and seminars. Children are welcome to attend events and take the winery tour, although only those persons 21 and older may drink. Soft drinks and a variety of cheeses, meats, crackers and other foods are available at the deli and gift shop, and wine may be purchased by the bottle or the glass. You can see a schedule of upcoming events on the Haak website.

Grapes are typically harvested in July, and the community is invited to join in. People interested in wine and wine making spend a few hours harvesting the grapes, then get to watch the grapes being crushed and even sample a bit of the grape juice. Wine tastings and door prizes add to the fun.

The Haak Vineyards and Winery is located 1.8 miles south of Highway 6 between Alvin and Galveston. From Highway 6, go south on Avenue T. The winery will be on your right.

From central Houston, take I-45 (the Gulf Freeway) south to exit 20, Santa Fe/FM 646. Turn right on FM 646, then right on FM 1764. Make a left on Highway 6, then take the first right onto Avenue T.

Haak Vineyards & Winery
6310 Ave. T
Santa Fe, Texas 77510

Phone: 409-925-1401
http://HaakWine.com/

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Hours and tour availability may vary at times, such as during events. Check the website or call before making the trip.

The BBP recently introduced their new pontoon boat, Spirit of the Bayou, with a cruise along Buffalo Bayou. (The Spirit of the Bayou replaces a boat lost to an arson fire over the summer.)

On this cruise, the boat traveled east along the Bayou from Allen’s Landing, through historic east Houston with historian Louis F. Aulbach providing insight, commentary and fun facts about Houston history along the way. Aulbach is the BBP’s resident historian, and he leads monthly historical tours.

Viewing the city from the bayou gives you a brand new perspective on Houston. Passengers can view industry, nature, history and striking views of the downtown Houston skyline, while taking a relaxing boat trip along a portion of Houston’s main waterway.

Several Buffalo Bayou boat tours are available at various times of the year, from the Christmas cruises happening this month to bat colony tours, historical tours and more. Tours depart from Sabine Promenade. You can get information about scheduled tours, or how to schedule a private Buffalo Bayou boat tour for your group, at the Buffalo Bayou Partnership website.

Be sure to book your cruise to discover this little-seen side of Houston. Meanwhile, take a look at some of the photos from the recent preview cruise offered by BBP.

Buffalo Bayou from Allen’s Landing

Buffalo Bayou Nature

One of Many Bridges Over Buffalo Bayou

Downtown Houston Skyline from Buffalo Bayou

Kegg’s even lets you get up close to the candy making process. Visitors can take a self-tour, walking along a 90-foot glass wall that reveals the candy factory floor. For a special treat, your group can schedule a guided tour and get up close and personal with the candy makers–and the candy. The tour gives a view of the entire chocolate making process from the cooking of raw ingredients in the candy kitchen to enrobing the candy centers with milk and dark chocolate to the molding area where chocolate is shaped into as many as 500 unique shapes. (Attention “I Love Lucy” fans: Yes, there is a conveyor belt in the candy factory.)

For many years, Kegg’s candies were made in a 2,000 square foot factory and store on Beechnut in Meyerland. Kegg’s moved to the current 11,000 square foot facility on Westpark in 2009, but they still maintain a retail store in Meyerland.

Tours (both self and guided) are free. Advance reservations are required for guided tours, and the 30-minute tours are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Kegg’s website has information about the Houston candy factory tours.

Tours end in the candy store, where an almost unimaginable variety of treats awaits. Your sweet tooth will think it died and went to heaven!

Kegg’s Candies
http://keggcandies.com/
Chocolate Factory & Retail Store
8168 A Westpark Drive (between Hillcroft and Fondren)
Houston, TX 77063-6324

Store Hours:
Mon – Sat 10am – 9pm
Sun – Closed

(713) 784-3000

Did you know that more than 250,000 bats call Waugh Bridge on Buffalo Bayou home?

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership offers boat tours of the bat colony on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, March through October. Guests on these tours will enjoy an amazing view from pontoon boats on the bayou’s waters as the bats emerge from under the bridge.  It is a fun and educational evening where you and your family can view and learn about these magnificent flying mammals that share the city with us.

Dates for the remainder of 2010 are:

• July 9 & 23
• August 13 & 27
• September 10 & 24
• October 8 & 22

$35 per adult; $25 per child (ages 4-12) no children under 4
Children under the age of 13 must wear (provided) life jackets while onboard.

All bat tours leave from Sabine Promenade.
For more information, or to register, call 713.752.0314 ext. 4 or e-mail jballard@buffalobayou.org

Image Credit: darklama based on works by Oliver Herold, Yug, Rugby471 | Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Although Houston is technically an inland city (50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico) the port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in the U.S. in total tonnage. More than 225 million tons of cargo moved through the Port of Houston in 2007. A total of 8,053 vessel calls were recorded at the Port of Houston during the year 2008.

On the tour you will see international cargo vessels, and operations at the port’s Turning Basin Terminal. Measuring 95 feet in length and 24 feet in width, the tour boat, the M/V Sam Houston, carries a maximum capacity of 90 passengers with air-conditioned lounge seating and additional standing room on the boat’s rear deck. You never know what vessels you will see in port during your tour, but you will see amazing ships and even bits of history, such as the spot where Santa Ana is said to have surrendered.

The tour is free, but reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. Get your reservations far in advance during summer months, when the tours may be booked solid weeks in advance.

Register online anytime, or call 713-670-2416, Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Because of security at the Port, you should plan on arriving at least 15 – 30 minutes before your scheduled tour, and you should not bring oversized bags or camera equipments. Photographs may not be taken during the tour.