I love Hermann!

Part I

I love Hermann … the friendly folks, the delightful architecture, the delicious restaurants, fabulous wineries and panoramic views. It’s lovely, simply lovely.

You know you’ve found a friendly town when … one of the vehicles in your caravan hits a huge pothole down the Interstate a hundred miles or so, and the small-town dealership will loan you a car to drive while they fix your vehicle within three hours.

You know you’ve found a wonderful place when you meet a fabulous lady like Kent, who welcomes big, rambunctious families like ours at the Captain Wohlt Inn.

And then when you can walk a block or two to a place like this …

Montague’s. 

You get a heaping pile of brisket or pulled pork and more … with accompanying sauce that’s so good you can’t decide whether to pour it on your protein or drink it straight from the cup.

You know you’re in a wonderful place when you stop at a winery tasting room like Hermannhof and the friendly lady behind the counter welcomes you and your brood, serves them grape juice and chocolate covered cherries, and tells you she has seven kids of her own.

And at Oak Glenn Winery, the nice lady gave the kids M&Ms.

I tried to analyze why I love the town of Hermann so much … could it be as simple as the wonderful views bathed in sunshine, 50+ degree temperatures and no snow in sight? Maybe …

But I also love its history. And the fact that you can pay a minimal fee to tour a few of the town’s oldest buildings and houses with a private tour guide who has a great sense of humor and a fondness for children.

The Deutschheim State Historic Site

If you’re ever in Hermann, Mo., take the Deutschheim walking tour. You’ll see fabulous old brick structures, learn town history secrets and see how the first inhabitants lived, worked, established businesses and handled the revenuers during prohibition.

You know you’re in a great place with great people … when the tour guide not only tells you how something worked way back when, but allows your kids to try it out.

Folks used to grow flax. They cut it with a scythe and then, according to the guide, the kids worked all day chopping it with this machine. It broke the fibers and made them almost hair-like. Then they combed it through these …

And after that it looked like this … and they could then spin it and use it to make rugs and garments and who knows what else.

You know you’re in a lovely place when …

The local, family-owned meat market offers you and your kids samples of every flavor of smoked sausage available at the tasting bar … and then gets out the smoked bacon because somebody says it looks good.

And whether you’re eating at a highly recommended local favorite like Montague’s … or the local V.F.W. fish fry on a Friday during Lent … the food in Hermann is good, the townspeople welcome strangers and the six kids who rode into town with them, and life seems pretty darn sweet and warm, kind and caring.

I guess that’s why I love Hermann so much.

Well … that and the wineries. Stay tuned for I Love Hermann, part II. I can’t wait to take you on a tour of an 1847 winery perched on top of a hill … and share photos of our kids crawling into one of the 1,000-gallon wine barrels!