Although little known by foreign tourists, the Texas Hill Country region is the most picturesque area of Texas. Among its rolling hills you find small Germanic towns, ranches, wineries, and natural parks to explore. It also offers countless events: live music almost every night, weekly rodeos, historical reenactments, fairs, and music festivals.
In short, the Texas Hill Country has something to offer everyone, whether you’re a sports fan, history buff, country dancer, or wine connoisseur. Take your time, explore it slowly, and try not only to visit it, but to experience it as much as possible. Its authentic country western atmosphere will win you!
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Where is Texas Hill Country?
The Texas Hill Country is located in central Texas. To identify it, draw an imaginary triangle between Austin, San Antonio, and Fredericksburg.
The main connecting roads are I-10, between San Antonio and Kerrville; US-290, between Fredericksburg and Austin; and I-35, between Austin and San Antonio.
It is so called because it is a territory of limestone hills, rich in rivers and lakes, and particularly fertile. In fact, a strong wine-making tradition has developed here, which has earned the region the nickname“Tuscany of Texas“.
Best Time to Visit Texas Hill Country
This region has a rather peculiar climate, somewhere between the tropical climate of the south of the state and the semi-arid climate of the north. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly over all months of the year, often in the form of heavy showers. Let’s look in detail at the climate season by season:
- winter is mild, with temperatures that always stay above freezing, and exceed 60 °F during the day. It’s a great season for those who don’t like the heat, but outdoor events and festivals are more limited, and museums are open on reduced hours.
- spring is already a hot season, temperatures reach 75 °F, and it’s the time of blooming bluebonnets, the purple flowers that are the symbol of Texas.
- summer is very hot and humid, with peaks of 95-105 °F°, and afternoon thunderstorms can occur.
- fall is very similar to spring, temperatures drop and humidity decreases. Foliage lovers will have to wait until November to see the trees tinged with warm orange hues.
The best time to visit Texas Hill Country is during the mid-seasons, April through June, and September through November.
The majority of events, such as concerts and rodeos, are concentrated on weekends, unfortunately also the busiest time for tourists. If you want to avoid crowds, know that in many places, such as Luckenbach, there are events almost every day during the summer. We recommend checking the programs on the official sites, so you can get organized better.
How much time to dedicate to a trip
A stay of 2/3 nights is enough to see the main attractions of the Texas Hill Country, but you can extend it at will according to your passions. For example, if you decide to do the ranch experience, you’ll need to factor in 2/3 additional nights.
Include Texas Hill Country in a tour of Texas, either before or after you visit San Antonio and Austin. From there, you can then head out to the west of the state to see other attractions like Big Bend National Park.
Things to Do in Texas Hill Country
Deciding how to explore such a rich region can be daunting. Where do you start? To help you set up your tour of Texas Hill Country, I suggest a clockwise tour, imagining that you visit the region starting in San Antonio. Of course, you can select your favorite things, and set up the tour to suit your interests.
Boerne and Comfort
Let’s start with these two small towns of German origin, founded in the second half of the 1800s. Both are located along I-10, at exits 540 and 524 respectively coming from San Antonio.
Boerne runs along Main Street, which is called, in German, Hauptstrasse here. On the north side of the river are most of the stores, restaurants and bars, located in wood and brick buildings with colorful signs and beautiful porches for shelter from the sun. Main Plaza Park is the main square of the town, and here every second weekend of the month the Market Days is held, which is a craft market, with dozens of stalls.
The city is crossed by the Guadalupe River, which offers suggestive glimpses thanks to the quiet Cibolo Creek Trail, a 3-mile pedestrian path that you can take from the plaza, to the River Road Park. A little further south, perched on high ground, you can visit the distinctive St. Peter’s Catholic Church, which has dominated the city since 1866.
We continue for about 16 miles north to get to Comfort, a tiny village of 2300 inhabitants, but rich in historic buildings. Most of them are located in the original core of the town, between Seventh Street and High Street. The most significant is the Comfort Theatre, at 521 Seventh Street, the old 1930s art deco movie theater. Further on, at number 640, we find a stone and red brick building: it was built in 1907 as the headquarters of the Comfort State Bank, while from 1961 to 1982 it housed the city library.
Other historic structures have been converted into B&Bs and businesses, one example being the Hotel Faust. You can see them all on a short walk, stopping to browse the cafes and stores, places where time seems to stand still. If you’re in the mood for a snack, stop by the Lani’s Cheesecakes, a colorful and cozy bakery that serves tarts, cookies, and tall cheesecakes.
Comfort’s most symbolic monument is Treue der Union, also on High Street. This simple marble column commemorates the 65 men loyal to the Union who engaged in a bloody battle with Confederate forces during the Civil War, losing 28 men.
In the countryside around Comfort you can visit and buy wine in several wineries, for example at Bending Branch Winery, 4.5 miles from the city.
Bandera
From Comfort we now head south to Bandera, the“cowboy capital of the world“. A title due to the fact that it was the nerve center of the Great Western Cattle Trail, a famous route of transhumance of cattle herds from ranches in Texas to markets in Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. It was founded in 1852 as a base camp for logging activity from nearby cypress forests, and was later settled by a Polish community, the oldest in the United States.
Significant downtown buildings include the Bandera County Courthouse, the old courthouse, and the county jail. To discover the city’s history, visit the Frontier Time Museum, which includes a collection of 11,000 pieces including saddles, boots, clothing, everyday items and crafts, as well as bizarre and curious items. You can also visit the Hall of Fame of the area’s greatest cowboys and rodeo champions. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-17.
However, the best reason to visit Bandera is for its western atmosphere, accentuated by the presence of stores selling country-themed boots, hats and leather goods.
Come on a Saturday, when Cowboys on Main, a fun historical reenactment with costumed actors and mock gunfights, is held. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Main Street fills with cowboys on horseback leading a parade of longhorn cattle, stagecoach rides and country music. The shooting takes place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., but at a different facility, due to safety concerns. To assist, head to the Rattle Snake Ridge at 126 State Hwy South behind the Visitor Center.
There are several ranches around town, some of which also offer overnight accommodations, and a variety of daily activities. I’ll discuss this in more detail in the section on accommodations, but I recommend that you consider this option. Although expensive, it is a unique experience.
Hill Country State Natural Area
About 18 miles from Bandera we find the Hill Country State Natural Area, a state park with vast green areas, quiet streams and narrow canyons. The most popular activities are hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding; many locals come here equipped with tents and grills, to spend a weekend in nature.
There are 10 hiking trails. Below we list the most representative ones:
- Heritage Loop, a 1.5-mile loop trail with a 164-feet elevation gain. A family-friendly walk that passes by a now uninhabited ranch. Start from the Visitor Center.
- West Peak Overlook Trail, a 1.2 mile linear trail, quite steep given the 500-feet elevation gain. To take the trail, from the Visitor Center you must first take the Merrick Mile Trail for 2100 feet, and at the fork keep left. The trail climbs up to a viewpoint, with a 360° view of the prairie.
If you would like to go on a horseback riding trip, you can contact one of these companies, which offer tours of varying duration and difficulty.
The park is open daily from 8:15 am to 4:45 pm. Admission costs $6 per person for adults, free for children under 12. There are no facilities, so you’ll need to come equipped with food, drinks and gasoline.
Lost Maples State Nature Park
We now travel 39 miles west towards the western end of Texas Hil Country. From TX-470 we continue to the village of Utopia, then take RM 187 and follow the Sabinal River through cypress, oak and pecan forests past Vanderpool to Lost Maples State Natural Area.
This state park is a small maple forest, with trees of a particular species typical of southern USA and northern Mexico. They grow in hilly regions with moderate temperatures and humidity, and love the shade. The park, pleasant even in summer, is particularly impressive in November, when the temperature range gives the leaves their characteristic colors of foliage.
The main activities are fishing, bird-watching, and hiking. Maples have very delicate surface roots, so we recommend staying on marked trails.
The trails intersect each other, creating a network about 10 miles long along the Sabinal and Can Creek rivers, with small caves, and the possibility of spotting birds and fawns.
If you’re undecided about which trail to take, I suggest the most comprehensive one, the West Trail. To take it, from the park entrance follow the road to the fork, then keep left, where there are toilets. It is 3.7 miles long, with 500 feet of elevation gain, and offers a pleasant, cool walk, especially in the area of Mystic Canyon.
If you’re feeling up to it, about halfway through there is an option of continuing on to the West Loop Trail. In this case, allow for another 2.5 miles and 330 feet of elevation gain, through a juniper forest and up to an elevated viewpoint.
The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $6 per person for adults, free for children 12 and under.
Kerrville
We return to the central Texas Hill Country and visit one of the region’s largest cities, Kerrville, which is located along TX-39 coming from Lost Maples, and on TX-173 coming instead from Bandera.
Before you start exploring, though, stop in nearby Ingram, about 6 miles away, also on TX-39. A copy of Stonehenge, a concrete structure about 2/3 the size of the original, has been standing here in a small park since 2010. A nice roadside attraction that also includes some Maoi, similar to those found on Easter Island.
James Kerr, a veteran of the Texas Revolution, founded the settlement that bears his name in 1856, and today Kerrville is a young and lively town, thanks to the presence of Schreiner University.
It is home to many musical events, the most famous of which is the Kerrville Folk Festival. Each spring, 30,000 people flock to the 18-day folk and country music festival.
Kerrville is also crossed by the Guadalupe River, in fact its main attractions are the parks and the walks along the river. The Louise Hays Park, is connected both with the island Tranquility Island, and the larger Kerrville-Schreiner Park, where you can picnic, play volleyball, and kayak down the river. To find it, take the Kerrville River Trail, a 5-mile pedestrian path that’s quiet and away from traffic.
Downtown, Water Street is a shopper’s paradise for crafts, clothing, home accessories, personal care products, books, and antiques. Popular stores include James Avery, a historic 1954 jewelry store, and Billy’s Western Wear, perfect for country enthusiasts, who will find boots, shirts and cowboy hats there.
Fredericksburg
One town where Germanic roots are clearly visible is Fredericksburg, population 10,000 and the unofficial capital of Texas Hill Country. It was founded in 1846 by a German community, so fond of their land that they refused to speak English and created a new language, Texas German.
The most famous attraction is the National Museum of the Pacific War. The museum focuses on the World War II battles that took place in the Pacific: Pearl Harbor, the American counterattack led by Colonel James Doolittle, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and of course the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It includes several sections, each dedicated to a salient event, and showcases over 55,000 pieces including vehicles and aircraft, photographs, documents, weapons, uniforms, and models. After visiting the museum, stop by the well-kept Japanese Garden, a symbol of peace between the two populations.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The Pacific Combat Zone section follows a more limited schedule, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and $8 for children.
Another important cultural center is the Pioneer Museum. The exhibit contains artifacts, documents, and a reproduction of a typical mid-1800s settlement. You can visit the schoolhouse, barn, public bathhouse, a log house, smokehouse, and several other buildings. Although detached from the main site, the prison (at 117 W San Antonio Street) and the small Vereinskirche church, located on Marktplatz, are also part of the museum. The church, built soon after the settlers arrived, was the city’s first public building, and also served as the town hall and school.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for children ages 6-17.
The main street is Hauptstrasse, which has several Germanic-style buildings and is teeming with restaurants, cafes and stores. You shouldn’t miss two places: the lovely Christmas Store, a year-round Christmas decoration store, and the Lonestar Candy Bar, which serves 1950s-style candy. If you want to reach for your wallet, you’ll be spoiled for choice: handmade candles, license plates, home accessories, gourmet products, witty t-shirts, and even a popcorn store.
Lastly, for lovers of good wine, I suggest Elk Store, founded by Czech John Cyril Smajstrla in 1895, after arriving by ship in Galveston and sold as a slave in the cotton plantations. If you prefer a beer, since you are in the most German city of Texas, try Fredericksburg Brewing Company.
About two miles south of downtown we find Fort Martin Scott, the first American military outpost in Texas. Operating from 1848 to 1853, it was occupied by the Confederates during the Civil War, and later abandoned. It includes a pair of original buildings, the barracks and shed, and a memorial statue of the legendary Texas Rangers. The fort is open from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., Thursday through Monday. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
Of course, Fredericksburg also hosts several events. In addition to Oktoberfest, there’s the Gillespie County Fair in late August and the Food and Wine festival, which takes place in the second half of October. Finally, if all these things aren’t enough for you and you also want to visit a winery nearby, here is a list of the top wineries.
Luckenbach
More than a village, this tiny town 10 miles from Fredericksburg is a saloon-restaurant that organizes live music events. In fact, there are only three permanent residents.
For country music lovers, this is a mythological place, the protagonist of Waylon Jennings’ poignant 1977 song, entitled Luckenbach, Texas, and one of the cornerstones of this genre.
Visit it during one of the many shows, and even stop for a bite to eat at the food stand. You’ll love this place nestled in the countryside so much you’ll never want to leave. We blew all our plans for the day to spend the afternoon here!
Check out the online calendar to plan around the events that inspire you.
Enchanted Rock
Keeping Fredericksburg as our point of reference, we travel north for about 27 miles along Ranch Road 965, a winding scenic road through the green hills of the Texas Hill Country.
We then arrive at Enchanted Rock State Park. The absolute star here is the enormous granite outcrop, or rather a huge monolith that sticks out of the ground. The rock, a sacred place for the natives, covers an area of about 1 mile², and rises 425 feet above the ground. It is the solidified part of a giant underground magma chamber, pushed to the surface from a depth of about 6.5 miles. What we see is but the tip of the iceberg, the dome of a much larger underground formation.
The main activity in this park is, of course, hiking. The many trails are all designed to see the giant boulder from every possible angle and, why not, climb it too. Climb to the top of Enchanted Rock is challenging but not impossible, you need some good lungs and a tolerance of the heat, but we are not talking about a real climb like Devils Tower in Wyoming.
- The Loop Trail is a circular trail that touches the main points of interest in the natural area as it goes around the rock formation, but always remains quite distant.
- To get really close to Enchanted Rock, and climb to the top, I recommend a combination of several trails, which also give you an overview of the park. From the main parking lot, take the Loop Trail to the right, then cross the creek and take the Turkey Pass Trail. Continue to the junction, keeping the boulder on your right, then turn left onto the Base Trail. Keep going for about 0.6 miles, then turn left to take the Echo Trail (if you want, you can take the short detour to Moss Lake from here, and then turn back). In this section, you will have to climb up the rocks a bit. Without even realizing it, or almost, you’ll be on the Summit Trail and at the top of Enchanted Rock. Stop and admire the view from the summit, then all you have to do is descend back to the parking lot.
The park is open daily, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The parking lot fills up quickly, and when it is full, you cannot access the park. For this reason, I recommend visiting Enchanted Rock during the week, early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Admission is $8 for adults, and free for children 12 and under.
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site
We return to Fredericksburg, and head east along US-290 for about 20 miles. Shortly after the village of Stonewall we find the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, a site that is part of the NPS National Parks circuit.
Johnson, America’s 36th president and Kennedy’s successor, was a true Texan, very attached to his land. Except for a stint in the White House, he always lived here in the same place where he was born. Today, the estate and his ranch have become museums that you can visit on your own:
- Childhood home, where Johnson lived from his birth in 1908 until 1924. Furnished as it was in the 1920s, it depicts life in rural Texas well. The house can be visited on free ranger-led tours held hourly.
- Johnson Settlement, the family land where Johnson’s father and grandfather raised cattle. It features log houses, the barn, winery and windmill, plus a small themed exhibit.
- LBJ Ranch, also known as the “white house of Texas.” You can visit it freely on a driving tour, but you’ll need to get a permit at the Visitor Center first.
The Visitor Center is located in Stonewall at 199 State Park Road. The park is open every day except Christmas, New Year’s and Thanksgiving, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Permission, however, must be requested by 4 p.m., and last admission is at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Thirteen miles further east, also on US-290 W, stop in Johnson City. At the intersection of Ladybird Lane and Avenue G is a second museum, housing documents, clothing, and other personal items of the President and First Lady. You’ll be able to see two 30-minute films each, one about the Johnson presidency, and one about Ladybird Johnson’s life and activities. This museum follows the same hours as the Visitor Center at Stonewall, and admission is free here as well.
Lakes Region
Starting in Johnson City, we take US-281 S north for 23 miles until we reach the banks of the Colorado River (not the one in the Grand Canyon!) and the Lakes Region. Here we find a series of reservoirs, created between 1939 and 1950 after the construction of several dams, which were intended to generate electricity for the densely populated area of Austin.
Let’s take a look at the most important lakes from north to south, and their characteristics:
- Lake Buchanan, formed in 1939. Here you can enjoy water sports, fishing, swimming, or just relax on its shores and have a picnic. In nearby Burnet, the Bluebonnet Festival, a family-friendly fair with live music, food and craft booths, and kids’ activities like sack races and rides, is held each spring.
- Inks Lake State Park, just south of Lake Buchanan. It’s a state park, so there is a fee for access, where you can hike and take in beautiful views. The two main sights are Devil’s Waterhole, a vantage point over the narrow gorge of Spring Creek, and Valley Spring Falls, reached by a short 0.8-mile hiking trail. There are other hiking trails in the southern area of the park, traversing the inland area between hills and pecan trees, with beautiful panoramic views of the lake. It is open daily from 8am to 10pm. Admission is $6 for adults, and free for children 12 and under.
- Lake LBJ, dedicated to President Johnson, who often entertained his international guests here. It is most famous for fishing, having been specially stocked with trout, perch, and catfish. In addition to fishing, you can also take private boat tours. If you are interested, contact one of these companies.
- Lake Travis: The closest lake to Austin, and therefore the most developed. There are many hotels, restaurants, bars, water and adventure parks. The towns on its shores are very active and lively, especially Lake Vista, Point Venture, Spicewood and Lakeway. Check out the calendar of all events online to find out if there’s anything interesting going on during your stay. Between Sunday brunches, concerts, cooking and yoga classes, and lake cruises, you’re sure to find something for you.
Hamilton Pool and Dripping Springs
From Lake Travis, we take TX-71 south, and then turn right onto Hamilton Pool Road. After a little over 12 miles we will arrive at Hamilton Pool, a natural pool with a 50-feet waterfall surrounded by a limestone cave covered with stalactites, moss and ferns.
The water is always very cold, around 60 °F. Nevertheless, it is almost always possible to bathe (but check the warnings first). Visit it regardless, though, because it’s a really scenic place where you can take beautiful photos, or get some sun.
Since this is a protected natural area, you need to book access every day between March and October, and on weekends and holidays between November and February. You can also try to show up without a reservation, but of course you won’t be sure to get in. Admission costs $12 if you book online and $8 if you show up at the gate.
Hamilton Pool is located in the town of Dripping Springs, known as the “wedding capital” of Texas. Given the beauty of the landscape, many restaurants and farms have in fact specialized in this very area.
The town itself has no particular attractions, but in its surroundings there are many wineries and distilleries. These are the most famous ones:
- Deep Eddy Vodka, a recent company (from 2010), very youthful. They make vodkas in a variety of flavors.
- Bell Spring Winery, an exceptional location nestled in the countryside, which on weekends also sets up a nice food truck that serves great sandwiches.
- Twisted X Brewing, a brewery with a wide selection of great classics and modern and special proposals, such as mango beer.
- Treaty Oak Distilling, a whiskey distillery.
Although not “themed,” also stop by Texas Hill Country Olive Co, which has been producing olive oil since 2008 in a bucolic setting reminiscent of the Tuscan countryside. It’s possible to take guided tours of the estate, some with tastings.
Lockhart
Let’s now move to the eastern end of the Texas Hill Country, about 30 miles south of Austin along TX-130 S.
The town of Lockhart is known throughout the United States as the“barbecue capital“. It’s a tradition that dates back to the days of cattle drives, as the town was located on the most famous route ever, the Chisolm Trail. There are countless restaurants that specialize in grilling meat, but we’ll talk about that in the paragraph dedicated to the best places to eat.
After enjoying your great meal at the BBQ, head downtown to visit a couple of historic buildings:
- Caldwell County Courthouse, the old courthouse, is a beautiful 1894 sandstone building built in the Second Empire style. Apparently, it is the most photographed courthouse in Texas!
- 314 East Market Street was home to the 1908 county jail, now converted into the Caldwell County Jail Museum. The museum is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 1-5 pm, and inside you can see the concrete cells, located on the upper floors. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children.
New Braunfels and Gruene
We take Highway I-35, and exit at Exit 195 to land at one of the last destinations on the Texas Hill Country tour, New Braunfels.
Founded in 1845 by the German Prince Charles of Solms-Braunfels, it is a very populous city with a population of over 60,000. It is crossed by two rivers, the Guadalupe and the Comal River, in fact, the most popular activities for visitors take place right on the water.
You can rent kayaks and canoes to navigate the rivers, or one-person inflatable boats to lazily let the current carry you. Two of the companies that rent these large life preservers, which also come with can holders, are Texas Tubes and Landa River Trips, both near Landa Park. If you’re traveling with children, head to Schlitterbahn, a family-friendly water park with slides and water features.
Beach activities aside, most tourists come to New Braunfels to visit its small hamlet, Gruene.
Once an important center of cotton production, this little gem of German architecture is now devoted mainly to entertainment and tourism. Impossible to resist the temptation to buy something, there are so many small craft stores that populate its small center. Some examples? Cowboy hats, pottery, chocolate bars in the shape of Texas, and an authentic General Store that sells jams, caramel and other delicacies.
Gruene Hall, dating back to 1878, is the oldest honky tonk in Texas. Almost every night country, folk, and rock artists perform here, on a stage also trodden by the greatest country artists such as Garth Brooks, George Strait, Maren Morris, and even Kevin Costner. Check out the online calendar and attend one of the evenings, you can even take advantage of the dance floor to try your hand at moving a few steps.
Canyon Lake
We leave Gruene and take the River Road, a scenic cypress-lined road that follows the winding curves of the Guadalupe River to Canyon Lake.
This reservoir is known as the “gem” of Texas Hill Country, for the beauty of its views and the many activities that can be enjoyed there. You can swim in the lake, and there are as many as 8 areas on its shores where you can camp, picnic, fish, swim and spot wildlife. The two most popular, and most easily accessible, are Canyon Lake and North Lake.
However, there are also some interesting hikes to take, here are a couple.
- Along S Access Road, head to the point where the Guadalupe River is underground. This is where the River Trail starts, a 2-mile linear trail with 110 feet of elevation gain. It’s a family-friendly walk with beautiful views of the river, while the lake remains covered.
- If you’re up for a little more adventure, choose Canyon Lake Gorge, a 0.9-mile gorge created in 2002 after a flood. The gorge can only be visited on guided tours by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. The tours last 3 hours, and offer a chance to see waterfalls, dinosaur footprints, and fossils. The cost is $10 per person, and you must be at least 7 years old to participate. To secure a spot, make reservations online, and then show up a few minutes early at 16029 S Access Rd, Canyon Lake.
Bulverde
The last destination on our Texas Hill Country tour is tiny Bulverde, a town of 5,000 just 25 miles north of San Antonio, famous for its amateur rodeo.
The Tejas Rodeo is held every Saturday between March and October, in a particularly atmospheric facility that recalls the Mexican atmosphere. This rodeo is not yet well known by tourists, and for this reason it has remained (for now) authentic. The rodeo starts at 19.30 and lasts about 2 hours. The facility, however, opens as early as 5:30 pm. Admission costs $20 for adults, and $10 for children between 3 and 12 years old.
Come early to browse the booths, enjoy a barbecue dinner, and try your hand at challenging the mechanical bull. After the cowboy performances, the evening continues on the dance floor, where you can rock out to live country music. The best way to end this long but wonderful tour of the most distinctive region in Texas!
Best Places to Stay in Texas Hill Country
Since there are really a lot of things to see, the best solution is to stay in at least a couple of hotels, so as to avoid traveling too many miles back and forth. If you prefer, you can also choose one hotel and go from there. The Texas Hill Country is relatively compact, so in a couple of hours you can get everywhere. In this case, choose a central city, such as Fredricksburg, Blanco or New Braunfels.
In all cities you will find classic American motels, for example:
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites in New Braunfels
- Best Western Inn & Suites in Boerne
- Best Western Plus in Fredericksburg
Since we are talking about a very picturesque region, however, it is also worth considering an atmospheric stay in some country B&Bs. Here are some facilities:
- Blanco Riverside Cottage, to sleep in colorful bungalows in Blanco
- Mansion Inn in Gruene, in a historic villa
- Lakehouse Bed and Breakfast, a super romantic resort in Canyon Lake
Finally, as we have already seen, in Texas Hill Country it is also possible to stay in a real ranch. In addition to the overnight stay, rates include full board and various daily activities, such as cowboy breakfast in the open country, horseback riding, guided hikes, water sports and evening entertainment. These are the most popular ranches, all within walking distance of Bandera:
Best places to eat in Texas Hill Country
Good food, especially barbecue, is the norm in Texas Hill Country. After all, it’s no wonder, with so many farms, ranches, wineries and vineyards! Here are some of the best restaurants:
- Old Spanish Trail, in Bandera, serves a little bit of everything from meats and salads to Tex-Mex dishes and Southern favorites like country fried steak. You’re sure to find something to your taste.
- Old German Bakery & Restaurant is a German-inspired restaurant in Fredericksburg. It’s open for breakfast and lunch, and on their menu you’ll find bratwurst, wiener schnitzel, and sausages, just like in German breweries. However, there’s also no shortage of more American dishes like burgers, big salads and fried shrimp.
- Saltlick BBQ, in Driftwood, is a very famous meat restaurant that also appeared in Man vs Food. Its signature dish is the excellent brisket, served with sides, or in a sandwich. Also try the pulled pork, and close the meal with an excellent pecan pie. Take advantage of the delicious dips and sauces on sale to try and replicate the American BBQ at home.
- Lockhart, as we’ve seen, is the capital of barbecue. The historic places you shouldn’t miss are Black’s Barbecue, Smitty’s Market and Kreuz Market. Three rustic, spartan establishments where the quality of the meat is more important than the frills.
- Freiheit Country Store, in New Braunfels, primarily serves sandwiches and burgers, plus it hosts live music nights several nights a week.
- Gristmill River Restaurant, in tiny Gruene, is a restaurant that could be described as shabby chic, in a building that looks dilapidated, but is actually very well maintained. They serve meat, fish, burgers and big salads, at very competitive prices.
