Hill Country - It`s like a WHOLE OTHER COUNTRY

Ex ploe re
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Hill Country
FROM AUSTIN’S INDIE SPIRIT TO THE COWBOY CHARM OF
Bandera and Uvalde, the rolling hills of Texas have
nurtured uncompromising authenticity for generations.
Sample the region’s bounty by tasting local wines, tubing
down the Guadalupe River, picking peaches in Stonewall,
or smelling barbecue and bluebonnets in one inhale. For a
slice of heaven, indulge in the Hill Country.
BLUE HOLE ON CYPRESS CREEK, WIMBERLEY
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vironmental necessity, economic value, and natural
beauty. 12345
The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin, 78704
512-457-5100, 512-474-LONG (box office)
thelongcenter.org
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Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
and Museum
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One of Austin’s premier cultural arts venues features a
large-scale performance hall with nearly perfect acoustics. The Austin Symphony, the Austin Lyric Opera, and
Ballet Austin all stage their performances here, and the
center also hosts touring Broadway shows and performances by many independent theatrical and comedy
groups. 1235
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Kerrville Luckenbach Driftwood
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Austin
Capital of the Lone Star State and the “Live Music
Capital of the World,” Austin is full of heart and soul.
Home to the prestigious University of Texas, the city is
a hub for both educational and recreational pursuits.
More than 250 live-music venues welcome visitors to
experience a vibrant nightlife. During the day, they
can tour the Texas Capitol, the Bullock Texas State
History Museum, or boutiques along South Congress
Avenue. Those who love the outdoors will be delighted
by Barton Springs, a natural spring-fed swimming
pool, and the city’s extensive network of greenbelts,
parks, and nature preserves.
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
Bat Colony and South Congress Avenue
Congress Ave. between Cesar Chavez St. and Riverside Dr.
512-327-9271 (Bat Hotline), batcon.org
From roughly April through late September, Austin hosts
North America’s largest urban bat colony, as one million
bats migrate north from central Mexico to their favorite
roost in the city—underneath the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. The show begins at dusk, when
these creatures take flight in search of the evening’s food.
Farther south down the avenue are shops, dining spots,
unique accommodations, galleries, and music venues.
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Blanton Museum of Art
PHOTO: WILL VAN OVERBEEK/TXDOT
200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Austin, 78701
512-471-7324, blantonmuseum.org
Explore the notable permanent collection of more than
17,000 works, old master paintings, American and Latin
American art, and an encyclopedic collection of prints
and drawings. 12345
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 N. Congress Ave., Austin, 78701
512-936-8746, TheStoryofTexas.com
The myths, legends, and facts of the Lone Star State are
AV ER AGE T EMPER AT UR E S C °
Austin
Uvalde
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brought together under one roof with interactive exhibits,
artifacts never before publicly displayed, an IMAX theater,
and the multisensory Texas Spirit Theater. Don’t miss the
museum store and the Story of Texas Café, which has
both indoor and outdoor dining. 12345
Circuit of the Americas
9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Austin, 78617
512-301-6600, circuitoftheamericas.com
CoTA is the world’s newest home for high performance
motorsports racing. The track is the only purpose-built
facility in the country designed for Formula 1™ racing
and is the host circuit for the U.S. Grand Prix from 20122021. 12345
The Contemporary Austin
Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St., Austin, 78703,
512-458-8191; Jones Center, 700 Congress Ave.,
Austin, 78701, 512-453-5312
thecontemporaryaustin.org
The Contemporary Austin showcases exhibits in two
renowned and architecturally unique locations. Multidisciplinary exhibitions, programs, and special events have
a visual arts focus. 235
Harry Ransom Center
The University of Texas at Austin
300 W. 21st St., Austin, 78712
512-471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu
One of the world’s finest cultural archives, the Ransom
Center houses 36 million literary manuscripts, 1 million rare books, 5 million photographs, and more than
100,000 works of art. Highlights include the Gutenberg
Bible (ca. 1450) and the world’s first photograph (ca.
1826). 23
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, 78739
512-232-0100, wildflower.org
The only facility of its kind in the country, this native
plant center is dedicated to educating people about en-
2313 Red River St., Austin, 78705
512-721-0200, lbjlibrary.org
Permanent exhibits include audiovisual presentations,
historical displays, gifts from foreign dignitaries, and a
replica of the Oval Office. 1235
Sixth Street and the
Warehouse District
Five blocks south of the Texas State Capitol,
between Congress Ave. and IH-35, 6street.com
Being within walking distance of downtown hotels
makes Sixth Street, known for its dance clubs, livemusic venues, and bars, one of the city’s most popular destinations. Just a few steps west, two blocks of
Fourth and Fifth streets constitute the Warehouse District, where warehouses have been transformed into
restaurants, clubs, and bars. 34
State Capitol and Capitol Visitors Center
State Capitol: E. 11th St. and Congress Ave.,
Austin, 78701, 512-463-0063
Capitol Visitors Center: 112 E. 11th St.,
Austin, 78701, 512-305-8400
www.tspb.state.tx.us
Fourteen feet higher than the nation’s capitol, the Texas
Capitol presides over downtown Austin from atop a
gentle hill. The Capitol Visitors Center offers exhibits and
short videos about the history of the Capitol and a gift
shop. 1234
Zilker Park, Zilker Botanical Garden,
Austin Nature & Science Center,
and Barton Springs Pool
2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, 78746
512-974-2000, 512-867-3080 (pool),
512-477-8672 (garden), 512-974-3888 (Nature Center), 512-974-6797 (PARD reservation office),
austintexas.gov/department/zilker-metropolitan-park
This huge city park is the site of the invigorating 68-degree spring-fed Barton Springs Pool, a playscape, a
miniature train, an amphitheater, botanical gardens,
and the Austin Nature and Science Center. Also in
the park are hike-and-bike trails, a disc golf course,
sand volleyball courts, and canoe and kayak rentals.
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Bandera
Known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” this
city has more dude ranches, champion rodeo cowboys, and old-time Texas honky-tonks per capita
than most other places on the globe. Visit all the
historic sites downtown, including the Frontier Times
Museum. Gunfighters and Western entertainers
perform every Saturday, March through November.
Work on acquiring your Western wardrobe on Main
Street at one of the many Western wear stores, then
wet your whistle and hear some live music at one of
the refurbished saloons in town.
Frontier Times Museum
510 13th St., Bandera, 78003
830-796-3864, frontiertimesmuseum.org
The best word for this museum is “eclectic.” You might
come across vintage cowboy items, artifacts from Judge
Roy Bean’s court, a stuffed two-headed goat, or a South
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TEXAS BLUEBONNETS
KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL
Hill Country State Natural Area
Band, the country’s oldest continuously active German band, for a taste of the Hill Country’s GermanTexan culture.
10600 Bandera Creek Rd., Bandera, 78003
830-796-4413, 512-389-8900 (reservations)
tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/hill-country
Cave Without a Name
Enjoy Hill Country beauty at this primitive 5,400-acre
park as you take advantage of 40 miles of multipurpose trails designed for hiking, biking, and equestrian
use. Spend the night at one of the many primitive
campsites, specially equipped equestrian campsites,
or the group lodge. Fishing and swimming in the
creek pools are permitted if water levels are sufficient.
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This National Natural Landmark continues to impress
visitors with its beauty. The cave tour ends on an underground segment where the Guadalupe River feeds
through the Glen Rose aquifer. 125
Boerne
This town was established in 1849 by a group of
German intellectuals who wanted to form their own
Utopia-like settlement. With events such as Market
Days, Berges Fest, the Kendall County Fair, Key to
the Hills Rod Run, Dickens on Main, and the Weihnachts Festival, there’s never a dull weekend. Don’t
miss the Cibolo Nature Center or nearby hiking trails.
Catch a summertime show by the Boerne Village
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325 Kreutzberg Rd., Boerne, 78006
830-537-4212, cavewithoutaname.com
Cibolo Nature Center & Farm
140 City Park Rd., Boerne, 78006
830-249-4616, cibolo.org
This nature center features almost 100 acres of hiking
trails, among them the beautiful Cibolo Creek area and
marsh. Naturalist and educational programs are available. 1235
Burnet
The Texas Legislature designated Burnet the Bluebonnet Capital in honor of its annual cornucopia
of spring wildflowers. Visitors can enjoy Lake Buchanan year-round and may be fortunate enough
TEXAS INTERNATIONAL TOUR GUIDE 2015-2017
to spy an American bald eagle in the winter. Deer
hunters travel to Burnet in droves during the fall
and winter, while in the spring and summer a trip
to Longhorn Cavern State Park or the rock bluffs
surrounding Inks Lake State Park is appealing. Visit
Fort Croghan, take a hike at Hamilton Creek Park,
or enjoy April’s Bluebonnet Festival, one of many
charming events in Burnet.
Lake Buchanan Dam
17816 Hwy. 29 at Buchanan Dam, Burnet, 78609
512-793-2803, buchanan-inks.com
Built in the ’30s, the three-mile-long Buchanan Dam is said
to be the largest multiarch dam in the country. Its construction created the Highland Lakes, a 128-mile chain of seven
lakes, of which Lake Buchanan is the largest and highest.
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Vanishing Texas River Cruise
443 Waterway Ln., Burnet, 78611
512-756-6986, 800-4RIVER4, vtrc.com
On this two-hour cruise of Lake Buchanan, stay comfortable on the enclosed 70-foot deck while you enjoy
the view of dramatic limestone cliffs along the shore.
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PHOTO: LEENA ROBINSON / SHUTTERSTOCK
American shrunken head—not to mention artwork and a
collection of 400 bells from around the world. 123
Fredericksburg
Welcome to this historic town full of distinctive shopping, food, and lodgings. Founded in 1846, the town’s
strong German heritage is evident. Stay in one of
the many guesthouses and stroll along historic Main
Street, with more than 150 shops and art galleries.
More than 70 restaurants and Biergartens also await.
You can tour and enjoy tastings at more than two
dozen local wineries. Take a hike at Enchanted Rock
or soak up history in the parks and museums. Enjoy
professional theater and Texas entertainers.
National Museum of the Pacific War
340 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, 78624
830-997-8600, pacificwarmuseum.org
Walk in the shadow of a B-25 bomber on the deck of
the USS Hornet at this museum. Spread over several
acres, the historic site includes the Nimitz Museum,
the National Museum of the Pacific War, the George
W. Bush Gallery, the Japanese Garden of Peace, the
Veterans Walk of Honor and Memorial Wall, the Pacific
Combat Zone, and the Plaza of Presidents. 1235
Wildseed Farms Market Center
425 Wildflower Hills, Fredericksburg, 78624
800-848-0078, wildseedfarms.com
Open year–round, springtime is ordinarily the best
bloom season for the wildflower crops at Wildseed
Farms. The walking trail known as The Meadows sits in
the heart of the fields and features row after row of the
most popular Texas wildflowers. 1234
Georgetown
The town of Georgetown, founded in 1848, boasts a
traditional courthouse square that earned a Great American Main Street award and is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The Victorian buildings surrounding the square have been transformed into quaint
antique shops, bookstores, and bed-and-breakfasts.
The striking campus of Southwestern University is an
integral part of the entire community. The Candle Factory offers tours, where visitors can observe as more
than 1,000 varieties of hand-dipped candles are made.
At Inner Space Cavern you can see evidence of Ice Age
animals amid fantastic cave formations.
Inner Space Cavern
4200 S. I-35, Georgetown, 78626
512-931-2283
myinnerspacecavern.com
This cavern contains fossils of prehistoric mastodons,
wolves, and other Ice Age animals. Try the standard Adventure Tour or the Wild Cave Tour. 1234
Johnson City
PHOTOGRAPH: ©KEVIN STILLMAN/TXDOT
The charming communit y of Johnson Cit y, located right at the crossroads of the Texas Hill
Country, is a scenic town named for an ancestor of Former President Lyndon B. Johnson. It is
also the jumping-off point for all things LBJ. The
beautiful Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, including the LBJ Ranch and the president’s childhood home, is a must-see item on the
itinerary. Stroll through the quaint and historic
downtown and browse the array of gift shops and
antiques stores. A trip to the Texas Hills Vineyard, a
few of the many art galleries, Pedernales Falls State
Park, and the Exotic Zoo Resort also provide fun
excursions in and around Johnson City.
Lyndon B. Johnson
National Historical Park
100 E. Lady Bird Ln., Johnson City, 78636
830-868-7128, nps.gov/lyjo
LBJ Ranch District: near Stonewall on US Hwy. 290
This park to honor the 36th president and his family
is divided into two districts. In Johnson City tourists
can view exhibits and films, and they can also visit
LBJ’s boyhood home, where he lived from age five until he left for college. The 1901 one-story frame house
INNER SPACE CAVERN, GEORGETOWN
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F1 RACING, AUSTIN
Kerrville
Kerrville has a rare blend of arts, cultural, and outdoor activities. Enjoy unique shopping and dining
opportunities, outdoor recreation with golf, tennis,
shooting sports, and the river, as well as year-round
events and festivals, numerous galleries and performing arts, all conveniently located in one city.
Museum of Western Art
1550 Bandera Hwy., Kerrville, 78028
830-896-2553, museumofwesternart.com
A venue for contemporary cowboy artists with themed
exhibits focusing on hardworking cowboys, Native
Americans, women of the West, settlers, and mountain
men. 1235
Blending cultural history with the area’s natural history,
the Nature Center includes rotating exhibits, walking
paths, a wildflower meadow, butterfly gardens, native
plants, and easy access to the Kerrville River Trail along
the Guadalupe River. 123
New Braunfels
German immigrants led by Prince Carl Solms of
Braunfels, Germany, founded the town of New
Braunfels on the banks of the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, in 1845. Prince Carl knew that
this was the place to st ay and play. Summer
brings throngs of people to the scenic Hill Country area for tubing and rafting jaunts on the rivers, as well as for outings to top Travel Channel
pick, Schlitterbahn Waterpark. Enjoy a hike you’ll
never forget at Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas’
largest underground adventure. From the comfort of your own vehicle go on an African safari,
Texas-st yle, at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.
Historic Gruene
Riverside Nature Center
1601 Hunter Rd., New Braunfels, 78130
830-629-5077, gruenetexas.com
150 Francisco Lemos St., Kerrville, 78028
830-257-4837, riversidenaturecenter.org
Hit Texas’ oldest continuously operating dance hall
to enjoy big-name performers. Gruene, pronounced
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“Green,” is also a launching spot for inner-tube trips
down the Guadalupe. Monthly Old Gruene Market Days
offer shopping and dining, regularly inflating the population in this tiny town. 12345
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort
305 W. Austin St., New Braunfels, 78130
830-625-2351, schlitterbahn.com
Voted by Amusement Today magazine as the World’s
Best Waterpark 17 years in a row, Schlitterbahn New
Braunfels combines the natural beauty of the Texas
Hill Country with a huge variety of water adventures for
everyone in the family. 12345
Round Rock
Whether you’re an athlete, a business traveler,
or a vacationer, the collection of shopping, dining, and entertainment options in Round Rock
will impress you. In this city, dubbed the Sports
Capital of Texas, you can enjoy a baseball game
with the Triple-A Round Rock Express at the Dell
Diamond or take a turn at the city’s newest participant sport: shopping. Shop until you literally
drop at Round Rock Premium Outlets and the
nearby IKEA.
PHOTO: CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
has been restored and furnished with period pieces
and Johnson family items. Just down the street is the
Johnson Settlement, headquarters for Lyndon’s grandfather’s cattle-driving enterprise. The Johnson Ranch,
the family cemetery, and the “Texas White House” are
also worth a visit. 1235
Dell Diamond
3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, 78665
512-255-2255, roundrockexpress.com
The Dell Diamond is the home field of the Round Rock
Express baseball team and club. The sport court, moon
jump, and rock-climbing wall ensure that every member of the family has fun. 12345
San Marcos
Located in the Texas Hill Country between Austin and San
Antonio, San Marcos is within driving distance of these
metropolitan areas but nonetheless remains a world away
from big-city life. The spring-fed, crystal-clear San Marcos
River is popular for tubing, snorkeling, and kayaking.
If shopping is your goal, you’ll be thrilled with the San
Marcos Outlets, which are the largest in the country. The
city is also home to Texas State University, Lyndon Baines
Johnson’s alma mater and the only Texas university to
have a U.S. president as an alumnus. Check out the
museum dedicated to his college days on the historic
downtown square.
The Meadows Center
(formerly Aquarena Center)
201 San Marcos Springs Dr., San Marcos, 78666
512-245-7570, meadowscenter.txstate.edu
Here at the headwaters of the San Marcos River, you
can watch the springs bubbling up from underground
as you ride in a glass-bottom boat. Exhibits range
from endangered species to history and archaeology.
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Wonder World Park
1000 Prospect St., San Marcos, 78666
512-392-3760, wonderworldpark.com
This huge underground cave was formed 30 million
years ago when a prehistoric ocean covered the area
and an enormous earthquake occurred. Interesting attractions at the park include the 110-foot Tejas Observation Tower, the Anti-Gravity House, and Mystery Mountain.1245
Uvalde
With the distinction of marking the beginning of the
Texas Hill Country, this community exudes a rustic
charm that is complemented by the intriguing history of the region. Uvalde provides a tempting menu
of activities: shopping and antiquing, opera house
shows, nature exploration at Garner State Park or
Lost Maples State Natural Area, hunting, an 1840sera fort, golfing, beautiful rivers, a fish hatchery, and
an 80-million-year-old extinct volcano.
First State Bank of Uvalde and Briscoe
Art and Antique Collection
200 E. Nopal, Uvalde, 78801
830-278-6231,
fsbuvalde.com/online-gallery.aspx
Often referred to as the most beautiful bank in Texas,
this institution first opened in 1907. Except for a government-ordered “bank holiday” during the Depression,
it has been open for business ever since. The bank
is filled with collections of original art and classic antiques. Over 4,000 people visit every year. 1235
Janey Slaughter-Briscoe
Grand Opera House
104 W. North St., Uvalde, 78801
830-278-4184, visituvalde.com
Marble Falls, Stonewall,
Fredericksburg
Aquatic exploits abound at Marble
Falls, the youngest of the Colorado
River-fed Highland Lakes. Home
to one of the nation’s largest drag
boat races every August, the
lake promises boating, canoeing,
kayaking, waterskiing, swimming,
and fishing. Enjoy an unmatched
view at any of several lakefront
restaurants, or trek to Sweet Berry
Farm to pick berries or peruse the
pumpkin patch, depending on the
season.
The spirit of Lyndon B. Johnson,
our 36th president, lives on in his
ancestral hometown of Stonewall.
Guests at the Lyndon B. Johnson
National Historical Park receive a
map and CD with narration about
his birth home, family cemetery, and
buildings where he made executive
decisions. Across the Pedernales
River is the 700-acre LBJ State
Park and Historic Site, where
visitors can spy roaming buffalo,
traipse the trails, or watch the past
reinterpreted at a living history farm.
Like a Teutonic fairytale land
brought to life, Fredericksburg
imports charm from a bygone era.
The town, established in 1846
by German settlers, includes 700
historical buildings and still observes
traditional celebrations – from
Oktoberfest to Schuetzenfests
Wimberley
The lovely village of Wimberley is tucked between
Cypress Creek and the Blanco River, about one hour
north of San Antonio and 45 minutes south of Austin. After a scenic drive, visitors will find numerous
bed-and-breakfasts and resorts scattered along cypress-lined streams and among green, rolling hills.
Wimberley Square is known for its shops filled with
art, antiques, clothing, and furniture. Market Days,
a popular tourist destination, is held on the first Saturday of each month from March through December.
Wimberley Glass Works
6469 Ranch Rd. 12, San Marcos, 78666
512-213-4148, wgw.com
Owner Tim deJong and other local artisans craft exquisite
glass pieces and lighting fixtures here at this shop. Watch
an amazing glassblowing demonstration or take time to
browse the gallery for a signed piece of glass art. 123
Wimberley Zip Lines
300 Winn Valley Drive, Wimberley, 78676
512-847-9990, wimberleyzipline.com
Your trained guide will teach you about the local ecosystem of plants and wildlife, local history, and other
interesting Wimberley area facts. Then you’ll literally be
whisked away at up to 30 miles per hour on one of the
10 ziplines spanning three-quarters of a mile over the
Wimberley Valley. 12
Built back in 1891 and carefully restored in the early
’80s, the Grand Opera House is the focal point of historic downtown Uvalde. It was once known as the site
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TOUR 1
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Road Trips
(marksmanship tournaments).
Its main street, known as the
Magic Mile, is lined with quaint
shops, bakeries, restaurants, wine
stores, and flourishes of German
architecture. Ensconce yourself in
one of the town’s 300 bed-andbreakfasts, or bone up on WWII
history at the National Museum of
the Pacific War.
TOUR 2
New Braunfels,
Wimberley,
Dripping Springs
Another town with German roots,
New Braunfels hosts Wurstfest
every November. The sausagecentric event includes oompah
bands, art, food, beer, and games
on fairgrounds next to the Comal
River. Those cold, spring-fed waters
provide miles of tubing fun in the
summer, even flowing into rides at
the original Schlitterbahn waterpark.
Meaning “slippery road” in German,
the 70-acre destination is open from
late April to mid-September and
features such popular attractions as
the six-story-tall Master Blaster, an
uphill water coaster.
Take the farm and ranch roads
north to Wimberley, a resort village
noted for its pastoral scenery and
one-of-a-kind shopping. Down-home
tchotchkes, rare rocks and cowboy
wares line the shelves in town
square, where you’re sure to find
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that perfect home addition. Admire
more than 1,000 specimens of trees
representing 160 species at the
Central Texas Bonsai Exhibit, swim
in the cypress-lined Blue Hole for a
swim, or go on a zip–line tour over
the Wimberley Valley.
Towering live oaks, rich wine
country, and geographic convenience
make Dripping Springs a popular
getaway. Located just 40 minutes
west of Austin, this growing gateway
to the Hill Country promises several
wineries; tours of the vineyarddotted countryside are popular,
and thousands flock to the annual
Dripping with Taste Festival. Scope
a 45-foot-tall waterfall at Hamilton
Pool Natural Reserve, or scan the
skies above Westcave Preserve for a
glimpse of the endangered goldencheeked warbler.
TOUR 3
Round Rock, Austin,
San Marcos
One of the nation’s fastest-growing
cities, the shopping mecca of Round
Rock boasts an IKEA, an outlet mall,
and master-planned retail centers.
But the city’s main brag is sports.
Catch a game at the Dell Diamond,
home of the Round Rock Express,
a Texas Rangers farm team coowned by baseball great Nolan
Ryan. Seek your own athletic glory
at Old Settlers Park, a massive
sports complex featuring disc golf,
cricket, baseball, softball, soccer,
and a pool.
Thumb through Austin’s livemusic schedule to find world-famous
headliners at many of the city’s
250 venues. UT Austin’s KLRU
studios, the original taping location
for PBS’s longest-running series,
Austin City Limits, are open for free
tours on Friday mornings. At sunset,
witness a million bats emerge from
the underside of Ann W. Richards
Congress Avenue Bridge above Lady
Bird Lake. Brave the locals’ disdain
by going on a Segway tour of the
State Capitol, or earn their respect by
renting a bicycle downtown. Edgar
Allen Poe’s writing desk is one of
thousands of curios at the Harry
Ransom Center. Also? Breakfast
tacos. Have at ’em.
San Marcos–or “San Marvelous,”
as it’s been called– seems to be
siphoning some of Austin’s cool with
its hip perks for a young population.
The town of 44,894 is passionate
about live music, enjoying a Summer
in the Park concert series and several
festivals throughout the year. Go
spelunking in the earthquake-formed
caves of Wonder World, where
visitors are free to take photos and
touch the walls. Or take a glassbottom boat tour of Spring Lake at
the Meadows Center for Water and
the Environment.
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