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Started By
Message
To spend the Spring in TX Hill Country
Posted on 1/4/26 at 9:35 pm
Posted on 1/4/26 at 9:35 pm
Hiking, biking, sights, BBQ, and live music venues…is the focus.
Welcome your tips and do’s / don’ts.
Welcome your tips and do’s / don’ts.
4
Posted on 1/4/26 at 10:40 pm to Everyday Is Saturday
I’d set your home base in New Braunfels and branch out from there. Puts you smack dab in the middle of everything.
Greune Hall
Lockhart has five or six BBQ places to choose from
Greune Hall
Lockhart has five or six BBQ places to choose from
This post was edited on 1/4/26 at 10:41 pm
Posted on 1/5/26 at 10:17 am to Everyday Is Saturday
Some of the Hill Country caters to Austin and San Antonio weekenders. So you might want to stay near either of those cities for the most options. Fredericksburg area offers enough with an emphasis on German heritage. Enchanted Rock is close to there. Getting away from urban influence try Llano.
Most of the land is rough, dry, buggy, snakey and privately owned. "Inhospitable" comes to mind... stick to state parks. Trespassing is frowned on. Avoid visiting in deer season. Due to deer and cattle populations, ticks can be locally abundant... take precautions.
Or skip the HIll Country and go to Marfa for the art.
Most of the land is rough, dry, buggy, snakey and privately owned. "Inhospitable" comes to mind... stick to state parks. Trespassing is frowned on. Avoid visiting in deer season. Due to deer and cattle populations, ticks can be locally abundant... take precautions.
Or skip the HIll Country and go to Marfa for the art.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 12:24 pm to Tree_Fall
quote:
Some of the Hill Country caters to Austin and San Antonio weekenders. So you might want to stay near either of those cities for the most options. Fredericksburg area offers enough with an emphasis on German heritage. Enchanted Rock is close to there. Getting away from urban influence try Llano.
Most of the land is rough, dry, buggy, snakey and privately owned. "Inhospitable" comes to mind... stick to state parks. Trespassing is frowned on. Avoid visiting in deer season. Due to deer and cattle populations, ticks can be locally abundant... take precautions.
Or skip the HIll Country and go to Marfa for the art.
Did you Grok this?
Posted on 1/5/26 at 1:26 pm to RummelTiger
No, many trips to Marble Falls over the years.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 4:58 pm to Tree_Fall
Bluebonnets bloom late March through mid april.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 7:19 pm to Everyday Is Saturday
Visit Fredericksburg
Posted on 1/6/26 at 12:58 pm to Everyday Is Saturday
Hiking: The best I have found is at the Balcones National Wildlife Preserve. There is a network of intersecting trails through juniper forests and at elevation above Lake Travis so you get some nice views. You could spend 2 or 3 hours hiking those trails. Then as mentioned, Enchanted Rock is hike straight up the side of the granite hill. There is no shade so if its hot its not as enjoyable. Definitely get a reservation as they limit how many people enter and it fills up fast. Get reservations for any State Park as they all can fill up in the Spring especially if you are out there during Texas schools spring break.
Biking: What type of biking? There are a few good Mountain-bike parks such as Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort. There is good road biking on the back roads but those roads can get busy during spring break. There are also several organized rides in the area with the biggie being Texas Hell Week but that is kind of hardcore.
Live Music: Gruene Hall, John T Floores, Luckenbach (which is usually free and laid back outdoors)and Albert Ice House near Luckenbach. Bankersmith also has free laid back music outside which is where I usually hang out. Its mostly locals since its off the beaten path about 20 minutes outside Fredericksburg near Old Tunnel State Park which aslo has a short little hiking trail down to the old railroad tunnel which has a bat colony that is a spectacle when they emerge at dusk. But I'm not sure the bats will have migrated back up there when you are there. Alamo Springs Cafe is right there too has has a good burger. Hilltop cafe and Pecan Grove store, both outside Fredericksburg, have live music on the weekends and are both cool places to eat and/or have a beer. Further south is Devils Backbone Tavern which has live music but is also a great dive bar to have a beer. There is another bar next door that is easy to mistakenly walk into which is ok but not nearly as cool as Devils Backbone.
* many places will be closed Mon-Wed or Thursday
Fredericksburg is a big winery tasting room area with probably 50 or more tasting rooms scattered around the area. So it is full of people there for long weekends, bachelorette parties etc. I am in the area at least once a year and we rarely hang out in FB since everything is so jam packed. But if wine is your thing its a good place. You can stroll Main St with a gocup so thats cool. I do go to Wild Seed Gardens outside FB where there are huge wildflower fields which will be blooming in the spring. They harvest seeds from those fields and sell them. There is also a cafe there but I've never eaten the food.
Wimberley is another popular town with lots of restaurants and bars but it can get very crowded with tourists too. Blue Hole Park is a nice city park with a creek and big bald cypress trees. Roughtail brewing is about 15 minutes outside town on a family ranch and is a chill place to hangout. Its very close to Devils Backbone as well. The Shady Llama is another bar I like. Its all outdoors with seating that looks west over a valley with spectacular sunsets. Hays City Ice House about 15 minutes from Wimberley has live music food and drink and is a good spot.
As to where to stay I would opt for an airbnb outside one of the towns. The stars at night, wildlife (Deer, Turkey) and quiet are amazing out in the rural parts of the hillcountry. I have seen this Airbnb but never stayed in it. I am actually friends with another part of the family that owns this ranch where the airbnb is located Hillingdon Ranch and get to stay in a private house out there. Its a really nice rural area ( no cell phone service) close to Old Tunnel State Park, Bankersmith and Luckenbach and about 20 minutes from Fredericksburg or Comfort (Highs Cafe is a good spot there).
Biking: What type of biking? There are a few good Mountain-bike parks such as Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort. There is good road biking on the back roads but those roads can get busy during spring break. There are also several organized rides in the area with the biggie being Texas Hell Week but that is kind of hardcore.
Live Music: Gruene Hall, John T Floores, Luckenbach (which is usually free and laid back outdoors)and Albert Ice House near Luckenbach. Bankersmith also has free laid back music outside which is where I usually hang out. Its mostly locals since its off the beaten path about 20 minutes outside Fredericksburg near Old Tunnel State Park which aslo has a short little hiking trail down to the old railroad tunnel which has a bat colony that is a spectacle when they emerge at dusk. But I'm not sure the bats will have migrated back up there when you are there. Alamo Springs Cafe is right there too has has a good burger. Hilltop cafe and Pecan Grove store, both outside Fredericksburg, have live music on the weekends and are both cool places to eat and/or have a beer. Further south is Devils Backbone Tavern which has live music but is also a great dive bar to have a beer. There is another bar next door that is easy to mistakenly walk into which is ok but not nearly as cool as Devils Backbone.
* many places will be closed Mon-Wed or Thursday
Fredericksburg is a big winery tasting room area with probably 50 or more tasting rooms scattered around the area. So it is full of people there for long weekends, bachelorette parties etc. I am in the area at least once a year and we rarely hang out in FB since everything is so jam packed. But if wine is your thing its a good place. You can stroll Main St with a gocup so thats cool. I do go to Wild Seed Gardens outside FB where there are huge wildflower fields which will be blooming in the spring. They harvest seeds from those fields and sell them. There is also a cafe there but I've never eaten the food.
Wimberley is another popular town with lots of restaurants and bars but it can get very crowded with tourists too. Blue Hole Park is a nice city park with a creek and big bald cypress trees. Roughtail brewing is about 15 minutes outside town on a family ranch and is a chill place to hangout. Its very close to Devils Backbone as well. The Shady Llama is another bar I like. Its all outdoors with seating that looks west over a valley with spectacular sunsets. Hays City Ice House about 15 minutes from Wimberley has live music food and drink and is a good spot.
As to where to stay I would opt for an airbnb outside one of the towns. The stars at night, wildlife (Deer, Turkey) and quiet are amazing out in the rural parts of the hillcountry. I have seen this Airbnb but never stayed in it. I am actually friends with another part of the family that owns this ranch where the airbnb is located Hillingdon Ranch and get to stay in a private house out there. Its a really nice rural area ( no cell phone service) close to Old Tunnel State Park, Bankersmith and Luckenbach and about 20 minutes from Fredericksburg or Comfort (Highs Cafe is a good spot there).
This post was edited on 1/6/26 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 1/6/26 at 5:47 pm to Zappas Stache
Thanks, All
Zappes Stache, in particular.
Super useful/helpful…!
Zappes Stache, in particular.
Super useful/helpful…!
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