19 Hidden Adventures In Texas Hill Country

Explore the Heart of Texas

The small towns and two-lane roads fanning westward from Austin make up the heart of the Texas Hill Country. There, you will find the unexpected gems of Texas—rivers that wind through an abundance of bald cypress trees, shimmering lakes cupped in limestone canyons, and rustic German towns with unique names. See the best things to do in Boerne, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, and Kerrville.

Belly Up to the BBQ

Barbecue is a religion in Texas, and one of its high altars, Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, lures folks off the well-worn tourist trail in Llano, deep in granite country. Stop first at Cooper's porch, where pool table-size smokers scent the air with mesquite. Select a cut of meat—brisket, sausage, ribs, cabrito—and head inside for the sides (potato salad, coleslaw, and much more). This restaurant is a must-stop for all you barbecue lovers (plus these other top Texas barbecue joints).

Take in the View

Roads usually serve a practical purpose—getting people from point A to point B. But in the Hill Country, you might suspect a road was paved purely for pleasure—to take drivers past stirring vistas, expansive pastures, and dense spreads of bluebonnets. In the spring, wildflowers dot nearly every corner of the landscape but find particularly vibrant ones on Farm Road 1323, which heads west off U.S. 281 about three miles north of Johnson City.

For even more dramatic driving, head to where the hills get larger and take on shapes like traffic cones and gumdrops. The incomparable Farm Road 337 in the southern part of the Hill Country, west of San Antonio, winds from Medina through Vanderpool to Leakey, skirting rock ledges where oaks and cacti barely cling to solid ground.

Take a Spin at Two-Stepping

Texas Hill Country is known for having historic dance halls that still host live music and dancing weekly. Gruene Hall, built in 1878, is Texas' oldest continually operating dance hall. On the weekends, you'll find couples spinning around on the dance floor. Other beloved Hill Country dance halls include the Twin Sisters Dance Hall in Blanco, Mercer Dancehall in Driftwood, and John T. Floore's Country Store in Helotes.

Go for a Swim

You have plenty of choices if you want to swim in the Hill Country—from the more widely known Blue Hole in Wimberley to Hamilton Pool, a massive crater created when the dome over an underground river caved in. But the lushest and least crowded swimming spot is at Krause Springs in Spicewood. The privately-owned, 115-acre park features 32 springs, several burbling through an artificial pool, then tumbling over a fern-lined cliff into a deep hole. The brave can fly into the water on a rope swing.

Enjoy the Music

Music is a massive part of the Hill Country culture that one whole town, Luckenbach, is dedicated to it. Made famous by Waylon Jennings' song of the same name, it's been a favorite venue of country stars Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and more. If you want a more low-key, under-the-radar setting, head over to Alamo Springs Café, which is, as the owners say, "inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere." Dig into hand-battered onion rings and juicy burgers with toppings like jalapeño chiles and grilled onions. On weekends, local bands play on the outdoor stage.

Be a Stargazer

Do you know what the song says about the stars being big and bright deep in the heart of Texas? See them for yourself at Tres Lunas Resort, a 112-acre spread on a ridge with little distracting artificial light. But the night sky is just one reason to visit. The rooms have Western rustic furnishings with sleek touches. Yoga classes, massages, and wellness weekends are also available for those needing a little relaxation.

Kayak the Medina River

Winding through tunnels of towering bald cypress trees on its way to Bandera, the Medina River doesn't get the crowds that flock to the Guadalupe River. So you have most of it to yourself as you spend a couple of hours of bliss in a kayak rented from the Medina River Company.

Smell the Lavender

When you get to Blanco, about an hour's drive southwest of Austin, roll down the windows and take a deep breath. Perfume scents the air starting in mid-May when flowers begin to bloom at nearly a dozen farms covering the Lavender Capital of Texas, some open to visitors at the start of the blooming season. Blanco celebrates their lavender harvest with the Blanco Lavender Festival, a weekend-long celebration with a lavender market, free admission to a lavender farm, live music, and lots of good food.

See the State's Italian Side

In Driftwood, you'll find an Italian-style winery and restaurant tucked away off a country road. Duchman Family Winery uses 100 percent Texas grapes and offers tastings every Friday through Sunday. A short walk next door, Trattoria Lisina offers impeccable Italian cuisine (get the lasagna) and even fresh-made gelato to cap off your meal.

Bask in Texas Bluebonnets

Bluebonnets generally begin blooming in March and continue into April, joined by other later blooming varieties of native flowers. Southern Living photographer Van Chaplin traveled over 600 miles through the Hill Country photographing flowers. He advises to find the most beautiful blooms, "Drop in at small-town cafes and ask locals. They know the country better than anyone else."

Dig for Topaz

You must go to the mall to buy jewels in Dallas, Houston, and other big cities. In the Hill Country, you find them lying on the ground. Topaz, the state gem of Texas, is found only in Mason County, about an hour's drive from Fredericksburg. Find clear or blue-tinted stones typically near the surface around granite outcroppings in creek beds and ditches. Hunt all you want at The Historic Lindsay Ranch.

Hike to Gorman Falls

One of Texas's most scenic wildflower drives takes you along State 16 through Llano and Ranch Road 501 to Colorado Bend State Park. Reaching Gorman Falls, the park's main attraction, takes a one-and-a-half-mile hike through rugged ranch country. The last 100 yards is a rocky descent down a steep path to the misty chill of half a dozen cascades that spill from a 60-foot-high limestone cliff into a moss- and fern-draped grotto. The breathtaking view of the waterfall and the peaceful sound of the rushing waters make the trek well worth every step.

Drive Scenic Highway 16

It twists so much you have to slow down to a crawl in a few places, but this sidewinder of a highway that climbs through the Hill Country for 30 miles between Kerrville and Medina is one of the most scenic in Texas. Ancient live oaks and white-flowering yucca plants decorate the roadsides, and green grasses cling to limestone outcrops.

Eat Apple Pie

Snowy apple blossoms welcome you to the pocket-size town of Medina. Orchards spread out from the highway row after row of the miniature varieties that grow in The Apple Capital of Texas. Apple pie is an art form here, and there's none better than the fresh-baked desserts loaded with "Golden Delicious" apple types at Love Creek Apple Store. Orchard owners Baxter and Carol Adams moved from Houston to Medina in 1980 to start a cattle ranch. Luckily for apple lovers, the Adams switched from raising beef to growing beautiful fruit.

Watch a Sunset from Enchanted Rock

Round as a giant Easter egg, Enchanted Rock sits half-buried in the hills near Fredericksburg. It's the nation's second-largest granite dome, next to Georgia's Stone Mountain. It's a half-mile hike to the top. For an unforgettable experience, make the trek at the end of the day about a half hour before sunset. You will remember the view and the sound because this rock talks. That's what the Tonkawa and other Native American tribes who rever it believe about the Enchanted Rock. Scientists contend it is fissured in the granite, expanding at the end of a hot day, but you should visit to hear it for yourself and decide what you believe.

Attend an Olive Oil Tasting

Texas Hill Country is very suitable for growing olives to make olive oil, and you can find a tour, tasting room, and boutique at Texas Hill Country Olive Co. in Dripping Springs. Book a tour and tasting, and eat lunch at the on-site bistro. You'll want to pick up a few bottles of their award-winning olive oils and balsamic vinegar to take home.

Sleep in a Garden

Wake up to the smell of rosemary, thyme, and other fresh scents when you stay in one of the cottages at the Hill Country Herb Garden, a garden, day spa, and place to visit, all in one. Book one of their 14 cozy cottages, each equipped with a porch with a swing and a set of rocking chairs, along with a complimentary breakfast that comes to your door each morning. During your stay, find relaxation at the day spa, which offers everything from facials and massages to aromatherapy. And make sure to check out the serene herb garden and on-site restaurant.

Escape the Crowds

For relief from crowds (the best part about heading out to the Hill Country), drive 20 minutes south of Fredricksburg to the aptly named town of Comfort. You'll find stone architecture by acclaimed architect Alfred Giles and many restaurants and shops, including High's Cafe & Store and The Elephant Story. The quirkiest spot in this small town must be a tavern called the Comfort Meet Market, located in a former meat market. You might find locals gathering around a cake to celebrate someone's birthday or clapping with a guitarist there.