Not too long ago, while visiting Texas, we spent a couple of days in and around what’s appropriately coined the Texas Hill Country. We stayed at a Worldmark Resort in New Braunfels, a town settled by Germans in 1845. If you’ve never driven through the Hill Country, it’s a great place to visit as rural highways intertwine through small towns and dense vegetation. During the spring, Bluebonnets line the highway leading into the Hill County and families gather together to take photos in a sea of purplish blue.
We started our first day off in Boerne and grabbed lunch at the Hungry Horse, a one-stop shop for a great variety of southern cooking. Historic buildings lined the streets and provided a neat snapshot into the past.
We then headed to the Natural Bridge Caverns where we explored one of the largest cave systems in Texas. Although commercialized, it was interesting to walk through the intricate system of limestone caverns made up of stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, chandeliers and soda straws.
We then drove all the way up to a place outside of Austin called Salt Lick for some authentic BBQ. Salt Lick sat just off the highway in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, lights hanging from trees and live music playing in an open air waiting area. Once inside, there was a long string of oversized butcher block tables and pounds of beef briskest and pork waiting to be slopped onto the table. The food was delicious and nothing but the best. It certainly lived up to its reputation.
The next morning we went to the oldest bakery in Texas, Naegelin’s Bakery, in New Brunsfield and grabbed some fresh donuts. Against a rustic southern backdrop, birds congregated around the iron tables placed right outside the door. After walking around the town for a bit, we headed to Austin to enjoy the city.
The following day we visited the historic town of Gruene, pronounced “Green,” home to the oldest music hall in Texas. The streets were lined with mercantiles and souvenir shops. The town sits right above the Guadalupe River, providing a summer escape. After exploring the town, we headed to San Antonio to embark on the next leg of our trip.
Glad you enjoyed your central Texas trip. The state flower is Bluebonnet rather than Blue Bells. However we are most proud of our Blue Bell Ice Cream.
Hi! Thanks for the correction. I made the change. 🙂 Texas is a great place visit!
Loved your take on our beautiful town but…… New Braunfels is the proper spelling of our quiet little peice of Gods country
Thanks! That’s actually how I spelled it, but thanks for keeping me on my toes! It’s definitely a beautiful area! 🙂