It is easy to see why millions of people in Texas, as well as outside of Texas, travel to visit the beautiful Texas Hill Country every year. With an abundance of natural wonders among the scenic rolling hills, lakes, rivers, and wildflower meadows, outdoor recreation options are endless.
Outdoor activities like hiking, camping, white water rafting, rock climbing, and ziplining attract the active tourist. In addition, visitors to The Texas Hill Country enjoy historic dance halls, museums, a lively music scene, great restaurants, craft breweries, and an ever growing winery scene.
There are just so many fun things to do in The Texas Hill Country throughout the year.
The heart of the burgeoning Texas wine industry, the Texas Hill Country is a popular wine destination, competing with popular places like Sonoma, Napa, Willamette, and others. Wine and outdoor lovers can easily make a weekend or longer getaway visiting along the Texas Wine Trail and beyond. Stops in Fredericksburg, Wimberley, Johnson City, tiny Hye, Dripping Springs, Austin, San Antonio, and in between offer wines for every palette.
Where is the Texas Hill Country?
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Texas Hill Country encompasses the area of central/southwest Texas composed of karst topography of limestone and granite. These rolling hills, underground caves and springs make for a delightful variety of geographical formations ideas for hiking, scenic drives, and picturesque views.
For our purposes, we define the Texas Hill Country by the boundaries of Austin to San Antonio along Highway 35 as the eastern border. The northern boundary is roughly around Highway 29 from Burnet to Mason and the western boundary from Junction to Concan. The southern boundary forms line roughly from northern San Antonio to Concan.
Austin and San Antonio are the largest cities in The Texas Hill Country, located on the northeast and southeast edges of the area. Other cities include San Marcos, New Braunfels, Wimberley, Canyon City, Blanco, Bandera, Boerne, Marble Falls, Dripping Springs, Johnson City, Fredericksburg, and Kerrville. Even smaller towns like Hye, Comfort, Stonewall, Sisterdale, and Luckenbach offer many interesting things to see and do.
- Stroll down Main Street in Fredericksburg
- Stare in awe at Enchanted Rock
- Relax and sip wine on Texas Wine Trail
- Jump in cool spring waters at Jacob’s Well in Wimberley
- Eat delicious Bar-B-Q at Salt Lick
- Enjoy family fun at Schlitterbahn, the number 1 waterpark in the world
- Dance at Historic Gruene Hall
- Tube the fun Guadalupe River
- Go camping
- Ride horses and sing by the campfire in Bandera, Cowboy Capital of the World
- Remember the Alamo!
- Educate and entertain yourself at the National Museum of the Pacific War
- Learn about the German influence in Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, and other early German settlements
More Things to Do in the Texas Hill Country
With its inviting topography and ideal climate much of the year, the Texas Hill Country offers a wide variety of fun, educational, and adventurous activities throughout the year. Long, hot summers are opportune times for the many outdoor activities. Numerous lakes, rivers, creeks, and pools dot the landscape along with several manmade water attractions.
Some of the most popular bodies of water include Canyon Lake, the Guadalupe River, Blanco River, Frio River, the Pedernales River and Medina River. Jacob’s Well and the Blue Hole in Wimberley, Hamilton Pool in Krause Springs near Spicewood, and Barton Springs in Austin are other crowd favorites. Swimming, tubing, water skiing, kayaking, diving, jumping, and swinging in the clear waters of the Texas Hill Country are among favorite summertime activities.
Schlitterbahn and other Water Parks
Taking advantage of the wonderful terrain and weather, many popular water parks and amusement parks have popped up in the area. Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Sea World and Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Lone Star Lagoon in Bandera, and pool style resorts are great destinations for water lovers.
The Texas Wine Trail and other wineries in Texas have grown to become one of the more popular winery destinations in the US – and in the world. In fact, Texas is now the number 5 state in grape and wine production and home to around 300 wineries, many in the Texas Hill Country.
The Texas Wine Trail and other wineries in Texas have grown to become one of the more popular winery destinations in the US – and in the world. In fact, Texas is now the number 5 state in grape and wine production and home to around 300 wineries, many in the Texas Hill Country.
Towns like Fredericksburg, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Stonewall, Hye, Austin, and other scenic areas offer a wide selection of Texas reds, whites, and blushes.
State Parks
Pedernales Falls State Park, Colorado Bend State Park, Monument State Park, Gualalupe River State Park, Garner State Park, Inks Lake State Park, Palmetto State Park, Lyndon Johnson State Park, Buescher State Park, Blanco State Park, and Colorado Bend State Park are some of the fantastic state parks in the hill country.
Cities of the Texas Hill Country
Fredericksburg, or Fritztown, was founded by German immigrants in 1846. The town’s German heritage can be found in the food, architecture, and customs all over town.
Fredericksburg has the outstanding Pacific War Museum, an active main street, Wildseed Farms, and the Pioneer Museum. Spiritual and picturesque Enchanted Rock is just a half hour drive north. Iconic wineries like Becker Vineyards, Messina Hof, Pedernales Cellars, and others surround the town.
Not to be outdone by the wineries, several fantastic breweries and distilleries in Fredericksburg keep your glass full. Fredericksburg Brewing Company and the fabulous new Altstadt Brewery carry on the Texas tradition of tasty home brews. Nearby Hye is the tiny town that is home to Garrison Distillery, William Chris Winery, and the charming Hye Cafe.
For golfing fans, Boot Ranch Golf Club and Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Golf Course are some of the top golf courses in the Texas Hill Country.
Dining options in Fredericksburg range from the marvelous Cabernet Grill, Vaudeville, Burger Burger, and The Auslander, serving authentic German dishes right on Main Street.
New Braunfels
New Braunfels is a delight for the whole family, with the world famous Schlitterbahn Water Park, tubing or white water rafting on the Guadalupe River, dancing in the historic Greune Dance Hall, or eating at some of the great dining options in the hill country.
Join thousands of revelers celebrating Octoberfest in some of the biggest events in the Texas Hill Country. Eat at The Gristmill on The Guadalupe River, Pat’s Place, The Huisache Grill, Alpine Haus, Adobe Café, or The Buttermilk Café. Whether it’s BBQ, Mexican food, Italian, German, or good ole Texas home cooking, there are countless options for great restaurants in New Braunfels and throughout the Texas Hill Country.
Wimberley
Don’t skip Wimberley, the wonderful Texas Hill Country town on the Blanco River. Climb Mount Baldy, watch a glass blowing demonstration, or shop till you drop at the popular Market Days. Looking for more adventure? Check out the fabulous Wimberley Valley Zipline Adventures. Finish your day off at one of the fantastic restaurants like The Leaning Pear or Hayes Country Store.
Wimberley is described as a little slice of heaven by local residents. Visitors to this Texas Hill Country paradise quickly agree. A charming downtown area full of great shops and restaurants greet visitors. Natural attractions like The Blue Hole, Jacob’s Well, the Blanco River, and Mount Baldy keep the active families and couples happily occupied. And don’t forget the fantastic Wimberley Zipline Adventures, where visitors can soar over the hilltops for gorgeous views of Wimberley Valley and the scenic Texas Hill Country.
Hungry? Wimberley is home to fabulous restaurants like The Leaning Pear, Jobell’s, Blair House, Hays County Store, and The Wimberley Café. Looking for a hotel in Wimberley? Spend the night in comfort at The Wimberley Inn, Creekhaven Inn, or a B&B like Blair House. There are countless choices for lodging in the Texas Hill Country, including many charming, romantic bed and breakfasts.
For arts and culture in Wimberley, the city has a wonderful local theater program. Shops, art galleries, the Emily Ann Theater, Wimberley Glass Works, and so much more. Come for Market Days, one of the biggest weekend markets in Texas.
Wineries in or near Wimberley include Wimberley Valley Winery, Driftwood Estate Winery, Duchman Family Winery, Bella Vista Ranch, Fall Creek Vineyards, Narrow Path, and Fawncrest Vineyard.
Johnson City and Highway 290 in the Texas Hill Country
Johnson City and Highway 290 in the Texas Hill Country
The stretch of Highway 290 from Austin to Fredericksburg includes Johnson City, Dripping Springs, Pedernales State Park, Hye, Stonewall, and Luckenbach. Johnson City is home to the LBJ Ranch and Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Reserve. During spring and summer, travelers will be greeted with colorful blankets of flowers among the rolling hills.
Every proud Texan needs a Texas sized stone replica of the Lone Star State.
Texas Highlands Lakes
The Texas Highlands Lakes on the lower Colorado River are a chain of man-made lakes northwest of Austin. Bodies of water include Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin. Numerous water actities, scenic drives, and outdoor activities welcome visitors to this area.
Add in the larger cities of Austin and San Antonio, and you have an endless supply of fun. Great museums, restaurants, historic attractions, shopping, wineries, water parks and outdoor adventures.
The Texas Hill Country has it all.
Texas Wine Trail
Scott Kendall is the Founder, Editor, and frequent contributor to PlayStayEat. He is a former Navy Officer, teacher and tennis coach who is an avid traveler and writer. Scott has traveled extensively throughout the United States and overseas to Italy, France, England, Croatia, Slovenia, and others. In addition to his contributions to PlayStayEat, much of his published work can be seen at scottkendalltravels.com.