Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Highways & Byways: The Ultimate Texas Road Trip

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I’m embarrassed to say that prior to our ultimate Texas road trip two weeks ago, my travels to and around the Lone Star State were largely centered on long weekends in Austin. And while Austin has always and will continue to be one of my favorite U.S. cities, I can’t believe the magic of small-town Texas we discovered throughout our seven days traversing its diverse and scenic landscape.

Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Texas is far more than Houston, Austin and Dallas, y’all; in fact, I’d say its true beauty lies in all the small towns that rest in between.

Planning your next weekend getaway to Texas soon? Pull up a chair, grab your notepad and jot down some tips, as I’m giving you the play-by-play of our week-long adventure through the Hill Country, South Texas Plains, and Prairies and Lakes region.

DAY 1: Round Top + Brenham

It’s ironic that we flew into my favorite city, yet only saw it from the descent of the airplane. But we had a car to pick up and an antiques fair to make!

Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

From Austin, it’s just 70 miles from the airport to the town of Round Top (population 90). I had no idea what to expect out of a town this small, but what I wasn’t prepared to find was a jam-packed square brimming with shops and restaurants, cars filling its every parking space.

Royers Cafe in Round Top, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

We started our time in Round Top as anyone should: with a meal at the famed Royers Round Top Café. While SVV had the Grilled Shrimp BLT and I had the Beef Tenderloin Sandwich, pie is the name of the game at Royers, so you must save room for a slice (make that multiple in our case). Bud “The Pieman” Royer didn’t leave us an option when he came around with his walking stick, cracking jokes. Also, it’s kind of adorable that they have “honor coolers” of beer on the front porch for those waiting for a seat at this cozy joint. Can you imagine that flying in your town?

Royers Cafe in Round Top, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Royers Cafe in Round Top, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Royers Cafe in Round Top, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Antiques permeate Round Top, and you can’t throw a rock without hitting an antiques mall or a yard adorned with oddities from near and far. We started our picking at Round Top Antique Mall, whose big fair celebrated its 50th anniversary at the spring show in April, and it’s a good thing we didn’t drive our truck to Texas, as SVV would have no doubt filled it.

Antiques in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

What I found most interesting were the roadside warehouses and storage units scattered around Highway 237. We popped in and out of them if an item on the lawn struck our fancy, and this is exactly where I would head if I lived in Texas and had an empty house to furnish.

Antiques in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Antiques in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

You can’t, however, leave Round Top without paying a stop to the famed Junk Gypsy shop, which is full of curiosities galore (and oddly, no actual junk!): more home goods, clothing, jewelry, you name it. I’m dying to go back to Round Top and stay at their B&B, Wander Inn.

Junk Gypsy in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Junk Gypsy in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Junk Gypsy in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Junk Gypsy in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Junk Gypsy in Round Top | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

But we were migrating to Brenham for the evening, where we had a dinner scheduled at Ninety Six West, so we had to get a move on it. Brenham is most famously home to Blue Bell ice cream, a company founded more than a century ago, and how I went there and didn’t have so much as a scoop is beyond me!

Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Again, I had no preconceived notions of any of the stops we were making on the trip, so when we pulled up to Brenham to find murals adorning many of the old, downtown walls, I was shocked. How could such a small town boast such a vibrant art scene? It was impressive and inspired us to do something similar in our hometown, for sure.

Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

It also had not one, but two beer gardens and a brewery, and while we were both tired after our 4am wake-up and full day, we briefly considered our options: check into the hotel and freshen up or grab a round of beers at Home Sweet Farm Market before dinner? I think you know in which direction we went.

Breweries in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

After a few local beers, followed by dinner at Ninety Six West, we did finally check into our darling bed and breakfast, Ant Street Inn. The downside to changing locations every day is that you find a true gem like this one where you just want to kick back and relax for a week. Not today, Brenham, but we’ll be back with a trailer (we’ve already got the Chevy truck!) for a Picker Road Trip in 2019 if my husband has anything to do with it.

Where to Stay in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

DAY 2: New Braunfels + Gruene

We got up early to poke around and photograph the Brenham murals before the town was awake, then it was time to hit the road (again).

Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Murals in Brenham, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Next destination was New Braunfels, just 45 minutes south of Austin and two hours from where we were at the moment. When we arrived, we made straight for Akaushi Yoakum burgers and lunch at Huisache Grill. If you don’t know what the heck those are, they’re one of four breeds in the Wagyu family of marbled meat from Japan, and they are delicious!

Where to Eat in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

After appetizers of fried Brie, burgers and a mixed grill, we went about 15 minutes up the road to a cute biker/cowboy/cruising pitstop built around a historic dance hall built that popped up in the late 1880s.

Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Gruene Hall epitomizes everything I love about the South: an anything-goes, laid-back approach to life, ridiculously friendly folks—many of them donning boots and cowboy hats, not because they were tourists but because that actually is their daily uniform—live music, dancing and, best of all, $3 local beers.

Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

First built in 1878, Gruene Hall is an absolute legend in the music world, and there were plenty of big acts coming the months following our visit–Lee Ann Womack, LeeAnn Rimes and Maren Morris were just a few I recognized on the roster—but it’s a bit like Broadway in Nashville in that you are pretty much guaranteed live music, any day of the week, and many of the shows (like on Sunday afternoon) are free.

Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

After our two-stepping fun (j/k, SVV would never two-step with me, particularly with a film crew around!), we checked out a few of the stores comprising Gruene Historic District before meeting up with our friends at the Gristmill to end a very Texas day.

DAY 3: Wimberley

I think prior to the trip starting, I was most excited about our day in Wimberley as it began with a hike around Jacob’s Well (which is deserving of its own post, so stay tuned!). My BFF Lemon had told me about Wimberley, as it’s a popular place to vacation in Texas and her parents had a home here when she was a child, and Lemon has a taste for the finer things in life so I knew she wasn’t exaggerating her love for this place.

Jacob's Well | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

The town was centered around a small shopping district and draped in small town charm. We arrived, nabbed a table on the patio at Ino’z Brew & Chew, where we filled up on tacos and more local beers.

Town of Wimberley, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

The water along Cypress Creek, visible from the restaurant, was just as clear as out by Jacob’s Well, so clear that some just can’t resist the urge to dive right in.

Town of Wimberley, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

One of the shop owners told us about Blue Hole Regional Park on the edge of town, so we swung by there next for a quick stroll and some photos. For those of you traveling through Texas in summer, be sure and put Blue Hole on your itinerary, as there was a rope swing just beckoning to be used, and swimming is allowed in summer months.

Blue Hole Park in Wimberley, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

That afternoon, we headed into Dripping Springs to check out the distilling and brewing culture; among the city’s spirited residents are Deep Eddy and Dripping Springs Vodka, and we wanted to visit them both. Only, we realized once we were already on the road that many were closed on Mondays. In fact, so many of the breweries we wanted to check out weren’t reopening until Thursday. Boo.

So, we modified the plan, did a quick Google of “what to do in Dripping Springs” and discovered Hamilton Pool was just another 20 minutes further. And having already seen Hamilton Pool crop up on Instagram in the past, I knew that’s how we’d spend our afternoon. But more on that later this week, as it truly is a marvel to see.

Hamilton Pool in Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

After Hamilton Pool, we swung by the Barber Shop in Dripping Springs for a drink before picking up food to go in Wimberley to eat at our hotel.

It’s a shame we arrived at our digs (once again) so late at night, as Hotel Flora and Fauna is a true stunner. Boutique-y in nature with each room a full-on studio that offers both kitchenettes and sitting area—not to mention an incredible courtyard area with a dreamy pool—this Hill Country resort is the type of peaceful retreat that will have you wanting to move far from the bright lights, traffic and late-night noise of the city and start searching for real estate in Wimberley. It’s hard to believe the bustle of Austin is just 40 miles from here!

Where to Stay in Wimberley, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Where to Stay in Wimberley, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

DAY 4: Fredericksburg

The following morning, we used our breakfast voucher from the hotel to grab some baked goods and coffee at Sugar Shack for the road en route to our next stop.

Exploring Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Fredericksburg, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. You have more than 150 retail stops downtown, and not just full of tourist crap either; legit boutiques and T-shirt print shops and other five-and-dime stores that were beguiling to the uninitiated.

Where to Stay in Wimberley, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Where to Stay in Wimberley, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

You have wine, oh do you have wine—more than 45 wineries in the surrounding region, in fact! And I love that several of them have tasting rooms right downtown, so you don’t even have to stumble wander far.

Where to Shop in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

But even better? You have an open-glass policy! That’s right; I can order my glass of wine at Pedernales Cellars’ tasting room, then carry it with me as I saunter around town. It’s genius really!

Drinking Wine in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

You’ve also got darling eateries like Vaudeville Bistro, a posh furniture store up top and a tasty restaurant down below.

Where to Eat in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Basically, I could live in Fredericksburg is what I’m saying.

Exploring Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

After we filled our shopping bags and polished off some sandwiches like nobody’s business, we drove out to Grape Creek Vineyards for a tour and a tasting that was a revelation to us both. Who knew that the climate in the hills of Texas could cultivate some of the finest oenological delights?

Wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
I mean, seriously, Fredericksburg. Way to win me over on the first date! The funny thing about this trip was that in every new city,
I thought: “I can’t possibly love the next spot as much as I do this one.” And yet, at the end of the trip, there wasn’t a single stop I’d omit next time.
Wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Since we were already out that way, SVV and I decided against going back to Fredericksburg for happy hour and instead, drove a bit further past the Texas Rangers Heritage Center out to the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park area for some sunset shots.

Sunset in Lyndon B. Johnson State Park, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

A river separates the state park from Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, but we arrived a bit too late to go in (it closed at 5:30), so we had to make due with some shots from the perimeter.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

We met some cows and steers along the way that didn’t care if we were trying to catch an epic, stereotypical Texas landscape.

Sunset in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Dinner that night was at Cabernet Grill, which was one of the best meals we had all week and has elevated the cuisine in the local area.

I thought nothing could rival Hotel Flora & Fauna, but then we arrived into Hoffman Haus, and I changed my tune. Soaring, wood planked ceilings, a bubbling pool as the centerpiece.. is every small town hotel or inn in Texas just as darling as it gets?

Where to Stay in Fredericksburg, Texas| Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Where to Stay in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

DAY 5: Bandera

Wednesday morning we woke up to a knock on our door and a picnic basket brimming with a gourmet breakfast spread. I’m telling you, Hoffman Haus has nailed the whole hospitality thing.

Where to Stay in Fredericksburg, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Day five took us from Fredericksburg to Bandera, but we made one stop first: the tiny town of Luckenbach (population: 3 … felines, that is). This former ghost town was purchased for a song in the 1970s by a trippy man named Honcho Crouch, and it is now a venue for country music acts and a huge destination for the ubiquitous biker clubs in Texas. It was also made famous by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson in the song, “Luckenbach, Texas.” Don’t miss this little outpost of sanity.

Luckenbach, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Luckenbach, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Luckenbach, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

An hour later, we rolled into Bandera—known far and wide as “the Cowboy Capital of the World”— and thus it was fitting that we went directly to Twin Elm Ranch for a trail ride with real live cowboys.

Horseback Riding at Twin Elm Ranch in Bandera, Texas

Horseback Riding at Twin Elm Ranch in Bandera, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Horseback Riding at Twin Elm Ranch in Bandera, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

I got to dust off my cowgirl hat and my skills from my own ranch days and mosey out into the brush!

Horseback Riding at Twin Elm Ranch in Bandera, Texas

Later in the afternoon, we headed out to Mayan Dude Ranch, a popular spot for both family vacations and corporate retreats, for a lasso demonstration. Now, I stayed at a dude ranch with my family back when I was a pre-teen, so this wasn’t my first rodeo (ha, had to say it), but I’ve never seen an act quite like Kevin Fitzpatrick, who is a legend in the trick-roping world.

Lasso Demonstration in Bandera, Texas

He broke out his ropes, his whips and his sense of humor, and put on a proper show, pulling the audience members into many of his tricks. And at the end, I even stepped in and got lassoed, too!

Lasso Demonstration in Bandera, Texas

After our cowboy fun, we went down to Bandera Meat Market to pick up some cuts of steak and a few sausages for the night. Wednesday is “Steak Night” at 11th Street Cowboy Bar; they provide the cooking apparatuses and all the fixings, you BYOM and throw it on their multiple grills, then eat what you cook! The bar also has baked potatoes, salads and Lone Star beer you can buy as accouterments.

Steak Night at 11th Street Cowboy Bar in Bandera, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Steak Night at 11th Street Cowboy Bar in Bandera, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

After our bellies were full, we sidled up to the tables surrounding the dance floor and watched as some ace two-steppers showed us how it was done in true Texas style, with a live band backing their efforts. Then, it was back to Bandera Bunkhouse on Main for a night of much-needed sleep. This life of a cowgirl is exhausting!

Where to Stay in Bandera, Texas

DAY 6: Bandera

Bandera was the only city we stayed in more than one night, so it was nice waking up in the bunkhouse and not immediately having to pack our bags and load up the car. We did, however, have an early-ish start as we were going back to Mayan for a cowboy breakfast.

Cowboy Breakfast in Bandera, Texas

What’s a cowboy breakfast, you say? Well, it’s pretty self-explanatory: We took a hay ride out to the picnic area where one of the cowboys was frying up some bacon, Country Boy sausage and preparing a proper breakfast spread. During my own stay on a dude ranch, I remember doing this very thing—only, we road horses out to breakfast and back again.

Cowboy Breakfast in Bandera, Texas

That’s an option for those staying at Mayan, as well, but this 34 year old much preferred the comfort of the hay wagon to that of a horse’s behind!

Cowboy Breakfast in Bandera, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Cowboy Breakfast in Bandera, Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

That afternoon, after rummaging around the antiques stores on Main Street for a spell, we grabbed some BBQ for lunch (couldn’t very well leave Texas without doing so!), then it was back to Mayan for one last visit, this time to see the longhorn, named Redneck (how apropos!) in all his glory.

His handler asked if anyone would like to sit on him—me, me, me! I raised my hand—but when I mounted that big ol’ bull, he handed me his reins, told me to kick him and take off up the hill to the viewing area. I thought he was joking.

 Riding a Longhorn in Texas

Nope, he wanted me to ride the longhorn! And so I did. I’m nothing if not game and good at taking direction. SVV thought it was a little weird to mount a saddle on a steer so one-upped the stakes, mounted him backward and then stood up on Redneck’s back. That boy!

 Riding a Longhorn in Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
 Riding a Longhorn in Texas | Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

In the evening, we went back to 11th Street Cowboy Bar for a second time, and I can’t begin to tell you how much I adore this place for its authenticity. The bar comes positively alive with itinerant tourists for Cowboy Mardi Gras one weekend each year, and that Thursday night kicked off the festivities with a Canine Costume Contest. You know I don’t miss a chance to mingle with dogs! (Meanwhile back in Tennessee, Ella was thrilled she didn’t accompany us on this trip for a change, as costumes are not her thing and she hates being made a spectacle of.)

Cowboy Mardi Gras in Bandera, Texas

On our way back to the bunkhouse, the hunger pangs hit, so we stopped into the Chikin Coop for some bar bites and margaritas before calling it a night.

11th Street Cowboy Bar in Bandera, Texas

DAY 7: Boerne + San Antonio

We woke up on our final day in Texas and left early, so we could take the scenic route, pull off to fly the drone over Hill Country (check out the aerial footage in my video above) and—most importantly—get donuts and kolaches from Snowflake Donuts in Boerne to help get us through the travel day.

Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

Bandera is less than an hour to the San Antonio airport, which is just about the easiest airport I’ve ever traveled through (and I travel through quite a few airports annually, friends!). The only thing that bummed me out about this trip is that we didn’t leave anytime to explore San Antonio, a city I’ve long been wanting to visit. But as the saying goes, there’s always next time—not to mention, a direct flight from Nashville on Southwest!

Our Texas Road Trip Route

Texas Road Trip Route

Planning a Couples’ Weekend Getaway in Texas

Don’t have a full week? No problem. Any of these combinations would make for an awesome couples’ weekend getaway in Texas: You could spend a week antiquing in Round Top while staying in nearby Brenham (bring a truck or fat budget for shipping things home); you could fly into Austin, then make your base in New Braunfels to do both Gruene Hall and Jacob’s Well; you can easily take a whole weekend in Fredericksburg as you wine-taste in Hill Country; or you could do the cowboy thang with a couple days in Bandera. The possibilities are endless, really!

Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip

So, that’s it, in a nutshell: our most epic Texas road trip. Is there anything I left off, Texans? Any stops you’d suggest making next time we’re in the region? I’m rather proud of us for how much ground we covered in a relatively short amount of time!

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Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
Planning the Ultimate Texas Road Trip
COMMENTS
  • February 14, 2018

    This does such a fantastic job showcasing these small towns! And Texas has some serious street art cred. I just got back from a girl’s trip to El Paso and had a total blast. It is a big city but still not what people think of when they think of Texas. It is great to think beyond those big cities.

    • February 20, 2018

      I’d love to visit El Paso! I seriously caught the Texas bug on this trip. Good thing I’ll be back twice this year for other reasons =)

  • February 14, 2018

    I loved following your adventures through one of my absolute favorite parts of the country. I too happened on Hamilton Pool when I was visiting some of the wineries. I was asking for suggestions of thing to see nearby and the tasting room girl mentioned, nonchalantly I might add, that people seem to like Hamilton Pool. After visiting I was blown away not by just how beautiful it is but also that people are not screaming from the rafters about how stinking awesome it is.

    • February 20, 2018

      Right?!? I only knew about it as one of my Insta-friends went last year and I saw it on his feed. But it wouldn’t have occurred to me to go had we not essentially stumbled onto the signs pointing that direction since the breweries were all closed.

  • February 14, 2018

    I am ALL ABOUT small-town Texas. I went on a trip to Tyler and Longview a couple years ago and loved it so much. The small towns in Texas remind me a lot of the Midwest, hospitality-wise (just, you know, with more cowboy hats!). This looks like an amazing trip – all those murals and cute shops and AHHH a saddled longhorn!

    • February 20, 2018

      I remember reading about your trip! And now I clearly need to go on more Midwestern road trips if it’s anything like Texas 😉

  • February 15, 2018

    Amazing trip! Wonderful experience! The photos are incredible! I am in love with this place and with the old stuff and vibe!

    • February 20, 2018

      Thank you, Shani! I wanted to stay longer. Wish we’d had at least 2-3 days per stop.

  • February 15, 2018

    This is EXACTLY the kind of trip I’d love to do – road trip wandering through the best parts of Americana – and just when you think you’ll have to sacrifice something, say like good food, you’ve got amazing towns like these ones in Texas that show you just how wrong you are! Absolutely LOVE it!

    • February 20, 2018

      You’re so close to Texas, too, that you guys could easily recreate this road trip the next time you have 10 days or so to spare. Did you ever make it to Marfa on your RVing adventures? That’s one that’s still on my list.

      • March 22, 2018
        grace

        Kristin, highly recommend Fort Davis in addition to Marfa when you make it out to West Texas. It is SUCH a unique area and gorgeous.

  • February 15, 2018

    I fell in love with Hill Country last year when I went to San Marcos, but I was def not brave enough to jump in that water. Scotty, you do you.

    • February 20, 2018

      Ha! He always does; he always does.

  • February 15, 2018

    Next go around feel free to set up camp in Boerne. We’re so much more than Snowflake doughnuts (They do make a mean doughnut though!) and would love to show you around! 🙂

    • February 16, 2018

      We’d love that! We were traveling around with the Texas Tourism team filming, so the itinerary was set by them, but from the little we did see of Boerne, it was very cute!

  • February 15, 2018
    Ris

    I grew up in San Marcos and we used to go to Gruene Hall every Tuesday in the summer for “Two Ton Tuesdays”. It’s once of my favorite memories from growing up in central Texas. If you’re ever there in the summertime, add to your itinerary floating down the San Marcos river. It’s spring fed and clean enough to drink…but it’s about 68 degrees, thus the recommendation to go at the height of summer temps!

    • February 16, 2018

      What a special childhood memory! I remember my friend Jade going to San Marcos last summer and posting gorgeous summer shots, so it’s definitely on my radar. I’ll be back in Austin to speak at a conference, TravelCon (https://travelcon.org/), in September, so maybe I’ll get to float then!

  • February 15, 2018
    Katie

    This made me actually want to go back to Texas and explore more than Austin.

    Also, that red dress! Gorgeous.

    • February 16, 2018

      Thank you, friend! I got it recently from Boden. It’s the perfect material for travel, and I like that it has sleeves. I might have to get it in another color at this point 😉

  • February 15, 2018

    Dang! I didn’t realize I was so overdue for a TX road-trip! The itinerary you outlined does a brilliant job of highlighting the lesser-known destinations that may be of interest to your readers (including ME). Thanks for sharing the beauty of Texas with the rest of us!

    • February 16, 2018

      You definitely are! It’s a trip unlike any others you’ll take in the US, I guarantee you =)

  • February 16, 2018

    I think Rae and I are going to do some Texas explorations in September. Maybe a road trip before the big conference? Bookmarking this!

    • February 16, 2018

      I think you definitely should! The Orth sisters would love them some Gruene Hall music and dancing, and it’s only an hour from Austin. Also, ROUND TOP. Make it a priority.

  • February 16, 2018

    It looks like you two had so much fun! I’ve been to San Antonio (loved it) but nowhere else in Texas. I should get out there someday and do some Texas style wine tasting!

    • February 20, 2018

      I’m still dying to go to San Antonio! My mom went last year for a wedding and LOVED the whole Riverwalk area.

  • February 16, 2018

    I had lunch in Brenham right before I deployed with some family and found it to be absolutely charming. Also, Texas is huge. There’s so much to see there and it’s all so different and unique.

    • February 20, 2018

      Texas is MASSIVE. I guess it earned its slogan for a reason…

  • February 19, 2018

    Okay, you’ve convinced me that I have to visit Fredericksburg! I’ve heard so much about it but your photos and the fact that you were so besotted with it make me want to get on a plane right now! Amazing trip you took!

    • February 20, 2018

      I didn’t know much about it at ALL until we arrived, so I was pleasantly surprised!

  • February 20, 2018

    This is a dream trip for me! I’ve been to all 50 states and Texas ranks in my top 5. Years ago my husband was there for business and we did some of the things on your itinerary – and I’ve been dying to go back since. I think it’s about time!

    • February 23, 2018

      I would agree with that—definitely in my top five, as well. I love states that are so diverse they hit all my bullet points: city culture, food scene, great outdoors, diversity.

  • February 21, 2018

    I love itineraries! It helps me plan future trips, and more importantly it helps me dream about them 🙂 The photos look beautiful, so much happiness exudes from them!

    • February 23, 2018

      Thank you, Dominique! I don’t always do itinerary posts, but when I do, I pack it alllll in 😉

  • February 22, 2018

    I’ve never been to Texas. Now it’s at the top of my priority list! Each one of the stops on your road trip is so appealing. I’d love to recreate your itinerary someday.

    • February 23, 2018

      It’s an absolute must, for sure! I really only thought of Texas as big cities and dusty desert before this trip, though. Loved seeing another side of it!

  • February 27, 2018

    I have never considered visiting Texas although I had Austin as my No. 1 City to visit in the USA. I just loved this post and the video was fantastic. I definitely want to visit Texas now. Beautiful photos too and so much information. I’m hooked.

    • March 8, 2018

      The nice thing is that most of these towns we visited are within 90 minutes of Austin! So much to see and do there.

  • March 22, 2018
    grace

    YAY!! The hill country!! Dang girl you went everywhere! In five years of living in Austin I can proudly say I’ve been to all but two of the towns you visited (Lukenbach and Brenham). Bandera is probably my favorite – there’s such a cute main street area & food but I LOVE hiking at Hill Country State Natural Area and a trail ride there is on my to-do list! Next week is the Round Top Antiques Fair and I may actually get out there this year finally!

    My friend and I just did a quick overnight girls weekend to Dallas and Fort Worth (had a blast) but I looooove how many cool things there are to do in every direction from us in ATX!

    Glad you guys had fun!!

    • April 2, 2018

      Ha! Well, I think it’s much easier to be a tourist and try to cram it in than it is a local who always thinks “oh, I’ll have plenty of time to do that/go there/see this…someday.” But man, that was a great trip—I’ll be back in Austin once this summer and again in the fall; hoping to get out on a few other day trips like Enchanted Rock!

  • June 25, 2018

    I’ve had this email in my inbox for months and have only just gotten around to reading it! So many new things for me to do in Texas, thank you!! Next time you have to come back and road trip to Marfa, way out west, I think you would love it! It’s very unexpectedly hip and un-Texas-like.

    • June 26, 2018

      I’m dying to go to Marfa! I’ll actually be back in Texas tomorrow…though not on that side of the state this time. One day, though 🙂

    • January 31, 2020
      Rene

      Thank you so much! We are going on our Texas hill country road trip in May! Flying to San Antonio from Northern California! Looking forward to the adventure! Thanks for the tip on steak night in Bandera.

  • August 14, 2018

    Love this! The longhorn photos are epic. I recommend spending time in Austin and Dripping Springs next time you get the chance.

  • February 23, 2019
    John Bartlett

    Hi Kristin

    Planning a road trip with all my three kids and wife from Australia
    Fly into Dallas 3 nights 1 night Houston 2 San Antonio and 2 Austin
    Looking for suggestions on where to go off the freeways in seven days

    John

    • February 27, 2019

      Hi John! I’ve never been to Dallas or Houston, but I’d absolutely suggest getting off in Wimberley and Dripping Springs when you’re between Austin and San Antonio. Gruene Hall is also worth a stopover, and Fredericksburg is just plain gorgeous.

    • March 9, 2019

      John: I am a native Texan and a big fan of Kristin. Her trip to the Texas Hill country was terrific. I even learned a thing or two from it. If you are driving from Dallas to Houston it is a boring drive, take the little longer route through Waco and then cut across the back country to Houston via College Station and Brenham. Waco has several great museums, Texas Ranger museum is fantastic, Dr. Pepper museum is great as well and the Mammoths dig site is incredible. While in Waco you can also visit the Magnolia of HGTV Fixer Upper fame. When in Dallas see the 6th Floor museum and you have to visit the Stockyards in Fort Worth. You can contact me via my email or through my website.

      • March 11, 2019

        Thank you so much for the input, Ray! Keeping this handy for when I make it to Waco, Houston and beyond. Dr. Pepper Museum is speaking my language =)

  • May 31, 2019

    Hi,

    I’m planning a road trip to Texas in September. Your post has been helpful in choosing places to visit.
    I really like the map. I have no idea where anything is in Texas.

    Steve

    • May 31, 2019

      I’m so glad you found it useful, Steve! Enjoy your trip.

  • October 19, 2019
    Ruth McIntosh

    Hi Kristin, we’ve just returned to London UK, following a 10 day road trip Houston-Austin-San Antonio, but by far our favourite stops were in Brenham, Fredericksburg, Luckenbach and Gruene – all thanks to this great post !! It really helped point us in the right direction Thanks x

  • March 31, 2020

    Hi Kristen, I stumbled upon your post looking for a back road from the Houston area to the Hill country to enjoy the spring time beauty of the wildflowers that blanket the undulating landscape in this area. Bluebonnets and Indian Blankets bathe the state in glorious hues of blue and orange. All of the towns you visited my husband and I have been to many times, and it never gets old. Next time you visit Texas, you and your husband may want to visit Big Bend, Padre Island, or Palo Duro Canyon. With a big state, comes a big diverse landscape with a beauty of its own. Thank you for shining the light on the essence and beauty of Texas. Many people think that Texas is nothing but desert and scrub brush. We have that too, but we have so much more. T Phillips

    • March 31, 2020

      Oh, how I’d love to go back during wildflower season! You live in a beautiful state and I have so much more of it to explore, including all of the places you mentioned, and I’d really like to visit Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Marfa, too. Happy trails to you, Terri!

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