Central Texas & Hill Country industrial-chic CRAFThouse Kitchen & Tap features pub fare, local craft beer and live music. Try the award-winning handmade burgers and draft beers from around the world at The Taproom. Shop for deals at two area outlet malls: San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets . 8. NEW BRAUNFELS Float the day away at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in its new Schatze’s Storybrook Park, a kids’ area with more than 70 water features. Or grab an inner tube and bob along the spring-fed currents of the Comal and Guadalupe rivers that pass through New Braunfels. Sample Texas wines in the tasting room or covered pavilion at Dry Comal Creek Vineyards (adults only; tasting reservations recommended). 9. GRUENE Located within New Braunfels, Gruene is a designated National Historic District. Shop for cowboy hats and antiques, then dine on Tex-Mex dishes and barbecue, in the stores and restaurants that dot the Gruene Historic District , nestled on the banks of the Guadalupe River. See live music nightly at the 1870s Gruene Hall , Texas’ oldest operating dance hall. 10. WIMBERLEY The picture-perfect Blue Hole Regional Park features a forested swimming hole complete with rope swings, fed by the crystal-clear waters of Cypress Creek (swimming reservations are required). Watch a glassblowing demonstration and pick up a stunning art glass piece at Wimberley Glassworks . Enjoy seasonal American cuisine on the deck at The Leaning Pear . Search for treasures during Wimberley Market Days , the Texas Hill Country’s largest outdoor market, held on the first Saturday of the month from March through December, rain or shine. 11. LOCKHART The Barbecue Capital of Texas is known for legendary eateries like family-run The Original Black’s Barbecue , Kreuz Market with its cafeteria-like dining room and Smitty’s Market , serving meats fresh from the smoker. Women-owned Barbs B Q , open weekends only, is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand. Spend an afternoon on Lockhart’s town square exploring the quaint shops, galleries, restaurants and historic theater. Stop into Best Little Wine & Books , a wine bar and bottle shop with a cozy book nook. Fiddler’s Green Music Shop features a surprise cocktail bar called The Case Room in the back of the store (enter through the alley). Tour the Caldwell County Historical Museum , housed in the former county jail, and visit the ornate Caldwell County Courthouse . 12. BASTROP Follow a tree-lined nature trail to encounter realistic life-size dinosaur statues and shop for dino-themed gifts at Dinosaur Park . Hike, swim and fish in a magical forest setting at Dripping Springs, Texas JOIN US IN THE HEART OF THE HILL COUNTRY! JUST 30 MINUTES WEST OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN AND THE AUSTIN AIRPORT. Pontoons Party Barges Yachts Wake Boats Lake Austin & Lake Travis WWW.DESTINATIONDRIPPINGSPRINGS.COM 512-680-9102 www.BigTexBoatRentals.com 55
Austin Insider Guide 2026: Page 55
