Central Texas & Hill Country fossils and shop for souvenirs in the Dinosaur Store . Owned by New York Times bestselling author Ryan Holiday, The Painted Porch Bookshop offers a carefully curated selection of recommended books on Bastrop’s Main Street. See a rousing musical at the Bastrop Opera House , which has been showcasing local talent since 1889. 13. ROUND TOP The tiny town of Round Top is a shopper’s dream. Henkel Square Market is dotted with antique and artisan-owned shops, eateries and galleries like Humble Donkey Studio (featuring the whimsical works of artist John R. Lowery) housed in rustic mid-1800s buildings. The outdoor Round Top Village shops offer Texas-made goods like jewelry and candles, along with vintage finds. Search for antiques, unique art and home decor at the Blue Hills at Round Top antique show and The Original Round Top Antiques Fair , both held every spring, fall and winter. The famed Royers Round Top Cafe serves up country cooking and delish pies (available by the slice or whole) like the custardy, nutmeg-spiced buttermilk, an old Southern classic. 14. MARBLE FALLS Head to scenic Lake Marble Falls , where you can go boating on its calm waters and have a lakeside picnic. Everything from Jeeps and Broncos to motorcycles and ATVs (with UTV rentals available) can tackle the rugged off-road trails at Hidden Falls Adventure Park . Since 1929, the Blue Bonnet Cafe has kept Marble Falls locals and visitors well fed with hearty dishes like hand-battered chicken fried steak and mountainous meringue pies baked fresh daily. 15. SPICEWOOD Located on Lake Travis, the 650-acre Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area is perfect for mountain biking (electric bike rentals are available), hiking, swimming and fishing. Magical swimming springs framed by moss-covered rocks and leafy trees set the scene at Krause Springs , where there are 32 different springs to discover, including a natural pool that flows directly into Lake Travis. Owned by the iconic country star, Willie Nelson’s Cut-N-Putt is a hilly nine-hole golf course near the Pedernales River that sits next to the singer’s recording studio, where you might just catch a glimpse of him. The family-friendly Spicewood Vineyards offers tastings and wines by the glass, along with cheese and charcuterie boards (you’re welcome to bring your own picnic). SCAN HERE to learn more about Central Texas & the Hill Country KAYAKS PADDLEBOARDS GUIDED TOURS 74 TRINITY ST.AUSTIN,TX 78701 56 visitaustin.org 512-809-8916
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