Texas Hill Country Has It All

I won’t claim that my husband and I are seasoned travelers.  If we were, we may have booked our Texas hill country vacation on purpose, instead of by circumstance.  You see, we own a timeshare in Virginia and because we have children scattered in various states, we occasionally exchange our week for whatever openings there may be in the vicinity of one of those children.

That was the case when we booked our stay at the Silverleaf’s Hill Country Resort in Canyon Lake, Texas.  Located 45 miles from San Antonio, the drive into what at first glance may seem like no-man’s-land, turns into a very pleasant surprise.  When we first arrived atop the hillside resort, we found the panoramic a view that took our breath away.  It’s difficult to describe the awe we felt at first glimpse of Canyon Lake’s pristine waters with a view that goes beyond spectacular.  This manmade spectacle stretches across 8,230 acres, providing water entertainment for tourists and residents alike, turning our first opinion of this being no-man’s-land, into certainty that this was a place to behold.

Since we arrived the first week of January, water sports were not on our list of things to do, in spite of the fact not only the lake, but the nearby Guadalupe River seemed to beckon.  This year was a cooler winter for this central Texas community, so we decided not to heed that call and opted for the warmer waters of the resort’s indoor pool and hot tub.

It is easy to see why the Canyon Lake motto is “Come for a weekend, stay for a lifetime”.  In warmer weather this water recreation capitol of Texas offers a choice of swimming or lazing on the beach, water skiing, boating and fishing on the lake or water tubing and fishing on the river. 

For those who prefer a different type of water entertainment, the Schlitterbahn Water Park, only 30 minutes away in New Braunfels, Texas, offers fun for all ages with its 21 slides, 3 uphill water coasters, pools, beaches, kiddy playgrounds, slow and fast rivers and even a wave river.  However, this is again a warm weather destination, open daily May through the end of August, and weekends from the end of April until mid-September.  To save disappointment when traveling off season, I suggest checking their web site for their exact season schedule.

The same should be said for two more exciting theme parks located in this vacation paradise.   Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Sea World, both well known for family entertainment, need little description.  Still if you want to include them in your vacation plans you should check their schedule for off season hours. 

As for ourselves, on this trip we chose the more sedate pleasures of Gruene and Fredricksburg where one can spend hours browsing quaint shops which had once been home to the early settlers of Texas.  Today one can find a hodgepodge of items that include antiques, hand made one-of-a-kind items, and of course, Texas souvenirs. 

The once near ghost town of  Gruene,  dating back to the 1870s was revived one hundred years later turning the town into a hidden gem tourists won’t want to miss.  While businesses along the main street maintain their original facade, inside there are treasures to be discovered.  In the heart of town is the mercantile, built in 1910, where one of the town’s namesakes once stored his fortune.  His bank vault is still inside this building, though we’re told you won’t find any money there.

Gruene is also home to Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas, where music and live entertainment lures dancers and spectators inside.  There is rarely a cover charge to enter the giant wood frame dance hall, except occasionally for some of the bigger named entertainers, when seating is limited to advance tickets only.  If you’d like to include some lively country entertainment during your trip it would be good to check their schedule in advance.

The entire hill country is filled with another delightful side, wineries; in particular the Fredricksburg area which has six wineries within minutes of the town center.  Still, one doesn’t have to take a tour to taste these fine wines.  While taking a leisurely stroll down main street Fredricksburg, one can not only visit the many shops or restaurants, they can also pay a visit to several wine tasting shops that dot the town’s main thoroughfare.

 Hill country wineries offer a wide variety of selections to taste or purchase, along with an assortment of accessories and delectables to compliment the beverages served.  A few even offer entertainment and invite guests to sit back, relax and stay awhile.  On our next trip, that is what we plan to do, because we didn’t touch the surface of the wineries in the area and certainly would have loved having more time to enjoy them.

Less than an hour away, depending on traffic, is San Antonio, home of the Alamo.  The words, “Remember the Alamo” will hold new meaning once you visit this historic site, where legends like David Crockett and Jim Bowie met their fate at the hands of the infamous General Santa Anna.  This monumental moment in Texas history comes alive as you tour the mission and shrine, or relax among the lush gardens taking time to savor the peace that is found there today.  One can also browse there library which holds many historical documents that provide a more intimate look back in time to that fateful day in 1836 that changed the course of Texas history.  Located just across the street in River Center Mall in the IMAX theater one can view the movie The Alamo: The Price of Freedom, depicting in vivid detail of the battle that took place at this site.

One cannot leave San Antonio without taking a walk along the famed Riverwalk, with miles of beautifully landscaped walkways along the river and manmade channels, where people can stroll for hours among the tall Cypress trees, enjoying the fragrance of the colorful flowers, or stop in any number of places for food or drink. 

As darkness falls, every walkway is lit with millions of lights, multiplied by their reflection on the water, especially during the holidays when even more colorful lights are added to the enchanted scene.  At night the entire area steps up its pace with a huge assortment of nightlife from comedy clubs to live music. 

As with all travel, it pays to find out more about the activities held during various seasons.  While we love the leisurely atmosphere of the Riverwalk, whether walking or floating down the river on one of the many river cruisers and water taxis, by evening we were heading back to our resort, not wanting to mix the night life with the long drive.  Still, on a previous trip, we were able to book our stay right on the waterfront, which provided us the perfect advantage for the evening activities.  There are any number of top name hotels for those who might prefer staying in the city.

If shopping is one’s preference, you’re also in the right place, from the River Center Mall filled with an assortment of shops, from those with familiar names to specialty shops with a Tex-Mex theme.  There’s also the Market Square with 32 shops at “El Mercando”, which is fashioned after a Mexican market, and just across the street 80 more shops in the Farmers Market Plaza.  Combined, one can find anything from jewelry to cowboy hats and much, much more.  

My personal favorite, however, is La Vilitta, the tiny village, a piece of history itself, that today hosts a variety of shops with arts and crafts, working artists and artifacts.  I could spend hours and never see enough, and probably spend far more than I should on these beautiful items.

At this point I might make a suggestion to anyone visiting San Antonio for the first time.  It is well worth the cost to take the narrated tours whether it be the historic Hop-on-Hop-off  trolley tours or the Rio San Antonio river tours.  Both will give you a broader glimpse of what San Antonio has to offer, and help you prioritize what you want to see while you are there.

With everything there is to do in the Texas hill country and San Antonio, one cannot forget the food.  There’s plenty of that for everyone, with something for every taste, from authentic Mexican to Tex-Mex, Seafood to Steak, Indian to Chinese.  One will find choosing is far more difficult than enjoying.

In the end, we choose well, eating at the Gristmill Restaurant while in Gruene, where an authentic once-active mill today serves meals that are fit for a king or a hungry tourist.  The restaurant has 10 dining rooms plus outdoor dining, offering many tables with a fantastic view of the Guadalupe River which once powered the giant cotton mill.

We made a journey to Driftwood Texas to The Salt Lick where bar-b-q is the name of the game; and they know how to make it using their own unique rubs and sauces.  These are so popular the Salt Lick has a huge mail order business.  Served in a rustic family atmosphere one will not be disappointed, or leave hungry. 

Open only two years, we had a casual lunch at Bantera where the only thing more eclectic than the menu is the decor.  And the only thing more inspiring than the menu is Chef Steve Howard’s credentials.  Known for his Buffalo River cuisine, his menu includes signature dishes like open faced duck egg roll, rosemary fire roasted lamb and Argentinian strip steak. These delicious meals are served in an indoor or outdoor setting with entertainment as an occasional accompaniment.

Our visit to Texas Hill Country certainly lent new meaning to the saying, “Too much to do, too little time.”  We recommend this trip to anyone, and certainly hope to return again, for there is so much more that we missed than what we saw.  One really could spend a lifetime exploring all the Texas Hill County has to offer.

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