Just north of San Antonio’s thriving downtown, you’ll find quieter haunts home to unexpected natural wonders, stellar wineries, and cowboy adventures that make for great Texas tall tales.
Unexpected Wine Country
There are 30 wineries fanned out across nine million acres of Hill Country, making it the second largest viticultural area in America. Take a self-guided driving tour of the region to meet family winemakers, like Armadillo’s Leap, and sip the bold cabernet sauvignons, chardonnays, and merlots made from the sun-ripened grapes that the region is known for.
On the River
The San Marcos River winds its way through San Antonio and Hill Country, giving you the opportunity to kayak, swim, or float through cities and countryside alike. Your day trip can consist of exploring the falls and green parks along its lengths, or you can float for miles on an inner tube that will carry you through forests, hills, and by Texas State’s lush campus en route to San Antonio proper.
Little Hamburg
The city of New Braunfels wears its heritage on its sleeve, with an annual wurst festival, nearby Gruene playing host to Germanic artisans, and the massive Schlitterbahn water park that serves as a testament to German engineering and a great place to beat the Texas heat.
Cave of Wonders
If you think a cave is just a hole in the ground, you owe it to yourself to visit the Natural Bridge Caverns, which is full of unusual and beautiful rock formations spread out over a half-mile some 180 feet underground. For the most awe-inspiring experience, take the lantern tour, where your passage through the cave will be lit only by handheld gas lamps.
Cowboy Living
The cowboy is one of Texas’s most iconic contributions to American culture, and in Bandera, they’re no relics of the past. You can saddle up and ride out along miles of trails in a region that bills itself as “The Cowboy Capital of the World,” or catch a weekly Saturday show that has cowboys making their leisurely way through the town square for a parade.
Stay with us: Hotel Valencia Riverwalk
