Clubs, marinas and fishing. Near Startzville and Sattler, about 20 miles north of New Braunfels. 830/964-3341.
RIVER TUBE RENTALS—Several tube rental outfits are available for floating down the Guadalupe River. Contact the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce for listings. Glass and styrofoam are prohibited on the river by law.
WINERY—Fawncrest Vineyards. See WINERIES listing.
CASTROVILLE POP. 2,810
ALT. 760 MAP R-15
STEINBACH HAUS VISITORS CENTER: 100 Karm St. 830/538-9838.
www.castroville.com.
“The Little Alsace of Texas” is rich in European appearance and traditions. It was founded by empresario of the Repub- lic of Texas Henri Castro, who brought a group of settlers here, mostly from the Alsatian region of France. Just 20 miles west of San Antonio, the past and present intermin- gle in this quaint village on the Medina River. Castroville has more than 90 historic buildings and houses, many of which are examples of German-style country cottages. Castroville Regional Park on the Medina River includes
camping with hookups (fee). LAKE—Medina Lake, see BANDERA.
LANDMARK INN STATE HISTORIC SITE—This site tells the story of Alsatian settlement, early commerce and transportation in Texas. The restored 1850s inn has eight rooms. The Texas Historical Commission property offers daily tours of exhibits, historic structures and the gristmill. Picnic and fish on the Medina River. Admission charge. 402 E. Florence St. just off U.S. 90. 830/931-2133.
www.visitlandmarkinn.com.
MT. GENTILZ/CEMETERY—Known as Cross Hill, the hill above the cemetery offers a panoramic view of the Medina Valley. Buried in the cemetery is Amelia Castro, wife of the city founder. U.S. 90 and Alsace Street.
SHOOTING STAR MUSEUM—This museum is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of vintage aircraft, avia- tion items, antique autos and early 20th-century farming equipment. It features fully operational exhibits. Dona- tions accepted. Located 12 miles west of San Antonio and six miles south of Castroville. 210/386-6038.
ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC CHURCH—Completed in 1870, this Recorded Texas Historic Landmark features stained-glass windows and original wood altars, statues and pews. Near- by is a tiny chapel built by the Alsatian pioneers. The chap- el is on the grounds of the Moye Retreat Center, a former convent of the Sisters of Divine Providence. The annual St. Louis Day church festival is celebrated usually on the Sunday closest to Aug. 25. Angelo and Madrid streets.
STEINBACH HAUS—This timber and brick fachwerk home was built in 1618 in Wahlbach, France, and gifted to Castro- ville by the people of Alsace in 1998. It was reassembled and finished in 2002. It includes authentic Alsatian furni- ture. Donations accepted. 100 Karm St. 830/538-9838.
www.castroville.com/steinbach_house.htm.
Brave for the Cave
MANY CAVE TOURS are meant for the masses to enjoy. Some tours, like Longhorn Cavern State Park’s Wild Cave Tour, are setting a new, chal- lenging standard. The tour is about a 2-hours through less accessible parts of the caves. Expect to climb, crawl and squeeze through tight spaces.
www.longhorncaverns.com/wildcave.html.
CEDAR PARK POP. 56,445
ALT. 950
MAP P-16/EE-12
CITY OF CEDAR PARK-TOURISM DIVISION: 450 Cypress Creek Road, Bldg. No. 3. 512/401-5070.
www.cedarparkfun.com.
Cedar Park, on the banks of Brushy Creek, was originally settled by Native Americans. The high quality of the gran- ite quarried in the area created this permanent settlement. In 1973, a prehistoric archeological site six miles east of the city was discovered. More than 150 fireplaces and camp- sites were uncovered. In 1982, archeologists discovered the skeleton of a human female, 10,000-13,000 years old, that became known as the “Leanderthal Lady.” This archeologi- cal find is noted by a historical marker.
BALCONES CANYONLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE—See MARBLE FALLS
BREWERY—Twisted X Brewing Co. See BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES listing.
BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL—Regionally created trails for bikers and hikers along Brushy Creek. Includes the Trestle Bridge at Brushy Creek, where granite rocks rest right where they toppled off 18 derailed flat cars in 1886.
HILL COUNTRY FLYER—Southern Pacific steam engine No. 786 is the centerpiece of the Austin Steam Train Asso- ciation’s historic excursions. When undergoing mainte- nance, a 1960 ALCO Diesel locomotive (the last operating engine of its kind) fills in. Runs are: The Hill Country Flyer departs Cedar Park Saturday
mornings for a 66-mile, round-trip ride through Texas Hill Country to Burnet. Before its return trip, passengers have time to picnic at a nearby park or restaurant, and shop on the square the way early Austinites spent their daytrips. The Bertram Flyer departs Cedar Park on Sundays
for a three-hour round-trip excursion to Bertam. The trip includes a short stop to explore the restored historic 1912 depot before returning to Cedar Park. The Twilight Flyers offer murder mysteries, children’s
storybook specials, romantic evenings for two, the North Pole Flyer and more. Early booking recommended. 512/477-8468.
www.austinsteamtrain.org. LAKE—Lake Travis, see AUSTIN.
COMFORT POP. 2,504
ALT. 1,437 MAP Q-14
COMFORT VISITOR CENTER: 630 Hwy. 27. 830/995- 3131.
www.comfortchamberofcommerce.com.
With its abundance of vintage structures, much of mid- town Comfort is in the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a popular tourist area with numerous camps and RV re- sorts along the Guadalupe River. A historical marker rec- ognizes the 1930 art deco former Comfort Theater. Seven buildings constructed when the town was settled still re- main, including original log cabins, fachwerk (German gin- gerbread) and native limestone buildings. A large part of the city has been designated a National Historic District. Events include the daylong Christmas in Comfort on
the Saturday after Thanksgiving; antique shows in May and October; Frühlingsfest “Spring Festival” in April; and the autumn Scarecrow Invasion, when the town is decorat- ed with scarecrows.
BED-AND-BREAKFASTS—These are offered in homes, inns and cabins in the historic district and on ranches. For a complete listing go to the website.
www.comfortchamber
ofcommerce.com.
HISTORIC INNS—Hotel Faust—This restored 1880 In- genhuett-Faust Hotel is in the National Register of Historic Places. 717 High St. 830/995-3030.
www.hotelfaust.com. Meyer Bed and Breakfast on Cypress Creek—A his- toric Texas inn with 28 units, most built in the late 1800s.
VisitBoerne.org | 888.842.8080 139
HILL COUNTRY
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