family. At Sixth and Brazos Streets.
www.driskillhotel.com/about-texas-hotel.php. Hyde Park Tour—Take a self-guided tour of the
Victorian and bungalow-style homes along tree- shaded streets in this historic neighborhood. Elisabet Ney built her studio here. North of The University of Texas, roughly between 38th and 45th streets.
WILD BASIN PRESERVE—Scenic Hill Country wilderness is west of the city. This 220-acre preserve is home to two endangered bird species: the golden- cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. It has four miles of hiking trails and a special trail for the mobility impaired. Guided tours available. 805 N. Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360), 1.25 miles north of Bee Cave Road (R.M. 2244). 512/327-7622.
www.wildbasin.org.
ZILKER PARK—This park includes the popular, spring- fed Barton Springs swimming pool (open year-round; Admission charge). Other attractions within the park include the Zilker Botanical Garden and Splash! Into the Edwards Aquifer. The park serves as the site for the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival (
www.aclfestival.com), traditionally held in the fall.
www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/zilkermap.htm. Splash! Into the Edwards Aquifer—A hands-on
exhibit for kids and adults that explains how the aquifer is recharged and how the creeks and rivers in the Austin area are monitored for pollution. Visitors learn about the water cycle. Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center. 512/478-3170. Zilker Botanical Garden—A showcase of flowers,
shrubs and trees, it includes a Japanese Garden, Rose Garden and the Hartman Prehistoric Garden. 512/477-8672.
www.zilkergarden.org.
BANDERA POP. 883
Saturday of the month April-November with a Christ- mas Market Days the second Saturday of December.
BLANCO STATE PARK—This park along the spring-fed Blanco River offers swimming, tubing, fishing and camping. Tube and canoe rentals are available. Includes shelters, campsites and a CCC-built group facility. Admission charge. On U.S. 281. 830/833-4333.
www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/blanco.
BREWERY—Real Ale Brewing Company. See BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES listing.
SCENIC DRIVE—R.M. 32 from U.S. 281 two miles south of Blanco offers views of Hill Country landscapes. Portions of the drive toward San Marcos follow a ridge called the Devil’s Backbone.
BOERNE POP. 12,314
ALT. 1,405 MAP Q-15
BOERNE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU: Inside the Historic Kingsbury House, a limestone and stucco Hill Country ranch-style house. Also on the property is an original two-room rock house, one of the oldest in Boerne. 1407 S. Main St. 888/842-8080.
www.visitboerne.org.
Bandera’s Frontier Times Museum is rich with relics, oddities and artifacts.
makers at work and tour a working longhorn ranch. Contact the convention and visitors bureau for details.
ALT. 1,258 MAP Q-14
BANDERA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU: 126 State Highway 16 S., half block off Main Street. 830/796-3045 or 800/364-3833.
www.banderacowboycapital.com.
This authentic Western town, surrounded by working and guest ranches, bills itself as the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” Rodeos are held at least twice weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Western re- enactments are held Saturday afternoons at Western Heritage Park on Main Street. The area offers horseback riding and swimming in
resort pools or clear Hill Country lakes and rivers. Exotics ranches are available for year-round hunting. Find fishing, camping, hiking, rodeos, two 18-hole golf courses and various live music venues.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 157 MILITARY MUSEUM— Home to more than 170 period-correct models of airplanes, ships, helicopters, tanks, armored personnel carriers and more. Uniforms dating back to WWI are featured. 205 12th St. 830/796-7528.
DUDE RANCHES—Bandera has plenty of dude/guest ranches—from rustic to resort-style—offering a range of cowboy activities. Check with the convention and visitors bureau for listings.
FRONTIER TIMES MUSEUM—Includes a blend of Old West relics, Western art, antiques and Native American artifacts from centuries-old Chinese temple bells to Buffalo Bill Wild West Show posters. Admission charge. 830/796-3864.
www.frontiertimesmuseum.org.
HILL COUNTRY STATE NATURAL AREA—Minimally developed 5,369-acre Hill Country park has a 20-acre designated site for primitive camping and 40 miles of designated multiuse trails. The park offers a back country setting for primitive camping, backpacking, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, equestrian camping and nature viewing. A group lodge is available for equestrian or non-equestrian use. On F.M. 1077, 10 miles west of Texas 173. 830/796-4413.
www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hill-country.
HISTORICAL TOURS—Self-guided Bandera County walking and driving tours feature the original jail, county courthouse and historic 11th Street. Also, watch saddle
166
LAKE—Medina Lake—This impoundment on the Medina River offers boat ramps, fishing, picnicking and camping. About 23 miles southeast of Bandera, also accessible from Castroville. 830/665-2132.
SCENIC DRIVES—Texas 173 North winds through scenic vistas to Camp Verde and Kerrville. Texas 173 South rolls to southern edge of hills and enters the lower South Texas Plains. Texas 46 East explores steep- shouldered scenery through the town of Pipe Creek to Boerne. Texas 16 and F.M. 470 West feature dramatic hills and green valleys threaded by sparkling creeks.
BIG LAKE POP. 3,219
ALT. 2,678 MAP N-10
BIG LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 120 N. Main. 325/884-2980.
www.biglaketexas.org.
Town was named after a large depression to the south that forms a broad, shallow lake during rare wet seasons.
HICKMAN MUSEUM—Features memorabilia on Big Lake and Texon—developers of the Big Lake Oil Field— as well as artifacts of the Santa Rita No. 1 and other oil-related relics. 609 N. Main Ave. 325/884-2980.
SANTA RITA NO. 1—The actual well site (in Reagan County Park) remains with an oil derrick and some of the original equipment used during the gusher of May 28, 1923. The well was productive until 1990. A historical marker outside the fenced site gives details. Four miles west of town on U.S. 67.
BLANCO POP. 1,764
ALT. 1,739 MAP Q-15
BLANCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 830/833-5101.
www.blancochamber.com.
The town, named after the Blanco River, was the county seat before that was moved to Johnson City. The Old Blanco County Courthouse, a fine example of Second Empire-style architecture, is the town square centerpiece. Antique stores, boutiques and restaurants occupy historic buildings in the square. Blanco is surrounded by lavender farms, bed-and-
breakfasts and locally owned accommodations. The area is popular with campers, anglers and hunters. Events include Blanco Market Days held the third
Boerne (pronounced BER-nee) was founded by German settlers who aspired to create their own version of Thomas Moore’s Utopia. Boerne is rich with German heritage, including the annual Berges Fest in June and The Boerne Village Band’s summer Abendkonzerte series. Stroll down Hauptstrasse (Main Street) and experience shops and dining options. Events include the Kendall County Fair, Weihnachts
Fest, Dickens on Main, Boerne Market Days, Wings Over Boerne, Parade of Artists, Summer Scene concerts, Key to the Hills Rod Run and Texas Corvette Show.
AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER & MUSEUM— This museum showcases antique farm equipment, horse-drawn implements and household articles. Most items were donated by families whose ancestors lived in this area. Call for weekday tours. 830/249-6007.
www.agmuseum.us.
BREWERY—Boerne Brewery. See BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES listing.
CASCADE CAVERNS—These caverns were discovered by Lipan Apaches in the 1700s. It also is home to cliff and leopard frogs, tri-color bats, cave shrimp and Cascade Caverns salamanders. 226 Cascade Caverns Road. 830/755-8080.
www.cascadecaverns.com.
CAVE WITHOUT A NAME—This National Natural Landmark (a living cavern) features stalactites, stalagmites, delicate soda straws, cave drapery and magnificent flowstones. Tour six major rooms via easy, lighted walkways. Cave temperature is always 66 degrees. 325 Kreutzberg Road. 830/537-4212 or 888/839-2283.
www.cavewithoutaname.com.
CIBOLO NATURE CENTER—The center, on 100 acres of protected Hill Country land, features four different ecosystems with walking trails, streams and tree groves. The center also offers workshops, and the “Moondance Concerts” series in spring and summer. 140 City Park Road. 830/249-4616.
www.cibolo.org.
CHAIN OF LAKES
THE HILL COUNTRY IS KNOWN FOR its clear rivers, streams and lakes. The Highland Lakes chain on the lower Col- orado River consists of seven resevoirs. From Austin northwest, they include Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin, Lake Travis, Lake Marble Falls, Lake LBJ, Inks Lake and Lake Buchanan. These are popular for boating and other water activities.
★ PHOTO: J. GRIFFIS SMITH/TXDOT
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