Day Trips
Day Trips
The real estate gurus have a phrase for it.
Location, location, location.
Wimberley fits the bill flawlessly.
From every direction — this valley is the perfectly centralized spot from which to launch an ideal Texas Hill Country day trip.
Wimberley is situated ideally between Austin to the north and San Antonio to the south. It is the intangible aspect of this Hill Country haven that truly separates it from the pack. Regardless from which direction you arrive, Wimberley is the first place where the terrain markedly changes. The second you arrive in this valley, you instantly realize that you are in the Hill Country. Its location is the essence of the atmosphere that permeates this community. When you drive down Ranch Road 12, from either direction, a feeling tingles up the back of your neck, relaxes the shoulders and soothes the soul. One moment you are driving on a plateau, and suddenly you drop into this beautiful, idyllic little valley where Wimberley is nestled.
So let us help guide you through a host of exciting excursion. Wimberley is a perfect place to make your Find a restful place to stay, and discover why Wimberley is truly the essence that is the Texas Hill Country.
Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is one of the four premier lakes in Texas. What makes it such a coveted place to enjoy is how it is nestled in the Texas Hill Country, giving it a certain beauty that is all its own.
Canyon Lake is a 30-minute drive from downtown Wimberley. Just take Ranch Road 12 east to FM 32 and turn right. Take Texas 32 to FM 484 and turn left. You will intersect with FM 306. Turn right and Canyon Lake is just up the road on your left hand side.
Canyon Lake is fed by the beautiful Guadalupe River and is easy to access with 22 public boat ramps. Boat rentals can also be obtained at a number of businesses in the area. There are also a plethora of public parks for those who might want to stay a little closer to shore.
Gruene
Ranch Road 12 is the nerve center of the Wimberley road system. In every direction awaits an interesting excursion, so for each of these journeys, we will begin our adventure from the Wimberley square. One memorable escapade is the enchanted hamlet of Gruene, a mere 30-minute drive from the heart of Wimberley.
Designated on the list of National Historic Places, Gruene was founded in 1872 by the German immigrants who were so abundant in the Texas Hill Country. Just don’t think of it by its German pronunciation — native folks refer to this fascinating town just like the color “green.”
Gruene is situated just off the picturesque Guadalupe River, just downstream from Canyon Lake. The tubing in this area is considered some of the finest in Texas. But even if you’re not going to get your feet wet, the architecture in Gruene is worth the trip alone. The Gruene Mercantile building, now a General Store, as well as the Antique Store across the street, dates to 1878. At the heart of the town is historic Gruene Hall, constructed in the 1880s. It remains to this day one of the premier dance halls in Texas. Legends from Willie Nelson to George Straight have rocked the rafters of Gruene Hall. It remains a great place to catch a concert.
Like Wimberley, Gruene offers a unique shopping experience. From art to the finest of Texas wines, Gruene’s eclectic offerings are unique, with interesting discoveries that cannot be found elsewhere.
In recent years, a number of diverse and interesting restaurants have popped up in Gruene. From the Gristmill to the Gruene River Bar and Grill they often feature wonderful views of the rolling Guadalupe River.
New Braunfels
New Braunfels is yet another of the stalwart communities founded by the strong German stock that settled much of Central Texas.
New Braunfels is a great place to find traditional German food, barbecue and fine cuisine. But the town is best known for its swimming. Both the Guadalupe River, as well as the crystal clear Comal River, snake their way through the heart of the community. In fact, these two waterways are the heart of New Braunfels. Both feature what is widely considered the finest tubing to be found in Texas.
The Comal is the shortest river in Texas. It is also the only entirely spring-fed river, sourced at the Comal Springs, fed by the Edwards Aquifer and found in Landa Park. Landa Park is a great place to spend an entire day.
A tubing course includes one of the most adventurous water slides in the state, dating back to the 1940s.
The Comal River also feeds much of Schlitterbahn (translates to “water highway”), which is an extensive water park that year in and year out is named “the best water park in the world” by numerous different publications and travel experts, including cable’s Travel Network. While there are now three Schlitterbahn water parks in Texas, the original in New Braunfels is by far the best — and largest. There is no place like it on the face of the planet.
The New Braunfels Schlitterbahn has three distinctive parks with shuttle bus service included in the ticket price. The original park uses only fresh, spring-fed Comal water, which truly separates it from any other water park in the planet. It is filled with meandering water slides and cool, refreshing swimming pools — and even a hot tub or two where adult visitors can enjoy a frozen margarita or a brew.
The other two parks, Surfenburg and Blastenhoff, also have their unique charms. Blastenhoff features an exciting ride that challenges participants to see just how well they can “ride the waves,” but it specializes in safer children-oriented attractions, complete with a mock yellow submarine, and of course, a pirate ship, which invites the smaller ones among us to get lost in their imaginations in a safe, well-guarded place. There are many great restaurants, but among the most interesting is Clear Springs Café. You actually have to travel a few miles outside of New Braunfels to find this little treasure. Just take FM 1692 on the north side of I-35 and head east toward Seguin. About 10 miles on your right, you will find Clear Springs Café.
The food is fantastic, and is consistently ranked as four and five stars by critics all throughout the state. The steaks are succulent, the seafood, particularly the fried offerings, are marvelous — however the grilled seafood offerings are also quite tasty. The sides are perfect, and the onion rings are legendary.
Making your eating experience truly unique are the surroundings. Clear Springs was built in 1873 and was a famous general store and dance hall for decades before it became one of the best restaurants in Texas. Fascinating collectables and antiques that will keep you captivated throughout your dining experience surround patrons.
We also strongly recommend Huisache Grill, located in New Braunfels at 303 West San Antonio Street. The food is exquisite with an emphasis on fresh, eclectic cuisine and complimented by a wonderful selection of vintages. Call 830-620-9001.
The great thing about New Braunfels, is that you can be back in Wimberley in 45 minutes.
Hamilton Pool
There is no doubt that Hamilton Pool is one of the most beautiful sights in Central Texas. A steep path leads down Hamilton Creek, which winds its way between the pool and the Pedernales River along rocky ledges and over the roots of massive cypress trees. Just take Ranch Road 12 through Dripping Springs to where it intersects with Hamilton Pool Road. Turn left, and it will be a few miles down on your left.
Hamilton Pool features a waterfall that courses over a limestone grotto, into an emerald pool, voted one of the 10 best swimming holes in the state by Texas Monthly Magazine.
Hamilton Pool is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. year round. Entry is $8 per vehicle, $3 per pedestrian or bicycle. For information about the park, including whether or not swimming is allowed, call 512-264-2740 for a recorded message. The greeting is updated daily.
Westcave Preserve
Have you ever wondered how Henry David Thoreau felt contemplating ethics beside his beloved Walden Pond? You will know if you ever visit Westcave Preserve, and we recommend you visit it during your trip to Wimberley in the strongest possible measures.
The dominant feature of the preserve is the limestone canyon that leads to a hidden grotto and waterfall. The canyon was formed when a limestone cave collapsed, thousands of years ago.
The preserve protects the natural surroundings, and also serves as a sanctuary for wildlife, a living laboratory, and an educational resource.
Public tours are Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m., and 12, 2 and 4 p.m. Westcave Preserve is located on Hamilton Pool Road, about five miles past Hamilton Pool Preserve.
Just take Ranch Road 12 through Dripping Springs to where it intersects with Hamilton Pool Road. Turn left and it will be a few miles down on your left.
Tours cost $5 for adults, $2 for children, $15 per family and are limited to the first 30 to arrive. Call 830-825-3442.
Reimers Ranch Park
If you are seek the excitement of fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and climbing, then Milton Reimers Ranch is a great day trip.
It is easy to find from downtown Wimberley. Just take Ranch Road 12 through Dripping Springs to where it intersects with Hamilton Pool Road. Turn left and it will be a few miles down on your left.
A trek down the road to the side of the Pedernales will find fishermen trying to lure the area’s white bass from the waters.
A few hikers are attracted to some of the park’s higher points, including the movie set where the Alamo was filmed — an extra treat for visitors. But the views for miles, eroded riverbed and caves provide plenty of other sights that captivate.
The mountain biking trails are favored by a lot of riders in Central Texas, so much so that sponsored races are held from time to time. Despite the serious nature of some of the riding, the riders are often willing to help out those that aren’t as skilled.
The park is open to visitors seven days a week from sunrise to sunset, and there is a day use fee of $8.
Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls is one of the most popular parks in Texas. And it is a mere hour away from Wimberley - a perfect day trip that can have you back in your own room by the end of the day.
Just take Ranch Road 12 West to Dripping Springs. Turn left on U.S. 290 for about 10 miles. Then turn right on FM 3232 for six miles and follow the signs to the park.
Unique waterfalls and swift flowing river are the primary reasons why more than 300,000 people make the trek to Pedernales Falls each year. The Pedernales River rushes over stair-step limestone and winds through tilted stone outcropping. The waterfall is the centerpiece, which can be viewed from a scenic overlook at the north end of the park. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, river swimming, tubing, wading, mountain biking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding. Camping facilities include sites with water and electricity, a sponsored youth group area, hike-in primitive campsites, picnic sites, restrooms with and without showers, and a trailer dump station.
There are 19.8 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, 10 miles of equestrian trails and 14 miles of backpacking trails. The park’s gorgeous hill country terrain features oak and juniper woodlands, as well as stands of pecan, elm, sycamore, walnut, and hackberry, and, close to the river-buttonbush, and cypress.
The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including over 150 species of birds, deer, rabbits, coyotes, armadillos, skunks, possums, and raccoons.
If birding is your thing, pay a visit to the ADA accessible, covered bird viewing station. The facility has feeders, which are stocked from November through March, and a drip bath maintained year round. The station can hold about 15 people. Birds found in the park include quail, doves, owls, roadrunners, wild turkeys, hawks, buzzards, and herons. The endangered golden-cheeked warbler also nests in the park.
Before 1970, the area that is now Pedernales Falls State Park was a working ranch, known as the Circle Bar Ranch. The state of Texas purchased the land for the park in 1970, and the park opened in 1973.
For the adventurous, a nearby pioneer cemetery within the park is an interesting look into the history of the area but it is not easy to get to. But if you are up to a good hike, the period cemetery retains a rustic appearance, untouched by urban encroachment. The only way to the cemetery is via Pedernales Falls State Park’s 4-Mile Loop hike. Two faded white wooden posts on the western side of the trail mark the entrance to the cemetery from the trail.
You can call the park at (830) 868-7304 or get park information at 1-800-792-1112.
Johnson City
The Texas Hill Country gave birth to the 36th President of the United States - Lyndon Baines Johnson. He was born in Johnson City - the seat of government for Blanco County. Named for his grandfather, a member of the Texas Legislature during the late 19th century, Johnson City is an easy 45-minute drive from Wimberley.
Just take Ranch Road 12 to its intersection with U.S. 290 in Dripping Springs, turn left. Drive down U.S. 290 until it merges with U.S. 281 and veer right. Johnson City is about 10 miles down from the intersection of the two highways.
Obviously, the boyhood home of LBJ is a featured stop for history buffs. But Johnson City offers more for those seeking a deeper Hill Country experience.
We believe the Benini Foundation Sculpture Ranch is a must-see. National and international artists are finding the hilly, Mediterranean-like 140-acre property to be an ideal locale to place large-scale contemporary sculpture.
Visitors will be amazed at this world-class display. The ranch is located at 377 Shiloh Road in Johnson City. To learn more call 830-868-5244.
We also strongly recommend the Silver K Café. Johnson City is not the place most folks would think of when considering gourmet cuisine, but the Silver K makes excellent, top-quality dishes with tender-loving care. The food is simply outstanding, and the presentation is exquisite: all is offered in a rustic setting that enhances the mood. While all the offerings are wonderful, if the hand-cranked cinnamon ice cream is being served when you visit, don’t pass it up. Located just off U.S. 290 at 209 East Main Street the restaurant’s reputation draws foodies from all over Central Texas. For details call 830-868-2911. Oh, and prepare to be dazzled.
Another recommended stop is the Friendly Wine and Bar Bistro, located at 106 North Nugget Avenue, next to the courthouse. Chef Fred Thompson makes a tasty, eclectic menu, and as you might guess from the name, a great offering of selections, including some of the finest Texas wines are available. The pan-seared crab cakes are top-notch. You can phone 830-868-2182 for details.
History buffs may want to continue down U.S. 290 and visit Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site with its neighbor, the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. For years, the Johnson Ranch House, known better by its moniker “The Texas White House,” continued serving as a private home to Lady Bird Johnson, after her husband died of a heart attack at his beloved home in 1973. But with the passing of Mrs. Johnson, the home will be opened to public tours for the first time. Tours will be phased in as the house is converted into a museum.
Also on the national park site is the home where LBJ was born and the home of his grandfather, Sam Ealy Johnson, who, in the fall of 1892 was a Populist representative in the state legislature.
The Mason County schoolhouse where LBJ once taught is also located within the boundaries of the park. Bus tours of the LBJ Ranch are conducted by the LBJ National Historical Park and start at the State Park Visitor Center.
The Sauer-Beckmann Farmstead is one of the park’s most popular attractions. Located east of the visitor center and off a nature trial, it is a living history farm. Life on the farmstead is presented as it was in 1915, before the Texas Hill Country had electricity. Park interpreters wear period clothing, do the farm and household chores as they were done at that time and also conduct tours for the visitors.
The state park includes a wildlife management area with buffalo. Interestingly, those at the park are descended from stock once owned by Oliver Loving, the legendary cattle boss who, along with Charles Goodnight, established the earliest cattle trail. The story of their friendship is the inspiration for the popular book and television mini-series, “Lonesome Dove.”
One thing is certain, LBJ loved his ranch. He and Mrs. Johnson are buried at the family cemetery just steps from his beloved home. After leaving the presidency, he would frequently greet visitors. The land and its history defined his very being. Visitors can still get a sense of what life was like when Johnson would conduct the nation’s business while visiting the ranch.
The nature trail, grounds, and day-use picnic areas are open until dark every day. Park buildings are open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm is open from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. year-round, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, to coincide with the closing of LBJ National Historical Park.
The park is located two miles east of Stonewall, 14 miles west of Johnson City on U.S. 290.
The simple truth is, if you are going to explore the Texas Hill Country, there is no place more beautiful, and certainly no locale more centrally located than Wimberley. To the north is Austin; to the south is San Antonio.
When you come to Wimberley, there are fascinating sites in every direction. This is your vacation destination.