Bandera

Bandera is nicknamed the “Cowboy Capital of the World”, and is located in central Texas approximately 120 miles southwest of Austin. This city’s cozy downtown is lined with great restaurants, magnificent museums, shops, and tasting rooms. Spend the weekend at one of the many dude ranches, and go horseback riding through the scenic landscapes in the heart of Texas Hill country. The historic town is simply charming and offers plenty of things to see and do such as exploring the Hill Country State Natural Area, going kayaking on the Medina River, visiting the Frontier Times Museum, or hanging out at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar, “the biggest little bar in Texas”.

Burnet

Burnet is a quaint country town in the heart of Texas, it's known as the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas. The biggest attraction to Burnet is the lakes, it has some of the most beautiful lakes in the state, these include Lake Buchanan, Lake LBJ, and Inks Lake. There are plenty of activities to do in Burnet including numerous golf courses, fishing opportunities, boating, and camping activities. There are several cabins to rent nestled along the lake shores. They have RV parks, and campsites along with other recreational activities that include local wineries trip to the state park, Falkenstein Castle, and commemorative museums.

Longhorn Cavern State Park is the main attraction in Burnet where limestone caves were formed by an underground river thousands of years ago. It was a popular speakeasy in the 1920s where artists and musicians came to perform. In 1933 it officially became Longhorn Cavern State Park and the cave was further excavated to make room for stairs and walkways inside the tavern. In 2006 musical concert series were reintroduced and in 2008, Redneck Jedi recorded their fifth album here.

Georgetown

Georgetown is a quaint town located 30 miles north of Austin and is a charming place exploding with food, outdoors, and culture. Known as the “Red Poppy Capital of Texas”, home to southwestern University, a private liberal arts institution. The town square has been dubbed “The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas” and is decorated with local shops, restaurants, bars, boutiques, and events for residents and visitors alike. There are a wealth of historic buildings including the Georgetown Art Center. Lake Georgetown is a 1200-acre lake where visitors can fish, ski, hike, and camp, or spend the day splashing in the Blue Hole, a lagoon bordered by towering limestone bluffs. Inner Space Cavern is one of the best-preserved caves in Texas, a truly remarkable site with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. Visit the Georgetown Palace Theatre, which hosts regular performances. Christmastime and spring are the best times of the year to visit this town. There are rustic wineries in Georgetown along with charming boutiques, sprawling parks, and historic homes.

Johnson City

Johnson City is located on the same highway that leads to Austin or San Antonio, a small beautiful town and one of the most famous cities in Texas Hill Country. It is the birthplace of Lydon B. Johnson the 36th president of the United States. Johnson City’s downtown area is quaint and walkable with a charming courthouse square, the main street is lined with shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms. Visit Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park where the LBJ Ranch and childhood home of Lyndon B. Johnson. Taste wines, dine at a brewery, listen to live music, and enjoy pampering at Carter Creek Winery Resort and Spa. Head over to the Garrison Brothers Distillery and taste sweet mash right from the still at the state’s oldest whiskey distillery. Visit the Science Mill is great for kids to play and learn with technology-based exhibits and games.

Lampasas Springs

Texas was founded in 1850 by John Burleson, it was initially known as Burleson, but due to seven mineral springs, the name was changed to Lampasas Springs. The town is home to several notable features including two large springs producing over 3,000,000 gallons of water per day. It's a quaint town featuring resorts and spas located at Hanna and Sulphur Springs. Cooper Spring Natura Park is a 25-acre park committed to preserving soil and water resources and creating sustainable homes for native birds and butterflies. The world's largest spur is located in Lampasas measuring 34 feet tall, 21 feet long and 9 feet broad. Texas Legato Winery is a family-owned and operated winery in Lampasas that was established in 2002, Legato means a gathering of family and friends. There are golf courses, spring-fed pools, wineries, and more in Lampasas. The quaint downtown area offers a dining and shopping experience with pleasant scenic surroundings.

Llano

Llano is known as the “Deer Capital of Texas”, a small town with plenty to offer including beautiful scenery, equestrian events, great food, and outdoor activities. Llano is located in the Highland Lakes region of Hill Country, a quintessential small town with a historic courthouse, the historic LanTex Theater downtown, and some of the best Texas barbecue around. Visitors can attend rodeos and bull rides at the Llano Events Center. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is located around 25 minutes from Llano. The town is nestled along the Llano River and is home to some of the most beautiful bluebonnet patches in Texas in Springtime. Bald Eagles can be spotted nearly strolling across the walkable Roy B. Inks Bridge that crosses the Llano River. Shakedown Street is an alley-slash-music venue decorated with Grateful- Dead themed murals. Visitors can spot an abundance of white-tailed deer in the area during the fall and winter seasons. Thousands of deer hunters pour into town seeking a trophy buck every winter.

Round Rock

Round Rocks are located right outside of North Austin, a quaint town with a lot of fun things to see and do. It is a charming, welcoming, family-friendly town with a thriving downtown area and laid-back historical district which is packed with beautiful sights, from expansive well maintained parks to fascinating downtown attractions. The town is rapidly growing, it features a hilly and flat terrain and several activities to participate in. The “Round Rock” was a landmark in the 1850s for a low water crossing that was used by travelers leading wagons and cattle across the creek. The rock itself has some wear on it, signs of the years that wagons rumbled over this rock. The Chisholm Trail Crossing Park features a stunning waterfall, cool off in the waters where it flows into the beginnings of Brushy Creek. There are great picnic areas here with opportunities to fish and swim. Centennial Plaza is an outdoor performing arts venue and public hangout spot located a few blocks from the charming downtown area. The plaza hosts concerts throughout the year as well as various other special events. There are sculptures spread throughout the plaza, a bat observation overlook, a water feature, and an amphitheater.

San Marcos

San Marcos is a college town home to Texas State University and the infamous square. The large university campus covers most of the city with lots of college kids everywhere. San Marcos River is a beautiful sight in the city with opportunities to kayak or float on a tube, the river runs right through the college campus. The waters are clear and sit at 72 degrees year-round, a refreshing option in the spring, summer, and fall months. Wonder World Cave and Adventure Park is a wildlife park where visitors can explore caves and ride a train through the park. There are two designer outlets in the city including San Marcos Premium Outlets, and Tanger Outlets.

The town is nicknamed San Marvelous, a welcoming, modern city steeped in history and culture. There are public art installations, enticing shopping opportunities, endangered species in the waterways and natural habitats, and many unique, one-of-a-kind sites to explore. Rio Vista Dam reopened in 2006 as a recreational park now known as Vista Park, covering 13 beautiful acres of expansive parkland. The park follows the San Marcos River and is filled with artificial rapids that make for a nice deep swimming hole. Canoes and Kayaks are available to rent from the Olympic Outdoor Center, there are also tubes for rent.