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Deep in the Heart of Texas, San Antonio Is Near it All
Don’t waste a single moment planning an excursion to the Texas Hill Country. In only 30 minutes to an hour from San Antonio, you’ll uncover quaint cities that offer educational and cultural experiences from fine arts to the rustic outdoors.
If you’re looking for an escape, make it happen with a day trip of your own. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
In less than an hour, you can transport yourself to the lavender oasis of Fredericksburg, the watery wonderland of San Marcos or one of several cozy towns, such as Comfort or Boerne, that boast big-time adventure.
Wild beauty blended with down home goodness is the hallmark of the Hill Country. Good food and great weather – compared by many to the climate of Italy’s Tuscany region – accompany this vast pasture that’s sprinkled with lavender and trickling springs, sudden limestone bluffs and pristine riverbanks. No, the locals don’t speak Italian, but maybe a little German, reflecting the region’s rich European influence from early settlers.
Woven throughout this land of nature is a smattering of towns that might look plain to the eye, but once inside their bounds, you’ll find these little cities quite alluring. From lavender farms and wine tastings to horseback riding, fishing and rodeo gatherings, the Hill Country is no commercial landscape. It touts more than 20 counties that encompass one-of-a-kind places to explore.
In relatively short time, Texas has become the country’s fifth largest producer of 
Don’t miss the opportunity to order a piece of peach cobbler or strawberry pie while dining in the hillside. The area is, after all, home to the state’s #2 cash crop: peaches. The #1 cash crop? You guessed it – livestock.
Texas is actually headquarters for many capitals, the newest being Blanco, the “Lavender Capital of Texas.” In Bandera, the town referred to as the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” let loose your inner cowboy or cowgirl and learn a thing or two about roping a bull. Or, simply take a calming horseback ride through the countryside. Bask in the no-fuss atmosphere of a quietly sophisticated town such as Comfort and indulge your curiosity with a historic tour through Johnson City, named for the ancestors of the late president, Lyndon B. Johnson.
The inherent vitality of the Hill Country may be attributed to its ever-present purple plant. Lavender is the essence of relaxation, so it’s appropriate that this landscape provides numerous summertime adventures.
Cowboy For A Day in Bandera
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History Comes to Life in Johnson City
The city named for the ancestors of the country’s 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson, mixes history with outdoor adventure. Tour LBJ’s boyhood home or visit the Johnson Settlement, the original residence of Sam Johnson – first in the family to leave a mark on the Lone Star State. In nearby Stonewall, the LBJ Ranch District includes a state park and the longtime home of LBJ. Downtown Johnson City shelters a wilderness like no other: the Exotic Zoo Resort offers a safari-style tour past numerous animals and formerly endangered species in a recreated natural habitat. Continue your outdoor adventure by hiking in Pedernales Falls State Park or fishing in the Pedernales River. 830-868-7128, www.lbjcountry.com.
Wine and Dine in the Vineyards of Fredericksburg
The city surrounded by lavender is the perfect place for indulging your taste buds – several notable wineries offer tastings within the city limits, and their passion is easy to absorb with an organized three-stop tour. After exploring Bell Mountain Vineyards, Oberhof Wine Cellars at Das Peach Haus and the Torre di Pietra, indulge in a massage or facial to round out a truly relaxing day. Fredericksburg’s top-notch day spas specialize in both holistic and modern experiences. 866-621-9463, www.fredericksburg-texas.com.
An Antique Treasure Hunt in Comfort
Water Adventures in San Marcos
Embark on a watery adventure in San Marcos (home to the Prime Outlets San Marcos, recently ranked the “3rd Best Place to Shop in the world” by ABC’s The View) and surrounding Canyon Lake and New Braunfels. Gear up for trout fishing at Guadalupe River, at the base of New Braunfels’ Canyon Dam. And at Canyon Lake, home to eight parks, go rafting, tubing or wading. At the Aquarena Texas Rivers Center, take a glass-bottom boat tour. Dry off with a nature walk at the Aquarena Wetlands Boardwalk, a 24-hour viewing of plants and wildlife in a picturesque atmosphere, and head underground to the cavernous landmark, WonderWorld Park. Inside this earthquake-formed cave, you can spot a supernatural wonder from an observation tower over 100 feet high. 888-200-5620, www.sanmarcostexas.com.
Arts & Crafts Fill the Streets of Gruene
At One With Nature in Boerne
Be awakened by nature in Boerne, just 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, and teach your kids the value of earth preservation with a day at the Cibolo Nature Center. Families can learn hands-on about the Texas landscape and its unique climate at the center’s 100 acres of Hill Country wilderness. Once a plot of abandoned land, Cibolo Nature Center is now restored to its natural beauty as a haven for four ecosystems and a dynamite site for bird watching. The Boerne Birders set out for sightings from the center monthly – don’t forget your binoculars. 830-249-7277, www.visitboerne.org.
Sweet Poteet
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