Hill Country Itinerary

San Antonio is a city on the cusp of two worlds. To the south, a metropolitan skyline. To the north, the rolling hills of the . Only in this great American city, do these two settings come together to set the scene for what is, was and forever becomes the story of . Take advantage of San Antonio’s close proximity to the many iconic regions of Texas. From dude ranches and dance halls to vineyards and outlet malls! DAY 1 Wildflowers, Vineyards & Texas Charm

to paintings and jewelry. In between purchases, peruse galleries and break for lunch at a contemporary bistro or an al fresco diner along the banks of the Guadalupe River. Also referred to as the city surrounded by lavender, Fredericksburg’s the perfect place to indulge taste buds with wine samplings, browse farmers’ Travel a few minutes north to German-settled Boerne, where you markets for fresh peaches and kick can tour a working longhorn cattle ranch, or rent canoes and back with a massage at a holistic kayaks for a trip to Guadalupe River State Park. The outskirts spa. Stop at a wildflower farm to lie of town are perfect for casting a line or hunting for whitetail, Axis in never-ending meadows and ramble buck and quail. If shopping is your sport, visit Main Street to find through seas of color. art galleries, restaurants and coffee shops sprinkled throughout While you are in the neighborhood, picturesque gardens. rappel and hike through State Natural Area. Then, stroll through the streets of Comfort for some antiquing— This massive dome of granite is brimming with Indian lore and offers this German town’s wide streets hearken the Old West and pack unparalleled views of the surrounding Hill Country. If you like to stay a treasure trove of antique goodies, from outdoor decorations up late, the area is perfect for stargazing. DAY 2 Take a Piece of the Culture Home DAY 3 A Cowboy in the Hills

Schedule time for art and culture in historic Gruene. Market Days in this riverside town are more of a quaint art show than market. Browse displays from up to 100 artisans and craftsmen. In the evenings, Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas, offers the perfect venue for some foot-tapping entertainment. Nearby, shopping awaits at the outlet malls in San Marcos. Here name brand retailers like Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Crate and Barrel are ready to welcome you with Texas-sized discounts. After shopping, gear up for trout fishing in the Guadalupe River and go rafting, tubing or wading at Canyon Lake. Land lovers can trek underground through an earthquake-formed at Natural Bridge Caverns near New Braunfels. If you’ve ever dreamed of going on an African Safari, stop at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch to come nose to snout with rhinos, wildebeest, zebras and more! Head northwest to be a cowboy for a day in Bandera, the cowboy capital of the world. Take a horseback ride through the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Catch a down-home rodeo at a local ranch. Fish in spring-fed rivers and hike through some of the most picturesque terrain in the world. When evening settles across the hills, it’s time to head out to one of Bandera’s famous honky tonks. Local favorites like Arkey Blues feature live music and dancing on a sawdust covered floor. On the road to Bandera, detour to Government Canyon, an 8,000-acre natural area that lies on deeply entrenched canyons. Trek through the beautiful terrain and climb steep slopes to overlook panoramic views of San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country. Sit in the shade of Mountain Laurels, Mesquite and Mexican Buckeyes and watch rare birds like the Goldencheeked Warbler. MAP OF ITINERARIES

5 ENCHANTED ROCK STATE NATURAL AREA

4 FREDERICKSBURG Chamber of Commerce

3 COMFORT Chamber of Commerce 5 CANYON LAKE 4 1 1 TANGER BANDERA 2 OUTLETS Convention & Visitors GRUENE GUADALUPE RIVER Bureau 1 Historic District 3 BOERNE STATE PARK GRUENE PRIME Visitors Center 2 HALL OUTLETS 7 NATURAL BRIDGE WILDLIFE RANCH 2 TOTO HILL COUNTRYCOUNTRY NATURAL BRIDGE 6 CAVERNS GOVERNMENT CANYON State Natural Area

TOTO HILL COUNTRYCOUNTRY

Downtown

© 2012 BY THE SAN ANTONIO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Boerne Visitor Center Fredericksburg Gruene Tanger Outlets Natural Bridge Bandera 1407 S. Main St. Chamber of Commerce Historic District 4015 I-35 South Wildlife Ranch Convention Boerne 78006 302 E. Austin 1601 Hunter Rd. San Marcos 78666 26515 Natural Bridge & Visitors Bureau (830) 249-7277 Fredericksburg 78624 New Braunfels 78130 (512) 396-7446 Caverns Road 1206 Hackberry St. (830) 997-6523 (830) 629-5077 San Antonio 78266 Bandera 78003 Guadalupe River Canyon Lake (830) 438-7400 (800) 364-3833 State Park Enchanted Rock Gruene Hall Chamber of 3350 Park Rd. 31 State Natural Area 1281 Gruene Rd. Commerce Government Canyon Spring Branch 78070 16710 Ranch Rd. 965 New Braunfels 78130 (830) 964-2223 State Natural Area (830) 438-2656 Fredericksburg 78624 (830) 606-1281 12861 Galm Rd. (830) 685-3636 Natural Bridge San Antonio 78254 Comfort Prime Outlets Caverns (210) 688-9055 Chamber of Commerce 3939 IH-35 South #900 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd. 731 State Hwy. 27 San Marcos 78666 San Antonio 78266 Comfort 78013 (512) 396-2200 (210) 651-6101 (830) 995-3131