Hill Country State Natural Area, Bandera, TX: Cowboy Country
Bob and I spent the weekend at Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera, Texas, USA. It was a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. I demonstrated my sleeping bag which was modified into a snuggie. See:
Bandera is sometimes called the Cowboy Capital Of The World. In the late 19th century, cowboys would drive cattle from Texas to Kansas railheads. In1866 cattle in Texas were worth only $4 per head, compared to over $40 peer head in the North and East.
Mrs. Louise Merrick donated her land to the state for public equestrian camping and riding in 1976. The ranch was originally a Spanish land grant settled in 1840. Equestrians, hikers and mountain bikers can explore the trails. Primitive and back country camping areas are available to equestrian and non-equestrian campers.
Videography by Ken Kramm, March 2013; Canon Vixia HFG10; Final Cut Pro X. Pennsylvania Rose by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a CC Attribution 3.0.
Exploring Texas Hill Country | RV Road Trip
Texas Hill country is a bucolic, rumpled terrain marked by wooded canyons cut by spring-fed rivers. It's also laced with endless miles of appealing two-lane blacktop—and, best of all, it's quirky. One minute you'll see a vista of bluebonnets and the next a sign advertising Emu Oil, Next Exit or Cowboys for Christ Silent Auction.
The Hill Country begins just north of Austin, continues south to San Antonio, and sweeps west some 200 miles (322 kilometers) before the land begins to flatten out. Follow a route linking state and U.S. secondary highways, which lead to a series of colorful towns fit for dawdling.
These attractions form a loop starting in San Antonio and taking in Bandera, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock, Johnson City, and New Braunfels, before returning to San Antonio.
From San Antonio, follow Highway 16 northwest to Bandera, which considers itself the hell-raising Cowboy Capital of the World. Here you can order a chicken-fried steak bigger than your haid and dance to live country music. But nowadays you're apt to see travelers' SUVs parked in front of Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar saloon alongside the usual beat-up pickup trucks. The Frontier Times Museum in Bandera (510 13th St.; tel. 1 830 796 3864; frontiermuseum.org) has a bewildering collection of prehistoric arrowheads, mounted animals, bells, and a shrunken human head no bigger than an orange. Duck into the gift shop, which stocks those must-have rubber tomahawks. Also in Bandera is the Old Spanish Trail Restaurant (305 Main St.; tel. 1 830 796 3836), famous for its home-cooked pot roast, catfish platter, and chicken-fried steak.
Next stop is Kerrville, which you can reach by looping around on Highway 16 or cutting straight to it on 173. Stop for a meal at Billy Gene's Restaurant (1489 Junction Hwy.; tel. 1 830 895 7377; billygenesrestaurant), known for its chicken-fried steak and its views of the Guadalupe River. Then check in at the Inn of the Hills (1001 Junction Hwy.; tel. 1 830 895 5000; innofthehills.com), with such amenities as live country music and an Olympic-size pool. Next door is a family sports center with a 16-lane bowling alley, so pack your finest bowling shirts.
Among the first non-natives to settle the area were German immigrants who'd purchased millions of acres sight unseen. Old-timers still refer to the German Hill Country, where the mother tongue was commonly spoken until the 1970s. One town that clings to its German heritage is Fredericksburg. Besides its more than 300 B&Bs, it has a Main Street lined with galleries, boutiques, bistros, and specialty shops with names like Der Küchen Laden.
Follow the oompah music to the Ausländer Biergarten (323 E. Main St.; tel. 1 830 997 7714) featuring German cuisine and an astounding selection of beers. Order a frosty mug of Paulaner Salvator and feast on kasseler rippchen—smoked pork chops—with hot German potato salad, sauerkraut, and a slice of Black Forest chocolate cake for dessert.
Fredericksburg native son Chester Nimitz served as commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet during World War II. Honoring his memory are the Admiral Nimitz Museum and the National Museum of the Pacific War (340 E. Main St.; tel. 1 830 997 4379; nimitz-museum.org), displaying over a thousand artifacts, including a Japanese midget submarine captured during the Pearl Harbor attack.
Detour 18 miles (29 kilometers) north of Fredericksburg to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, whose centerpiece is a 425-foot (130-meter)-tall dome-shaped mountain of pink granite about a billion years old. Hike to the top, then overnight in pleasant campgrounds at the base (tel. 1 830 685 3636; tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/enchanted_rock).
A few miles away in Johnson City, the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Visitor Center (Ave. G and Ladybird Ln.; 1 830 868 7128; nps.gov/lyjo) offers a self-paced stroll past video monitors with footage of the War on Poverty, Vietnam, and other events of Johnson's life. Most surprising is a retirement photo of him with long hair, looking a little like Timothy Leary without the beads.
Cap off your drive with an inner tube trip down the Comal or Guadalupe Rivers, both of which run through New Braunfels, making it a haven for paddlers and floaters. On either stream, the warm sunshine filtering through the oaks and cypresses overhead creates a soothing strobe effect as you glide downstream. Just kick back, shift your mind into neutral, and go with the flow. That's the best way to see the Texas Hill Country.
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Horseback RIding in HillCountry Natural Park in Bandera, TX
Friend and neighbor, Joanne, picked up me and Genny and took us to the park where we had a lovely ride on 4/19/14.
Heart of the Hills Endurance Ride 2016
Heart of the Hills 2016 American Endurance Ride Conference in Bandera, TX at Hill Country State Natural Area, March 5-6 2016
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Took a short little trip with a my young life guys to a ranch in a beautiful part of Hill Country. Found a little hidden gem along the way and witnessed an UNREAL sunset.
Music: I made that ish myself in GarageBand so don't judge
The Narrows Texas On The Blanco River Hike
This is a video of my Adventure and First Experience at The Narrows in Austin, Texas on the Blanco River after the Blanco River Flood 2015
If you would like to know where this is like, comment on the video and message me!
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Driving in Hill Country - Austin, Texas
Sunny drive through Hill Country in Austin, TX
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Reportaje para Telemundo sobre la Roca Encantada, un parque natural del estado de Texas y el segundo batolito mas grande de los estados unidos, un lugar reconocido por muchos como de gran espiritualidad/News story for Telemundo Houston about Enchanted Rock, a state natural area and the second largest batholith in the United States.
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West Texas hill country
davidthewelder@hotmail.com
Texas Hill Country Wineries: The Next Napa Valley
What makes France, Portugal, Napa Valley, and The Texas Hill Country so similar? You may not know it, but the Texas Hill Country has the climate and soil among other things that is allowing dramatic growth of high quality award winning wine industry. In 2007, Orbitzs Travel voted Texas Hill Country as the number two wine destination in the United States. In 2009, Orbitzs Insider index ranked it the number two fastest growing wine destination in the nation, second only to Napa Valley. Among the 200+ Texas Hill Country wineries over 30 of them are within a short distance from Belvedere on Hamilton pool road, a luxury master-planned community. To live in an authentic wine region, such as the Texas Hill Country is a wine lover's dream. Visit the Belvedere blog to learn more about the Texas Hill Country wineries and luxury living.
Hiking at Enchanted Rock in Texas.
Texas Vacation Attraction
Texas Vacation Safari in the Texas Hill Country. Exotic Zoo
Texas Best - Swimmin' Hole (Texas Country Reporter)
Cool off in the place you named Texas Best swimmin' hole. To cast your vote for the Texas Best polls visit
1. Barton Springs Pool (Austin)
2. Garner State Park (Concan)
3. Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve (Dripping Springs)
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TCR #1306, 09-08-2012
Texas Hill Country Living in a Grand Estate
Enjoy Texas Hill Country living within a meticulously built single story retreat. Unsurpassed craftsmanship found throughout with an exceptional modern open floor-plan and soaring ceilings in main living areas. From the moment you step into the grand foyer you are greeted by walls of floor to ceiling windows allowing for natural lighting to flood the interiors. From the chef’s kitchen with custom Michael Edward’s cabinetry and oversized granite island with stainless steel appliances opening to the family room with vaulted wood paneled ceilings and floor to ceiling stacked rock fireplace. A sumptuous master suite with patio access and luxurious spa like bathroom with travertine detailing found throughout. Three spacious guest bedrooms all with large walk in closets and en-suite bathrooms. Entertain in the oversized game room with soaring ceilings, full wet bar with wine storage and powder bathroom. An outdoor oasis awaits with a large covered patio with full summer kitchen overlooking expansive park like grounds.
Phantom Fly Over: Bandera,TX (Water Tower)
I took the ol' Phantom 2 out for a little night flight over the water tower right in town off of the main street. It was great to have this perspective after 27 years of life here! Beautiful little Bandera, TX :)
Music by:
Mike Doughty-Unmarked Helicopters
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Dixie Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas
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