34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (2024)

The top stops along the way from Alpine to Corpus Christi (with short detours) are Natural Bridge Caverns, Mission San Jose Catholic Church, and National Museum of the Pacific War. Other popular stops include Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, and E Main St.

1

South Llano River State Park

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (1)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (2)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (3)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (4)

State park

Nature & Parks

Wooded park along the South Llano River for hiking, birdwatching, swimming, fishing, camping & more.

This is a really nice small state park with nice hiking trails and access points to the clear waters of the South Llano River. Lots of wildlife and a great place for dogs to explore with their humans. The bathrooms are well kept and sites are clean with good amounts of space between your neighbors. AT&T service is good, but Verizon does not work here.

The C — Google review

Went to South Llano River SP on a recommendation from a friend. Couldn't find a lot of information prior to the trip on hiking with the big focus of the park on the river. Hiked the back country trails and was pleasantly surprised to find challenging trails and great views with hardly anyone else out there. The trails are wide, well defined, and clear of debris. Could hike or bike most of them. Would definitely recommend for the river, trails, or birding.

Isaiah G — Google review

I love this park. It's August, it's hot but the nights are cool, it's quiet and other campers are very respectful of quiet time and dark skies. We are here in the middle of the week. Came for the meteor shower. The river float was fun. Short but a much needed break. Lum's BBQ in Junction is pretty awesome too!

Peg G — Google review

Really nice little state park. We camped here in early January. Arrived after the office closed, but the camp host had a list of available spaces and recommended based on our desire to be near the bath house but as private and quiet as possible. Good bike/hike paths. Sites each had a covered picnic area so even in rain (or a different season in strong sun) you are able to eat outside.

Barbara M — Google review

This is probably one of my top favorite state parks so far. It’s not crowded & it’s a dark sky park so you can see stars everywhere. We also enjoyed floating the river. The camper parking had plenty of shade & a nice covered picnic table. There were fun trails to hike. The kids were never bored.

Ryan C — Google review

We only had one night here on New Year Eve. It was a last minute stop to break up a long drive home. The park was packed. We were in campsite 43 which is accessible. There is a trail 2 campsites over that we wanted to take but it closes around 2 each day due to turkey roosting so we could not. These sites are pretty close together and there is no privacy. The picnic table is covered. There was an armadillo that wandered from site to site looking for his own dinner while everyone else was cooking and eating their own dinner. Everyone just watched him as he paid no attention to any of us. My husband did ride some of the trails on his bike and loved it. He wants to come back and spend some more time. We didn't spend Amy time around the river this trip as it was so short.

Michelle — Google review

Very impressed with this park. While didn’t explore the extensive trail network due to the heat we did take advantage of the spring fed Llano river. From just lounging in the river to floating it twice we loved it. The history behind the park is also quite intriguing. We’ll be back.

Barry G — Google review

Absolutely Amazing park! We came here last weekend and had to come back and enjoy all the hiking there is to around. The sounds of nature are so great to be able to actually enjoy vs city noises. Highly recommend this park for Camping, Swimming, Hiking alike!

Patience W — Google review

Had reservations for a three-night stay while on my way out west. Great campground with very spacious sites. Being down in the river valley of this arid area, sites are very shaded. The campground is well-maintained and the bathrooms are very clean. I got to chat with the campground host for a while and he was a nice and very accommodating guy. I was there in early May and sadly the weather wasn't good enough for me to be able to tube in the river. It was a little too cool and cloudy for me. I definitely recommend this place.

Rick K — Google review

Our first ever camping experience in a state park.The camp site we booked was a electric hookup type and the facilities are nothing short of world class.The park is very well maintained and the staff was very friendly and accommodating.In terms of connectivity, the park is just 10 mins drive off the town.Apparently this place is a bird lovers paradise and we didn't know that until we were here .Spotted a lot of birds in the park and learnt about a new hobby.

Jayadheer T — Google review

Good sized camp sites that can fit larger tents. Long rv parking. Bathrooms are in good shape and have hot and cold water. Dark camping so you can better enjoy the stars. New reamer station being built currently. Historic ranger station is quaint. Rangers offered for our scout troop to raise the flags in the morning but the weather had other plans which was ok. River was nice for fishing but not the best for swimming at its level. As with every state park you have to be aware of the wildlife. There was a snake in the water when we went but we were exiting the water while it was approaching. Several birds blinds and so many birds. Had some armadillo friends come by at night. Fun site and no complaints.

Jessica B — Google review

Gorgeous park. My party was going to go up to the Scenic Overlook but the path got rougher than we thought it would so we didn't make it to the overlook itself, probably my fault for not researching it enough, but the view from where we did get was so good.Our real reason for coming though was the stars, as this is a Dark Sky Preserve, and the parking lot at the entrance to the Overlook Trail is a great spot for stargazing. The skies are very dark, 3 on the Bortle Scale, and to the south there's very little light pollution, making for incredible views of the Milky Way on clear, moonless Summer nights. We even saw a few shooting stars!All-in-all, an incredible experience and I highly encourage everyone to come here at night at least once in your life to see the stars yourself. Pictures look great, but even if our eyes see less detail, nothing compares to seeing the Milky Way and hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of stars with your own eyes!

Benjamin S — Google review

One of the prettiest State Parks we have visited. Loved going down to the river for swimming and fishing. Saw a decent amount of wild life as well. Definitely will be back.

James G — Google review

If you're looking for a stunningly beautiful hideaway in the Texas Hill Country, you will find it at South Llano River State Park. I am on a mission to visit all Texas State Parks, but I have a feeling that I will revisit this one many times. A quick check of the camping areas convinced me to plan a camping trip here. It's only a short 10-minute drive from Junction City, Texas, making it a perfect destination for small-town exploration.

Cricket W — Google review

What a great state park. Sites are water and electric only, but they have a dump station. Nice river to swim in or float down. Fishing, bird watching, hiking.

Dona K — Google review

This is such a pretty park! We were impressed by the quietness and cleanliness of the entire park! They're dog friendly and the two rangers who were in the front welcome center were exceptional! Thanks ladies!!! We also caught a couple of nice fish at Buck Lake and saw armadillos, axis deer (a buck and a doe!), a Caracara, and a black buck on the land next door to the park. We will definitely be back!!!

Susan P — Google review

This is a beautiful campground with lots of hiking trails and d bird blinds. If you love nature, this is your place. There is no tv reception s d cell coverage is spotty.

Bonnie N — Google review

This is a little known gem in the Texas state park system. The park grounds & campgrounds are pristine-clean with sites that are well-planned & maintained, with plently of private space between you & your neighbors. Its actually a very peaceful "dark sky" park.There is river access, but access is limited - so don't expect it to be like Garner State Park. One advantage with being so close to a spring-fed river is that the park maintains a healthy amount of wildlife, particularly a very diverse variety of birds - so its birders paradise. Armadillos also abound & can be seen foraging frequently - so if you love armadillos (like me) you'll enjoy their antics.The reason I did not give this park a 5 was due to two factors:1) The bathrooms: They're nicely planned & constructed bathrooms, but like most Texas state parks today they are not cleaned often or well, & the building itself is not maintained as well as it should be. This may be because it **appears** that they are slowly rebuilding the buildings here - as they constructed a brand new visitor's station, store, amphitheater, & concrete walkways - so perhaps this is therefore slated for demolition, but it was difficult to determine due to difficulty in communicated with the office staff, which brings me to the next negatives, the front office staff....2) The office staff: I had to call a couple times ahead of my arrival with simple but valid questions about the park, & the lady who answered the phone was very short & curt with me - like I was annoying her & taking up her valuable time. Then, upon departure on 6/11/2024 @ 10:15 am, I stopped in the front office to tell the person on duty @ the front desk that as we were dumping our black & grey water tanks at the dump station, we noticed the sign above the fresh water hoses that is intended to inform users it is unpotable water that is unsafe to drink at this site was almost totally obscured & would be completely not seen by someone dumping at night. She just dead-stared me in the eyes, raised her eyebrows, said nothing, & basically gave me the "__-you" face. First I thought maybe she didn't understand me, as she had a thick Asian accent, but then, after an awkward 5 second stare-down I said "Just wanted to let you know". She raises her eyebrows again & says "Do you mean the dump station?". So I replied with, "Yes, where you dump trailer sewerage", & then again, another eyebrow raise with an otherwise blank face for another awkward 5 or so seconds of silence, so I concluded the encounter with one last "Just wanted to let you know". I then walked off & looked at a few things on the store shelves. Still no reply - she never said 'thank you', 'I'll let Maintenance know'....Nothing-Nada. So as I depararted out the door I said "Have a nice day", & she said bye. It was a very odd & unexpected encounter, but her non-response & body language made it clear she was annoyed with me & didn't want to be bothered. Needless to say, I think the front office staff needs some customer service & pleasant-personality training 🙄. Other than those 2 front office people, however, the rest of the park volunteers & workers seemed very nice.In spite of the few downsides, the ups outweighed the downs at this park, so we will be back. This is still a very nice state park in spite of some unfriendly greeting staff who likely should be seeking alternate employment elsewhere.

Renee K — Google review

I had an incredible time staying at the park, and enjoying some camping with the family. The campgrounds themselves were amazing with lots of space between campsites to enjoy some activities during the day. There were so many beautiful birds to check out, which I really enjoyed. Then, the river was of course absolutely beautiful. 10/10

Marc A — Google review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐South Llano River State Park is a solar eclipse enthusiast's dream. I recently witnessed an annual solar eclipse here, and it was truly unforgettable. The park rangers were incredibly helpful in answering all my eclipse-related questions.Please note the $5 entry fee, which is a small price for enjoy the park. Just a short quarter-mile drive to the right after entering the park, and you can quickly obtain a permit.During my visit, I was pleasantly surprised to find volunteers with telescopes for public viewing. However, spots are limited, so booking in advance is a wise choice. Besides the eclipse, I had the chance to see local wildlife, including deer and bison, which added to the park's appeal.South Llano River State Park is a must-visit for celestial events and Texas' natural beauty. 🌟🌒🌌

Praveenpno — Google review

Beautiful scenery and trails. Trails are clearly marked and range from easy to difficult. The park was quiet, and the wildlife was abundant. Can't wait to go back in spring and see all the beautiful blooms and colorful creatures.They do offer showers and restrooms at the camping area.

Sara K — Google review

River was nice but small with lots of people in access areas. Great trees in camping areas and great hiking to lookout point. Absolute worst restrooms I've seen in any state park - filthy and not cleaned regularly.

Sandy M — Google review

Serene park in South Texas and they hold monthly Star gazing parties. Prior reservation is required to visit the park and is free with Texas Park Pass.Good for day picnic or family outing. Nearest town is Junction/Kerville for dine-in.HappyVisiting

Deepak — Google review

My family loves this little park! It's a beautiful dark sky park, perfect for star gazing! The South Llano River is springfed and practically drought proof! It's a blast to kayak from up river to the park and from the state park down to city park! The hiking trails are fun to explore and we really enjoyed hiking during the annular solar eclipse. The only thing that would make it 5 stars is for a bathroom update! The bathroom in the camping area is pretty gross, but it's also really old. Currently you can rent tubes, but no kayaks. Donate to the park to help them with their goal of purchasing kayaks for people to rent! They will be in the path of totality for April, so head out to check it out!

Colleen G — Google review

Such a lovely State Park! We stayed here for a few days with our camper on a family trip through the Hill County. Just a few minutes away from Junction, this smaller State Park was so fun to explore!. The sites are well maintained and have nice covered shelters over the picnic tables. Most of the sites are nestled in shady trees. They are building a new park headquarters, which will be super nice once it is finished. This is a dark sky park and the stars were bright and super enjoyable! We brought along our telescope and did a little star gazing. There is a great clearing for this right down the path from the campsite. Bring your bikes! This park is definitely set up for some mountain biking. Plus my kids loved making the campground loop, the steep hills make it so worth it just to zoom around down. Also, if you are into bird watching, the park has done a great job setting up blinds and beautiful bird sanctuaries. My kiddos loved this. Buck Lake is just down a path from the campground (we biked, but the walk isn't far). You can go fishing there. Nice maintained picnic area there and a floating pier. The restroom and shower facilities were well kept and clean and properly working. My only complaint is there only two shower stalls for each the men and women, so pick your shower times wisely or you will be waiting. The overlook trail was great to hit in the early morning hours before the heat kicks in. It was a fairly easy to moderate short trail, that my kiddos really enjoyed. The river is really lovely, only problem the access isn't very good. We like to go and sit down by the river all day, much like you do on the Frio and Guadalupe Rivers. This one is a super trek hauling all you stuff down the river trail (Thank goodness for bikes and coolers with wheels). The other main river access in the park doesn't really have much shore/bank space. Maybe great to just put in for tubing and kayaking which lots of people were doing. We did enjoy the river it once we got down there and all set up. The water is beautiful and cool and not very crowded, which is a something we loved! Definitely a good weekend stay to enjoy nature and beautiful scenery in the Hill Country! The park staff/rangers were all nice and super helpful. Note if you are wanting a party and loudness, this is not the park for you. Because it is a Dark Sky park, they will aske you to turn down your lights and fires. We loved it because it was super family friendly and quiet. All of our camping neighbors were great!

Manda B — Google review

Campground at South Llano is very nice. Quiet, shady and abundant with birds and smaller animals. We had a great overnight stay on our way back east. I will definitely stay longer the next time we are in Texas.

Thos P — Google review

4.7

(1124)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (5)

4.5

(188)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (6)

1927 Park Rd 73, Junction, TX 76849, USA

(325) 446-3994

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Lost Maples State Natural Area

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (7)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (8)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (9)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (10)

State park

Nature & Parks

Birds & wildlife, plus limestone canyons, plateaus & fall foliage along a river valley.

WOW!! This place is stunning. We only saw a tiny piece of it. We took the Lost Maples Trail. It was so beautiful. It also has a few little places where you can veer off to get a closer look at the Sabinal River. We all thoroughly enjoyed our hike on this trail. We had an 8 year old with us and he did fine. Seeing all of the trees and mammoth boulders was fun. We will be back again during the fall when we have longer to stay. Do not miss this place.

Jana H — Google review

Spectacular views, well marked trails and nice primitive camping areas. The trees were just starting to show some deep red colors (11/8/22). The rivers are easy to cross and the steep terrain is very steep but it doesn't last long in any part. It is very rocky so take your time and I recommend hiking poles or hiking stick. Bring any water filter to fill up along the rivers, springs and ponds. The east-west trail in my opinion is the best and most picturesque area of the park regarding the maples. I recommend this park to anyone!

Garrett G — Google review

A must see park for anyone that enjoys hiking and enjoying the beauty of nature. Make it a backpacking trip and choose one of the primitive campsites near the top and you won't be disappointed! Plenty of areas to stop and enjoy. The older kids loved exploring, especially Monkey Rock. Warning the steep areas also have a lot of loose rocks so good shoes and hiking poles are suggested.

Amy L — Google review

Maybe I’ll update this once I am able to visit in the autumn, but for how much this state park was hyped up to me, I wasn’t impressed. I prefer Garner and Hill Country! Back story, I’ve been trying to visit this park for SO LONG. During the height of the pandemic, this park was almost impossible to visit. I once drove all the way out here just to be told that I booked the day passes incorrectly and wasn’t able to stay. When I finally was able to enter a couple weeks ago, I was underwhelmed. The trails were quite crowded, but they were easy to follow and challenging at parts, so it felt like real deal hiking. There wasn’t as much to the park as I originally thought, but I still enjoyed myself. I’m told to return in autumn to see the leaves change, and then I’ll understand the greatness of this park

Morghan T — Google review

What a beautiful place... but before going into that you have to know what you are getting into.Trails are long and have elevation gains that happen quickly.There are some strenuous spots.Bring water, bring snacks.That said... I camped at the Primitive Area B and it was beautiful. From car to camp was 1.52 miles and the views along the way were nice. You can stop and Day Use Area C and enjoy the river and bluff. Once you move on from there it's .55 miles up and to the sites, which are first come first serve.Amazing views up top and it's mostly flat which is a nice break after the climb.About 6 or 7 great trails to explore... so I'll be back!

Eddie G — Google review

Well managed, easy to follow trails. Be warned there are several trails that are medium difficulty (at the very least). The views were amazing but the hike to the top and back down was torturous, especially in the heat. That particular trail wouldn't be good for children or people with health issues. However there are several trails that are super easy for all. There's a little natural pool swimming area but there are non venomous snakes that share the swimming hole. I was told the snakes keep their distance from swimmers but I didn't care- I don't do snakes.There are several primitive camping spaces along the trails but you gotta hike in and out with all your camping equipment and accessories- no vehicle accessibly.The staff was super friendly. Upon checking in, the conversation focused on safety, asked if I had plenty of water, informed me of a refilling station and warned me of the high temperatures (but it's Texas and that's what we do).All the scenery was beyond beautiful!!

Dusty C — Google review

I always love hiking here. ❤️ We stopped in the ranger station before our Tuesday morning hike. Bought a few stuffed animals for my God kids. The trails were fairly deserted (Tuesday morning & it was misting), which was awesome. The mist made the climb up the east trail "special," but we made it! Fyi, that beast is steep & long. I've hiked this with all ages & abilities. You can do it, you just may have to take lots of breaks. My friend hadn't been here in a long time, so it was almost a new hike for her. The grotto is always cool & she hadn't seen monkey rock before. It's important that you walk to the front of it to get the full effect. She didn't at first, but when she did, she was surprised by how much it actually looks like a monkey. We found a small waterfall that I'd never seen/heard before, so that was fun. If the water is low, be careful crossing the rivers using the rocks, some aren't stable. If the water is high, you're probably getting wet. Just take off your shoes & dry off on the other side. 😁

Missy F — Google review

Spent the day at Lost Maples State park. My wife and I and my daughter plus 4 dogs all hiked the East trail. The trail is 4.6 miles. The entrance fee is $6 per person which is very reasonable. They have a day use area with picnic tables. There is also a camp ground. 2 primitive campgrounds. Fishing pond. So much to see and do. So on the way home the fur babies got a treat to DQ. I’m sure I heard them all humming DQ that’s what I like about Texas. Beautiful place.

John W — Google review

One of my favorite parks in Texas to visit. My kiddo and I camped and hiked here. She kept up with me for over 5 miles of hiking. The trick, lots of breaks. Campgrounds were so nice with your very own picnic table. The restrooms were very clean, the nicest I've seen out of the parks I've been too. The showers were amazing as well. Definitely recommend this park for anyone looking for a place to camp and hike.

Tino E — Google review

I love coming here at least once a year to go for a hike. It’s an incredibly peaceful park to go to, and it’s beautifully taken care of. I had a blast finally getting to see the leaves change color after all this time. Even though it started raining while I was there, I have to say, it made the experience that much more special. I was able to meditate and relax out there before I had to go back to work. I absolutely recommend visiting this park if you’re in the are. You won’t regret it!

Doumas — Google review

Great hike. We did the East trail and saw monkey rock and the grotto. We decided to go to the scenic overlook and turn around and come back down. It was steep and rough going. The overlook wasn’t breathtaking but was pretty. This is marked a challenging trail and it was definitely that. We saw people doing it in regular tennis shoes but I would highly recommend water resistant hiking shoes/boots. We love ours and pack them on every trip. There is gravel and you will slip. We were there when there hadn’t been a lot of rain and even then we had to walk through water.

Crystal H — Google review

Beautiful Texas State Park with great hiking trails and river pools for swimming/wading. Two long hiking trails here (East and West), that have strenuous inclines and steep grades but can be finished in about 3 hours-even for sure-footed amateurs. Only downsides were that the trails' signage and shower facilities could use upgrades. Only 30 campsites, so facilities aren't too crowded. Great place to see the stars!

Becky M — Google review

Having lived in TX for almost 6 years I had never experienced falls colors as beautiful as this in any other part of the country. This was a last minute visit but it ended up being the best part of our trip. Make sure to have maps on you or download offline maps because we had zero service here.We were driving back to Dallas so the ranger helped us download maps on their computer. They have a dedicated website to track the progress of the colors of the trees and you can plan your visit accordingly. I’d suggest to book your tickets in advance. You can drive around in the park. We only had a few hours so we did the most famous trail and were so happy that we did fit it in our tight schedule.

Saurabh V — Google review

Lost Maples has lots of beautiful trails to be explored. Some that are easy and some that are long. Make sure to get a map at the visitor center. It also has a great picnic area to enjoy lunch with lots of room for kids. Lots of birds and butterflies to see.

Geoff G — Google review

I really enjoyed hiking here in this area. I hiked the East loop and all the overlooks on that side. It was pretty amazing. The park does have a day use area and some hike in campsites but little else beyond the trails. The main trail loops are fairly long moderate hikes there’s a steep part where you hike up to the top of the hills and then it flattens out at the top. I hope to come back and hike the west side eventually, was a spectacular hike on the east side would recommend.

Charles C — Google review

Can't say enough about how beautiful this place was. From the drive there to the trails, it was gorgeous. The terrain was rugged and steep in some areas and in others it was easily maneuvered. I will definitely be back.Know when you go, about 20 miles before you get to the park, you will lose cell service. (Verizon) There is absolutely no service anywhere in the park.

Sara K — Google review

Beautiful and natural park, the water there is clear in alot of spots, and the bird diversity/ abundance is so lovely. Drove from San Antonio to walk their trails, i highly recommended the hike, its can get pretty steep and the walks seem a little long so i recommend rd snacks and water.They have some neat land marks that are on the trail maps.

Damari A — Google review

One of the best places in Texas to see meteors. Awesome family place. Clean camping area. Our family has been camping out here for over 20 yrs.

Marylou G — Google review

I came here a day after the area had been receiving a lot of run. I wanted to hike to Monkey Rock and the grotto. It was no problem. The place drains well. I hiked to the grotto and then came back to parking. It was about 4 miles I think. You can ride a bike to the monkey rock and then hike to the grotto to save time but then you may not see a porcupine sunbathing in a tree.

Turd F — Google review

Just beautiful, make sure you bring plenty of water for your hikes. This is very primitive and there is no water nearby. What a joy to have this in our state. Cant wait to come back during the leave changing in November.

Gilbert T — Google review

I hiked Lost Maples for the first time back in the spring and put it on my must-do list for the fall, hoping to experience the legendary colors of the foliage. Despite the severe drought dampening the colors a bit, my hike in mid-November did not disappoint. This is a beautiful park any time of year, and the colors just amplify that. Trails are well-maintained and marked, although a few have fairly significantly steep grades and loose, rocky footing, so be prepared and allow plenty of time. The park offers tent and rv camping in the main areas near the entrance and several great primitive areas accessible only on foot. Plan ahead if you wish to see the fall colors. Reservations can be made a month in advance, and you won’t get in without a reservation most days October through November.

Randy R — Google review

Wonderful park!The rainy weather didn't dampen the mood!Be sure to make a reservation! We did it in 1 day in the morning.Beautiful nature. Red-yellow leaves. We followed the Maples trail and reached Monkey rock.The journey back there took about 2 hours at a leisurely pace. I highly recommend visiting the park!

Olga G — Google review

Well we went to this beautiful natural place all the way from Houston, the four and half hour drive was fun, musical and satisfying!Lost Maples State Natural Area, beautiful place for hiking, picnic and camping as well. As we were hiking, I enjoyed the swishing sound of maple tree leaves, the monkey rock and the grotto. And on the other side we went to the ponds!The interesting thing of that hike was I saw a walnut tree, collected some walnut fallen off the tree and had some!! Will definitely come back for hike to the top and fall colors next year!!

Bishwa, W — Google review

Beautiful spot in the Hill Country! We camped here and it was so peaceful! THE STARS!!! They were gorgeous (totally worth staying up to see). Also all the camping sites are hike in so make sure you are prepped for that. I would love to come back here one day and watch a meteor shower.

Sammie R — Google review

My favorite State Park so far! It's a stunning place, especially in the fall. I went at sunrise and the evaporating water looked like a river of spirits, couldn't quite capture the feeling with my phone camera.The panoramic view requires a brief, steep hike, but you can visit the fun landmarks on the east loop (the cove and monkey rock) without any elevation gain if you start from the east side.If you are an experienced hiker I would budget at least 4h-5h to do both the East and the West Loop and take plenty of pictures.I unfortunately did not have time to do the west loop so I'll be back for that.

Luis S — Google review

Simple but satisfying slice of hill country. Trails are challenging so bring good walking shoes. Pet friendly, good family spot.

Marshall D — Google review

4.8

(2363)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (11)

4.5

(236)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (12)

37221 RM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885, USA

(830) 966-3413

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34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (13)

3

The Museum of Western Art

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Art museum

Museums

Event venue

Library

The Museum of Western Art, located just outside the main part of Kerrville, Texas, showcases a high-quality collection of paintings and sculptures by top artists from the mid-20th century to the present. The museum's exhibitions and permanent collection focus on the history and culture of settlers and Native Americans, following in the tradition of renowned artists like Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.

Visited during Spring Break as a group of 6, including 2 boys aged 4-6. Easy to find and free car parking near the entrance. Finding the parking area wasn’t clear, but we got there. The front entrance has a cool walls of cow bells that you could hit to make sound. We ain’t have to wait to get in - the place was quiet and we basically had the run of it. The staff were all friendly and after we paid to enter we were given a 1-3 minute welcome presentation and then could go diff to explore. There were a few big rooms full of paintings, sculptures, display saddles, some cases with pistols and Derringers under glass. There was even a room in the back aimed towards kids - it had a full-sized wagon, a large tent, and dress-up outfits. Our boys dressed up like cowboys and spent the whole time looking in the crates at the plastic food and equipment that the old-timers used to lug around on their frontier journeys. The boys were satisfied. There’s a great variety of art and they all evoked the spirit of the West. One thing I’d have liked to see was labels that said the date and description of the art pieces, beyond the artist name and piece title which was provided. We stayed about an hour which was enough to see all the rooms. Browser the gift shop which had books, art prints, leather and jewellery items. I’d recommend visiting this museum, even in you have young kids.

Kristian D — Google review

When it comes to Harvest Hosts this one's right up there. We had fun watching the poorly educated who pull in late and leave early (Cracker Bearelesk) missing a cultural upgade waiting inside. Class a's you might want to arrive toward the end of the day for more spot options. If your rig gets a window broken by a golf ball, that's what players call "a hole in one" Oh the trials of bus life.

Don H — Google review

Do NOT USE Google maps or Waze to find this place. ALL of the electronic apps direct you to the wrong place. The Museum was very enjoyable starting with the architecture and continuing with the exhibits. Many Western themed items (bronze statutes, saddles beautiful paintings antique desks, etc.). Volunteers were readily available to answer questions and often provided interesting facts about the exhibits. We’ll worth the time to visit. We will be returning.

Julie H — Google review

This is a fantastic museum highlighting western art. The docent was really informative with details about the building itself being a work of art. Focus on the interior domes and end-cut wood tile flooring, as well as the exterior grounds. There are many bronze statues depicting western themes as well as many paintings from different artists in a variety of styles. This is a must visit location if you find yourself in Kerrville, Texas before 4pm on a weekday or Saturday. Unfortunately the museum is closed on Sunday. If you live in Kerrville and you have not yet been to this museum… put it on your list immediately.

Chris S — Google review

The Museum of Western Art is a fantastic place to visit when in the Hill Country!! This weekend we hosted my mom's celebration of life event at the museum. It was an amazing venue and everyone who attended was in awe of the beautiful artwork!! Thank you to Darrell and his crew over there at the museum for EVERYTHING you did to make the event so wonderful for our friends and family! If you are hosting an event in Kerrville we highly recommend this wonderful venue!!

Kimberly P — Google review

“Attention all art lovers and western art enthusiasts! Kerrville Texas is the place to be if you want to immerse yourself in the best of both worlds.Come explore our vibrant art scene, featuring galleries full of incredible works from local and international artists alike. And don’t miss our western art exhibits, where you’ll learn the history and admire the beauty of the American West.We invite you to join us in Kerrville Texas and experience it all for yourself. Follow us for more information on our upcoming events and exhibitions.”

John G — Google review

Really cool exposition of local art and historical art. The curators on site are very helpful and knowledgeable. Parking is easy and abundant and the site is easy to spot off the main road. There was a kids section that was interactive. Its worth the small admission fee.

Ethan F — Google review

A very nice museum for western themed art and artifacts. Beautiful furniture, sculptures and paintings. I like seeing recent and current generations of artists keeping the genre alive. My GPS directed me to the "back" entrance which wound around and through residential; would be nice if signage/arrows were offered for all ways in, not just the main entrance since mapping info may send people through the "neighborhood".

Lynell S — Google review

They have many different exhibits. I enjoyed the one we saw today.

Nancy C — Google review

Nice experience, Mr Andy was a great guide. Thank you Andy!

Nuria G — Google review

A little small for a museum, but great non the less for the area. Free for Veterans.

Justin V — Google review

If you have an appreciation of western art, you will not be disappointed. Emotionally moving painting, and sculpture plus many historical items. It will make your day!

Jim L — Google review

Took about an hour to walk through and one of the couriers walked the museum with us, giving us tid bits of information along the way! He was very kind and knowledgeable. The art work was gorgeous and memorable.

Tashina J — Google review

4.8

(77)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (15)

4.5

(295)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (16)

1550 Bandera Hwy, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA

(830) 896-2553

4

The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Gardens

Mentioned on

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Garden

Sights & Landmarks

Sculpture museum

Sacred & Religious Sites

Parks

The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Gardens, located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, is a remarkable religious sculpture garden that offers a profound experience for both Christians and non-Christians. The site features awe-inspiring statues and a serene prayer garden that invites visitors to reflect and find peace. With its ever-evolving displays and additions, it serves as a beautiful place for worship and community testimony.

Great place ! It's very calming and relaxing. Definitely coming back. I recommend coming early with your favorite coffee or favorite fruit drink and sit on a bench thats near a shady tree. Just enjoy nature, the view and the peacefulness.

Franny — Google review

What an amazing undertaking! Not only beautiful and awe inspiring but deeply prayerful, respectful of the faith and very moving. While the monumental cross is incredible, the prayer rocks moved me most. The thousands of prayers left here speak of the true faith of so many visitors!!! It makes my heart glad that not only are there Scriptures that line the entire walk in both directions in different languages (English is always one) but that inside the cross is a sinners prayer and the entire garden has prayer cards for intentions of the faithful. Bring a sharpie marker to write on the rocks that are provided and leave your prayer before God there too! It’s the real deal and truly an awesome site to see!!!

Lori D — Google review

Spent a few hours visiting this wonderful park, praying with a 20 year marine vet in the prayer area. My daughter has never visited so wanted to take her on a family day to Kerrville. The Holy spirit was everywhere!Reading all the prayer requests just filled out hearts.Please if in Kerrville visit the Hallow Cross.Met a group from SALT...wonderful people from San Antonio TX

Cheryl A — Google review

Beautiful place! Went on Easter Sunday. It was the perfect day to visit. We took our fur baby and he also enjoyed the smooth trail back and forth. The sculptures are magnificent and unforgettable. My favorite was the Cross, read the prayers and felt at peace. Couldn't leave without leaving our prayer rocks through the path. Thank you Kerrville, TX for the great experience! We hope to visit soon and plan to get a memoriam plaque for my mother in law.

Violeta C — Google review

This has been and still remains one of my favorites places to visit. The sense of peace and connection to God is so strong. The prayer request rocks that people leave and the memorial messages they make are beautiful, the lady out and fantastic sculptures there are just breath-taking. If you haven't already been here, you need to make plans to attend asap, it is well worth the trip.

Darling R — Google review

This place was beautiful! A must see in kerrville. You can drive to the top. They have parking and an area for handicap parking too. They also do have 2 free wheelchairs to borrow if need. I thought that was really awesome for them to provide. They have white rocks they call Prayer rocks. You write your Prayer and place it with the others. Sign said they have markers to use but because of Covid they no longer have that. So bring your own or the gift shop as soon as you drive in has permanent markers for sale for $2 each. Great place to sit, Pray, think.

Krystal M — Google review

It was so beautiful here. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved it. The site of the huge cross is pretty awe inspiring. Even just the size of it, it’s so cool to get up close to it. The surrounding statues were beautiful. My favorite part were the prayer stones. It was so human and relatable to read other stones people had placed. I felt connected to these people who had written their prayers or affirmations on these stones. I would go back again just to spend more time with the stones - there were so many. I highly recommend visiting this site.

Robert J — Google review

This was our third visit to the Open Cross, and the prayer garden. This is an awesome location in Kerrville Texas, that is open to the public, at no charge. Every time we have come they have made changes, additions, and improvements. Great place to look at the artwork, and reflect on it, and it’s meanings. Great place for prayer. The prayer garden itself and the statues, our great form of worship, and testimony to the community. A lot of thought prayer and work went into this display. I highly recommend a visit, and spend some time here.

Robert S — Google review

This is a free prayer sculpture garden in Kerrville TX. There is regular parking and handicapped parking as well. The garden is accessible to anyone in a wheelchair or using a walker or crutches. This place is so peaceful and overlooks the city. There is scripture every few steps and beautiful depictions of Jesus! Highly recommend!

Leigh A — Google review

I went here on the 22nd of April. It was absolutely beautiful. Perfect weather for the perfect garden. If I had had a chance, I would have spent all day there.It does not cost anything. They have porta potties and a gift shop.

Ona G — Google review

What a divine visit! You definitely feel there’s something very special about this place! I was able to reflect and talk to God with a different kind of peace. I encourage you to visit at least once!

Elias O — Google review

It was amazing, very spiritual and informative. The sculptures were inspiring and created with such care. I felt the holy spirit there. The rock prayer garden touched my soul and gave me hope. The sculpture of nails pierced my heart with gratitude for our lord and savior Jesus Christ. The enormous cross reminded me of my redemption and the enormous amount of love our father God has for esch of us. Will return asap

Chris B — Google review

This place is amazing it's so peaceful you can literally feel the presence of God there they have scriptures engraved all along where you walk to the empty cross they have prayers for you to read, markers so you are able to write ✍️ a message on a rock 🪨 we really enjoyed going here, the weather was so awesome too and it was mid July. We even saw a deer there. And Mary at the gift shop was so nice and polite to us, we are from Spring Texas and we will definitely return to Kerrville Texas to vist The Coming King Scripture Prayer Garden, we definitely recommend this place to others

Erika E — Google review

A very nice sculpture garden with many statues of Bible figures. We went up at dusk and stayed till it's dark and the sunset glow made it even nicer. Definitely check it out if you are in the area. Free entrance and free parking.

Vincent L — Google review

Beautiful place. I recommend to bring your own shapies to write or color on any blank white rock or bring your own rock.

Regia T — Google review

Amazing hidden gem in Kerrville Texas. The place is super clean and sits on a high hilltop overlooking the city. You may walk through the prayer gardens and pray over the stones that other have written their prayer request on. The sculptures are world class. If fact the depiction of the second coming of Christ may be the best I have ever seen. This is a must stop for people of all religions and faith but especially Christian. Don't forget to stop in the shop down the hill for souvenirs and great merchandise. The park is free for all.

Texas C — Google review

Very beautiful prayer area and staff to keep the garden clean, safe and a special place to meet with God.

Marissa F — Google review

We visited the prayer garden twice during our Kerrville trip with Campers for Christ. People from all over have visited and there are thousands of rocks with prayers and I felt the weight of many of them. The peace and love of Jesus Christ is there. Each bronze statue is gorgeous and inspiring. It was an amazing experience. We will be back.

Debbie S — Google review

Great great place. Been here twice looking forward to going back again.

Brandon H — Google review

Beautiful and serene. I have always wondered what the cross on the hill was and glad we went to check it out. Look forward to coming back as more sculptures are added.

Ashley B — Google review

This is a very touching tribute to Our Lord and Saviour. Walking thru the entire location brings joy and sadness in seeing the ultimate sacrifice Jesus gave to us.🙏The walkways are lined with inspirational quotes, passages and verses from the bible. There is an area full of "prayer stones" which anyone can pick up and write a prayer to leave for others to see. The Cross itself is very inspiring with verses and quotes written on it.😇The entrance is free and there is plenty of well lit parking as well as a small gift shop at the bottom of the hill. There are clean restrooms available at the top and bottom of the monument area. The views of Kerrville from the top of the hill are amazing.💓This stop is a must for anyone who loves and would like to see and feel a little closer to Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I highly recommend it. It's quite emotional.

Henry R — Google review

Truly beautiful and peaceful. Thankful that such a place exists. Free admission.

Sharon T — Google review

A great place to visit for your own spiritual journey or to take the family. It is accessible for the handicap , wide sidewalks, but very hilly. It may be difficult for older folks to walk up the hill without help. Great exercise for the rest of us.Sculptures are beautiful and lots of bible verses.We were only there for about an hour and enjoyed it very much.

Janet D — Google review

My husband and I spent the afternoon in Kerrville and visited the "Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden." What a beautiful place this was! They have gardens that are full of thousands of prayer rocks. You can grab a rock from the bin and write a prayer on it and put it in the garden. The sculptures are so magnificent! The empty cross stands77ft 7in high! We went to the gift shop afterwards and bought a small "great commission" sculpture for our rv and I got a hat. The gift shop clerk, Steve, was the sweetest, funniest person ever. We spent almost an hour just chatting with him. I highly recommend visiting here if you get the chance. Very moving experience.

Sherry C — Google review

Absolutely beautiful and breathe taking. I hope to go back and take my time walking through the area. Everyone should go see this.

Lou C — Google review

4.9

(1882)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (17)

4.5

(471)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (18)

520 Benson Dr, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA

(830) 928-7774

5

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (19)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (20)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (21)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (22)

Mentioned on

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State park

Sights & Landmarks

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is a stunning wilderness area in central Texas, featuring a dramatic 425-ft. pink granite monolith that offers opportunities for hiking and climbing. The park is well-maintained and clean, making it an enjoyable destination for visitors. However, those wanting to hike the summit should plan ahead by reserving online as availability can be limited during peak times such as spring break. It's important to bring water and a jacket for wind at the summit.

What a spectacular place to visit. This is a great place to visit with the entire family. You can take in the loop, which is 3+ mile hike. The loop's trail is fairly easy. Or, if you want something more challenging, you can hike up the Rock. To drive in the park, you must make reservations; otherwise, you risk not being allowed to park or camp. Wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water, especially on those warm days.

MR H — Google review

We had a one of a kind experience in the Enchanted Rock park.The park offers a variety of hiking trails in varying degrees of difficulty. You can choose between an easy loop trail around the huge rocks, two trails which require some moderate climbing every once in a while, that will take you between the rocks, and of course the trail to the top of the Enchanted Rock.The climb up was surprisingly not that difficult. There are plenty of beautiful spots to stop on the way up. Take your time to admire the changing views from different heights, as well as the surprisingly rich vegetation that still flourishes within the cracks and shallow holes in the rock. There is still a lot of running water from all over the rock.Due to the hot temperatures, it's best to arrive early and climb up first thing when the weather is still pleasant. Take a long walk around the top of the rock and explore the whole summit.Don't forget to take plenty of water, sun screen and insect repellent.

G B — Google review

Visited 4/29/23, a Saturday. BUY DAY PASS/MAKE RESERVATION IN ADVANCE! This is a popular place and you don’t want to miss it. Park attendants were friendly and helpful. Parking near summit trail filled up fast. Recommend summit trail, Turkey pass and Echo canyon trails. We visited on a breezy day….At the top of Enchanted Rock the wind about knocked us over. If it’s going to be a hot day hike the summit trail early and take plenty of water. Recommend bringing a cooler/basket of food for a picnic. No restaurants/fast food nearby. There was a shaved ice truck near the entrance to summit trail and a snack stand that was closed when we were there. Lots of picnic places available and there was a playground down a ways from the summit trail entrance for children. Such a beautiful area. Wildflowers were still abundant when we visited. Views are spectacular. Well worth the time and effort to go see!!

Tracy T — Google review

I wanted to take a moment to share with you my recent hiking experience at Enchanted Rock. I can honestly say that it was nothing short of spectacular.The moment I laid eyes on Enchanted Rock, I was immediately captivated by its beauty. The majestic rock formation rising from the Texas Hill Country landscape was truly a sight to behold. The scenic views that awaited me were like eye candy at every turn.As I began my hike, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The rugged terrain and diverse flora and fauna added to the allure of the place. The trail was well-marked and easily navigable, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the experience.The ascent to the summit was challenging but incredibly rewarding. The panoramic views from the top were simply breathtaking. Being able to see the vast expanse of the surrounding countryside was an unforgettable experience. It was as if I had entered a different world, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.I spent hours exploring the various trails and rock formations in the area. Each step offered a new discovery and a deeper appreciation for the natural beauty of Enchanted Rock. From the unique geological features to the serene sounds of nature, every moment was cherished.Beyond the hiking itself, the park provided excellent amenities for visitors. There were clean restrooms, picnic areas, and well-maintained facilities. The park staff was friendly and helpful, ensuring a pleasant experience for all.I would highly recommend a visit to Enchanted Rock to anyone seeking a remarkable outdoor adventure. Whether you are a seasoned hiker or just starting out, this place offers something for everyone. The combination of breathtaking scenery and challenging trails creates an experience that will leave you in awe.In conclusion, my hiking experience at Enchanted Rock surpassed all expectations. The sheer beauty and tranquility of the area left an indelible mark on me. I am grateful for the opportunity to have explored this natural wonder and highly encourage others to do the same.Thank you for taking the time to read about my incredible adventure. Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Jerry M — Google review

Very unique experience. We had a great time. The hike up the summit is pretty steep. Make sure to wear good shoes and bring plenty of water. There are no guard rails or safety measures in place so you hike at your own risk. Beautiful views from the top.

Meagan B — Google review

The park ranger was so friendly and took time to make sure we'd be safe in the Texas heat. The rock is worth the effort. The views are fantastic. We also ran into a black squirrel. Everyone seems to look out for each other also. Several trails to choose from depending on your climbing level. Go early or late if possible.

Joan C — Google review

Plenty to see and do here on multiple hiking trails. The Summit Trail to the top is a leg-burner at times but well worth the half-mile effort. Take your time to enjoy the views and the rock formation itself and you'll be able to make it.We also did the Loop Trail, which is about 4.6 miles around the outside of the Granite Dome and it offers various views of the dome from different angles, which was neat to see.Several other trails offer different experiences, too, but we'll have to check those out another day. This is a park we'll go back to. Note that you need reservations for timed entry and weekends are way busier than weekdays.Also, there is rustic camping available both near the parking lot and off of the hiking trails.Bring plenty of water because there is little shade anywhere. There are vault toilets along the Loop Trail. Also, watch for snakes, we had a rattler on the Loop Trail when we went.Plenty of parking but RVs would have a tough time maneuvering to anything but the half-dozen spots in the RV lot.Also note the closest gas is about 18 miles away in Fredericksburg, and there is little to no cell service in much of the park (for Verizon and T-Mobile).

Ari A — Google review

So, I did this today and boy, was it fun! I also enjoyed the short drive from Austin to Enchanted Rock. Tons of great places to stop and take pics of. I would highly recommend if you just want to get away for the day. I didn’t purchase a pass online which I know you can. The cost was $8 just for myself. The lady that took my credit card was really helpful in making sure that I was prepared and she even stated that I will need more than one water for the hike. Well, I blew her off because I know everything. Wrong! I def needed another bottle of water because it’s def a nice hike. I was able to stretch my one bottle of water out but I thought I was going to die. I admit it. She said that at least one person a day doesn’t heed their advice and they end up having to rescue. Thankfully, that person was not me today. I even went back and told her she was right and I should have listened. So, my point is PLEASE TAKE AMPLE AMOIBT OF WATER AND NOT JUST ONE BOTTLE! The trails are marked and well kept. They will give you a map at the beginning and it is very well laid out. It took me a while to get to the top because I stopped along the way and snapped some photos and took in the scenery. Def zero shade so take your time if it’s 100 like today. One couple got engaged and I took their pic so congrats to them! I also thought that I was going to be able to walk straight up and the. back down the other side of the rock however, that is not the case that I could tell. There is a steep drop so that’s def not a good idea. Pretty pictures, no crowds, very serene on the way up and at the top. Highly recommend!

Christopher L — Google review

Great park, fun geology considering central Texas. The summit trail is short and quick, with steeper elevation change in the first half than second. Trail markings are great and reflective for night hikes, but are only halfway up the rock, so be sure to note the direction of your car park so you can find the trail at night. Apart from the summit trail, there are several other intersecting trails. We will be back in the cooler months to explore the 4mile loop trail which is pet friendly. Excellent dark sky for stargazing and milky way chasing.

Malavika K — Google review

Enchanted Rock is the name of this State Park. It really is an Enchanted and unique place to explore. The main attraction is the largest of the granite rocks rising up from the ground called...Enchanted Rock. Multiple legends abound about this place. You can hike to the top and look for yourself. The hike seems daunting, but if you take your time and rest and catch your breath, it is doable. Once you crest the curve of the rock, going up, it levels off at the top and you have a magnificent, unobstructed view. We went in the evening time when the sun was going down and it was beautiful. Walk slowly coming down. It looks really steep on the descent, but if you use a serpentine approach to walking down, it is much better. Although the summit trail, is the most popular, there are other trails to explore as well. The Loop trail is the only trail open after dark and just till 10 pm. We walked along this for a short time. It was overcast, so we really couldn't see any stars out. There is also camping available here. We love it each time we come here and usually can't wait to come back and explore more.

D.M. C — Google review

Wow, what an experience! It’s a definite must! I hadn’t expected to climb the summit especially after seeing how steep it is. Wear the proper shoes: good grip, not too old that they slide when walking. If you step in the water and then on the path, it’s very slippery. The trails are beautiful. For us on 7/27/24, the weather was perfect! We arrived at 7 a.m but will get there by 6:30 a.m next time.

Venessa R — Google review

This was my fourth time to Enchanted Rock, first time bringing our kids. We felt they were finally old enough, 7 and 10. We saw several families with littles, and I just wouldn’t recommend it if you want to hike the summit. This however is such a beautiful park, wonderfully kept, clean, I love it! I will say though, plan ahead, go online and reserve. We went the week of spring break and we reserved the 30 days ahead (they won’t let you reserve more than 30 days ahead), but there were people getting turned away who were trying to walk in. Plan ahead. Bring water. It’s windy at the summit, so bring a jacket. Other than that, enjoy one of the most incredible natural features of central Texas!

Nicholas L — Google review

One of the best state park experiences I have had! The terrain was beautiful with a lot if amazing rock formations. There is a variety of plants and wildlife, including foxes and cactus. Amazing place to explore. Summit Trail was my favorite trail, containing some of the best formations and views, both towards and at the peak. Prepare to bring hiking shoes however, as the terrain can get very steep and dangerous for those that are unprepared. Try to come on a non-cloudy night, as stars looked beautiful!The campsite was relatively spacious, equipped with hooks to hang trash bags, trees, fire pit, and clean tables/benches. The tables were shaded with a canopy. There was good distance between campsites with minimal litter. There was not much noise from other campsites and rangers were not over-bearing. Only issues were that the faucets were close to the parking lots which was a bit of a walk from the site. Not too bad, but without proper lighting, it was a bit inconvenient.Overall great experience and would be worth to come again!

Krishna P — Google review

Excellent park to visit and let the kids run around on the massive granite. Hike up to Summit was relatively easy and fresh because after the initial trail, there was a good bit of freedom to roam anywhere all over the huge uplifted granite (aka the Llano Uplift) and the surface was easy to walk on. The geology insight is very impressive. The view at the top was spectacular and would be awesome at sunrise or sunset. Good birding at the picnic areas.

George L — Google review

This was an experience! Let me start off with the positives once you make it to the top it’s worth it, totally - just stunning. The restrooms are clean and their was plenty of parking. What I was not prepared for was the physical challenge, the hike is advertised as moderately challenging and it was Very challenging, I am an active person and the continual incline was something my legs and mind were not prepared for. I wanted to warn anyone, please be safe and try to prep your body beforehand : proper conditioning, hydration, nourishment and please bring plenty of water. There is zero shade all the way up and down, proper shoes are a must as well for safety.

Sandy R — Google review

I’m here from NC, and while visiting family, my brother brought me to this amazing park so I could get in some trail running. We paid $8 each for a Day Pass, which I thought was reasonable. While my brother climbed the Summit, I ran the big Loop trail around the park’s circumference. It’s about 4.6 miles long. It’s well marked and the sandy type path was easy to run on. The views are amazing and I stopped several times to take photos and video because it was so breathtaking! There’s plenty of restrooms along the trail as well. It was super cold today (11°) so I didn’t bring along water. I would recommend it if you run this place or hike it in the hotter summer months. They also have camping sites and rock climbing available here.

Dana S — Google review

While visiting Austin Texas, I searched for challenging areas to hike and to witness a beautiful sunset. Enchanted Rock was one of the top three places so I scheduled a day to go that was clear and dry. About an hour and a half away from Austin is Enchanted Rock. The drive was pretty easy and made it there well before sunset. I arrived, pulled over next to the ranger station and paid for my reserved spot. It's always good to reserve a spot here when going to the park. It was January when I visited so it wasn't bad at all. Summer could be a different story. Keep in mind to bring water no matter what time of year you come. Summer obviously bring more. I read reviews that it was a challenging climb. There are some areas where it is a high Rocky step but the remainder of the climb is easier. Overall this reasonably fit 52 year old made it up to the top in about 25 minutes stopping to take a couple pictures along the way. If I would have known that going in I probably would have taken some of the lower trails at the base of the rock before trekking upwards towards the top. Once you are at the top, the vastness of this Park is nothing less than astonishing. I truly appreciated the view and nearby 18ft boulders that I've been standing for probably millions of years. Unfortunately there was very little cloud covers to the sunset wasn't as dramatic as I would have hoped but it was beautiful nonetheless. The ranger said to make your way down no later than 6:15. Once the sunset there is complete darkness so going down is a bit tricky but if you bring a flashlight you will be okay. There were actually people coming up as I was going down at 6:00. Unless you are camping overnight you need to leave the park at 8:00. I would have stayed longer for the stargazing but it was pretty windy that night. Enchanted Rock Park is also classified as a dark sky area so stargazing is breathtaking. You can actually see the Milky way! Would definitely return if I'm ever in TX again

72ocutter — Google review

More beautiful than you can imagine!!! Fun for all ages! Bring a hat or head covering as it's very windy at the top. Don't skip the hike around Enchanted Rock! It's a beautiful meandering hike with flowers, butterflies, and birds.

Janet E — Google review

This is a very steep climb! So make sure you are prepared to take it slow if need be. I would recommend bringing a lot of water to stay hydrated, some shoes with good tread, a hat and sun glasses, and sunblock!

Lauren M — Google review

Stayed at Trois Estate B&B across the street and i could see peoples flash lights on the trails at night. The 2 minute drive was so convenient,The mountain I used to live by took 30 minutes to get to for a hike.Got an 8am hike in before it got too hot, the breeze at the top was perfect! Amazing views from the top and met some new people up there. Loved that I could hike solo safely.Nice little gift shop.

Shay D — Google review

Great endurance hike up the big rock. Didn’t get to any of the back side trails but we roamed around the rocks and trails on it. Be careful how you climb down if going down the sides as it can be steep in places. The ranger in the office was informative and really helpful in buying some items from the shop.

Amy — Google review

Sunset and Starfazzing review. Great light hike suitable for entry level and children. Sunsets are gorgeous and stargazing on a clean moonless night is spectacular. Park closes at 10 so its a bit hard to stargaze in the summer before the park closes. The drive back after 10pm feels like forever. Quiet a few trails, also mostly kid friendly. Bring lots of water and use the restrooms before you set out. The rock is warm in the summer but it was kind of nice as the evenings cool down. The times i’ve been had nice breezes.

Derek L — Google review

I’ve been here 4 or 5 times and the view is just as beautiful each time. I like that they take reservations so the park isn’t overcrowded. I’ve done the hike up (Summit Trail) and the loop around the rock (not as fun, but still pretty). There are some steeper parts going up, but my kids have managed well each time (better than I have, actually).

Amy S — Google review

Beautiful hiking trails and unusual rock formations. Expansive views when you get to the top. The trails are not well marked, so a GPS hiking app (one that works without a cell signal) is advisable. Also, the majority of the trails are steep grades, in full sun, on hot rock - bring plenty of water and take all the other hot weather precautions.

Anna C — Google review

Enchanted Rock is the largest pink granite monadnock in the United States, standing at 425 feet tall. It offers a short, yet enjoyable and challenging hike, with the summit trail being moderately difficult. However, once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with an amazing view of the surrounding area. It's important to bring plenty of water bottles and a towel, as there are no restrooms or water sources available on the trail. Please exercise caution while climbing the rock.

Farhin M — Google review

Enchanted Rock State Park provided an unforgettable family hiking experience! The friendly and helpful park staff made the start smooth and enjoyable. The hike encompassed various terrains - from walking alongside a river to navigating brush and steeper sections. Even with those challenges, it was manageable for our kids. The trail offered scenic views, especially passing by large boulders that were perfect for memorable photos. Reaching the summit was rewarding. Encountering kids exploring cave systems added an extra layer of excitement. A place full of adventure and exploration, offering an abundance of opportunities to discover!

Joe T — Google review

Had a fun time at campsite #26. It’s separated from the parking area by some steps and a foot bridge, so you feel immersed in nature, but still have easy access to transport items from the trunk, and also close walk to restrooms. If you want to wheel things over with a wagon though, this is not the site to do so.Over Memorial Day weekend, it was way too hot in the mid 90s, so we didn’t get to hike, but would definitely like to return to do so!

Catherine W — Google review

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offers a great hiking experience, with stunning views from the summit. Early morning hikes are particularly enjoyable, as they provide cooler temperatures and a more serene environment. The park's well-maintained trails and the breathtaking panoramic views from the top of the pink granite dome make it a must-visit destination.

Srinivas P — Google review

this was my first state park visit ever and i loved it top to bottom! easy to locate, park, shop etc.the hike itself is so beautiful. not difficult but kinda vertigo-y since there’s no tree cover to stop you from seeing drops 😅 i was truly enchanted!

Bebe — Google review

Enchanted Rock was a great hiking experience for our family today! The big climb up the rock was challenging but easily worth it. We had amazing sightseeing from the top in every direction. After our trip to the top, we hiked around several of the loop trails visiting lakes, streams, and other gorgeous viewpoints. You MUST buy a state park reservation to get in, it easy, just plan ahead. Parking and bathrooms were great, the park ranger who greeted us was friendly and helpful.

Luke T — Google review

3June2024 This was my 1st visit to this spot. My 2nd visit to Texas in 3yrs. Wonderful hiking trails and rare formations. Great peaceful view from the top. Love the pinkish color of the rock.Cell service is non existent when entering Summit Trail.

Spiral T — Google review

Truly beautiful and is something Enchanted you can feel it in the air.the summit trail is not for the put of shape it is a climb but the veiw from the top is phenomenal. Take plenty of water a snack is a good idea . Be well hydrated and enjoy this Giant pink mountain.

Bo H — Google review

Monday, March 11, 2024 my wife and I went to climb the Enchanted Rock. For us it was a challenge but it was worth it. The view at the top is amazing, you look around it's like watching a Western movie. It's great for families and friends. I recommend it.

George R — Google review

Absolutely beautiful hike on an overcast day that threatened rain at a few points. On the **fantastic** park ranger's suggestion, I first did the Summit Hike to get ahead of any rain and do the hardest elevation on fresh legs, then completed the Loop trail afterwards. There are bathrooms along the back stretch in case you're worried about the length and you get to see quartz deposits, close ups of other formations, more look out points, and beautiful flowers this time of year. Highly recommend it, of course with sunscreen, water, and maybe a snack! No cell service for a bit of it, fyi.

Erin T — Google review

Enchanted Rock is a beautiful place to visit. Make sure to make your reservations in advance in order to get in. Hiking the summit trail is short but steep. The views are stunning from the top. There are multiple trails to hike around it as well. A couple of primitive campgrounds too. You can settle down among tons of people and still find solice amongst the rocks.

Jenn K — Google review

Enchanted Rock in Texas is a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts! Hike the pink granit dome for stunning views, animal watching, and stargazing. Perfect for a day trip or camping adventure. Don't forget to take a lot of water and comfortable shoes.

Marta K — Google review

4.8

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4.5

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16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624, USA

(830) 685-3636

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6

Rockbox Theater

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Performing arts theater

Concerts & Shows

Live music venue

Theaters

This intimate venue specializes in rock and roll, but they also host country and blues artists. They have great seating and top-notch tribute performers who bring the music to life. The parking can be a bit of a mess, but other than that this is definitely a place to check out.

Venue took me back in time. Wonderful and helpful staff. Comfortable seats and authentic stage. Saw Elvis tribute band by Donny and loved every single song!!

Alexandria J — Google review

aw Reckless Kelly there on 10/21. Band was great and so was the venue. Crowd was a little rowdy, but look at the entertainment. Full bar and clean restrooms. Over all a clean establishment.If the show was right, I'll go there again.Only negative thing was that Reckless Kelly's lead in act was not good.

DaBig G — Google review

Awesome music venue with great acoustics. Nearby parking, fair ticket prices and very helpful staff. We would come back tomorrow to see Marty Haggard at Rockbox Theatre.

Bubba K — Google review

Awesome place, never knew of the place. Awesome Led Zeppelin cover band. Other cover bands come soon, if you're in town you have to look this place up. Also nice little bar.

Oscar D — Google review

My boyfriend and I checked out the Rockbox Theater for an Elton John tribute night as we are big Elton John fans. The concert was awesome, and I couldn't believe how reasonably priced everything was. My boyfriend and I still talk about how impressed we were with the quality of artists that night. We will definitely check out the theater the next time we are in Fredericksburg!

Rachel P — Google review

Chad Prather and his Ragmuffins were awesome. Very good show. Mixture of music and comedy.

Michele W — Google review

Went here for Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash cover artists. The music was great! The venue itself is small and intimate, which was very nice. The restrooms are clean. If you're visiting Fredericksburg for the weekend, I totally recommend checking out their shows and coming here for a fun but chill activity in town.

Dany N — Google review

The staff/ owners were friendly and helpful. The seating was great and the tribute musicians for Woodstock Daze were absolutely outstanding. The parking was a bit of a mess, but other than that I would recommend this establishment and would visit again.

Kweenkyote — Google review

Fun place. Brings in good tribute bands. Wish the didn’t force an intermission on short shows

Barry F — Google review

Saw Rodney Crowell, great show, super helpful people, strong drinks, no annoying drunk teenagers, no smoking, even better no vaping! Check it out you’ll like it! Luckenbach, Floores, Gruene Hall are all great, but being shoulder to shoulder with the masses gets old. This was not that!

Jeff J — Google review

Fredericksburg's Rockbox Theater is awesome! The sound and lights really impressed me. Seats are very comfy, and staff is very helpful in finding your seat. Located 99 steps off Main St. 5 stars 🌟

Just P — Google review

Loved it!! Donny Edwards was spot-on with his Elite Elvis Tribute. This was the highlight of my birthday weekend. All seven family members (three generations) rocked out! A great time was had by all.

Cherie Z — Google review

We have seen several shows at Rockbox. All have been awesome!

Tricia D — Google review

Our seats were in Row G, and I could not see the performance. Either the performer needs to be on a higher platform or the seats need to be elevated on a better slope. I was glad when they showed him on the screen, but for that small of a venue, I would expect to be able to see the performer. I wish I had not bought tickets to see the Elvis performance because I am sure I will not be able to see him.

Terry R — Google review

The Rockbox is a fun place to go for friends and family!! Everyone is always so happy and enjoying the music.Ive been many times but this time was really neat getting to see and meet Johnny Lee "Looking for Love 🎸🎸"

Jessica Y — Google review

Really nice & small venue. Great sound and comfortable seating.

Jason G — Google review

Went to see A tribute to Motown, and it was absolutely fantastic. Very talented performers, who got people up and dancing in no time (though you can stay seated if you so desire)Friendly staff and great atmosphere.

Claus B — Google review

My mother bought tickets for my birthday weekend trip in Fredricksburg. We saw the Liverpool Legends (Beatles cover) I do think it was more for her..lol..as I am not a Beatles fan. However, I will say it was a pleasant surprise. They were really good!! It was an enjoyable time. The show did last about 2 and half hours she got her $ worth! But don't make many plans for after show unless it's catching drinks and another place that stays open late. The show was great my favorite was the drummer (Ringo Star) and the (John Lennon) impersonation. My 29 year old son and 19 year old enjoyed it as well. They do serve drinks.

Camryn J — Google review

I loved the show (bee gees cover band) and the venue is very nice. I wish that they hard a bigger concession area. The line was always to long and not enough time to get anything.

Constance H — Google review

Fun time with our Marathon Coach Club

E C — Google review

Up from South Padre Island, We needed a pause for the cause! The Fburg never let's us down. We've seen numerous shows here @ the Rockbox throughout the years. Once again, the sound and lighting were spot on! The band was stellar to say the least! We've grown accustomed to awesome performances at this incredible venue. Needless to say, once again, they didn't disappoint. My 87-year-old father had a fantastic experience! Sure wish South Padre Island had this level of entertainment. Once again, the Hill County will have to do....Plotted. Scouts Screening!

Kurt M — Google review

4.7

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4.5

(796)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (33)

109 Llano St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624, USA

(830) 997-7625

7

National Museum of the Pacific War

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History museum

Museums

The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX is home to copious precious war artifacts, warplanes, submarines, and authentic bomb casings from WWII. The museum also features feature video presentations that tug on your heartstrings.

We've visited the museum multiple times over the past 20 years, since it was just the Admiral Nimitz Museum and we've always enjoyed our time at the museums.The seemingly new area (we haven't been to the museum in about 5 years) detailing the life of Admiral Nimitz is fantastic and has a great mix of information graphics, multimedia, artifacts, and interactive activities.The park where they have the PT Boat, map, reenactment amphitheater, etc. was really lovely and it's a short walk from the main museum.

Jennifer C — Google review

The museum is a great experience for the entire family. To fully enjoy the entire museum, I would recommend blocking 3-5 hours of your time. The museum does a great job of walking viewers through the entire Pacific War. You'll walk away with a great understanding of all the events. Currently, they limit the number of visitors. I would recommend getting there early or buying tickets in advance.

MR H — Google review

This is an incredible museum. This was my second time at the museum. I had visited before but did not get to see the entire museum. This is a well thought out museum with memorabilia displays along with videos and plenty of placards displaying information. Highly recommend for individuals who want to know more about the events leading up to our involvement in this was.

Donna T — Google review

Wow! I never knew that such a great museum existed, and in Fredericksburg of all places!! Then I found out that Admiral Chester Nimitz was born there and it all makes sense! It follows the history of the Pacific theater and the layout/flow of exhibits is masterfully planned. I've been to museums in DC and this one was definitely better than some of them! Its a very interesting place and you can literally spend hours here without knowing it! The entry pass is good for the full day and it would probably be a good idea to go early if you really want to experience and read all the exhibits. If you love WW2 history and have never been here, well you are just missing out!

Eric M — Google review

Had a great experience here. The information was imersive with lights and sounds to help better explain conditions and the moment. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about the war in the pacific. Great for kids and elderly many places to sit and multiple restaurants.

James S — Google review

In a word, amazing. If you are wanting a quality museum experience, this is the place to visit. I've always said the soldiers on the European front were heroes, but the soldiers who fought in the Pacific theater were super heroes. This museum does a great service in telling the stories of those who fought and died in those forsaken islands in the middle of nowhere. I would put this museum on the same level as The Smithsonian. The displays are well thought out and contain copious amounts of information. Plan to spend at least 4 hours at the minimum, as there is a vast amount of content to work your way through.

Doug's P — Google review

You can't miss this place. They parked a submarine in front.Make sure you give yourself enough time to visit this first-class war museum. There is so much history, so many personal stories, and artifacts that it's best to take your time.It's heart-wrenching and patriotic. There's so much to absorb. It's fascinating. Please go.

Gayle H — Google review

This is at least my 6th visit to the National Museum of the Pacific War and it is always wonderful. The exhibits are very informative and the audio/video presentations are very good. They are currently updating the atomic bomb section at the end and it is closed right now. I would recommend at least 3 hours to do it justice.

Lew M — Google review

Outstanding presentation. Not enough words. Top notch. Plan on a few hours. Could actually spend a whole day or more for sure. The whole Nimitz story so very interesting. The free live shows really ads to the experience.

Chris F — Google review

I've been here so many times I can't count them. From early childhood (back then known as the Nimitz Museum) right up until post covid. Gets better every time. Super clean. Super great staff. Super displays. Most recently, came here with a group of managers from my work as part of leadership enrichment.

Tyler — Google review

We planned to spend a couple hours here, but the displays are so detailed and there are so many "rooms" to see, we spent the whole day (10 AM to 5 PM). The Japanese Peace Garden is beautiful and thousands of plaques mounted in the stone walls outside are most impressive,Note: Due to water damage from a leaking roof, only half the museum was open, and the entrance fee was reduced. Had the whole museum been available to us, we could not have seen it all in one day.

Fred C — Google review

A walk through history!We parked at the visitors center and walked. Traffic was minimum crossing at the intersection.First, the people who attend this museum are really friendly and personable! Second there's a list of discounts available from Veteran(✅) to senior, to student, AND small children are free!The exhibits are really beautifully designed and presented. We loved taking a peak back in time to when the world was in a dire state. Our whole crew really enjoyed how interactive the whole place was. Lots of visual and audio interaction. The artillery pieces, jeep, tanks and aircraft were great photo ops. Also there's a giant replica of an atomic bomb. Everyone was shocked and wow'd there. Really enjoyable experience. Don't forget to walk down the street to the battlefield and PT boat/aircraft exhibits.Although there was not a re-enactment we still enjoyed getting to see the empty battlefield.I highly recommend anyone with an interest in history or military history attend. Veterans will enjoy.

Danielle R — Google review

There's no war museum dedicated to the Pacific theater in the United States better than this. Everything is here, from real WWII jeeps, planes, artillery guns, bombs, submarines, and PT boats to fascinating short documentary films explaining the politics, the major battles, and personalities who dominated the headlines. War history buffs could spend days here and not get bored. But, if that's not you, even a quick 2 hour walk through the meandering galleries, inside and outside, is time well spent. It's amazingly comprehensive and a well planned exhibit.

Ari E — Google review

Spannendes Museum mit vielen interaktiven Elementen und persönlichen Geschichten, die alle Ereignisse rund um den Pazifikkrieg anschaulich und historisch interessant aufbereitet präsentieren. Es braucht durchaus einige Stunden, alles zu sehen. Man fühlt sich aber danach äußerst gut informiert, kann weitere Literatur zum Thema erwerben, ist aber zu keinem Zeitpunkt gelangweilt oder ermüdend. Ein Muss vor allem für Marine-Freunde!(Translated by Google)Exciting museum with many interactive elements and personal stories that present all the events surrounding the Pacific War in a clear and historically interesting way. It definitely takes a few hours to see everything. Afterwards you feel extremely well informed, you can purchase further literature on the topic, but you are never bored or tired. A must, especially for marine friends!

Alex B — Google review

What a beautiful museum with so much great history. Really enjoyed this! Make sure you wear good walking shoes as it takes a little while to get through all of it. Also there is three separate museums to go to so make sure you hit all of them!

Chris — Google review

We took our sons. My youngest (7) loves anything military. He was very interested in the movies and the military vehicles and aircrafts that were on display. We will definitely come back!

Jean T — Google review

This place was amazing.... If you get a chance to stop by and learn the history of the family, please do so. There was so much to learn.

Angela W — Google review

Plan for at least 2 days. This is a must see for all Americans. The sacrifice made by the men and women of WWII and this museum only speaks of the Pacific Theatre. There was another across the Atlantic. They truly were America's Greatest Generation.

Nobody S — Google review

If you have any interest in history, this is an All-Day visit! And a lot of walking!Everything is wheel chair accessible (yay) and most exhibit areas have occasional benches. (I think I sat on every one!)There are many elements to the Museum.-Nimitz's family hotel with a gallery personal to Nimitz in the hotel building.-Geo HW Bush Gallery -- don't let the name mislead you, this is the Main exhibit about the various battles in the Pacific arena during WWII. (Youcan spend a couple of days just reading and watching everything in here!)-Outside -- including the Presidents' Plaza, memorials to pretty much everyone who died in the Pacific war (we didn't see much of this so that's an impression), AND a Japanese Peace Garden (which Most regretfully, we did not see).-The Pacific Combat Zone -- is AMAZING; Is 1.5 BLOCKS AWAY.Negatives- no shuttle between combat zone and hotel/bush complex.-bathrooms few and far between-VERY STEEP hill next to hotel-sooo bigPositives-SOO BIG!-Excellent displays-really cool actual PT Boat- Teachers, Military get an extra $2 off!-worth the entry fee

Leslie F — Google review

This place provides a wonderful tribute to the brave American soldiers who participated in the pacific battles during WWII. You can find many relics related to the war here, as well as personal items of the soldiers and their families. If you are interested in WWII or American history in general, I suggest stopping by to visit and pay your respects to the memory of these heroes.

Randall B — Google review

If you love museums, plan an entire day, and I would see if you can line up with one of their live demonstrations. We unfortunately did not, but the amphitheater looked awesome. We spent 4 full hours and we were rushed. I would give this place 5 stars, but I found multiple images that did not have either written supporting documentation, audio, or even good context from other parts of the exhibit. It was not a lot, but enough to notice even with as quickly as I was running through the museum. The one that stood out was one that I think was of Japanese soldiers that had committed seppuku, but it could have been interpreted that they were tortured to death based on the vantage point. Either way, that should have had supporting information for a photo meant to invoke such a strong emotion. Either way, I will be back, and I really recommend this to everyone. We need to know our past, good or bad, to avoid repeating such a tragic conflict. That said, I am not so nieve to believe we will not ever get to that point again, so again, go and be reminded that freedom is not free...

J M — Google review

Great museum. I would suggest leaving your entire day open when visiting this museum. Lots of wonderful history, many interactive exhibits, and lots of reading too. If you love history, especially WWII, this is a true gem. Children will enjoy many of the exhibits but will honestly probably become restless before you finish your tour.

Edward S — Google review

Very unexpected. Very good. They have really spent time and energy to make this an excellent exhibit. Well worth an afternoon of your time if you're in the area.

Ryley T — Google review

Emotional - great clear information. Sets the scene historically from 1800s and takes you through Nimitz and WW2 in an understandable way. We spent about hour and a half and would happily have stayed longer if we'd had time. Paid entry so check current prices. You walk through information boards, can push buttons for extra information and words from those involved, lots of exhibits of vehicles, uniforms and so on, including a submarine. Great restroom facilities, directions are marked if you need to rest or visit restroom during the tour. Fascinating and distressing... as is war.

Teejay A — Google review

A wonderful tribute to the men and women who served in the Pacific theater of the war. Very easy to get to, parking was free and nearby, and there are some great shops along the main stretch in Fredericksburg to visit once you’re done at the museum. The memory garden with photos and bricks engraved with the names of loved ones was especially moving. It will have been my grandfather’s 100th birthday in a couple of years and I plan on purchasing a brick here to commemorate his service during the war.

John R — Google review

Real review time:Overall:Informational and good flow$10 student ticketsService:The sweetest people work here.Experience:I learned so much in each area of the museum. Be sure to go to the Japanese peace garden afterwards.Plenty of benchesTips:Plenty of parking in the area, but you may need to parallel park.No food or drink allowedThere are bathrooms

Rebecca R — Google review

If you are given the chance to go here, take it. This museum is incredible. I left with such a humble heart. The whole experience was very moving and at times surreal. The amount of artifacts they have and the knowledge that was shared was beyond anything I ever expected. We were in here for hours and could have easily spent the day here reading all the stories. It is an inside and outside museum with many things to see. Take it all in.

Kat — Google review

Something that we heard before, but i did not see the visual impacts. It educates us that today's peace cost is so high, we all should protect what we have gained.

Diego — Google review

This is really quite a treasure, especially to be located in a sleepy (relatively speaking) setting like downtown Fredericksburg. A World War II buff could easily spend a whole day or more exploring all the nooks and crannies, but for the more casual tourist I'd suggest allowing 3-4 hours at least. The main building is where you buy your tickets, and has the primary exhibit space that takes you thru the war, with a particular focus on the Pacific theater as one would expect. It's an easy 10 or so minute walk from there down to the "battle zone" exhibits, or you could drive as there seems to be ample (and free by the way) parking in both locations. For us it was a nice walk on a beautiful spring morning, and the payoff was two-fold: one exhibit that included an actual plane from the era and focused on aerial combat; and another that had an actual PT boat from the era and focused on the action at sea. There was also a giant thought-provoking world map on the pavement outside the two indoor exhibits that might help one put into perspective the scale of the conflict and how different nations and areas were impacted. On the walk back to the main building we went thru the Japanese Peace Garden, which is not only lovely but I think meaninful for those who might be in a contemplative mood. There are other memorials on the grounds as well as we worked our way to the side door of the main building. Back inside, all I can say is, there is a lot! And again, the particular focus is the Pacific theater, with motivations of various countries and factions examined in terms of why the war happened and how it unfolded, and as you'd expect quite a number of exhibits on tactics and strategies employed on all sides. I'll leave it at that, and summarize by saying this is an excellent museum that lives up to its title, and if all that holds any appeal whatsoever for you, then I highly recommend it.

Mike J — Google review

The museum is well worth the visit. It’s well designed and easy to get around. They have wheelchairs available for you to use and that’s greatly appreciated. We saved because my kids are students so don’t forget those school ID’s. The only bad news is that the section where the bomb is in display was closed for renovation. Great museum to visit..!

Seth V — Google review

So many times in Fredericksburg and I kept missing the opportunity to go to the museum. This time, I made time and it did not disappoint. So much to see. I will have to come back.

James L — Google review

My wife and I decided to go to Fredericksburg Texas. I had heard of this Museum. I remember hearing about Admiral Nimitz and the various battles which were fought before and during WW II in the Pacific in Highschool while in Hawaii. Parking was an issue of Prime Real Estate. They do have a Military and Senior Citizen Discount. If you can make it there and have any interest in any part of WW II then I would highly recommend it. They have wheelchairs if anyone needs one. The restrooms are very clean. There is also a small merchandise section near the lobby. I would suggest allowing yourself between 2- 2 5 hours to walk the entire museum at your own pace to truly take it all in and enjoy it. The Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful and pleasant as well. It might also be a place to have a Field Trip if you're studying this time period in school. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

James J — Google review

8

E Main St

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Sights & Landmarks

Points of Interest & Landmarks

E Main St, also known as Fredericksburg Main Street, serves as the bustling main artery of the city. Divided into two distinct parts - The Magic Mile central shopping district and the historic West Main Street - it offers a diverse range of experiences. The Marktplatz, located between these sections, is a vibrant hub featuring pavilions, green spaces, a charming waterwheel, and the iconic Maibaum (maypole).

4.5

(2068)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (46)

Fredericksburg, TX 78624, USA

9

Willow City Loop

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Sights & Landmarks

Scenic Drives

Willow City Loop is a picturesque route that winds through the countryside and is perfect for scenic drives and cycling. This road is particularly popular during springtime due to the abundance of wildflowers that can be seen along the way. The region's natural beauty is truly awe-inspiring, making it an ideal spot for those who enjoy spending time in nature. With its meandering path and vibrant flora, Willow City Loop offers visitors a unique and memorable experience every time they traverse its charming terrain.

4.5

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Texas, USA

10

Pedernales Cellars

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$$$$affordable

Winery

Nestled on over 140 acres of picturesque land, Pedernales Cellars is a family-owned boutique winery in Stonewall, Texas. Specializing in Spanish and Rhone style wines, the winery has garnered numerous awards for its exceptional offerings. Visitors can enjoy cellar tours, tastings, and relax on the shaded deck with a glass of wine and cheese boards available on weekends. The friendly staff ensures a welcoming experience for both seasoned wine enthusiasts and newcomers to the world of wine.

What an impressive introduction to Texas wines. I have done extensive tasting in California during my 25 years there and Pedernales was on par with best. We did the reserve tasting which is all reds, mostly Spanish and Portuguese grapes. Every one of them was fantastic— complex, balanced and easily drinkable. Our wine tasting server, Michael, was terrific. Very knowledgeable and friendly, and clearly has a passion for these wines. If you are visiting anywhere in the one hour radius, I highly recommend this winery.

Melissa L — Google review

If you are looking for a beautiful romantic place to enjoy a glass of wine without any other expectations this place will definitely do the trick. It was not overly friendly and welcoming, had stunning views, but over all it was just nice to try.

Shawna H — Google review

Super cute winery with lots of our door seating and very pleasant views of the surrounding hill country. The winery has a nice selection of red and whites with 1 very good rosé. Their wines are not super sweet and this season they did not have a wine that was sweet. But all of them were very good and the variety offers something for everyone.

Cody H — Google review

I never write reviews but I just had to! We came this weekend to town for the grape stomp. First off, my mom couldn't join bc she got sick. I gave them the shirt so they could resale and they refunded me for my mom! I didn't ask or expect it. We were first to grape stomp and the ladies were holding and entertaining my baby. We go into the tasting room for wine tasting and my daughter spilled water which didn't even phase Jeremy he kindly cleaned it up even though I offered. His knowledge on wine and kind demeanor to my little kids was refreshing. All the wines were amazing and I bought a bottle. When we went outside the ladies offered for us to get our feet in the grapes again. Being first, our feet prints didn't show up well on the shirts. Everyone was incredibly kind and overly welcoming. I can't wait to bring my mom when I'm back in town!

Katie F — Google review

I am new to wine and wine drinking and decided to try Pedernales because of a great interaction with staff at my own job. Brenna and Ashley were so friendly and outgoing that I promised to go visit.Let me tell you, I was so impressed. I am new to the industry and learning, and my wife knows even less. The server/tasting room asdociate, Brooke, was so patient and extremely knowledgeable. They were filming something for PBS, so the tasting room was temporarily closed. This was not bad at all, because the view was so beautiful. When we did go in, I saw the tasting room was clean (not clean/dirty but clean in the interior design sense) and beautifully laid out.Ashley served us as well to help out when it was busy and did excellent. From experience, I would say Brooke, Janene or Brenna would be a great choice as I have personally had excellent interactions with all three and demonstrate behavior I rarely see in the service industry--friendliness, knowledge and a welcomeness. My wife told me she felt welcomed and not talked down to, which has sadly happened at far too many places. Will definitely make the 90 minute drive again.

Joshua J — Google review

We visited Pedernales Cellars in early April. The view is beautiful and serene. The young woman who guided us through our tasting was the perfect compliment to the view and the excellent wine we were tasting. She was knowledgeable and personable, a great combination and made the experience very enjoyable. We will 100% be going back on our next visit to Fredericksburg.

Robert H — Google review

We were pleasantly surprised!!! There are no sweet wines here, and I am not a huge dry wine fan, however, all the drys were actually pretty good and easy to drink!! The staff was super nice and the views are beautiful! They allow picnics, so grab a bottle of wine from them and bring your food and enjoy the views!

Marti W — Google review

The view and atmosphere was very pretty. We visited and no one else was even there when we arrived. The staff member was nice but definitely overly friendly. We were very upfront about wanting to learn. He did not take any time to explain anything to us. WE asked questions and got little to no response. I personally am not a red wine drinker and explained that to him. 4 of our 6 were red during the Tasting which would have been okay to allow me to learn. Zero. Nada. Our glasses were not cleaned in between and no pallet cleanser. I think he just couldn’t be bothered to be honest. We then went to Becker Vineyards and it was amazing! So friendly and helpful.

Texas L — Google review

Great place to kick back with a glass of wine and a cheese plate. We visited Pedernales Cellars with a large party on a Saturday, and they were very friendly and accommodating. Cathy helped make the whole experience a great one and even had reserved tables set up for our party of 25 when we arrived at the facility. She greeted us upon arrival and worked with our group to choose some wines for us to enjoy on the patio.The service was great, the wine was tasty, and the views were beautiful. I would definitely visit Pedernales Cellars again. Thanks for hosting us and putting up with my husband's crazy birthday crew!

Allyson V — Google review

If you are visiting the area, this is a must stop! Their service is incomparable and the wines are delicious Texas born and raised. Michael served us and he was outstanding- made the trip all the more special. Thank you guys! Will definitely make this place a staple.

Angelina G — Google review

Holly was very knowledgeable, friendly, and answered our questions well. She was a delight. The samples we had were impressive...my wife loved the whites, I loved the reds. We signed up for the wine club! Thank you for a great experience!

David P — Google review

The place is incredible and their wines surprised us. I didn't know Texas had this high quality wines to offer and I'm definitely interested to keep trying different wineries in the region. The service and information provided by Forbes (the pedernales representative at the tasting room) was top class. I can definitely recommend this experience to anyone.

Santiago R — Google review

This winery has good and quite unique wines and a scenic location. Tasting wines out on the patio, or buying a bottle for a picnic on the vast grounds with great views. A favorite in the TX hill country.

Gio S — Google review

Love this winery and highly recommend a visit to anyone in the area. It is a beautiful scenic location but what we love the most is the focus is on the wines which are top notch. Visited for a tasting and discovered a couple of new wines to take home and enjoy - a light and refreshing white Albariño, a rich and dark Graciano and one of our favs in the Tempranillo. Thank you for consistently producing fantastic Texas wines! We love Pedernales and will keep coming back!

Abbie C — Google review

A great first time experience! Great place to relax and sip on some wine while listening to live music

Alisha L — Google review

My husband and I went to Pedernales Cellars this afternoon for the first time and did the Reserve Red Wine tasting and we sample 5 amazing wines! We really enjoyed the Family Reserve and the Daniel Vineyard Tempranillo Joven - but all 5 were lovely and we did leave with wine!We also enjoyed the ambiance. We had a table by a window that looked out onto the Hill Country and enjoyed watching the bumble bees, hummingbirds and the swallows flit about. The grounds are beautiful. And, Janine (I hope I am spelling her name correctly) helped us with our wines and was very knowledgeable about the wines and it was obvious that she is passionate about the wines too. I always like it when our wine server likes the wines - makes the tasting that much more fun.I will be visiting the winery again and would like to do the cellar tour. This is a serious winery who knows how to do Texas wines!

Judith H — Google review

Jeremy was amazing! We learned so much about the wine and the vineyards in Texas. The Wine was delicious. Highly recommend, a must do if you are in Texas.

Gina P — Google review

What a view!! It was an amazing experience. I have been to many wineries and so far this is my fave. I love Texas wines and then add Spanish grapes it's a winner. Forbes was our tasting expert and he was full of knowledge even when we asked questions he had the answer.

Tiffani A — Google review

Yes, of course they have excellent wines and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating areas. They also will set you up with a grape stomping session. I enjoyed it immensely! The wine club tasting events are quite enjoyable.

Frank F — Google review

The winery was small and not crowded. The wine tasting was great and Mike was awesome! Ask for him when you book a tasting. The view from the winery is amazing. Definitely take pics!

Sonia L — Google review

Beautiful tasting room and gorgeous views from the patio! Holly led a fun, informative tasting and the acoustical panels on the ceiling help dampen the noise so you can carry on a conversation. Left with multiple bottles to enjoy at home.

Kent S — Google review

Excellent wine! And Holly is a fabulous tasting hostess. Her descriptions made us feel the wine in our soul and taste the suggested meal pairing real time. Impressive. Highly recommend Pedernales and ask for Holly!

Wendy G — Google review

We spent a wonderful afternoon at Pedernales Cellars tasting wine in Texas Hill country near Fredericksburg.

Eugene P — Google review

K9 with a J is amazing. She was very patient with our large group and graceful handling everything that comes with a party that size. Pedernales was the most accommodating for a large party and would highly recommend for any groups looking for an excellent experience.

Emily L — Google review

Great wines, loved the mourvédre and GSM. Be advised they have a very limited menu on weekdays with only 5 wines for tastings and glasses. Jeremy was our bar tender and super nice and knowledgeable.

Adalynn F — Google review

Great views and delicious wines. The wine club is free to join and ships four times per year. The tasting staff is friendly and the gift shop is amusing, but standard. Tastings were $15 for 7 wines on my visit. The reds were particularly high quality.

David P — Google review

We came here with a bachelorette party group and Janine took the best care of us. She was so kind and patient, even agreeing to come outside and take a picture of our group. It ended up being our favorite experience of our 3 winery day!

Caitlyn R — Google review

4.4

(342)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (57)

4.0

(316)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (58)

2916 Upper Albert Rd, Stonewall, TX 78671, USA

(830) 644-2037

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11

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site

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State park

Nature & Parks

Park

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site in Texas offers tours of the Texas White House, ranch, and boyhood home with original furnishings. The Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm features staff dressed in historical costumes demonstrating the past. Visitors can enjoy a driving tour with a narrated app through the park and ranch if they prefer not to walk. The park also includes a theater showcasing a film explaining its history and former president LBJ's story.

This should be a must stop for everyone. So many things to see, trails, all types of wildlife, memorials to read along the way. Luckily when we went it was cloudy. There's a lot of walking if you plan on going on all the trails. The parking was plentiful and there was no charge when we went. We had a blast! Spent at least 2 hrs here but feel we didn't see everything. Highly recommend and will definitely be returning.

Texas G — Google review

The scenery on the national park side of the loop is stunning. We saw cows up close at the car, many deer, pronghorn on the fenced side, bald eagles, and more. The meadows were beautiful. We saw the schoolhouse, but arrived at 3:15 pm which was a little late to tour the working farm or go in the birthplace. The Texas White House is closed for renovation, and you can’t get close to that part of the property. Free, close the main road, and a great stop overall.

James S — Google review

It is a beautiful area and the ranch is lovely. The Texas White House was closed for work, but it was fun to look around the ranch and visit the sites. It is a nice drive and some nice things to see. There are lots of cows and some goat to visit as well. It is worth the stop and only takes an hour or so to see it all.

Russell L — Google review

Great hiking trails (dogs on lessh are allowed) and beautiful wild flower fields. They also have places you can grill. It is also worth seeing some of the exhibits. The staff are great and admission is free...you can also make a donation.

Irasema R — Google review

My sister's and I visited the park on a hill country trip we took together. The park was gorgeous! There is so much to see and do there, and tails to walk so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. The park rangers were friendly and hospitable, they have a great gift shop and clean restrooms. I will definitely be returning with my husband to show him this beautiful jewel in our beautiful hill country and you should visit too! (BTW, if you love wine, the drive there is on the main road to many of the best wines in the hill country, just thought you should know.) 😊

Darling R — Google review

I gatta be honest, i wasn’t sure i was gonna stop cause I don’t know anything about LBJ and wasn’t sure if it was gonna be cool. But i was happily surprised, id recommend anyone that likes history, likes outdoor Texas, or wants to see a neat totally unique kind of exhibit for this area to definitely stop.If you dont want to get out of your car or you cant walk well, no problem! They driving tour with the narrated app through the NP is great and you still get to drive all over the ranch and see stuff.If you want to get out of your car and see stuff, they have a bunch of places to stop off and get close to things. It was beautiful. Theyve done an excellent job with it. 10/10 would go again.

Courtney W — Google review

Beautiful state park in a really nice small town area. We will be going back to see more as we only had a few hours. The staff at the welcome center were very nice and super helpful with explaining the most bang for the time we had there. Enough to keep the whole family entertained and enjoying the outdoors and history!

Sabrina K — Google review

Great state park near the river perfect for paddle boarding. The Living history barn was a great place to take the kids. We watched them milk the cows, make soap, make butter, and watch them sew using an old-fashioned, sewing machine. Fun to see all the animals wandering about before heading out on a nice hike through the woods to see Longhorn cattle. Very educational weekend!

Jana M — Google review

This is a very nice free tours you can take while you're in the Fredericksburg area. It takes about 60 minutes and is lots of fun to see the history of this ranch. They have lots of signs along the drive-thru that tell you about the airport that was there and all the other interesting things that were done on the ranch while he was President and vice President. Still a very active ranch and there's cows that you can feed and mainly driving so you don't have to walk a lot and still get to see all of the ranch.

Scott H — Google review

Beautiful park all around. The school was so cool.

TheHomieChris — Google review

Learn all about LBJ and his contributions to the state. One of the coolest parts of the park is its historical farm. See what life was like back in the early 1900s. When went to check out the Christmas decorations and everything is real and handmade. Worth a trip if you’re in the Fredericksburg area.

Mr.S Q — Google review

Great Park to see a lot of history concerning Lyndon B. Johnson. One of the neat things as they have a working farm and staff dressed in the era, the farm would have been active in. Take your time and look at all the different stops along the way.

Marc S — Google review

The state park is near the LBJ National Park. They have a living history farm to tour as well as an exhibit on LBJ.

Merideth O — Google review

I've visited before but this week I hiked. Easy, filled with flowers - 2.5 hours went fast.

Terri M — Google review

Slightly confusing that the separate state park and national park are adjacent and connected. Great staff. Friendly and helpful and lots of them. State part is small but exhibits well maintained and well presented. Disappointed that no animals were present in the wildlife area. National area was better in terms of sights to see.

Joe B — Google review

This was my second visit here. It was a major holiday so the main reception area and the theater was closed. It is worth going when the theater is open to see the film explaining the history of the park and ranch as well as the former president LBJ. They have a couple Texas Longhorns grazing and a small herd of Buffalo, very nice. There is a white tail deer reserve, also very nice. Great hiking trails where you will see the deer and other animals doing their thing. Quite beautiful. And the old German style log Cabin is definitely worth seeing. But go when it is not a major holiday if you want to see this.

Herbert H — Google review

Great experience stepping back in time enjoying beautiful grounds and learning about the life, family, and passions of President Johnson. I enjoyed walking the grounds and taking in the scenery. A thunderstorm rolled in during my visit and was able to get some pics of that with the landscape. I would absolutely recommend visiting the site's starting with the visitors center, walking through the trails if physically able to, visiting the plantation, then driving through site's where President Johnson lived and worked.

Andrew C — Google review

Informative. Lovely park, nature trail and farm, and great shop! Take time to go.

Amy T — Google review

Really enjoyed learning about the history! I I love how this is still a working farm.

Shannon W — Google review

Lots of history, peaceful and simple. Ample parking. Enjoy

Travis M — Google review

4.7

(1854)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (70)

4.5

(455)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (71)

199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671, USA

(830) 644-2252

12

Cascade Caverns

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Nature preserve

Nature & Parks

Cascade Caverns is a 70-ft. high cave on 104 acres with tent camping, trails and wildlife. It is a private nature preserve with an interesting tour guide who was the owner of the cave. Kids enjoyed it because they got to see a few salamanders and one bat. The tickets were pricier than expected but it is worth the visit overall.

Great cave tour. The young man leading our tour was very knowledgeable of the history and made things fun and interesting. My 10y/o daughter was fusing about going but absolutely loved it and couldn’t stop talking about the cave the rest of the day. The place was not busy and crowded which allowed us to get our own personal tour without a bunch of other families and their kids running around. If you are out of shape and have bad knees and back this may not be the cave for you as there is several sections through the cave you have to crouch with one section for 30’ before you can stand upright. There are handrails to help balance you. I’m 6’5” and I had to squat quite lower than my family to make it through some areas. All parties looking to do this cave tour should be able to walk. The cave is not handicap accessible nor can you use a stroller to take your baby into the cave and I do not recommend strapping your baby to you as this would be to dangerous(use common sense people). Recommend for older kids(6) to adults. Gift shop is nice to pick up some rock souvenirs. Tours start at top of the hour so get there early to get tickets and take in the gift shop as you wait.

Jo Y — Google review

It was an interesting tour of this privately owned natural cave. Our tour guide was the owner so we got to ask a few extra questions. Kids enjoyed it a lot as they got to see a few salamanders and one bat. The tickets were a bit pricier than expected but it is worth the visit overall.

Emrah A — Google review

Our tour guide "stingray" was amazing, and one of the best cave tours I've been on, would highly recommend this tour, very educational, and visually stunning. Would not recommend for handicapped, there are a lot of stairs and it gets slippery as this is an active wet cave, lots of climbing down and up, you will get "cave kisses" i.e. dripped on quite a bit as well. Tour takes about an hour or more.

Joe P — Google review

We took our kids to Cascade Caverns today to celebrate mine and my husband’s 14 year wedding anniversary. This was our first visit to the caverns, and we live locally. Brandon was our guide. He was fun and knowledgeable. We will definitely be going back. I appreciate his humor making the tour a lot of fun. Thank you, Brandon!!

Kimberly R — Google review

This was my first time to these caverns, and it was so enjoyable! The tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. We bought some rocks from "Stingray" in the gift shop, and had a great time listening to Alex throughout our tour. We'll be back and we'll bring some friends next time!

Brittany S — Google review

We stayed at the RV Park associated with the caverns. Since it's a natural preserve the sites are not mowed as closely as in most parks but we enjoyed the natural setting with plenty of oak shade trees. The hiking trails are fun and easy. The caverns are beautiful and worth taking the guided tour loaded with interesting facts.

Gary S — Google review

I hope everyone gets “Stingray” as their tour guide! He made it easy to remember cool facts about the cave and knew exactly where to find unique formations and critters. Definitely a once in a lifetime amazing experience! I highly recommend for families (with kids too!). We brought our 6 and 3 year old girls and it was amazing to hear their oohs and ahhs as we explored the cave.There is camping on site and additional tours in the summer. We plan on coming back soon!

Lexie G — Google review

Did the flashlight tour on October 14, 2023 with my husband and our 2 kids. We throughoutly enjoyed the tour with our guide Sweet Tea! We enjoyedher quirkiness attitude, explaining the cave's history, thinking and maintaining our safety, and making the tour an adventure! Thank you! It's definitely a spot to see!!

Dee M — Google review

Sweet Tea was a funny & wonderful guide. Went with my parents (70+) and my 8 yr old. We all were able to enjoy it and had a blast! Definitely recommend and intrigued by their other deeper cave tour in the future!!

Kaylin C — Google review

This was a smaller cave but so natural. It's one of the most natural caves I've ever visited. Will be back for the wild cave tour in the summer. Dillon and linray were the best tour guides. Very knowledgeable and humorous! Thanks for a great tour!

Samantha L — Google review

Our guide was Jasper and she was delightful!First time for my friend and I to tour any caverns. Jasper was very entertaining and knowledgeable about what we were seeing in the caves. Definitely a must stop if you’re in the area!!

Mary B — Google review

This cave was a great experience. It isn't the biggest cave I've visited, but there is plenty of things and history to learn about. Stingray was an amazing guide, he was funny and taught us many things about the cave (although he is a patriots fan).

Kats4308 — Google review

We brought grandsons to their first cavern today, they had a blast! Mr.Kyle was our tour guide he was so informative and funny. Now we have been to many caverns and had many guides,but Mr.Kyle took his time taking us through. We saw the Cascade Cavern salamander, bats,cave crickets, a millipede the kids were very excited. We were wowed. Thank you Mr. Kyle and Cascade Caverns.

Dwayne M — Google review

Such a fun experience and the tour was outstanding! Pocket was our guide and she was so much fun. We enjoyed the rock splitting and the great time watching people slucing for geodes and special rocks. We enjoyed splitting a geode for our collection. The young man that assisted us in the geode splitting was fun and we had fun doing this fun thing while there. I cannot remember his name but he knows what to look for in the best find on this task! Thanks to their attention to our wants and desires was well above average!TxTiger68

Tony K — Google review

It is awesome place, The cave is so amazing, u can see bats and salamanders inside, clean water and many different rock formations. Flors are wet but it is to be expected in a cave, and you need to be careful. Our guide was very nice and informative, she told us many stories about the cave and it's history. Good prices and military discounts. We had a great time exploring the cave and I definitely recommend the visit. There is a souvenir store on the grounds and the RV park.

Kaja S — Google review

Absolutely stunning tour. I went on the upper tour costing $22.50 for an individual ticket. Views were stunning with natural symmetrical sphere formations, stalactites and stalagmites, limestone formations, and animals such as bats and salamanders. Brandon did a great job on the tour of explaining the history of the place, wildlife, and rock formations.I thought the tour was very entertaining and reasonably priced, the tour was around an hour and they have an evening tour option as well as a longer tour (3-4 hours, waitlisted), that’s more in depth and goes further underground.

Jackson D — Google review

Cascade Caverns is insanely beautiful and it is so cool that a Patrick Swayze movie was shot in the cave! My hubby and I watched Father Hood when we got home!Trinity aka SWEET TEA was so much fun! And we basically had a private tour on Friday afternoon and you get your own flashlight.They have so much water! Their formation growth rate is an inch every 20 years, whereas at my workplace, Inner Space it's an inch every 100 years.We were so excited to see the salamanders and the I'm DYING to see what lies below on their summer only Wild Caving tour! The grounds itself is just gorgeous.

Katherine H — Google review

I thoroughly enjoy caves no matter where they are or how big or how small. But Cascade caverns doesn't have a problem with their personnel. Doesn't have a problem with their cavern but they have a problem with their business philosophy. I went down with 23 other people with one tour guide who by the way was excellent but the passageways were narrow and slippery and almost half of the guests were kids under the age of 10. You couldn't hear what the tour guide was saying about formations or any technical information. I was extremely disappointed. I would have paid twice the fee to get in if there was only four people in my group. I have never been in a cave with a tour group of more than 12-13 people. Max. It's an absolutely beautiful cave, but there was so much talking between the kids and the adults. Let their kids continue talking. I was just disappointed. I'm a grandfather. I know how kids and grandkids can be. It would have been better off to have broken this into a much smaller group. I know it's spring break and I know that they have a lot of people coming through, but the experience was lost in the noise. Also, I think issuing a flashlight to every guest on the tour. Detracts from the experience. For example, I was there with a black light. I had a broad beam black light and a pencil thin black light and I was trying to determine what would glow . So when people saw me pointing my black light in a fixture they would all turn their flashlights and point it right at the object. I was trying to illuminate and have and glow. Well that didn't happen. I'm sorry if I sound better but it could have been so much better with just a little bit more effort. The staff were amazing. I got there 5 minutes before the tour started and they were able to check me in and walk me to the group. Already heading down to the cave. Which I was not expecting and I told them that I would wait because I was not in a rush. But little did I know.....

Chris M — Google review

Excellent cave experience! My wife and I had a wonderful time in Cascade Caverns. We were the only ones on the tour which made it feel like a VIP experience. We saw a buzzard guarding a nest upon cave entrance, tons of daddy long legs on the ceiling right at the entrance, a bat that was low enough to see very well, a species of salamander that exist only in this cave, lots of water collection pools, waterfall, old small mammoth bones, and so much more. We also got to experience absolute darkness when all the lights were turned off. It was incredibly dark, almost disorienting. Overall a very nice experience.

Jeremy G — Google review

Ask for Bri you won't regret it! My 7, 12, and 13 year old sons said this was the coolest thing we did our whole vacation. Bri was full of good energy and info. We loved this adventure. Even the gift shop allowed for everyone to grab a couple of things to take home to remember the trip, and it was affordable! Would definitely recommend!

Melody A — Google review

Visit was on a Friday. Tours start at top of the hour. The tour guide was great, explaining formations, added a bit of humor and was engaging. Highly recommend this hour tour.

Jana S — Google review

Well worth the price of admission. And "Pocket" our tour guide, was great. We were the last tour of the day and I overheard her say goodnight to the cave. That is someone who loves the natural beauty of the caves and it was obvious by the way she showed us around.

Garfield F — Google review

This was a nice little cave. It was fun going down into. For the price I was a little disappointed. But we still enjoyed the tour. Tour guide was pretty informative. We only saw 2 bats, but it seemed like they were glued up there as an example. Not sure? Once was enough for us. We won't be going to see it again.

Crafty M — Google review

Brandon took us on our tour today, and he was a fantastic guide! Very personable and funny, his knowledge was first class. The cave was wonderful well maintained and truly an experience. The surrounding area is beautiful as well there is a lovely nature trail you can take after your cave tour. I had asked prior to starting our tour if we would see bats and he said it was possible and sure enough he hunted one down for me to see! I 100% recommend cascade caverns and will return again!

Bethany M — Google review

What a hidden gem!! Probably my favorite cave tour ever. Stingray was the most patient, fun guide. He definitely made the experience even more amazing. Highly recommend! You don't want to miss this one!

Julie D — Google review

My wife and I visited the caverns just a few days ago. It was a rainy Sunday. We were the only ones on the tour and was great for us because we got an amazing private tour by “Pocket”. I wish we had come years ago. It is beautiful. The bats and salamanders add to the tour.

Steve D — Google review

beautiful!! we got there an hour or so before their first tour of the day which was at 10:00 AM. we saw a few animals there, the tour guide was great, no complaints!

Mocha — Google review

Where to go on a hot day in Texas? Cascade Caverns. It's about 62° in the cavern. It takes a few steps to get into it and it takes a few steps to get out of it, but it's worth it. We had a great guide - Brandon. He was very informative as well as humorous.

Kate T — Google review

4.7

(1010)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (76)

4.5

(490)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (77)

226 Cascade Cavern, Boerne, TX 78015, USA

(830) 755-8080

13

Cave Without A Name

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Nature & Parks

Historical landmark

The Cave Without A Name is a picturesque cavern that has been open to the public since 1939. It offers guided tours of unique geological formations, as well as occasional live concerts. The cave has multiple rooms, each more stunning than the last. Visitors can enjoy a tour with knowledgeable guides like Catherine, who is both a biology college student and an expert on the cave's features. She even uses black light flashlights to highlight the colors beneath the surface of this fascinating natural wonder.

Great outing! Easy access cave with many rooms , one more beautiful than the other. We highly recommend the guided your -ask for the tour with Catherine as your guide— she is a biology college student and loves the cave and what she does. She even took a black light flashlight to show the different colors under black light - is a great idea and a different take on caves. Not one of the massive caves, but absolutely worth it!

Patricia R — Google review

Finally got out to this privately-owned cave and it was very much worth it. Our guide was a VERY enthusiastic young lady and she did a great job. These caverns are worth your time to reserve a spot to tour. They hold monthly concerts and host weddings in the caverns, too, so pretty fascinating. Great story behind the discovery of the cave itself as well. Really enjoyed it.

Matt — Google review

Absolutely amazing cave tour! So glad we picked this one. We only had time to do one cave in the area and after a little research this one sounded good and much less crowded and touristy. Mike led our tour and he was friendly, interesting and informative. Everyone in our party really enjoyed it! The Cave has so many features- solitary tricolor bats, drapery and bacon, clear pools, it is utterly lovely. Highly recommend! Afterwards we had a Moroccan geode cut at the gift shop and the kids panned for gemstones. Great experience! Good to reserve your time ahead and wear comfortable and safe footwear for all the steps.

AshN A — Google review

This was a great experience. The cave itself was fun to tour and very educational in learning about the different rock formations in it. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about their jobs. The entrance fee was around $21 and they offer an active duty, veteran and retired discount.👍They have a gift shop inside as well as clean restrooms outside. The staff are very friendly and ready to answer any questions.This is definitely worth a drive to go check out and have fun exploring.😁

Henry R — Google review

I recently had the pleasure of going on a cave tour with Natalie as our guide, and it was an unforgettable experience! Natalie was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the caves, which made the tour both educational and fun. She took the time to answer all of our questions and made sure everyone felt comfortable throughout the tour. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear that she loves what she does. I highly recommend this tour to anyone, especially if you have Natalie as your guide. Thanks for an amazing adventure!

De K — Google review

First time visiting and first time ever visiting a cave. It was such a wonderful experience! I forgot the guy’s name that was our tour guide but he was so nice and very informative. He mentioned he’s a senior in high school! Kudos to you for all that you shared with us!I brought a jacket because it was communicated it would be about 66 degrees down there and I get cold easily. But it really doesn’t feel like 66. It was quite humid. I say that say you probably don’t need a jacket. Def wear walking shoes and bring a water bottle if you tend to get thirsty easily.The duration of the tour was nice, walking and listening to the history of the cave and stopping for pictures!Highly recommend checking this place out!

Krystle B — Google review

Great tour from Natalie. She was able to answer all the group’s questions. She really knew the history. Our family (including the teens) enjoyed it. It is a small cave, which is ideal for people not really into caves but has some unique features that were great for people that explore caves often.There are 2 marked trails to explore while you wait on your tour to start. We did the short easy yellow trail in the afternoon heat and it was all shaded and not uncomfortable despite the heat.Katherine was great in the gift shop. So nice and kind.If you are looking for something to do other than ride a horse, plan this into your trip!Can’t wait to visit again when they have a concert down there. The acoustics are suppose to be phenomenal!*There are lots of steps, but that was expected.

S H — Google review

Nice cave and close to San Antonio, TX. We went on the trials before the tour. The tour person did a good explanation about the caves. There is a small shop beside the caves. Be prepared to walk up the steps after the tour. A good place to visit if you are looking for something to do.

VRus R — Google review

Great Experience! Our tour guide Cole was awesome. He made it informative and interesting even for our 7 year old. The cave was full of amazing formations and features. I highly recommend it. They also have a gift shop and you can purchase a Geode and they will cut it for you which was a big hit with our son.

Lisa A — Google review

What an out of this world experience! Our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. Shared so much information and had great stories about the cave. The cave itself is beautiful with so much to see and admire. Our favorite part of the tour was when our guide turned off all the lights in the cave and we sat in complete darkness. Wow!

E. G — Google review

Absolutely stunning cave here at The Cave With No Name. The tour was fun and educational. Our guide was knowledgeable, personable and all around great. I can’t remember her name unfortunately, but she was great! Drove a few hours out of our way to visit, but it was definitely worth the trip. Would highly recommended!

Edward D — Google review

Such a beautiful and wonderful tour. The tour guide was amazing and have us all an amazing experience. 1 hour tour, has an amazing gift shop where you can buy sand and dirt to mine arrow heads or gems on the property. Can enjoy a day and have a picnic outside on the picnic tables.

Valerie J — Google review

Caroline was a fantastic guide and did a great job of explaining formations and the history behind this cave. Her black-light demonstration was especially fun. Cave Without A Name is a good choice for first time cavern visitors and those with younger children. There is an 8 story climb out of the cave but not much walking or navigating tricky terrain when in the cave.

Nichole C — Google review

A nice tour of the cave with lots of stories and history. Caroline was a great guide. It's more like an underground museum than a cave adventure, so don't expect to become an active spelunker in this tour. Also, good to know your physical abilities. going down into the caves and walking around was fine, but climbing eight vertical stories of stairs to get out is a CHORE! Highly recommend for the young or fit, though.

W M — Google review

Our guide Natalie was such a sweet girl. She told us she started in high-school and is continuing through college. She was extremely knowledgeable about everything asked. I am extremely happy we got her to lead our tour.The cave itself was amazing anf very impressive. Very well preserved even through the construction process. Its definitely worth a visit.

Jeremiah C — Google review

We love it. Nice place for our 5th wheels to park and enjoy quiet camp ground. Close to nice, clean , cool bathroom facility. Nice quick walk to office and the cave entrance… the best is the concert in 8 stories down in the cave .. highly recommend !!!!

Pisamai C — Google review

Amazing cave and guided tour. Went at 3pm on a Thursday with my boys. Called ahead to make reservations. Tour lasts 60 min. So many amazing cave formations! Loved the cave bacon and eggs, alien, and nativity. Saw a few bats. Even had a few minutes with all the light off. It was a nice escape to 66 degrees on a 100 degree day.

Christine — Google review

Excellent! I've been in alot of caverns in my life. The tour is very beautiful and awesome down below. The guide said maybe once a month they have a 200 person concert down there. That would be so cool! In the pic with the flashlight showing, the cavern goes on another 2 miles, but the tour does not extend there. You will have to go down about 8 stories of stairs so not wheelchair accessible. The guide was very knowledgeable and nice. Also a nice gift shop there too! 🚻🚭

John L — Google review

This was a different kind of tour for us, it felt like a stroll back in time, the guide was a former visitor that came back to tell all the little stories that went into bringing this cave into the spotlight. Though not as well known as Natural Bridge, it is still enjoyable and definitely cooler. They often have weddings and musical concerts in the main cavern.

Joe Y — Google review

Alex was our tour guide and he was the greatest. Super knowledgeable, professional and kind. Great guy to talk to. The cave is amazing. Like nothing we’d ever seen. Bring good shoes, it’s 8 stories of stairs/landing tours are hourly. The history behind the cave is really cool also. We also got a beautiful large geode to cut open and it did not disappoint

Shiloh C — Google review

We enjoyed the tour of the cave. It was so comfortable on a really hot summer day. Alex was a great tour guide and gave us great information. I do plan to charge him if he uses my dad joke. JK, thanks Alex for the tour. Looking forward to learning about the caves growth.

Beth S — Google review

This cave was larger than I expected and still actively growing. Stalagmites, stalactites, columns, flows, river. Nice tour guide. The acoustics are great for small concerts (cello, harp, etc.) and weddings. Small campground and they are a Harvest Host site. Gift shop. "Gem Mining" for the kiddos. Labyrinth.

Denise ( — Google review

We called ahead to reserve a tour for our time of arrival. Tours happen every hour. We checked in at the gift shop and looked around at all the wonderful gems and trinkets you can find there.Our tour guide Amy was great! She was everything you want when you take a guided tour. Knowledgeable, thorough, and fun. She walked us through the history of the cave and pointed out a bunch of notable aspects of this quarter mile 8 store deep cave system.Well worth the roughly 40 min drive from San Antonio.

Andrea K — Google review

Stunning cave with a refreshing amount of freedom on the tour. A lot of caverns seem to usher you in and out quickly and robotically. Our tour was extensive and personal. Steven was humorous and knowledgeable while personally interacting with each of us. The cave is vast and unique with a lot of different types of rooms and formations. The tour does not leave you wishing there was more. It took about an hour. Excellent.

James S — Google review

This is an incredible tour. The cave was so beautiful. Alex was friendly and so informative. We had lots of questions and he answered them all. He is very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour. Don’t miss this one. It’s a gem !!

Heather A — Google review

We had tickets for the concert later in the day and wanted to take the cave tour. It was a great experience and a wonderful way to get out of the Summer heat. The cave has some very interesting formations and a pool of water at the lower level. The acoustics are amazing and provide a great environment for live music. The 20-minutes of total darkness during part of the concert were an unexpected experience. The gift shop is maybe the best I've seen.

Ron B — Google review

Wow! Such a fun cave! Took my 3 kids and had a blast. I thought my youngest, 8yr old, might not like it, but she loved it!There are a few steps going down and coming out but you can take your time if you need.You will need to schedule a tour and make sure to show up on time. They are prompt.At one point they turn off the lights and it was really cool to see his it is completely dark. You can't see anything, my kids loved it!Highly recommend visiting!

Brandon M — Google review

We had a very good time, the tour is very informative and the guides are knowledgeable. There are 160 odd steps down and then up, just a heads up but worth every step.

Edward W — Google review

We took this tour with Caver Mike - he was great! So many stories, answered all questions, his passion was quietly obvious. The cave was beautiful - would love to attend a concert there with the acoustics. Good walkways & stairs have rails on both sides. The “hike” back up 8 flights was CHALLENGING but worth the effort! Bought some things in the gift shop, too. Great experience.

Martha S — Google review

For starters, I tent camped at cave without a name and had an amazing experience tent camping. All of the campsites are essentially brand new, nice and level. All electric. All water but no sewer. Mike, who checked me in when I got there in the evening for my tent was absolutely amazing and Steven who squeezed me in a group when he didn't have to the next day because I didn't realize you needed reservations was phenomenal. The older gentleman that cut my big geode in half. I don't remember his name but he was fantastic to talk with and everybody was entertained by him. Speaking about everybody else. Everybody was so friendly staff. The customers. Everybody. There is something about cave without a name that seems to draw. Very good people. And I will be back to camp and visit the cave and bring friends so they can experience that same level of greatness that I got to experience. I am just posting a couple of random photos when I was down in the cave.

Chris M — Google review

Found this place about an hour from where I live and didn’t even know it was there! Nice accommodating staff. We were a few minutes late to our appointment and they let us go catch up to the others. Guide (Steve) was very knowledgeable and had been around a long time for history facts. Took about an hour to get down and back up and there was a lot to see. Reasonable on price and discount for seniors and kids under 12 helps. We will go back for the next concert they have in the cave. Sounds fun!

Robert H — Google review

I highly recommend attending a concert in the cave! One of the best experiences I have had. Definitely worth the trip and I can't wait to come back.The campground was awesome and the bathrooms are very clean. Stars shine bright and the sound of the Axis buck walking around was super cool.

Lacey D — Google review

I've been to quite a few caves and this cave was definitely one of the good ones I've been to. I enjoyed the drive out as well. We had so much fun and staff was super nice. We didn't reserve any tickets, but we came on a weekday and there were still quite a few people there and would recommend getting them on weekends etc

Anne L — Google review

Gorgeous Cave Without a Name speaks for herself.The property feels so inviting and I was excited to discover purple dalmatian jasper in the gift shop! We had a short wait time and only 6 people on our tour. We saw a salamander on one of the steps!Our tour guide was lovely and so knowledgeable. As for the guide's name... My hubby heard Andy and I heard Candy... So thank you (C)Andy!We watched the dive video later and somewhat fulfilled my longing to explore deeper in the beautiful cave.

Katherine H — Google review

Sunday, March 10, 2024 my wife and I went to see the cave with no name. Alex was our tour guide. He would start explaining how this cave was discovered. He also explained the rules while touring the cave too. He would explain to us every detail of the cave like the formation and discoveries that have been found. He showed great knowledge and experience. The cave is beautiful. It's something you do not want to miss. Great for families and friends. I recommend it.

George R — Google review

4.8

(1564)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (82)

4.5

(437)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (83)

325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX 78006, USA

(830) 537-4212

14

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Visitor Center and Park Headquarters

Mentioned on

3 lists

Visitor center

Sights & Landmarks

Historical landmark

Historic Sites

National Parks

The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Visitor Center and Park Headquarters is a public site dedicated to the 36th President of the United States. Managed by the U.S. National Park Service, it features galleries with historic items and timelines from President Johnson's life. The center offers shaded parking, informative stands about Johnson City and his legacy, as well as outdoor seating areas with park benches. Inside, visitors can explore auditory informative areas and view an old Model T Ford.

Beautiful walking trail,museum had a lot of cool and interesting facts.

Jessica M — Google review

Decided to make a pit stop here as I've been wanting to check it out. There's shaded parking by the visitors center. They have handicapped parking as well. Before you enter, there are two informational stands about Johnson City and his legacy. There's lots of trees and shade outside, along with several park benches. Inside, there's a log for visitors and several auditory informative areas to listen to Johnson info. There's even an old Model T Ford!! The staff is helpful. There's a small gift shop also. You can watch several short films too. This is not the only location of information! His childhood home is around the corner. You can take about a 14 mi drive also to get to the old, working family ranch. It is definitely worth it.

Tonya H — Google review

What an educational tour of the visitors center and the home LBJ grew up in. The rangers were very informative and took their time explaining the history and answering questions. There are videos to watch if you have the time and a gift shop to explore.

Marc S — Google review

Beautiful grounds. Very nice historical artifacts and buildings throughout the Settlement Trail. Really enjoyed our visit.

Bethzaida C — Google review

Very good place to visit. Very nice staff. We really enjoyed our visit.

Jenny Z — Google review

The park guides here are phenomenal. Ask them and they are there to help. Cant say enough about the staff.

Courtney W — Google review

Couldn't go inside they were repainting and doing upkeep. It would be 5, but I will be back to tour it. Maybe then I will give it 5 ⭐️

Amanda W — Google review

The guided tour was excellent. The park ranger staff was extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of LBJ's life.

Scott M — Google review

Wonderful place to learn history about the area and I'm one of our presidents

Matthew H — Google review

Nice place and display. Enjoyed going back in time. Even ad miserable as it was

Gregory S — Google review

Great tours with outstanding tour guides like Jack.

David — Google review

Lots of information and exhibits from the state park (visit this location first to obtain ranch driving pass) as well as the national park at two sites. Hoping that the Texas White House will reopen upon structural repairs.

Mike — Google review

We were told to stop here before visiting the LBJ Texas white house and grounds and we were glad we did. The volunteers provided a tremendous amount of information. This location also has a recreation of LBJ family home and the family farm. Arrive early for the guided tours of these buildings, we just missed them so we'll need to go back.

Jan C — Google review

Great historical spot. The Ranch mostly closed but did get to visit Air Force 1/2, school & farm where he was born. His boyhood home in Johnson City was wonderful. Tour of home outstanding!

Rebecca T — Google review

Very worthwhile stop. Learned a lot about LBJ that I previously didn't. Was eye opening.

Aaron D — Google review

Our family stayed in the Hill Country for Spring Break, and one of our day trips was to learn about LBJ, our 36th President of the United States, by going first to his boyhood home in Johnson City and then going to the LBJ Ranch.It's helpful to start one's trip first at the LBJ National Historical Park Visitor Center in Johnson City, view its exhibits and introductory movie upon request that summarize the President's humble beginnings and rise into politics, first as US Representative and then Senator, Senate Majority Leader, Vice President, and President of the United States. The exhibits and movie tell about his "Great Society" domestic accomplishments on civil rights, health care, and welfare as well as his presidency tainted by race riots and poor public opinion on escalating American involvement in the Vietnam War. We timed our morning visit with the ranger talk at the boyhood home.Afterwards, go to the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall by first going to the LBJ State Park and Historic Site Visitor Center to pick up a free driving permit and self-guided tour map of the ranch run by the National Park Service. Driving around the ranch, one gets to see LBJ's famous Hereford cattle roaming the grounds and baby calf in the show barn. Final stop is the Airport Hanger Visitor Center, where one gets to view the Lockheed Jetstar Air Force One-Half, LBJ's car collection, and grounds of the Texas White House. We timed our afternoon visit with the ranger talk at the Texas White House.Even though LBJ's boyhood home and Texas White House are closed under renovation, we had a great time learning from the ranger talks and were able to walk around surrounding grounds. Virtual tours are also available online and in the Johnson City Visitor Center.

Steve F — Google review

We had a wonderful tour of the boyhood home of LBJ. Our tour guide was very informative and provided many interesting facts. LBJ used his roots and his observations to create projects that were beneficial to his constitutes.

Rob P — Google review

4.7

(306)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (84)

4.5

(708)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (85)

100 E Ladybird Ln, Johnson City, TX 78636, USA

(830) 868-7128

15

Blanco State Park

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (86)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (87)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (88)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (89)

Mentioned on

1 list

State park

Nature & Parks

Blanco State Park is a vibrant destination spanning 106 acres, perfect for water activities like swimming, boating or kayaking on the Blanco river. It's also great for hiking and camping with spacious campsites and clean restrooms. The park is well-maintained and boasts pristine waters free of pollution, where you can observe fish and snakes swim beneath the surface. While located close to town, once inside the park it feels far removed from civilization.

Smallest state park I have been to so far, but one of the cleanest and it is a very well kept park. Beautiful water, no pollution...you can see the fish and snakes swimming below the surface in the Blanco river.

Jackie K — Google review

This state park is right in town, so you will get road noise. The RV sites have parking curbs that can make bigger rigs backing in a little hairy. The curbs also pose a trip hazard. RV sites have coveted picnic tables and fire rings. Some sites have 50 amp and sewer, all have water and at least 30 amp. Otherwise it is a nice place to stay. Clean restrooms well situated. Swimming area. Fishing. Shade and plenty of picnic areas.

Wendy B — Google review

We had a great time. The water was low. I recommend wearing water shoes as the bottom will cut your feet. The table was near where we parked and shaded. The restrooms were very clean!

M T — Google review

This has been my least favorite state park. Shelter #42 was a beautiful site(good shade, great view, close to bathroom), but the park employees and other visitors really disappointed us. No shelter key provided at check-in, no code to showers given, women's bathroom had 2 working toilets, one without toilet paper for the entire park. Park employee knocked on bathroom door and stated they were "On a cleaning schedule and we needed to hurry up." Park attendant refused to help solo women load 2 tandem kayaks on the truck. One tandem kayak is almost unusable due to seat position.Water was swimmable but it won't be for long.Also, what is the correct phone # because they didn't answer Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Brittany B — Google review

The river was plenty deep, probably 7-8 feet deep, well over my head. A very pleasant temperature. We visited on July 4, 2024 and it’s a park that plenty of folks visit for day use.Bathrooms were clean.Grass was mowed.It was on par with every other state park I’ve been to. 10/10

Jon T — Google review

Visited October 22 - 24, 2021A small park with the Blanco river flowing through the middle. Looks like a great spot to kayak or canoe. Unfortunately we were unable to bring our kayaks, so we are going to have to visit another time.Plenty of space at campsites. And bathrooms were clean without any smell.

Ssmith5359 — Google review

Great little state park nestled against the Blanco River in downtown Blanco. We spent 1.5 days in the park and surrounding area.The Park was clean, well maintained and offered basic amenities (public restrooms, dump station, park sponsored activities, kayak rentals, playground (small), pavilion). The campsites were easy ingress/egress. Level pads that made RV setup simple. Our sight had TONS of extra room around it and offered lots of shade from afternoon sun. Mature cypress, oak and sycamore trees line the river bank and campground making it a beautiful representation of Central Texas flora.We visited during the summer drought of 2022 so the river was low, no flow over the main spillway. There was still a decent amount of water that was enjoyable to swim/float in around the spillway. So in spite of low water, we enjoyed the river nonetheless.There are a lot of other state parks and national historic sites within easy driving distance which makes this a great spot to base out of to explore the area. We ventured to the LBJ Ranch and spent a full day touring the park and facilities. There were at least three other State Parks and points of interest that we didn't have time to see but would be worth a return trip to visit.You can hear the noises of the city - it is a small city noise, but still noticeable. That is my only complaint, I prefer a bit more remote geography when I am camping.

Andy W — Google review

We love Blanco State Park’s riverside setting and small size. Also convenient for walking to the town square. We use the park as base for visiting friends and family in the Austin area, 60-90 minutes away.

John S — Google review

1st time visiting did overnight stay in screened shelter. Entrance is right across street from catholic church. Office has items for purchase. pretty clean and decent it had just finished raining before arrival so was pretty muddy. Walking distance from lake/river. The water was decent not too clear but i didn't get in too far so i could be wrong. Plenty of areas for parking for day use next to river. On the road past shelters an RVs they have good amount of picnic areas and restrooms. When you leave camp site to left also picnic area and 🎣 fishing area and restrooms. Both restrooms are wheelchair accessible. There are restrooms and showers by campsite restrooms are free to use but showers are for campers only with a provided code. Clean showers and restrooms were cleaned upon arrival at 2pm. There is a pavilion with private restrooms you have to rent not sure price. The downside to my shelter was the ceiling fan was wonky and shaking i thought it would fall off eventually. But it does have a light and one outlet box with 4 outlets inside shelter. Has lantern post, i suggest bring one because its super dark at night. You have a fire pit but burning restrictions apply. They have grill but was full of water from rain. Watch out seating by grill full of snails and pill bugs aka Roly poly. Shelter has fire extinguisher 🧯 inside and table. Also access to water outside the shelter. Suggest bring fan just in case you dont like humidity in the shelter. There is a swing set by shelter 42 for kids. Bring your own bags for trash no cans provided only large ones to dump all garbage.

Lisa N — Google review

We had a great time here. The only thing that is a little strange is its really close to town, but when you are in the state park it feels like you are far out of town! Lots of nice tent camping spots.

Jennifer A — Google review

Small, but beautiful state Park. We had a good day hiking the two short but pretty trails they had as well as enjoyed the swimming holes. The park was clean and the camping areas looked nice as well.

Mr. V — Google review

The rangers are extremely friendly and lent us a pump to blow up our inflatable kayaks as we only had hand pumps.The area is beautiful. Plenty of parking, bathrooms, picnic tables. Getting the kayaks onto the river was a little difficult and the water smelled pretty bad in many spots. We had a good time though and stayed all day.

Gillian K — Google review

Clean very pretty park! Water was too low to swim. But was able to fish and did see some kayaks paddling. Cute town to explore!

Katie C — Google review

It was a nice clean park with wonderful camp Rangers and hosts! We stayed on campsite 30 and although it was nice due to no side, back neighbors and ample shade there were alot of sticker plants making it difficult to let our dogs go too far without having to remove a ton of stickers off their fur and paws. The river was walking distance. Nice to cool off. My toddler didn't get in due to the water being extremely deep and he didn't feel comfortable getting in with his life vest. He did enjoy sitting on the edge and playing with his water sprayer. I consider myself an ok swimmer but I definitely needed my floatation device due to depth and couldn't see to the bottom. Although we had an rv I decided to check out the Restrooms/shower which were extremely close as well. Very clean shower and I liked that you needed a code to shower. Over all good stay worth checking out

Shelvy C — Google review

This is a small state park that offers camping spots and a few enclosed "cabins." Please note that this review is based on my experiences on April 8, the total eclipse viewing day. We had secured two parking passes for our group and found a great place right by the river with one picnic table. While the overcast skies kept the viewing to a minimum, the park was stellar. I can't rave enough about the park rangers, employees and volunteers. They were on it to make sure everything was great for the crowds. Kudos to them for a job extremely well done!The river area is clean and the dam looked like it made for good fishing.Bathroom areas were clean and well-maintained.

Debra K — Google review

Drove here specifically to visit this park and explore. It has a very good layout with lots of camping spots and river access for swimming. there are a couple of short trails to hike and we explored each one. The Pumphouse trail, at 0.2 miles is the shorter of the 2. It features a bird blind with seating so you can enjoy watching the many species of birds common to the area. This trail is fairly well maintained and is mostly wheelchair accessible. The Caswell Nature trail is a little bit longer at 0.7 miles. It isn't well maintained and the map doesn't quite match the actual trail. Most of this trail runs the park boundary then cuts down to the river on the way back. This trail is definitely NOT wheelchair or mobility challenged accessible.Like most Texas State Parks, the staff were extremely friendly and helpful! I highly recommend Blanco State Park!

Brian B — Google review

For $5 per adult, you can pick where to park and stay as long as you want. Don't forget your free kid's nature journal! There are two dams you can walk across if you want to walk the trail, which is an easy path, less than a half mile walk all the way around. We turned to left after entering and parked at the very end. We had a covered picnic table with a coal grill (didn't use it). We could fish from the bank or the damn, and walk down behind the damn to explore (the algae is slippery). There was an enclosed bathroom in excellent condition not far, and a great area for playing. If you turn to the right it's better for water access, but the river is really rocky. It's been awhile since I've been to that side.

Veronica N — Google review

The park is clean, the camp sites are spread out and each one has a covered table. The ones inside the circle are full hookups and the ones on the outside are electric. The walking trails are nice and it’s a great biking spot. You’re close enough to the city so if you don’t feel like cooking you can walk into town and grab something but far enough yo enjoy the dark sky.🛜 You do have wifi and for us that’s huge since myself, our daughter and my husband are remote. It’s a great weekend getaway.

ᗪᗩYᑎᗩ — Google review

One of the smallest state parks, located a rock throw away from downtown Blanco. Good for short walks and lots of fishing/ camping. Walking across the dams is pretty cool.

Rick M — Google review

Nice small campground, good shade, clean restrooms/showers, close walk into town to an excellent restaurant, Redbud Cafe. Didn’t get to experience the dark sky city as it was cloudy and rainy. Watch the inside spots as a few of them flooded during heavy rains.

Jim C — Google review

This is cool place for a day trip, this is mostly located around the Blanco river. There's a small and nice trail beside the river, whereas they created a dam/pool near to the entrance. There're arrangements of fishing and camping inside. The park is nice and clean and there's a nice viewpoint at the end of the trail. The restrooms are neat and well maintained. The entry fee is 5USD/person a day. Whereas, this is not a naturally wondering special place, it's good place to have fun and little activities on a given day.

RAHUL B — Google review

I have a state park pass. I have been checking out the campsite areas. This is a very nicely laid out but small campsite area. The problem I had with this park is that US 281 is around 2 blocks, approximately of this major road. I would prefer a more isolated campsite area.I visited the park 2,12, 2024

Walter A — Google review

Had a great time there again... Beautiful and well-shaded little State Park not too far from Austin. RV pads were holding water tho - some could use some extra gravel and TLC to work on drainage. But normally, not a problem. Highly recommend.Note: full RV hookups avail ONLY inside the loop - outer perimeter is water/electric only - choose wisely.

Golferdude000 ( — Google review

Absolutely beautiful and peaceful. This is our 2nd night here at the rv side. Next time it will be a week. I'm currently trying my luck right here trying to catch a fish with my dear sweet husband.They have a library here, so cute.They have the cleanest bathrooms. The showers need a code. Everything around here is constantly being maintained and patrolled.

Kimberly M — Google review

This campground ⛺ is quiet and next to the river, you can access in the river directly from the campsite. But just a few picnic tables and grills along with the river, you have better to bring your own. Shower room only available to campers. The river is not crystal clear but if you don't have better choices, I think you may take a chance on it. The river is good 👍 for tubing and swimming 🥽🏊. $25 for overnight campsite. Entry fee is $5 per person. Campfire 🔥🪵🪓 is allowed. Dog 🐕 friendly campground. Weekends are always fully booked.

Shirley — Google review

The camping loop has quite a few trees. All the camp sites have covered tables, fire pits, lantern poles w/hooks, and tent pads.

Cecily C — Google review

This is a very small state park. Nonetheless, the camping makes you feel like you’re part of the great outdoors. Blanco State Park is very clean with magnificent trees lining the river. Adjacent to the park is the city of Blanco, which has great eateries and unique shopping nearby. I enjoyed my stay very much. I recommend it.

Jay Z — Google review

Blanco SP has a great campgrounds, with both tent sites and full hook-ups. The river runs through it, too. During our 4-day stay, the river was at low flow, but fish, turtles, and waterfowl were present. Water play an option.Nearby buggy and motorcycle museums were good to visit, and several eateries were prepared to make your BBQ day!

Jerrold K — Google review

4.5

(2385)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (90)

4.5

(170)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (91)

101 Park Rd 23, Blanco, TX 78606, USA

(830) 833-4333

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16

Pedernales Falls State Park

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State park

Nature & Parks

5,200-acre park with hiking & horseback riding trails, campsites, river swimming & scenic vistas.

My daughter and I loved this park. Her favorite to date! We spent a couple of hours as it was getting dark soon and we’re already planning our next trip and making sure we have at least half a day to truly enjoy it. So much to see and it’s beautiful! The park personnel was also friendly and just great! Hill country must see.

Melissa M — Google review

Perfect for the family! There hasn't been much rain lately, so the falls were pretty dry. Also, the Blue-Green Algae was abundant and you couldn't get in the water. However, it was still a lovely site to see. Nice shaded picnic area and lots of trails if you need to get a good hike in. It is only $6 for adults and if the kiddos are under 12 they are free! We went on a weekday so it was less crowded than weekends. I would suggest buying passes online prior to visiting.

Manda B — Google review

We had a blast checking out this state park. The flowers were in full bloom and the water was chilly but not freezing. If you’re packing a lot of stuff be prepared to carry it a good ways as there’s a pretty good distance walk from the parking lot to the steps then to the river. There’s a good bit of steps to take but it was worth the walk. We had a great time at the park all day.

Clinton M — Google review

A well maintained park with large camp sites, covered table and fire pit. My pad was long and level, quite secluded. Showers were clean with lots of hot water. The park has many miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. They have a nice bird blind maintained by an on-site volunteer. While I did have TV reception cell service with T-moble was mostly non existent, at least where I parked. It's a little off the beaten path but that makes it quiet and very dark at night. I'd go back.

Tim F — Google review

Pedernales Falls State Park is a stunning place, earning a solid 5/5 rating from me. The park offers breathtaking scenery with its cascading waterfalls and picturesque trails. However, visitors should prepare for intense heat, especially in the summer months. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and plan early morning or late afternoon visits for a more comfortable experience.

Marta K — Google review

This is a great park with many trails passing through woods, fields and of course the river area. Can be crowded. Swimming is allowed down river and I hear lovely though personally I have not done it. Been here many times and I recommend outside if peak summer because you can bake like a potato. Best advice if you are interested in river is to time a trip after seasonal rain.

Jason O — Google review

This is really a beautiful place. Picturesque waterfall. It is big enough to walk or bike, you will need a few days to see all its trails. During this dry season the river is very shallow and calm, unlike last year's same dates, but anyway we had a lot of fun.And, of course, fruitful wildlife! Raccoons, armadillos, deer, many different kinds of colorful birds and fish. the bird blind is well designed. And in the star theater we saw a stunning sunset.

Anastasia C — Google review

We’ve been here several times and always enjoy it. There are many trails and camping. The falls are interesting to explore and there’s a swimming area a bit down the river. It’s a beautiful park with a ton of variety. Definitely get your park pass in advance, especially in the summer, as entry is limited and can fill quickly. The drive to the park is also pretty.

Sabrina K — Google review

Turned out to be my best sunset in nature during the trip. I was very pleased to get to camp here and scope out the falls before returning the next day for the sunset. It turned out to be the perfect evening with the overcast. I had a nice and tranquil time in the swimming area as well. The river water was nice and warm even in early summer.

Michael J — Google review

I've enjoyed visiting Pedernales for many years. Nowadays it can get very crowded as the sprawl from Austin gets closer and the secret of the park's beauty becomes known to more people. Be sure to use the Texas State Parks website to schedule your visit, especially if you're planning an overnight stay. Lots of campsites with varying amenities to suit everyone. Most areas are dog friendly and there is a bird blind where, if you're quiet, you can watch a variety of birds.

Amanda R — Google review

The best part of the park is all the way in the back where the river moves through all the rock formations and you can hike amongst the rocks. It’s best for people who are more active as the footing might require some scrambling across the rocks that are highly uneven. The water is so clear and just beautiful. It’s rarely ever very crowded and it just give you that Texas feel being so far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Other hikes around the park are nice but not as spectacular. There is a dedicated area for swimming that is separate from the hiking area. It’s well worth the $6 per person. I do recommend making a reservation ahead of time but it is not required.

Justin J — Google review

While I was there I honestly could not wait to plan a return trip back. It was amazing. I did not wanna leave. The one the water was low so we were able to crawl all over the rocks and explore. It was clean. The sky was big and beautiful. And the parking area was relatively close to the falls, so if you aren’t a hiker and need a more level trail it is not a difficult path to an amazing view. We did take one trail from the Falls back to the parking but I can’t remember the name of it. It was more difficult than I expected with bigger rocks and steeper hills, but it followed the Pedernales river and had beautiful sites. After exploring the Falls we went to go check out the swimming area and it was definitely not what I expected. The stair workout to get down there and back out is a serious work out. So many steps to climb. We were only there for a day pass and didn’t take time to check out any camping spots. The falls are definitely what you were there to see, but beware swimming is prohibited on the falls section.

Jenny M — Google review

Took the family here for a day trip to hike and see the falls. We had a blast, it's so pretty and serene. Very quiet. Some trails were very easy, even partly paved, others more strenuous but my 3 year old did it. Even though we are in a drought, the water was still moving nicely, we even jumped in for a dip at the end of our hike. We will definitely be back.

Airwrecka C — Google review

I had a great time hiking the trail and across the rocks to see all of the waterfalls. The rangers working at the park were all very friendly and helpful in giving advice on an annual park pass and on how best to see all of the falls.It was raining lightly when I went, so there were some pretty slick spots to navigate, but it was a great experience. The falls were all running heavily because of the recent rains, and it was gorgeous.

Shawn P — Google review

Visiting Pedernales falls state park for the first time for stories in the stars stargazing night. It’s a fantastic place for stargazing around Austin. Rangers was pretty impressive with story telling where they have brought telescope to look for stars and galaxy in sky. At star theater, there were rocks you can just sit or lay down to see beautiful dark night sky with full of stars and moon moving between the clouds with clear view. At first, I feel disappointed at first with cloudy sky and later it was cleared off. Had a amazing experience definitely worth a visit.

Vinay C — Google review

This park is not for the weak. It is a major hike down, then back up, to access the swimming area. The Falls area is almost as tough. Beautiful area, great birding opportunities with the dual blinds. I need to go back for the night sky views.

Stephanie H — Google review

It's one of my favorite state parks in Texas. The water is absolutely gorgeous. The terrain is incrediblely unique due to the river bed erosion. Lots of challenging hikes, so bring a good pair of shoes. One negative thing that I will say is that so many people wrote all over the stones. Almost every inche is covered in graffiti.. Please leave no trace people..

Anna M — Google review

Fantastic state park. We stayed for the night camping, and the tent sites are top tier. Showers are clean and have warm water. You cannot miss going to the actual falls area, its incredible with lots of area to explore especially if you dont mind climbing and hiking

Nathaniel B — Google review

We visited on 12/17/23 and were pleasantly surprised. There were no waterfalls, but the pools of water were absolutely gorgeous! Crystal clear water, rocks to climb (most not too dangerous), small caves, butterflies, etc. Very peaceful! $6/pp or $70 for an annual pass. We drove by the camping area to check it out, and it looked nice and clean with a shelter spot with a picnic table, power, and water spicket. Merchandise such as t-shirts and beverages available at the check-in headquarters. Both men that waited on us at the drive-thru station and in the headquarters were very polite. Also, dog friendly, but must be on a leash!

Mari K — Google review

We stopped here on a hot day in July after going to LBJ Ranch and most of my party was already tired out.The office was closed so I used the self check in kiosk which asked way too much information. It was a pain.The falls is just a short walk from the parking area. It is a nice area but was very hot on this day. I hadn't planned on going down to the bottom but the spring below the lookout caught my eye and I couldn't resist myself. I enjoyed the falls even though they are different type than I used to hike to in Georgia. I would like to go back and explore more when it's a bit cooler than the 100° we were in this day.

Samuel P — Google review

Favorite hiking spot, many great trails. Personal favorites are the Madrone and Juniper trails.While it is dog friendly and we bring our dogs every time. Not everyone keeps their dogs leashed, “but they are friendly.” 😒 Leash your dogs, don’t be rude, some people don’t like dogs and don’t want to be approached by them. And some dogs don’t like being approached by random dogs.Park is clean and the rangers are wonderful!

Megan — Google review

Loved it!You have to pay to enter the park, it's huge so, if you want to visit a few spots go early in the morning to have enough time. Be careful with the sun ☀️

Jess J — Google review

Great hiking on rocks with small water springs all around. We also took the trail you have to cross the river (take shoes off) and went up the hill to see the overlook. Well worth it but there’s no bathrooms and a few small benches for a quick rest, so be prepared.

Amy — Google review

Had a great time at the park. Park rangers were all very friendly and helpful. The falls looked amazing and being able to take a dip in the river was refreshing. Definitely give this park a visit.

Joshua M — Google review

This is a super nice park! To be honest, the walk to the river wasn’t very impress, so it made it so much more mouth-dropping when it first comes into sight! It’s beautiful—the water is stunning, and the rocks in the riverbed are a delight to climb on and explore! Overall, I would highly recommend; it’s definitely worth the drive!The restrooms are also pretty good for a park bathroom; it’s nicely air-conditioned and it’s kept clean!

Eliana P — Google review

Awesome place with plenty to see and do. You can camp, swim, bike, hike, this place is great for families. We tried the primitive camping this last time we went, don’t recommend if you have younger children; the view and experience was well worth it.

Marylin — Google review

Perfect for adults and kids. Don't forget to peer into the small pools, as many of them hold tadpoles, frogs, and tiny fish. It's a quick hike down to the falls and pools. You can spend a lot of time exploring. I recommend going early, as there is little to no shade.

Janet E — Google review

This was an awesome state park with so many hiking trails. Trammells crossing was great you have to cross the river early on in the trail, you will 100% get wet crossing here, so have a plan, I removed my shoes before crossing and put them back on other people had large plastic bags. The trail was pretty legit I’d recommend the extra spur on the south side, one a the best parts of the trail and the river overlook on the north is one a the best views in the park.The wolf mountain loop was nice with solid views all around, it connects with a number of other trails, I ended up taking on the Jones spring trail, and hiked back to the parking lot using part of the juniper ridge trail which was really awesome, one of my favorites.The falls area was fun to explore I walked the west falls area and explored the rocks and lower falls areas.It was winter time so I didn’t do much swimming but it looked like a great park for it. It rained a lot and the trails can get slick so bring good hiking shoes.The electric camping area I stayed at was great the spots area reasonably spaced out, bathrooms with showers are available.This was a great park and experience highly recommend.

Charles C — Google review

Secluded state park in the hill country. Camping sites with electricity and water. Good distance between most sites. We had a site on the outside rim that was very deep. Our only complaint was the parking blocks placed on the sides of the site for parking the trailer. One was located just below our steps creating a tripping hazard, and could not adjust the trailer location at this site for it not to be in the way. I have camped and nearly 10 Texas state parks in the last couple of years and these are unnecessary. On the plus, great trails for hiking.

Larry O — Google review

Amazing hiking experience! The views are stunning and there are a lot of hiking trail options available. Ranging from short to long hikes, or easy to hard. The people in the office are extremely friendly and very helpful since it was our first time in this park!

Angel B — Google review

It’s a lovely hike up at the top, and you can clamber all over the falls down there. We were both woefully out of shape, yet were able to get up and down the falls with no trouble.The falls down below were closed off, check in with the desk before trying to hike out there. We got half a mile in, hiking from the swimming hole towards the lower falls, and then discovered the trail was blocked off and had to turn around.

Ben W — Google review

This is a nice place for a day outing. You can enter the park with a 6 USD/ person fee, as well as season pass and camping facilities are available. There are several spots inside the park to drive to, out of those the overlook and the swimming area are most interesting. From the overlook the cascades of the fall are visible and the water color is pretty neat. It's good for a little walk toward the cascades and the rocks too. Just as a note, no drones are allowed for photography purposes.

RAHUL B — Google review

4.7

(4288)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (103)

4.5

(571)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (104)

2585 Park Rd 6026, Johnson City, TX 78636, USA

(830) 868-7304

17

Japanese Tea Garden

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Botanical garden

Nature & Parks

The Japanese Tea Garden is a tranquil botanical garden located in San Antonio, Texas. The garden features a pagoda, stone arch bridges, a waterfall, and an island within a lily pond area. The garden is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

You will not regret stopping here! Absolutely stunning. We came in March on a Thursday in the afternoon and it wasn’t super busy. We went to one parking lot by what looked like little houses but the lot was small and full so we went to another parking lot and found more parking and even porta potties. We spent a little under an hour and walked the whole garden area. The best part? Everywhere you looked was just gorgeous! We couldn’t stop taking photos. They also have some signs you can read for educational purposes. The worst part? We were fortunate enough to find a spot for parking but if the lot gets full, you’d probably have to park on the street. I’m also not exactly sure what it was, but there was an indoor area that was closed. Not sure if it was a gift shop or restrooms. Someone else also told us that a zoo is walking distance to the garden.

Lizsandra E — Google review

This is one of the places to visit in San Antonio! The admission is free and there is plenty of free parking on site. This is a man made park that is pretty large. It’s better to come here during spring or early fall. We can during December 2022 freeze temperature and some of the plants were covered so we did not experience the full beauty of the park. They also have a cafe on site to enjoy light refreshments. A lot of scenery to take photos and create memories. They have a mini waterfall too, along with fish and ducks in the ponds. A good and way way to relax out in the nature.

Karina P — Google review

We had a fantastic time at the Garden! Gorgeous spots for photos! It was a beautiful day, the park itself was clean and easy to navigate. Was a bit crowded as it was a holiday weekend but overall was about 30-45 minute outdoor activity!

Charly J — Google review

Very nice and unique place in the middle of San Antonio. I would have never known this place existed. It's free to enter very small area but looks like you are in another country....minus the heat of course. Parking may be difficult...be careful the parking enforcement is always on patrol.

Bert F — Google review

This place has some really cool history behind it! I enjoyed walking around, even in the heat. That said, next time I would probably bring an umbrella because there isn't much shade on the paths, at least at the time I went.The gardens are well-kept and there are great photo ops! You can make this quick trip or spend time at the restaurant and make an event of it. The gardens are free to walk around and you don't need any tickets or anything. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Alex F — Google review

This is a beautiful garden, with a high cliff backdrop, and stunning lookouts... as well as some old and well preserved mission style buildings! Completing this amazing scenery is a large pond running throughout all of this. .. I was pleasantly surprised by its historic charm! When we went, there were multiple groups of young local people getting their pictures taken for their prom :)

Trevor P — Google review

Such a place of beauty!!!! This place was so beautiful and peaceful! The gardens were incredible, never seen such beautiful flowers, plants, and waterfall! It was too hard to believe it was free to go in! We took so many amazing pictures. Also handicap friendly, but the entrance is not visible or marked. It is accessible from the parking lot. This is a must see gem!

Leticia C — Google review

Fun little garden with a super short trail up to a tiny waterfall. Plenty of fish and turtles in the water, if you enjoy nature. About 45 minutes is sufficient to see everything this place has to offer.Although parts of the garden have ramps not all parts of the trail are easily accessible. If you’re walking with older members of the family make sure they are careful climbing up and down the stairs that are available, as these are often not even. The parking right next to the entrance of the garden was quite busy. However, there is usually plenty of parking available in the parking lot further downhill.Went during a hot summer weekend and had no issues. Although parts of the trail get busy they clear up if you’re able to wait a few minutes. Note: The area close to the waterfall is quite busy at all times with people taking photographs, especially if the garden is packed. Would definitely recommend visiting the garden if you’re a tourist passing through San Antonio, looking for a free activity with gorgeous views.

Ziyan S — Google review

This was a beautiful place to visit. Definitely loved by all of my family. It was rainy the day we visited but still we enjoyed it very much. There's a small shop to grab some souvenirs or Popsicles and coffee. Sweet workers.

Melissa G — Google review

Beautiful free outdoor garden with koi fish, waterfall and more than 100 incredible photo opportunities. Every angle is a wonderful view and spending time walking through is not only a great experience, but it’s even more incredible that both parking and the visit and absolutely free.

John P — Google review

Nice little site to see. There's a store and small restaurant near the entry. The parking area is small but the traffic turnover is quick. FREE to enter. Well kept. A good place for photos or to sit and chat. It's worth a visit any time.

Randi L — Google review

Such a beautiful place to visit!!! Although parking is a NIGHTMARE, if you get lucky enough to get a space, this is a worth while visit. The pathway around the gardens is absolutely stunning. It's an amazing area of tranquility. There is a restaurant, but I did not stop by.

Jazmine D — Google review

Very nice and relaxing location! The architecture is very impressive and it looks like you are in another country! If you are planning a visit to the zoo, it is definitely worth having a round in the garden!

Massimiliano B — Google review

Beautiful! We picked a day with gorgeous weather and came out to get some walking in and take some pictures. There is a path that you can walk or use a wheelchair on but if you have mobility issues obviously don't take the stairs or attempt to get close to the waterfall. We took my parents and they were able to carefully and slowly navigate the stairs and enjoy the scenery. It was a lovely time.

Van A — Google review

A gorgeous place! Love that it’s free and open to the public. A great place to walk if you’re up for lots of stairs. There is a lot of uneven terrain so I wouldn’t recommend for anyone who needs wheel chair access or a stroller. But I found it a nice mile walk I could handle. For sure this is a great place if you want to take a short stroll not a long walk. There is some flat places you can walk but not for very long. I love it! Always go here to enjoy the scenery. They have bathrooms as well and a beautiful restaurant and live music that is free sometimes too. The live music is a great way to unwind after a busy week or dance to. Go here when you have the time to walk leisurely.

Rebecca S — Google review

Beautiful place to visit, some fish in the pool some beautiful plants. I would say that in the evening it looks more impressive than during the day. Had a stroll through it was nice. A lot of people trying to take pictures with the same thing. Missing a few benches and a tea house that sells tea.

_ — Google review

Such a beautiful garden. I really appreciate them sharing the history behind the garden and the well maintained grounds. The koi fish were so gorgeous. The waterfall was a wonderful touch and a great place for a picture. I would gladly go here again especially once the tea house is back open. A jewel in Texas for sure!

Elizabeth W — Google review

Can't say enough about this venue. Simply beautiful. We started here an hour exploring and taking pictures. The scenery is Beautiful. The walk is tough but you can still enjoy the beauty without walking. Gorgeous waterfall and unique history. A little cafe to enjoy a cold or hot drink.Best part is this is free, no charge to the public to enter.

John O — Google review

Nice place to visit and just take in the scenery. Not a whole lot to do but nice for photo opportunities and just soaking things in. Garden is pretty big with steps around the water fall and ponds. To me its an experience worth checking out.

Miguel S — Google review

One of the very beautiful hidden gems here in San Antonio, Texas. I came here back in February 9, 2023. Hadn't been here in a couple of years. I absolutely love this place. It's very peaceful and beautiful here. Perfect place to bring family and friends.

Joey — Google review

Beautiful. This was such a lovely experience. Amazing to see such a well kept garden. The fish and turtles were super cute. Such a lovely quiet place to clear your head. I'm guessing it's the shop there but it was so very sweet of them to keep the hot weather in mind. They had a container of cold water outside for the guests. It was just a great sight.

Sarah O — Google review

Parking here and at the zoo is confusing (permit required or not) and not enough signs for those not from the area. Wood entrance says Chinese Tea Garden?! Came too early so we could not try the food. The lookout and waterfalls were neat, especially when the sun rises on the rocks.

Tiffany G — Google review

This is one of my favorite places to visit in San Antonio. It is free to the public and so beautiful. It’s small but great for the whole family. There are stairs so probably not the best for people with major mobility issues but I do think there are areas that would be handicap accessible. It’s probably about a 1/4 mile hike. Perfect spot to enjoy and good location close to the airport, pearl, and zoo.You can also take some amazing pictures in this beautifully landscape haven.

Emily S — Google review

A cute little place for you to get your day started in San Antonio. Since the place open up at around 7 AM, you can fit this into your itinerary easily. Cannot describe the place with a few words. Should definitely check it out if you’re in town visiting. It is also a great place for small events.

Rahul G — Google review

The Japanese Tea Garden is well worth a visit if you are ever in San Antonio. All you can smell when you walk in is the soothing scent of lavender. That's because lavender trees line the paths! Images do this site no justice. Fantastically, there is no admission cost, so even if money is tight, you can still have a great time. If not, there are sections where you may get Japanese food, boba tea, and other delicious goodies. They also have some very amazing mementos. Will return without a doubt the next time we're in town!

Fareed M — Google review

It definitely looks smaller when they added the restaurant and gift shop ... When it rains be cautious, it has huge puddles all along the way to the waterfall. More parking down the hill... We witnessed an actual wedding 💍 engagement.

MCK V — Google review

Very neat gardens. The koi fish and waterfall were cool to see, and the architecture of the stone figures and bridges was impressive. It was a bit washed out and not as "lush" as one would expect when I visited, because it was well over 100 degrees. It's probably a bit more enjoyable in the early or late summer.

John B — Google review

Beautiful location in the city park. The old quarry was reclaimed with ponds and rock landscaping. You walk thru pathways that wander through the lower level with ponds with fish in them. Very peaceful, and a great place for pictures.

Dennis P — Google review

You can walk to the zoo from the garden on a paved path that is surrounded by trees. There are also small hidden paths on the upper levels of the garden that make kids feel like they are exploring in the woods.Parking is very limited, there is a public restroom, you will probably spend about 30 minutes here as the grounds are small, but it's a beautiful place to visit and take professional or personal photos.

Dominique C — Google review

We had a great time here! The buildings and rocks are very interesting, the flowers are well maintained and look beautiful for photos, and the waterfall and fish intrigued the kids! We went down the walking trail and saw some cute little skunks, bearded dragon lizard, and pretty birds as well! The kids wanted to go 2 days in a row so we did!

Cassie S — Google review

It is a beauty place. we’ve been here for winter and summer. Both time, it was looking amazing. The peaceful atmosphere is perfect for a leisurely stroll, photography, or simply unwinding amidst nature. The flowers in this gardens are charming. With its rich history and charming scenery, the Japanese Tea Garden is a must-visit destination for the san Antanio visitors.

Sarav S — Google review

Beautiful garden with interesting structures! We had a wonderful little visit with my wife and 5 year old daughter.They have nice koi fish and one of the workers let my daughter have some of the fish food to feed them. She loved seeing the fish with their big fishy mouths suck up the food.I love places like this where it’s free and fun and a little slice of nature to experience.

Paul M — Google review

It was like what I imagined the Garden of Eden would look like. So beautiful! Nice free activity to get your steps in for the day. Don't get the sandwiches at the Cafe, doesn't seem worth it. Pack your water so you don't have to buy it and heck pack your food too since they allow food there. If I knew food was allowed would have packed a bunch of snacks. But a great fun experience for spring break! I recommend for you to check it out.

The M — Google review

So glad to see this home treat restored so beautifully. Went on a great day. Enjoy the grounds and the restaurant and the grab-n-go store. If you like taking pictures or posing in pictures you'll appreciate the gardens. The plants. The butterflies. The bees. San Antonio at its best.

Tony S — Google review

It’s such a beautiful and peaceful place and my kids love to walk around and see all the fish in the water. My daughter loves the flowers and always wants to pick them but I tell her no. It’s also free to enter and there is a bunch of parking but it is by the zoo so the parking could get pretty full.

Ariel A — Google review

Very pretty. Great to come especially during spring. It’s free to come in. They have a shop and a cafe here too. There is some little hiking required, but not to hard.

Leslie E — Google review

Every time we come here it’s a breathtaking experience! We came here during our first day back in 2018 and here we are again today almost 6 years later! So pristine and serene. A MUST when in SA!

Tony M — Google review

Well manicured and Interesting. Lots of trails and paths but each route gave you more Kodak Moments. Unusual use of rock ornamentation. Worth a visit but nothing special. We give it three clams on the coveted Five Quahog Rating Scale,

Quahog — Google review

What a gem. I don't know what I was expecting, but this surpassed it. These gardens are breathtaking! You will not regret going if you are in the San Antonio area...unless you hate all things nature.

Amy H — Google review

This is a beautiful and unusual garden. Gardens are not made this way anymore since they must adhere to accessibility standards. Even though I couldn't go to all the places of the garden with a stroller, I could still appreciate the beauty from afar. I enjoyed feeling like we traveled some place distant even though we were in the city of SA. I really appreciate this garden being free... also unusual. The parking lot was very busy but we did find a spot. We will definitely be back.

Jenny B — Google review

It doesn't look like much as you walk up the steps, but when you get to the top- WOW! It is absolutely breathtaking! It is so beautiful, with nooks to sit in. It is so magical, it is definitely worth seeing. They have a place to sit and eat. Smells so good, tastes even better! Don't miss this!

S S — Google review

This was such a beautiful garden. There was Koi fish, ducks, and turtles. There is a lot of stairs to get through the garden. It is a very beautiful place to take pictures. The garden was clean and up kept very well. It was a beautiful place to go and see for free.

Katlain A — Google review

Very beautiful gardens that is located on the side of a cliff where a beautiful water fall comes down into the pond. The whole garden is a large pond that you have to take bridges and small paths over the water.I have never seen a Japanese garden like this.However, don't come on the weekends in the summer. Its full with people and way to hot.

Jennifer K — Google review

Going into this we saw the Google reviews and figured it would be just an ok place to pass the time. We were so wrong. This place is BEAUTIFUL!!! 12/10 would recommend if you are in the area and need something to do. It wasn’t huge, but there are so many things to look at, so that didn’t really matter. There are a few staircases that are made out of rock and are not super smooth so keep that in mind if you have trouble with that kind of thing. There were so many flowers and there was a beautiful waterfall. Along with that, there was a beautiful lake with koi fish and turtles. It was such a beautiful place to walk around, take pictures, and we even witnessed a proposal. It is totally free to get in and there is a restaurant on premises. Definitely worth it!

Olivia D — Google review

The Japanese Tea Garden is worth a visit but don't expect anything more than a well-maintained garden. It's a popular place and on some weekends the garden will be very busy. It's a good spot for photos, just make sure to plan ahead to avoid the crowds if you want less people in the background.The small cafe located on the property has many drinks, snacks, and even souvenirs available if you're interested. I will add that it is all incredibly overpriced. I bought a small lemonade, about the size of a small McDonald's soft drink cup, for $11 and filled with ice to the brim. As you can imagine, there was very little actual lemonade.I categorize this place as one of those 'been there, done that' and you'll likely never return.

Ricardo R — Google review

A beautiful park, full of greenery. Went there during windy period. Couldn’t stay there for long. But the place itself was wonderful. Beautiful view, beautiful places to click pictures in.

Anjali K — Google review

Great place for a stroll, meditate or walk with your family. Beautiful gardens, pond and trail. It is free and has ample parking. It has a store with gifts and cool stuff, bathrooms are clean and easy access. It connects with the zoo. The possibilities are endless, another fun option in San Antonio.

Para G — Google review

I can’t get over how gorgeous this place is. The scenery is just breath taking. Every time we take a trip to SA we stop here (it’s free). You can be there 20 min or you can be there 2 hours. It just depends on how you want to spend your time there. This is a must. We have to enjoy the beauty of nature the Lord give us.

Cassyy C — Google review

4.8

(14509)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (112)

4.5

(1923)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (113)

3853 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

(210) 559-3148

18

San Antonio Zoo

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (114)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (115)

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Zoo

Zoos & Aquariums

The San Antonio Zoo is a sprawling zoo with 750 species of animals from all over the world. The zoo is cageless, meaning there are no cages, and the exhibits are spread out over 56 acres. Kids will love checking out the large bird collection, elephants, lions and tigers, and the train that travels around the zoo.

Animals were active enjoying the fantastic weather. Saw active Lions, Tigers and Bears (oh my!) Everyone was friendly and sharing viewpoints for pictures to best see the wildlife. Habitats were well kept and animals looked healthy. Great day at the zoo! Get tickets online, it saves time at the gate. QR codes are available on the walking path.

Bridget B — Google review

Good zoo. I really enjoyed how it's set up. We went during a cold day so there was some things we didn't get to see but it was nice having the dinosaur's out around the zoo. Good variety of animals. Also my kids got to ride on a camel which was pretty fun for them. A bit pricey but they enjoyed it so I'm a happy parent.

VALE_ 9 — Google review

The San Antonio Zoo is a great place to spend good quality time with your family. The zoo is going through some renovations and some parts are not finished and there are a few empty animal cells that you will see. I hope the renovations won’t last too long.The zoo is fairly big and it can get pretty hot outside since there are sections of the park that are not shaded. Make sure that you take a good sun-blocking hat or cap and light clothing. You will be walking quite a bit so have some comfortable shoes as well.The zoo has a great place to look at the hippopotamus and rhinoceros. These animals are majestic and great to watch. The feeding time for the rhinoceros change often so check with the zoo keepers, but definitely is worth watching. Another great section to visit is the butterfly room. It’s located across the 4D movie theater next to the tiny tot nature spot. It costs $4 dollars per person but it’s worth it.

Fernando O — Google review

I visited with my daughter and her school last week and it was overall a great experience.They are re-vamping at the moment, but you can still have a good time despite aesthetics.My daughter was so happy to see the animals so I cannot complain. It was fun and educational. Thank you! :)

Esmeralda L — Google review

I’d rate this a 4.25 if it wasn’t for QR ticket system. Overall I had a great experience. They are currently doing a lot of minor reconstruction inside the park. There are a few spots inside the park you have to pay separately to enter. I was very impressed there was minimal foot traffic on a busy day. I’m not a zoologist but the animals seemed to be well kept and well fed. The park does a great job utilizing their authorized space to house these wonderful creatures.The ticket QR code purchasing process is pathetic, creates random clusters of crowds blocking the gates, and takes more time. In no way is this system more convenient for the majority of people. FUN FACT!! The zoo charges you $5 for a mandatory “convenience” fee at checkout. If you work for the zoo and you’re reading this, please go back to selling tickets the old way or utilize both ways so you customers have options. If the zoo is charging a $5 fee because the business genuinely needs to, I get it. Just factor that into the cost of advertised admission instead of adding it at checkout last second.

T J — Google review

I really enjoyed my time at this zoo. I would say it’s a medium size zoo with lots of engaging exhibits. I saw so many animals out. I loved all the fish in water exhibits, which was throughout the zoo. Pretty impressive bird collection. So many kid friendly areas and lots of restrooms peppered throughout. I’ve been to lots of zoos throughout the US and this has to be in my top 3!

Kim S — Google review

I really enjoyed visiting this zoo. There are so many uniquely different animals. The animal exhibits were well taken care. The animals were very active. There were many different activities for children. Patrons could feed various animals for a fee. The parking lot is smaller and finding a parking spot can be difficult. Overall, I would highly suggest taking your family.

Becky L — Google review

I'm very impressed with all the upgrades they've done since I used to go. They have options to feed flamingos, giraffes, and the lorry birds. However, the lorry birds aren't able to be fed because of construction in the habitat. They had a ton of "cool zones" throughout the zoo. You can also go pet kangaroos. The only downside is how everything is digital (id rather have a physical map of the zoo), and a lot of the kiosks weren't open. If you go in the mornings, it's much less crowded and it seems the animals are more lively and out, which was a huge plus. Also, tickets have to be bought online, and they have a special HEB community day where tickets are significantly reduced. 100% would go again

Kat T — Google review

We are from out of state, visiting SA for a basic training graduation and got the city pass, our favorite thing was the San Antonio Zoo. It was so nice and a lot of animals to see. We had a great time. And we had no kids with us. So even adults will enjoy.

Celeste A — Google review

This is a typical old zoo. They try to make habitats for the animals, but most are still small and crowded and not very animal friendly. They were also not prepared for holiday crowds during Christmas week. Only ONE restaurant open. We placed an order after waiting in a very long line. 30 min later and they hadn't even started our order. We cancelled and left the zoo for greener pastures. I have been to much better zoos.

Kat S — Google review

It is a nice zoo. They are currently doing maintenance, so some exhibits are closed or relocated, and some of the paths on the map are closed. We got a little frustrated at the missing paths as we were trying to hit our favorite animals as we neared the end of our visit.The butterfly habitat ($4) is lovely room. You can see the chrysalis from which the butterflies hatch. The variety is amazing.Kangaroo petting ($8) is a more unique experience for zoo goers. I have been to a lot of zoos and this was new to me.

Angela L — Google review

Zoo Lights is a great Christmas event for children. I took my grandson and he loved it. The weather was so nice 72 degrees and almost all animals were out for viewing. We rode the train and then later walked the Park to view all of the lights. They even had snow machines. Bring your wallet as everything is a bit pricey.

Pam F — Google review

Very nice and lots of place to use the clean restrooms, different types of food and water fountains. Was clean and not packed when we visited July 5th2023. Also many activities to enjoy with your little ones 3yrs and up. We brought our own water bottles and went closer to closing because theirs not as many people. Many exhibits are being worked on. Animals where hot of course but we got lucky with lots of cloud cover. We even caught a little show inside for our kiddos to learn about the bearded dragon and touch it(depends how the animal is feeling). Staff was all very knowledgeable and helpful.

Rosanna S — Google review

We got a good deal for the year pass for the price of a day, and while the zoo is still under some pretty major renovations, the parts they have opened up again look great. They also have an awesome pet adoption center right outside their front entrancen that is not part of them but fun to see the kittens and puppy anyways. If you find a deal on tickets you could definitely spend a day there.

Brandon B — Google review

My daughter and I really enjoyed our experience at the zoo. We went during a spring break trip. Lots to see and do. One of our favorite things was feeding the flamingos (we did it twice!) but also enjoyed feeding the giraffes and the kangaroo interaction. The butterfly exhibit is also a fun small exhibit. The zoo does shows its "wear" in some places but upgrades are clearly ongoing. Overall, it is a fun day that will take you several hours to see everything.

Drew S — Google review

The zoo is absolutely beautiful, always so clean and flowing with flowers. There is mist spots right now to cool down and the kids will love it. There's plenty on animal out. We went early and saw some feeding. Make sure you buy your ticket before hand. Right now there is some construction but nothing that'll stop any fun. Just go take the whole family. Love it, got the season pass so I can keep going back. Just a great environment.

Rox P — Google review

What a beautiful place to watch all the animals! The entire staff throughout the zoo were so friendly! For a small fee we paid to feed the animals which was an amazing experience. You can definitely see how all the staff really care for the animals and want to educate you on each animal. It was a great experience overall!

P C — Google review

We visit on the last local day of the year. The was no wait time and no line while we entered into the new entrance. Yes i highly recommend to buy all tickets in advance. We enjoyed ourselves and the experience was the best day ever. My daughter enjoyed the reptile house while I enjoyed more of the other natural exhibit especially the lions and tigers den.Thank you kindly for your kindness and hospitality of your wonderful staff. Happy holidays!Best Regards,Celeste Ponce and family

Celeste P — Google review

love the San Antonio zoo!! Any time we are able to escape from reality (work life)We head out to the zoo. They seem to always have something different. Wether it’s a new add on or events for family and friends.But over all great experience and fun time.Greatly appreciate all the workers there who make it better. Always clean and friendly. LOVE locals day too!!Highly recommend feeding the giraffes and stopping by and pet the kangaroos 🦘

Maritza A — Google review

Prices are not bad if you want to buy membership and get a year. It definitely pays if you have time to go for just an hour or two during weekdays. Weekends and holidays are VERY BUSY. So busy, you will have a very hard time finding parking despite numerous lots.The exhibits are decent. It is a bit disappointing to see how small some enclosures are considering the size of the animals. Some exhibits are empty, so it would only make sense to expand the areas for better quality of life and perhaps better to watch the animals. There is quite a variety, so there is plenty to see throughout the entire zoo.Staff always seems to be fairly friendly. They hold lots of events and such ao that too is nice for community. They are a bit weird on ages/grades for camps, but, at least, they are available for some. Definitely plan on going several times if you want to get the full idea of what all animals can be seen.

Justin B — Google review

We had a great time here! Got our tickets on Groupon for a great deal. Arrived early on a Sunday, so parking was easy, and so was entry. Most of the animal exhibits were open. When we were leaving, it was getting packed, so I'd advise going early. We paid to pet the kangaroos and our grandbaby enjoyed it.

Amanda S — Google review

Greta place to visit. Kid friendly, no pets, but it’s not too dumbed-down that teenagers aren’t going to want to come. They are currently undergoing preparations for a new lion pen and an habitat for elephants that will be finished 2025 so that’s exciting!! Nothing major we came across was empty of animals even though it had rained lightly not an hour before getting there. Everything was well maintained and everyone was very friendly.

Elisabeth — Google review

I went in without expecting but it was much bigger than I thought! A lot of animals were not out for some reason which I was bit disappointed in the morning but some animals need rest. The bigger animals that I wanted to see were out so I was happy! I would recommend coming with kids if you want to see animals! The tickets are all online (no ticket booth exists) so I would highly recommend buying it prior. There wasn’t any wait so I just bought it in front of gate through phone, but things might change when the weather gets warmer.

Claire R — Google review

Happy day spent with an infant and a toddler. Took us around 5 hours to explore the entire area, feeding the giraffe and kangaroos and taking lunch break at the restaurant. I must admit the entire experience was too good. Just make sure to check the weather before you go as there are open walking areas and it might get too sunny to walk during summers.

Monal J — Google review

The zoo is nice and compact. I visited on a Wednesday and there was no wait to get in shortly after opening. I had trouble downloading the map, as the QR boards they had posted seemed to direct you to the wrong page. I eventually found it on the website.The zoo is meant to be walked in a fairly straightforward path. I didn't realize this at first, and found myself swimming up steam after visiting the Jaguar exhibit first.You should go straight from the entrance up to where the bear exhibits are. You will pass a big sign there. That loops around to the gibbons and the small aquarium. From there it leads to some cat exhibits and then into the African and Australian exhibits. I somehow missed the elephants and hippos, but I was pushing around a 5 month old that I was more worried about getting to nap than much else at that point.The Jaguar exhibit I previously mentioned was the highlight for me. It has two parts with a catwalk that goes over the walking path that connects them. It was very cool.I didn't like a couple of sections that were just big rectangular concrete paddocks with animals in them. I think most zoos have moved away from that kind of exhibit, moving to more blended/organic looking enclosures. There was a good bit of construction going on, so maybe they are just slowly getting there.I found the food to be lacking and overpriced. I was there early, but even at 11 am none of the "restaurants" appeared to be open, only snack huts. I eventually settled for a cafe near the entrance that offered salads and cold wraps. They were out of Cesar salads already, so I got a wrap and small soda. This some how came to $22, which seemed pretty steep, even for amusement park prices. The wrap was acceptable.The gift shop had the basics of a zoo gift shop, nothing too special or out of the ordinary.

Adam M — Google review

4.5

(22794)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (121)

4.0

(2038)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (122)

3903 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

(210) 734-7184

19

Mission San Jose Catholic Church

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (123)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (124)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (125)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (126)

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Catholic church

Sights & Landmarks

San Jose is a beautiful, historic Mission founded in 1720 that is home to the Church of Saint Joseph. The grounds are peaceful and full of charming original structures, some of which have been restored over the years. Many visitors come to see the church's rose window, one of San Antonio's most beloved architectural ornaments.

Excellent experience. Love history and places to visit. Free to visit all three Missions, few minutes apart. Incredible to see the conservation of church and fort. Nice to walk and enjoy history. All employees we're so nice and helpful. Love Texas and all residents. So happy to visit new places...a lot of pictures good memories and very nice people. Love Texas!

Liliana S — Google review

Absolute must see! Amazing history, hundreds of years old structures, nice visitor center and souvenir shop. My kids were amazed at how the ancient thick stone walls helped ease the 100 degree temperature. The rangers were so helpful- my children enjoyed earning their Jr Ranger badges. We came near closing time and back the next day. Beautiful church architecture and history

AshN A — Google review

Loved reading the history. We homeschool our children and this was a great learning experience. Kids got to learn about their heritage and how the world was before technology. Can wait to visit the other sites.

Lluvia G — Google review

This is historic and well maintained with clean bathrooms. You can see everything here in an hour or less. The architecture is very beautiful. They offer a free film and tour led by park rangers. Staff is very knowledgable.

Para G — Google review

One of the prettiest missions we have been to.Kids loved doing the ranger badge activity.The grounds are well kept and structures are beautiful to look out.Definitely glad we came here.Want to come back when kids are older and do the trail bike rides.

James G — Google review

The San Jose Mission holds a special place in my heart as one of the most cherished destinations in San Antonio. Stepping onto its grounds, you're immediately whisked away to a different era, enveloped in an atmosphere of tranquility and beauty that stands in stark contrast to the contemporary world outside its walls. It's truly a serene oasis that offers a unique glimpse into the past.

Albert R — Google review

Visiting this church was very informative and educational. So much history that has occurred on the very land we get to roam free on. This church is in Pristine condition. It is still as it was before. They still hold mass on Sunday. How amazing is that?! The park rangers were wonderful and so patient with the children. The kids are able to become an “honorary park ranger “ if they complete an activity book learning about the church.I am excited to visit the rest of the missions located along the river.

Florinda S — Google review

Very nice grounds and church. Kind of funny that these historic grounds are surrounded by a Pizza Hut, auto shop, and various other businesses. Once you’re inside though, can’t even see these distractions. It’s free to enter, which was a pleasant surprise. The mission does “ask” for only a dollar to enter the church.

Brian W — Google review

Highly Recommend! Beautiful area and church, well preserved and maintained. Allow for a bit of walking through the grounds but all very nice to check out. Plan a visit to Mission San Jose and the other San Antonio Missions.

James A — Google review

Such a beautiful place!When I first went there, a lot of people were wondering if I went to Spain or Mexico. When I said I went to Texas they did not believe it. I’ve only seen pictures of it on tour guides but definitely more beautiful in personWe went there on a weekday in the morning so it wasn’t too busy. It takes you around maybe 15-30 minutes to walk throughWould recommend dropping by this historic site.

Angelica B — Google review

It's such a beautiful place to visit. It doesn't matter how many times you've seen it. It never gets tiring. Fall weather made it even more perfect to walk around and enjoy history. We made it just in time before the bus load of tourists pulled up. Go early if you want to take pictures before the crowd comes in.

LeTTy W — Google review

Within Mission San Jose, this church stands as its defining feature. Constructed simultaneously with the mission, it remains an integral part of its history. Among the all four nearby missions, our tour guide believed this one was the most successful in establishing a stronghold for Spanish colonizers.

Hessam N — Google review

✝️ A Must-see Mission ✝️If you only visit two of the four Missions, I recommend this one (San Jose) and Mission Concepción. Mission San Jose is the largest of the four, with the outer wall intact, a mill, a sanctuary, and many museum-like displays that depict daily life in the Mission.The open-air interior imbues a sense of tranquility. I found myself happily strolling the grounds without true aim, simply taking in the architecture, nature, and atmosphere. The multi-colored stone arches, rugged wooden crosses, and vibrant greenery create a lovely palette of contrasts photographers will love. Many a memorable backdrop may be found here.At an easy-going pace, you can spend an hour or two at this Mission alone. The wide-open interior is perfect for children or dogs that want to roam the grounds. History buffs will love seeing the inside of the Indian Quarters and the Convent. There's a little something for everyone, whether it's history, religion, nature, or photography.

Casey C — Google review

My favorite after visiting all of the missions. This mission was under renovation during the visit but the architecture was captivating regardless. I always saw this mission in various photos with its arches and understand why after visiting. Stunning. As an added bonus, the visitor center was second only to the Alamo although this mission felt less “touristy”. Well maintained grounds and friendly staff.

Wendi W — Google review

So beautiful! Just to realize the age and architecture... Uhhhh. Amazing! I actually went there to prey. I was taken a back just to be there again

Albert F — Google review

Mission San Jose boasts breathtaking architecture. The self-guided tour, a symphony of sights and sounds, The grounds unfold with a gift shop and a stained glass workshop, adorned by information signs unraveling snippets of history. Abundant photo opportunities grace every corner, enticing exploration. The expansive trail, a canvas of history, beckons me, though venturing alone feels daunting. The bike trail awaits,

Dipika J — Google review

Our third stop here was especially exciting as they had a larger visitor Center that featured a 22 minute long film to watch the history of this area and the Mission San Jose Church. This Mission had a more complete version of the Mission itself. It appeared to be the largest of the four in the area. Church was wonderful to see as well.

Marc S — Google review

If you have time to visit one of the missions in San Antonio, Mission San Jose should be on your list. We were lucky enough to take a tour with a park ranger, who told us about the history of this mission and pointed out some of the features like the frescos. Of course the the church is beautiful too.

William S — Google review

4.8

(2544)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (129)

4.5

(3495)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (130)

6701 San Jose Dr, San Antonio, TX 78214, USA

(210) 922-0543

20

Natural Bridge Caverns

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (131)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (132)

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Nature preserve

Nature & Parks

This subterranean attraction offers a range of exciting activities for visitors ranging from panning for gems to exploring the otherworldly formations. Highlights include the 60-foot long natural limestone slab bridge that spans the entrance of the caverns and the Hidden Passage Tour, which takes visitors through a series of winding corridors 180 ft underground.

One word, amazing. The place is well kept with clean and maintained facilities above ground with plenty of staff to help guide and direct. The caverns themselves were amazing. The different formations, structures, colors were all awesome to see. The path and railings were sturdy with no issues or concerns along the way with lighting that really complemented the natural formations. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and he was easy to hear and understand. If you're interested in caverns or caves at all I highly recommend you check this out.

Kyle W — Google review

I never seen anything like this before, so I was impressed by the caves.The fact that caves were natural was cool and the history of caves was attention grabbing. The offered 2 tours each which cost $31 per person. One of the tours was hidden path tour (more difficult path but more unique features) and the other discovery tour (family friendly, easy to navigate and good for first timers). We chose the hidden path tour. It was surprisingly warm in the cave about 75-80 degrees and wet so make sure you grab yourself a pair of food shoes prior to entry. The tour lasted about 50 min. You go down deep inside the cave about 180 feet by stairs and then come right back up. So if you have knee or hip problems, or other physical limitations this tour is not for you. Tickets are sold on site there so no need to order online in advance. 4/5 only because the entry is super overpriced for such a short tour. They really commercialized this place. Also, they are still discovering and prolonging the cave and shall finish by March 2023 so there will be a new tour available.

Karina P — Google review

I've been here several times over the past 30 years. It has definitely grown and become more commercialized but I understand its a business. Definitely gives off an amusement park vibe. Its still a cool place to visit and take your kids. Lots of neat things to see.

Scott H — Google review

A beautiful natural wonder. The caverns go pretty deep underground and are filled with many beautiful things to see. The tour guide was very informative as well. Just make sure you're in good enough shape to be able to climb back up from the very bottom of the cavern as it is quite a long journey uphill. I recommend visiting and seeing the beauty of nature.

Gregory N — Google review

Very fun and interesting experience!! Did not expect Texas to have caves like these, but it was worthwhile and incredible.If you’re into nature and/or history, this is a must visit. The pictures and videos truly do not give justice to the views. They are just incredible.The tour guides are all knowledgeable. Who knew exploring caves and learning fun facts about them would be so entertaining??If you’re not into caves but are a thrill seeker, they did have zip lines and rope courses that looked quite extensive compared to some other ones I’ve seen before. We didn’t get to try the courses, but they did look very fun and exciting.

Julia A — Google review

Great place to witness caves. There are two tours available here. They are 1. Discovery Tour and 2. HiddenWonders Tour.You can choose any one of those or both for tour. Each one takes around 1.5 hour to cover. They will make 2 separate groups for these tours. You need to walk all around the tour. A guide will accompany you to explain. You can get your printed photographs outside. Food and drinks not allowed inside the caves although they allow water. You can take photographs with your mobile.

Vijay S — Google review

Amazing experience. If you’ve got bad knees or hips or can’t walk uphill or downhill this is not for you. Very hot inside the cave even when it’s hot outside. Humidity is also 80+%. Definitely worth it if you are prepared with the appropriate shoes. It is guided so you only have a small amount of time inside. Not at your own pace but still worth it. The guides are very friendly and knowledgeable. Quite memorable.

Matia C — Google review

Our family trip to the Natural Bridge Caverns was an amazing experience. I highly recommend visiting for anyone that has the opportunity. I purchased tickets for the Discovery Tour online. We were slightly late but the employee at the ticket counter was very helpful with having our tour time changed to the next available. The tour guide was very friendly and was very knowledgeable about the cave. He provided tons of educational information and was very patient with giving everyone on the tour time to take videos and photos. I was able to capture so many beautiful photos and videos. There are plenty of hand rails to assist with walking in the steep and wet areas on path. They take a photo for you that can be purchased for $26.99 at the end of the tour. We visited one of the two restaurants while we were there which offers hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, fries, grilled cheese, brisket, slushies, sodas, coffee, beer, wine, and popcorn. There are two stores to purchase a variety of different souvenirs. There is also a restaurant/sweet/ brew shop that offers, pizza, ice cream, sweets, and beer and wine. Every employee we encountered provided great customer service.

Tara M — Google review

Amazing experience indeed this is one of the "world premier show caverns, and one of the most attraction in Texas". 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Good for families, has other activities for kids of all ages.Bought the discovery tour pass for around $30 online. Took around 1 hour. Tour starts on time.Need good walking shoes because there are natural water formations on the ground, can be slippery.Has good hand rails for steep areas.We had no problem walking the whole cave. but advisory for people who can not walk decline/incline hills and unable to handle humidity.Our tour Gal, she was very knowledgeable & funning. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Kudos to the whole team: the explorers & planners. The construction and layout for the cavern was very well thought out.Would love to do the hidden passage and adventure explorer next time.Yes!!! highly recommended.

Team C — Google review

Commercial Caverns would be a better name.We have been to SEVERAL caves/caverns in multiple areas of the U.S. Our take on the Caverns themselves at Natural Bridge Caverns were wonderful and we truly enjoyed seeing them. Everything else about the visit left much to be desired.The walkways and paths into and out of the caverns are very nice, be mindful that they're quite steep if you plan to tour. I'm not knocking them for this, just awareness if you plan to visit.The tour itself consists of multiple "tour guides" staged throughout the caverns to elaborate on that portion. Wasn't a bad idea compared to having a single tour guide IMO, BUT...... THEY NEED TO WAIT ON THE ENTIRE GROUP AND SLOW DOWN WHEN TALKING!!!!!!!! We were towards the latter part of our group, and I honestly don't think I could tell you three sentences from the guides.Again, we really enjoyed the Caverns themselves....everything else was a complete turnoff for us. Overall takeaway is that I felt like I was in a tourist trap with prices comparable to major theme parks. Seemed like we were rushed through so the next herd could get in, get out, and make way for the others.For a family of three to do the combo tour and ropes course it would be nearly $300 dollars........ We WON'T be back! Too many other attractions in the area to go broke here!

Eric J — Google review

Experience of a lifetime! Two separate cavern systems to explore with well-trained tour guides. If you plan on doing both tours be prepared to walk at least 2 hours in high humidity. They provide a 30 minute break in between tours (you can choose to schedule a longer break if necessary) but I definitely wouldn’t recommend it if you have difficulty moving around, have asthma or experience extreme claustrophobia.We only toured the caverns and shopped around the gift shops but you can easily spend all day here. They have a maze and zip line playground for the kiddos along with a crystal sifting area at the gift shop.

Lizet D — Google review

Today we took the Hidden Wonders Tour. We arrived at 1pm, but our tour didn't start until 2pm. During our wait time, we raced our way through the maze. It was really hot outside, but we completed the maze in 11 minutes, which is faster than the average of 15 minutes so we were happy about that. Lol Our tour guide was Jennifer. She was pretty thorough, but it was kinda hard to hear her since we were in a large group. All caverns are pretty to me, but this one was spectacular. It is amazing to see how massive caverns can be! There were so many centuries old stalactites, stalagmites, columns, soda straws, etc. Each "room" was more beautiful than the last. And the last room on this tour had a theatrical light show that was really nice. We rode the BAT thingy on the way back up. It was really slow, but it beat having to hike up the incline to the exit. 😁

Kasee L — Google review

Wonderful cavern tour for the whole family. We recently did this tour and it was great! We did the Discovery Tour and found the hike to be very manageable for us and our small kids. The entire thing is completed on a paved path but be aware that the caverns are actively dripping and so you may want shoes with decent grip and ones you don't care if they get wet or dirty.The features of these caverns are amazing and the lighting fantastic. Our whole family enjoyed this and we hope to visit again to see a different section!

Rob S — Google review

Loved it! It was a unique experience. I bought tickets online for the new Hidden Wonders tour. (If you're not sure you're gonna get there on time, buy them when you arrive. They're fast at the ticket counter. They start on time, every time.)The tour took over an hour, but honestly, it felt shorter. Our guide was full of spark and knowledgeable. The pictures taken in the beginning are kinda cool. About 30$ for the whole pack. I recommend wearing shoes with traction. It is a little wet down there. I was in awe of all the formations and light show. There are rails for you to grab, and a hand washing station just outside after the tour.

Amber R — Google review

Out of this world. Can't say enough about this. We did the Discovery tour which I understand is the original set of caves that were opened to the public. Just incredible to be 200 feet below the surface experiencing such beauty. We had a fantastic guide as well. Charming and humorous. Very good at answering our questions and keeping track of the large group. Highly highly recommend making time for this.

Jordan H — Google review

Amazing experience!! Highly recommend visiting this place! I have been to couple of other caverns, but this one was way different and awesome compared to those! They have other activities available on site as well, so you can easily spend half day (or full day if you do both tours).

Vishal P — Google review

Very busy family friendly place. Cavern tour wasn't as informative and interesting as other caverns. Still a good experience. The Twist and Trails looks super fun for school-age kids. Next door is the Natural Bridge Wildlife Park. Again a fun family adventure. You could spend the entire day doing all these 2 locations offer.

Maura D — Google review

Great guided experience. We did the Discovery tour which was family friendly. Excellent guides who are really descriptive and funny at the same time.Tickets are $30/personA must if you are in the areaNote - not recommended for clausterphobic folks.

Pranjal T — Google review

We had a great experience at Natural Bridge Caverns. The caves are amazing and the tour guide (Sarah) was awesome. I highly recommend this adventure to anyone looking for a fun day family trip. As a side note, you will walk a fair amount and you may get a little wet in the cave from the dripping water. It is all part of the experience.

Hunter — Google review

A must see ⭐️What a wonderful place. I have been living in Houston for 12 years and can you imagine I have never been here.I cannot believe how deep it was and what a great adventure it is.Loved it and loved it.Must book your tour. We did it on site. Last tour is like at 4:30 but call. The cave is hot so if beware. You can take lots of pictures. It is slippery so be careful.No heals.Wear comfortable clothes there is a lot of steps and walking you do.The tickets were like $30 per person

Hande B — Google review

This place is incredible. I’m a geologist and had no idea this was lurking under the relative flatness of central Texas. My children and I marveled at the beauty of the caverns and appreciated the time spent exploring and preserving the space for all to see.The grounds are well kept and they have included lots of other businesses and activities for folks to explore. The guides were well educated and seemed to be enjoying their jobs.There is expansion taking place since more caverns have been discovered and we are excited to visit when they open the new areas.

P?maika`i — Google review

This is a great little cave system to visit. Our guide, Ben, was funny and informative. I especially enjoyed his bat shadow puppets! I was surprised to see how big the caverns were (and how much we actually walked).After the tour, we grabbed bit at the restaurant on site. Pretty much pizza, but it was totally worth it. Got a slice of peperoni and it was delicious.Afterward, my friend and I took a stab at the maze. It was fun running around trying to find the letters. And hey, we only got a little lost a couple of times. I'd like to think we did pretty well.So if you're looking for something different to do for a couple hours, it's worth the drive.

Glorkar F — Google review

Live in Texas and didn’t know such beautiful underground caves exist. This place was a blast for the whole family with things to do for all ages. We had 4 years that were able to do the discovery tour (180’ cave) no problem in flip flops. We were concerned because we didn’t quite come prepared. They also have a nice relaxing outdoor area spaced out with gift shops, food, cold drinks etc. Loved our experience, thank you team for everything!

Viktor P — Google review

🦂🦇This place was gorgeous and far exceeded our expectations. 🤍🤍 We’ve been to caverns before and typically they are not very well maintained & really zero amenities at the ones outside the great state of Texas! ♥️💙 this place has it all. 🎁 Amazing gift shops. Activities for kids everywhere. 🪨🧗‍♂️👶🏻👧🏽🧒🏼👦🏿You can purchase a bag of sand with different stones & crystals inside for them to “mine” & have the whole thing set up for them. 🥨🌭🍔🥤Snack stands. Some type of obstacle course as long as you aren’t afraid of heights. 🧗‍♂️🧗‍♂️ Everywhere you turn there’s beautiful nature & wildlife. 🐿️🦅🦃🪺It’s amazing. Highly recommend. Amazing place to explore with kids for education purposes, field trips, dates, take family/friends, etc. Highly recommend it. It’s an absolute beautiful treasure.⚠️ The one warning I have for elderly, pregnant, or anyone with heart or health issues - it can be a strenuous hike inside the cave. There’s plenty to do if you go with a group and cannot tour the cave. There are areas that are very steep & you must hold onto the handrail. The group I was in and to stop several times and wait for people. One lady sounded like she was going to need medical care. If you’re ill or at risk- I would be cautious going on the actual walk through the cave.

Cori M — Google review

Wonderful day. Knowledgeable guides. If you have mobility issues you may want to skip the Discover tour. The climb out will test your fitness. It is breathtaking and worth it in my opinion.

Elizabeth H — Google review

This is a "must do" kind of place. The two tours are so worth it! Both the discovery cavern and the hidden cavern are different enough you'll want to see both. Plenty of free parking, but I still recommend coming earlier in the day so you have time for both tours and the other activities available if you're interested. Definitely book online so you've got your spot guaranteed. Gift shop, several places to eat, plenty of places to stop and rest.

Kat S — Google review

Natural Bridge Caverns in Texas is an awe-inspiring natural wonder. As you descend into the caverns, the world transforms into a magical realm of stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and delicate formations, all beautifully illuminated. The tour guides are knowledgeable, sharing fascinating details about the caverns' history and geology. The walkways are well-maintained, ensuring a safe experience for all ages. The caverns' constant cool temperature provides a refreshing escape from the outside heat. Above ground, there are fun activities like zip-lining and gem mining, making it a perfect family destination. This underground marvel is an unforgettable journey into Earth’s hidden beauty.

Kedar P — Google review

We went to this cave as one of the first we’ve ever been in and it was a great time.We went on the Hidden Wonders Tour and since we went later on in the afternoon on a weekday, we were the only ones on the tour, which was kind of neat.The staff at the caverns are very knowledgeable and friendly. They explained everything beforehandIt was very neat to see all the structural formations naturally constructed over time. My favourite part was the lights show at the end, which makes it a bit more magical.It is a bit of a walk but there are stops to sit. There is also a conveyor belt at the end that you can stand on if you choose when going out of the cave.Definitely something to do when you’re in San Antonio.

Angelica B — Google review

WOW! Visited San Antonio recently and decided to spend the day at the Natural Bridge Caverns ... and can you say awe-inspiring! This geological wonder was such a great place to explore. I was also surprised to learn that this is one of the largest commercial caverns in the state. The journey through the caverns and all the breathtaking formations will blow you away!You get a guided tour which lead us through a labyrinth of stalactites and stalagmites, some millions of years old, each with its own unique shape and story. The guides provide insightful commentary, sharing the geological history and pointing out notable formations along the way.One of the highlights of the tour is the beautiful Natural Bridge, which is a massive limestone formation that spans an impressive length, serving as a reminder of the caverns' ancient origins. As we navigated the winding paths, we were able to take in the amazingly stunning views and took some cool photos!But when you are done exploring the caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns also offers additional attractions, including gem mining, zip-lining, and a maze, providing entertainment for visitors of all ages. There is an on-site gift shop which offers a variety of souvenirs and geological items which was helpful in allowing us to take a little part of our experience home.If you are in San Antonio, Natural Bridge Caverns is a must-visit! I don't think you have to be a nature enthusiast or history buff to enjoy. If you are simply looking for a unique experience, why not venture into the depths of the earth and marvel at the millions of years upon you!

Marc C — Google review

This was a great experience. We were visiting Texas looking for something to do and found this awesome place. I recommend touring both caverns. As close together as they are they are different experiences... Tour guides were very informative on formations and safety tips.

Merton P — Google review

What an amazing time, we drove up at 0920 to no line to enter, no line for tickets and no lines for the cave tours.Our cave tour was spot on at one hour and fifteen minutes long and was amazing. We had two older adults, 72 and 66; whereas the rest of the group ranged from 44 to 8 but this stopped no one. There were some fears before entering the caves of ability to walk the caves, claustrophobia, physical abilities and limitations but none played into deterring from the tour and admiring the beauty of the caves.I highly recommend this tour but of course recommend asking the ticket counter and tour guide for any guidance and help if required as they offered multiple times if anyone needed.The cave itself offered views and wonders that amazed myself and this tour ranks for me up at the top of my list of vacation expeditions. My son did the ropes course and enjoyed that. We ate at the General Store where the pizza and hot dogs were a bit steep on price. The food at the ticket house seemed to be more reasonable.One item to note though and one that my daughter was super excited to see was the bear jaw bones. These were mentioned at the start of the tour and hyped up, so we trekked back to the ticket house and the jawbone is in a case against the back wall behind some tables where people were eating lunch, underwhelming. My daughter was really hoping to see a better display for these jaw bones, this is something that should be looked into.

Adam H — Google review

I took my gf to this amazing place this past weekend. This is my third visit, and they have a lot of changes done to the Discovery tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and patient with a lot of us. I would recommend booking the ticket in advance and having it pull out before you enter the place because the signal can get quite bad inside. Some roads can get quite narrow, and the path can get quite slippery. Definitely wear good hiking shoes.

Mark L — Google review

My Girlfriend and I loved the tour and had a good time. The guide was informative and fun. We went down almost couple hundred feet and loved the small light and sound show at the bottom, then instead of the (BAT) we hiked it back up to the entrance at the top!

Juan S — Google review

We really enjoyed our tour, the tour guide was very knowledgeable. We went on the discovery tour and would come back to the other cave. Would be a bit challenging for some to navigate as some of the paths are pretty steep. Also the tickets were a little pricey.

Matt B — Google review

We had a great time at Natural Bridge Caverns. We did both tours and was amazed these formations existed. It was educational and awe inspiring. If you have some time and are a bit adventurous they also have rope courses and zip lining as well. You can easily make a really nice day of it.

Kim T — Google review

It was a nice experience, we really enjoyed it. The tour guide was informative and friendly.We also enjoyed the outdoor games near the picnic tables and the gift shop. Pretty humid in the cavern but not so bad. Wear comfortable shoes with good traction as the trails are steep and wet. (Hand railings throughout) You can bring a water bottle inside the cavern, there’s also a water fountain inside the cavern and at the exit with the ability to purchase beverages. Dress comfortably. Picnic areas outside. Pretty tranquil.

Ashly A — Google review

A Breathtaking Underground Adventure:Visiting Natural Bridge Cavern was an unforgettable experience! From the moment we stepped into the cave, we were mesmerized by the stunning formations and the knowledgeable guides who shared fascinating insights about the geological wonders around us. The cavern's beauty truly takes your breath away, and the combo tours was both educational and thrilling. I highly recommend this attraction to anyone looking for a unique and awe-inspiring adventure.

Shashang M — Google review

The grounds here are beautiful, and the caverns are gorgeous. The parking lot is ample, with plenty of tree-lined spaces. Ramps are in place for those in wheel chairs or those who have mobility issues. Picnic tables dot the outskirts of the closer parking spots, too!The ticket office is located to the left after entering the visitor center. Also in the center is a gift shop with some very nice things. Other buildings include another gift shop and a small restaurant/snack shop.There is a zip-line ride in the middle of the park, too! You just walk up several flights of stairs to the top and then ride the zip line down in a spiral path to the bottom. It looks really easy, something that almost anyone can do!The restaurant offers bottled water and other libations. Lots of candy bars and snacks line the walls. We ordered a brisket sandwich and paid 10 dollars for a junior-sized bun that had been over-microwaved, so it had the consistency of unchewable rubber, and the meat was absolutely tasteless and dry. Along with that overpriced piece of hockey puck bread was a serving of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce and a serving of pickled cucumbers and onions, which were good but not enough to rescue the most horrible sandwich I have ever had. Seriously. I ended up throwing away the entire bun after scraping off most of the tasteless meat and eating that. I would expect all their buns and rolls to be microwaved and all their meat dry and tasteless, so I would recommend NOT buying any food here except for candy bars and bottled water.Food is not the reason for our visit to the caverns, though: we came to see the underground formations, and they were worth it. The tour takes about an hour and 10 minutes, and the walk is very easy, even for someone with balance issues and a walking stick like me. The only challenge is that the smooth paths are not 100 percent flat, so when turning sharp corners, the handrails don't always meet, and you might have to feel a little less secure just for a second. Just about anyone can hack the walks: the trails are not too steep and not strenuous at all. The innermost caverns are very, very humid and hot, so be prepared with lighter clothes than other caverns. (For example: Mammoth Cave and Carlsbad Caverns are around 58 degrees year round, but the Natural Bridge Caverns are very warm, around 70 degrees Fahrenheit with 100 percent humidity so that it feels like 80+ degrees! If you get overheated easily, it will not be pleasant.)You can get some great photographs in this cavern, and the staff is very friendly. The gift shop offers nice wares, and the facilities are beautiful, too. These things, along with easy walking and tourist-friendly amenities (except for the horrible food), make it an excellent choice for everyone, even those with children and older adults.

Cindy R — Google review

Absolutely beautiful. We did the discovery cavern tour and the maze. The tour lasted about an hour and a half and was very educational. Our tour guide was incredibly nice. The maze was fun for he kids. There’s also outdoor games like connect four, checkers and other things. They have picnic tables. There’s lots of fun to be had here.

Cheska R — Google review

This was a fun activity to do with our family. Definitely wear your baby as you’ll need your hands to hold the rail when you walk up or down into the cave. It’s humid in there as well, so no matter what the temp is outside you’ll be sweating down there! Such a neat discovery! Lots of other things to do after the tour; ropes course, maze, lawn games, gem panning. We did not do the other things they offer but if you want to make a day out of it there is plenty to do! Our your guide Donna was great as well!

Amy M — Google review

This was our first with our daughter and she loved it. The butterflies were all over the weather was very nice not too hot thankfully. The cave was slick and wet but was awesome I have been here 3 other times and I still feel like I saw some new things lol.

Kara K — Google review

Such an awesome and beautiful experience. Wear tennis shoes and be ready for a steady climb down and more so on your way up. Not for elderly or those who cannot handle too much exercise.The tour guides are very informative and fun while they explain everything.The scenery unforgettable. Hearing how many thousands of years it takes for just a small "Pillar" to form is crazy.Cannot wait to explore other areas next time.There is so much to look at and see before and after as well.

JoAnne M — Google review

We did the discovery tour. It was really fun! Some areas are tight and low. It didn’t bother us. It’s possible for most people to walk this and enjoy the beauty of this cavern. The tour guide was super informative and pleasant. The beauty in the cavern was amazing! Plenty of options for food and drinks before or after the tour.

Eric F — Google review

These caverns are some of the most beautiful caverns I have ever visited. The tour guide was fabulous and the walking tour through the cavern took about 90 minutes. The rock formations and the stalactites and stalagmites were wonderful. There were some natural variations in the color of the rocks. It was like being in another world. At the end of the tour, they had a light and music show in this one huge room in the cavern and it was divine😀. They also have a gift shop.

Sharon D — Google review

Went to Natural Bridge Caverns on a rainy Saturday. Kids had a blast! We did both the normal tour and the hidden paths tour. The normal type was much faster moving and had a lot more to see. Skipped the maze and zip tours as there was rain and lightning and those were closed but the park refunded our purchase.

Joshua P — Google review

I took a group of Girl Scouts most of which just graduated High School. We all loved it. The walk was a challenge but doable. I was glad that I wore shoes with traction, some areas were slick.We had 10 people and there were others on with our time slot. I felt the group was too large and I couldn’t hear what the tour guide was saying. She was very nice and informative for the parts that I could hear. The caverns are beautiful and it was a great experience. We did the discovery tour

Karolyn W — Google review

Definitely a must see if you are in the area! There are some steep grades going down and up so be prepared and wear good shoes! Our guide Rachel did a great job of showing and explaining different formations in the cave!

Kayla A — Google review

It was a great way to see middle earth with family and friends! It’s a little touristy but well worth the visit for the breath taking sights underground.Also, check out the gift shop for extra memories or snacks (dots ice cream) 🍦

Dave R — Google review

Historically informative and well-lit. Went here yesterday.There is clear effort put in the stairs to make them safe to walk on, as well as railings for extra precautions, which was also offered while riding the B.A.T., which leads you up the steep hill to the exit of the cave (don’t hold onto the railings for too long, they don’t move with you!). This transportation technique is located at the end of the Hidden Wonders Tour, which is preferred for those who have already journeyed through the Discovery Tour, with both being offered if you purchase tickets directly from the Combo Tour option. The Discovery Tour is the oldest one, most recommended for those newly experiencing cave exploration, as there are guides dispersed around the path. Meanwhile, the Hidden Wonders Tour is newest and led by an individual guide, where you watch an informative video before heading down to the cave. Both options take you/your company’s photo and offer you the opportunity to buy that photo at the end of the tour. They also keep everyone in groups for safety measures, although mix-up is possible with other groups ahead. There are only two walking tours, with the Adventure Tours being climbing. We got a great view of the natural bridge!Overall, amazing view, highly recommended. There is 99% humidity in the caves, and air conditioning inside the main building in case you need to cool down after a tour. Enjoy yourselves!

The E — Google review

The Discovery Tour at Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio, TX, is a phenomenal experience! While the tour can be challenging for some due to the 180-foot descent underground through well-maintained but occasionally slippery pathways, the adventure is well worth it. You get an up-close and personal look at the largest cavern in the state, exploring massive cave rooms and stunning rock formations. The state-of-the-art lighting showcases the caverns in a mesmerizing way, highlighting the natural beauty of the formations.The tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and professional, providing a cautious and well-paced journey with necessary stops to catch your breath, especially on the way back up. The spectacular natural formations, including soda straws, flowstone, stalagmites, and stalactites, have grown over thousands of years and continue to thrive thanks to the park's outstanding stewardship and educational efforts. Highly recommend this tour for an unforgettable underground adventure!

Juan G — Google review

Super super fun and it was not hot at all.Great customer service and very friendly employees. The caves were nice and were super interesting. Even after the cave exploration there was fun activities like the gift shop, obstacle course, and outdoor activities. It is an overall great place to take your family for some fun.

Marlene S — Google review

Amazing. Our tour guide Sarah was phenomenal. She was energetic and informative. We went on a Thursday during spring break. Parking was easy and not over crowded. We walked into the building and at the entrance is where you buy the tickets. They do have packages and military discount. We participated in viewing both caverns. Both were very interesting to walk through. Just like every natural cave, you cannot touch the walls or formations. Pictures are welcomed. Steps and walk ways are slippery so wear close toed shoes. It's also a lot of walking. 2 hours for first cave. The second cave has a conveyor belt that brings you out of the cave. Or you can walk a steep slope. There are benches for breaks. There are other activities to do on the ranch as well, such as a ropes course. There's food and drinks available and plenty of shadded sitting areas for lunch and resting. The bathrooms are so clean and futuristic, it's jaw dropping. We had a great time and can't wait to go again to see the wildlife ranch.

Analisa H — Google review

This was one of the most amazing caverns I’ve been to. I like that it is family owned and operated. I did the discovery tour and that is currently $27-30 depending on what day of the week you go. It’s an hour long so I recommend wearing good sneakers. It’s about 70 degrees inside the cavern. Our tour guide was very informative and knowledgeable. If you’re not in shape, disabled, or an older adult, I would skip this as it can get strenuous at times. If you think you can do it, then all the more power to you.

Nicholas P — Google review

This was an enjoyable time out. We did the Hidden Wonders tour and quickly found our place in queue. Staff were all pleasant and great to talk with.It was a well paced walk to see everything and had a terrific time. If anything could be improved, it would be exit signage. I understand that you don't want to guests leaving bit leaving g them confused isn't a better option. From a a customer service standpoint, it only helps avoid easy answers.Get your tickets in advance to save money and select your tour time.

Martin H — Google review

I'm from Florida. We visit Marianna caverns a lot. We absolutely were astounded by Natural Bridge. The pictures do no just of the beauty of this place! The tours are WELL worth the exercise! Be prepared to be amazed of the formations and the HISTORY! PREHISTORIC! The nature of this place was everything was perfectly projected. I would walk it a million more times.

Seanna B — Google review

I did the caverns tour. It was really entertaining and educational.Kids did the rope/zipline area. They enjoyed it a lot.The facilities are good. The toilets are well kept and have powerful flushes.

Kashif H — Google review

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26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266, USA

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Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

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Wildlife and safari park

Zoos & Aquariums

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is a 400-acre wildlife refuge where you can see 500 animals from 40 different species living in their natural environment. The property is located on the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas not far from New Braunfels and visitors can drive through it while observing the animals.

This is a fun place for anyone who likes animals and wants some close up contact with some wild life. Is not too far from the city of San Antonio. The ranch is big and clean. It has a eatery and a lot of sitting areas. We came in during the weekday, so it was nice and quiet. The entrance fee is reasonable and you can buy a bag of food to feed the animals. The people who works there are very friendly. We had a great and fun experience and will for sure refer people to come visit! P.S. “love the chimpanzees, one of them is so entertaining that he/she does flip a lot in the play area. For sure keep my family entertained! The foods that they served are tasty and not too pricey. ❤️

J C — Google review

To be honest at the price to enter the place I do not believe it was worth what they charge. For five of us it was $146. The drive took nearly 2 hours to drive around and there were hardly any animals. It is well taken care of and the property is clean. They charge more to feed the birds and other things while walking around to see the animals.I honestly enjoyed Wonder World Cave and Adventure Park better, the kids said the same as well. Feeding the animals there was more entertaining at the Wonder World Cave.

Chatfield I — Google review

Such an amazing experience here. A little pricey to pay per person rather than per vehicle but worth the trip! We got to feed tons of animals including a big Ostrich. The animals were docile and calm to collect food. Park employees regularly patrolled the path to ensure the animal safety and make sure everyone was following the rules. Great place to check out if you’re in the area. The bird aviary was also an amazing experience to feed all the birds.

Keyla C — Google review

I haven't been on this Wildlife adventure in 20 years and it was a wonderful experience. It was my son and husband's first time and they greatly enjoyed their visit. We do wish the other attractions (bird and dinosaur adventure) were offered separately even if the price is higher then when bundled. Overall, 5 stars! We would recommend!We will definitely be back for Christmas in the caverns!

Angela G — Google review

We've been here several times and it's always fun. The kids love it and it's fun to watch them interact with the wildlife in a controlled environment. The zebra was a little much for our 2 year old this time around but it was a great laugh for the rest of us. The ostriches and giraffes were also high points as they are the ones we got the most up close with. You can go through as many times as you like. The wife and oldest also fed the birds and had them landing on them it was fun. I will say the prehistoric park part can be skipped. There's better things to do.

John H — Google review

We went on a Saturday and it was my first ever visit. It’s hard to imagine the beautiful landscape and animals are so close to the SA area. The “trail” is about 6 miles long and takes about an hour. The views are beautiful and there are so many animals to see. With the exception of a few (cheetahs, hippos and giraffes) the animals roam free and will at times walk right up to your car window. Spend the little bit extra to get the bags of feed so you can feed them and some of the animals will eat straight from your hand. An adult ticket is close to $40, but so worth it when you see how well maintained the grounds are and how healthy the animals look. It’s a must see adventure.

D W — Google review

We had an absolute blast at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch! This beautiful Texas ranch provided an amazing experience for our family. The African exotic animals were so much fun to see up close. My daughter, Sophia, was a bit scared of the ostrich, but it just added to the adventure! The drive-through safari was well-organized, and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. We loved the opportunity to see these incredible animals in a natural setting. Highly recommend this place for a memorable family outing. Five stars!

Alfio V — Google review

Great experience! It is a bit pricey (they do offer AAA discount) but it is a fun experience for everyone. I suggest you go through the route at least twice. On our first time through we didn’t see any zebras but on the second loop they were running by the road. Also on the second round one of the ostriches leaned his head into the car. On most of the path it’s wide enough to get around stopped cars if you feel the need to move on. There’s a snack area about 2/3 of the way through where you can park and grab a bite to eat. If I could make a suggestion to the owners, add an audio narration to each section to tell the guests about the types of animals. Animal food is $5/bag. Two bags was plenty for our two trips around.

Tim C — Google review

The most fun I have ever had! Driving through to see the animals was made even more fun by having a bag of feed for them. The animals are used to people driving through and feeding them, so some will come right up to the car. I was so excited to see a zebra that close up! My husband and I had a good laugh when the zebra stuck his head in our car to get to the bag of feed, and watching the car in front of us as an ostrich stuck its head in their car. We enjoyed the walkabout area too. All the staff were helpful and friendly! Loved the whole trip! I will definitely come back!

Keri B — Google review

Kids really enjoyed it! Mostly prey of course, just a few predators who are isolated behind fencing. I especially appreciate that this place provides a refuge for some critically endangered species. The animatronic dinosaur and dragon exhibit is going to be a big hit with visitors assuming it doesn't jump too high above the $5 entry fee when it opens fully. The bird feeding enclosure was loads of fun as well! Very clean facilities. Clear and easy to follow signs and traffic paths that almost make it idiot proof. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend.

David A — Google review

When we first arrived a little after 12, we had quite a bit of a wait to get through the gate (around 20 minutes), so I would suggest to get there earlier if you can. I was happy about the AAA discount. It was $3, which is better than nothing! You can purchase food at the entrance, which was pretty reasonably priced (a little over $4). We got one bag, and we didn’t go through it all during our first round (we looped back again to use up the food). Overall, it was fantastic! The animals were awesome, sweet, and excited to get fed! Some people definitely didn’t get the memo about going a certain speed limit, but that’s on them, not the place.I got the chicken salad from their restaurant and a medium drink (which came in a reusable cup). Again, was pretty reasonably priced overall, for a place like this! (About $17 for both items). The salad was very good and filling! Also, the staff was friendly!Overall, we spent about three hours here and we would definitely visit this place again!

Lauren B — Google review

Hands down a unique experience in San Antonio. The animals were extremely active and we went on a weekday, so lower traffic. Buy the feed, buy the feed, and buy extra feed. You will want the feed. The cafe was fantastic, plan to stay for lunch! The bird feeding is the best I have ever experienced. Just watch your feet! I cannot write how amazing the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in a post that people would read so just go check it out yourself. It is within 30 minutes of downtown and well worth ANY drive time! We did the self-guided tour.

Quentin S — Google review

I wish I could give more than 5 stars. My husband brought me here from Houston today for my 43rd birthday because I LOVE animals. I can’t even express the amount of fun I had. We went in the morning right after it opened and all of the animals seemed to be waiting for us. The giraffes and so many babies and even brought their babies to the fence to visit us. It was engaging and a lifetime memory. Best birthday ever!

Tiffany V — Google review

Add this to the “can’t miss” list when visiting the area! Reasonable drive from Austin or San Antonio area and the up close and friendly animals make it all worth it. Price is reasonable and make sure you buy a couple of bags of food at the entrance. We took around 1.5-2 hours driving through and there’s a nice little gift shop and a few monkey to walk and see after the drive is over. They have plenty of attractions for kids too like the dinosaurs. Adults and kids alike will enjoy this experience!

Thomas M — Google review

Recommended saving time and purchasing your admission tickets online and scanning the barcode at the entrance. You will be able to buy animal feed upon entry at the gate. Definitely areas to stop for the restroom inside the safari park. Friendly staff is onsite to make sure animals and humans are safe at all times. Some areas have two lanes should you want to go at your own pace or take a guided safari tour. You also have the option for an up and personal time with the giraffe family. Overall, fun for all ages.

Naomi N — Google review

This was the best place to be while in San Antonio.Kids and adults loved it equally. All adults became kids.The place is very peaceful and quiet. Animals are friendly as they know that human slaves come around feeding them regularly.

Ahmad P — Google review

I took my granddaughters for a day trip here. I love safari drives sand this was a great one. Entrance fee was a bit higher but probably because animals are much better taken care of. Took my own car through and it was fine. Saw really cool moments and also ate at cafe there. Great for all ages.

Julia M — Google review

Usually when I visit attractions, I’m happy going just once but this place makes me want to come back again! The best part? Where do I even start! First, if you’re tired from walking or have someone who can’t walk much, this place is perfect. You drive up to buy tickets which are $24.99 per adult. On their website, they have a link that will direct you the San Antonio coupon book and you can get a discount but it didn’t work for us for the month of March. Honestly though, the price was just fine, even without the small discount. At the ticket booth you can also purchase bags of food for $4.50 and we are so happy we did because it made the experience even better. We fed so many kinds of animals and took lovely photos and videos. At the ticket booth, they will also give you a brochure that explains the animals and facts about them, making it very educational. After that, you will then drive through the whole park in your vehicle. It’s a nice way to pass the time because we were there for about 1.5 hours. We had all our windows rolled down and had a blast. We came on a Friday at around 11:30am and it was not very busy. There is one main road with white dividers on it that splits into 2 paths. If you want to go quicker, you can pass the other cars or you can take your time. They want you to keep your speed at 5mph and you can feed all the animals except the giraffe’s and caged animals at the end of the safari. About half way, you will also find a spot where you can park. This area has a snack booth, very clean restrooms, a cute sign you can snap a picture at and you can walk up to get a better look at the giraffes. Once the drive is done, at the very end, you’ll pull into a parking lot. This area has more restrooms, benches to sit on, a restaurant and cute gift shop. It also has a walking area where you can see enclosed animals. You can pay an extra $3 per person to walk inside the enclosed bird cage. We weren’t able to because due to staffing shortages, no one was there to supervise but we could still see the birds from the outside. The worst part? It might not seem like it but you are given a lot of food pellets. At the beginning, we didn’t want to “waste” them because we were worried we’d run out by the end. I can not tell you how many people had leftovers at the end. We were trying to gift bags to people going in because we had so much left!! So, either use it up as much as you can or even before you enter, I don’t know if you could turn into the lot (to the right of the ticket booth) but if you do, you could probably get peoples leftovers and avoid paying. Also, some animals bite! The ostriches were hard to feed because they kept biting our fingers and hands. A tip would be to put food on something or cover your hand with a sweater or blanket. That way they can’t get your fingers. The ranch also has a lot of signs everywhere so make sure you read them. They give you good safety reminders and will mention when some animals, like zebras, might bite. We also chose to take 2 cars because if we had packed into our van, then the people in the back wouldn’t have their own windows to feed the animals. You’ll be happy you came! It’s wonderful and family friendly. Everyone will have a good time.

Lizsandra E — Google review

We enjoy seeing wild animals and after watching a few YouTube videos about it we decided to go.Based on advice from the reviews we made sure to go early to avoid the heat in the early afternoon that keeps most of the animals staying in the shade.It takes a little more than 90 minutes to drive the entire route if you don't stop at the break area roughly halfway through.We really enjoyed our visit and will be back with more of our family next time.

Durand S — Google review

Place is fun and all but it's very expensive since they charge per person and not per vehicle.. family of 5 and it was 130 dollars to pretty much drive around at 5mph. You have to be extremely lucky to go on a day when all the animals are out and willing to participate in the interaction.. otherwise, it can turn into a slow 5mph drive with very few animals to see up close and a very expensive tab behind.. when you add that I spent another 40 dollars in water and ice cream, that's almost 200 bucks for a 45 min drive in and out.

Francisco S — Google review

Best time ever! We enjoyed driving through the safari and getting to feed the animals and watching their interactions with each other and the vehicles going through. We enjoyed going in with the birds even though some of them will give you tint love bites, lol. Really enjoyed our time there.

Jaime's P — Google review

We drove our own car, but you can also opt for an open tour bus. In your own car, you can choose to stop and feed certain animals for as long as desired and roll up your car windows with the A/C on in between! We purchased just one bag of feed for the 3 of us to share and it was just the right amount. It was really fun to see these animals up close. There are some primates and lemurs in the walk-around area. We walked around there first as it was the morning and cooler part of the day. Very enjoyable experience. We did not do the dinosaur park, so no comment on that.

Royce H — Google review

BEAUTIFUL & AWESOME experience!!!! We will definitely be coming her often! Our kids loved it! The variety of animals was great! And the food was awesome here as well! Over the prehistoric exhibit and the bird aviary. Feeding the little birds was so fun!! Definitely a highlight for me for sure! If you haven't been here it's Definitely a must! Even if you're just passing through. The kids will love it! Plenty to see and do! Worth every penny!

Desirae R — Google review

Amazing place to spend the day with family, friends or a date. It’s well maintained and there are tons of animals. All animals look healthy and well cared for. Fun way to spend the day. The best part is you can do the safari as many times as you wish once you enter the ranch! Don’t miss the bird house!

Sayali N — Google review

We've lived in Austin for a while and never had the chance to visit this place. The safari was amazing and having such a close experience with wildlife was something surreal.We were able to feed a lot of animals in close quarters. My wife enjoyed feeding the zebras and we had one of our best weekends here.Place was well maintained and the gift shop had so much unique pieces. Would recommend 10/10. We would never miss a chance to come back again.

Pradhosh N — Google review

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in San Antonio offers a fantastic safari adventure right in Texas. This drive-through park allows you to see and interact with over 500 animals, including zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, all roaming freely across the scenic Texas Hill Country.The drive is leisurely and well-maintained, providing stunning views and plenty of photo opportunities. Feeding the animals from your vehicle is a highlight, especially for children. The ranch also features a walk-about area and a petting zoo, perfect for stretching your legs and getting closer to smaller animals.Facilities are clean and well-equipped, with picnic areas, restrooms, and a gift shop. The knowledgeable staff enhances the experience by sharing insights about the animals and conservation efforts.Overall, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch offers an engaging, educational, and memorable experience for families and animal lovers. Highly recommended for a fun day out.

Ved P — Google review

Wonderful experience. I can't wait to come back. The animals are very obviously treated well, and that is such a big deal for me. I don't like zoos because the animals are so sad in small cages. These animals run mostly free and get food all day long. They have a mini restaurant for sweets like ice cream. They also have a full restaurant with all sorts of good food. We got the cheeseburger and chili cheese dog. Facility was very clean. Employees were so nice, and you could tell they genuinely love working there. The ostriches and goats are pushy when it comes to food lol. BUY 4 BAGS AT LEAST. Save one bag for the end specifically for the goats. They love to stop your car so you'll feed them 🤣. I can't say enough good about this place. Definitely go here and spend the day with family and friends.

Mrs. R — Google review

This place was AMAZING! We had a great tour guide (very knowledgeable and friendly). It was super cool to be able to interact with the animals and actually be able to touch and feed some of them!I highly recommend this experience (even though there's a slight look of apprehension on my face with the Ostriches!).AWESOME!

Arizona G — Google review

We absolutely love this place. It is one of the best vacation stops you can make while visiting the San Antonio area. The animal interactions that can happen while sitting in your own car are amazing. They even have homemade fudge about halfway through the tour. You can stop for a snack and a drink while watching the giraffes. It's truly a magical adventure for adults and kids. 100% highly recommend going.

George G — Google review

This place was a whole lot of fun. I have three kids from 4-11 and they all had fun. We did the full package, the birds, the dinosaurs, and the safari. It was incredibly hot that day but we still stayed cool driving in the car. Some of the animals weren't very active due to the heat but we could still see them all and fed many others. A really neat part of our summer vacation!

Dallas S — Google review

We had a Great time at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. Kids enjoyed driving through and seeing all the unique animals. You also have an option to buy food to feed the animals, but if you are cheap, sometimes there are people offering free feed that they did not completely use up on the tour near the gift shop and restaurant. The dinosaur exhibit was pretty neat but I wouldn't go again, don't think it is really worth the price unless your kids really like dinosaurs. There is a restroom around the middle of the tour where you can park and get down for pictures and snacks. At the very end of the drive you will meet the ostriches and everyone stops to feed them so get ready to stop near the end for a bit.You can spend almost a whole day just doing the wildlife ranch alone so if you want to go to the caverns, it's better to plan for 2 days.

Stephen H — Google review

We had such a great time here, my 5 year old daughter LOOOOOOOVED it. We got there on a Saturday just around the time they opened and it was cool and empty which was perfect!The park is wide open and clean, and the animals look really happy there in the park. They have room to roam, lots of food, and overall it seems like they're in a resort for animals.Some of the animals aren't really interested in the food you can buy to feed them, as they will be eating the other food that the park gives them. If you're hoping that the animals will all come to your car, you'll probably be disappointed. Some animals were interested in the timothy hay pellets we were allowed to feed them, but most weren't.The funniest animals were the ostriches as we normally don't think of ostriches as something dangerous, but seeing how big they are and their strong legs and the sharp talon on their feet, you realize they're kind of spooky. Whenever they'd come near the car my daughter would jump in the rear of our SUV to hide haha.After we finished the tour with our car, we noticed a lot more cars starting to arrive. We went through the animatronic dinosaur exhibit which funnily enough had dragons and fantasy animals as well. My daughter thought some of them were a little spooky but had a blast with that. The other thing she really enjoyed was being able to feed the budgies.After doing everything, we had a small lunch at the cafe which was decent, and then we decided to drive around one more time! Your ticket allows you to go as many times as you want in the same day, that was a nice touch.This is a great attraction and totally worth it!

Paul M — Google review

my husband and I took spontaneous last minute trip to San Antonio and had the time of our life. we visited the Wildlife Ranch and it was amazing. I'm terrified of deer but I conquered a fear and I fed them. this was the closest I've ever been to deer or to wildlife. I will definitely come back!

Ashley D — Google review

Truly one of the greatest wildlife experiences in my life! It's amazing to be this close to animals who will literally eat out of your hand (against the rules, but everyone does it). Kinda pricey but totally worth it. For outdoorsmen, seeing Axis, Fallow, Aoudad, and other game animals is really amazing stuff!!

Paul C — Google review

Nice and clean, great to look at wildlife when it's hot out since you don't get out of your vehicle. We went about 2 in the afternoon, so it was hot and the majority of the animals were bedded down, the cheetahs were hard to see since they were napping. But overall it was fun and we felt it was worth it .

Shawn L — Google review

Honestly surprised at some of the poor recent reviews of this place. I went on a solo trip and it took me maybe an hour and a half going at my own pace. The park was pretty empty so I was never rushed or had many cars around and it was very relaxing just enjoying the animals in a safe environment. I came on a Monday at 10:30 if that helps reference…. Animals were lively, full of energy and seemed super happy here. I had a great experience -

Jessica L — Google review

How this place doesn't have an average rating of 5 out of 5 is beyond me. We planned our entire Spring Break making sure that this was the highlight of the trip. If you don't like animals or the fact that it is a little pricey then just don't go! We spent 6 hours and went around 4 times, yes 4 times in total. It was awesome (our last trip here was over a decade ago, we could actually hand feed the zebras ... so awesome!). We did hand feed the ostriches, rheas, and even a wildebeest.

Lyle G — Google review

Loved this place and will be back everytime I'm in Texas! We arrived around 1230pm and we were afraid the animals would be sleeping or not hungry. This was not what happened! We had so many visitors at our car I just wished I would have purchased more food to hand out! Some of the animals would only come to you if you threw some food put and then others would join them. My 17 year old enjoyed it too!

Moana M — Google review

Loved our visit to the wildlife ranch. Six mile drive took about an hour. Animals will cross the road or just stand in the road, so traffic can get backed up a little. Loved the giraffes and the ostriches. Beware of the ostriches, if you roll down your window they like to stick their heads in and snap at you. They were funny, but definitely roll your window up if they are near! So cool!

Dave C — Google review

We came here around 2pm on a Wednesday. Lots of deer greeted us but not alot of other animals came to us. I think the animals were hot and trying to hide out in the shade. It's still amazing how you can see animals in their natural habitat and just help feed them. Feed is $5 a bag I only recommend a bag or two. The bird encounter is worth the few extra dollars. We love coming here when visiting San Antonio.

Nicole P — Google review

I want to start by saying that I’m really saddened to see so many bad reviews due to the fact that “animals don’t want to interact”. Let’s remember that these are wild animals and we are so lucky to visit a place like this to see so many species. We had an exceptional experience! This is our 4th time visiting the Safari within the last year and a half and every visit is different, but amazing! Today it seemed like every animal we drove by wanted to interact with us and we were smitten, we as adults had the best time and so did my toddler! The dinosaur exhibit was a hit with my toddler, definitely worth visiting, especially if you have kids!

Anna G — Google review

Was definitely a good experience for the wife and kids on a Sunday afternoon. Plenty of time to spend here and feed the animals. Bags were like $5 a pop. We had a great time in the bird feeding area as well. Only knock on the visit was my wife saying the females rr by it smelled like rats died in there as soon as she opened the door with the employee, aside from that we had an enjoyable experience!

Jesse M — Google review

WOW, what a complete disappointment! So BUYER BEWARE! My experience at this drive-thru safari compared to the one in Franklin was completely night and day. And my overall visit here was very mixed. While it was fascinating to see the wide variety of animals the location offered, I couldn't help but notice that many (if not most) of them seemed disinterested in interacting with the vehicles passing through. They were doing a very good job of resting near the fences, which were not near the driven path. These animals appear well-fed (which is a good thing), but being well fed makes them appear very content, which is undoubtedly a positive aspect of the safari. However, it did detract somewhat from the excitement of the experience, as I had hoped to witness more engagement from the wildlife like my previous 3 visits to the Franklin Safari. Overall, while this safari provided a unique opportunity to observe animals in their "natural habitat", the lack of interaction from the animals was highly disappointing considering the price paid and also buying food to feed to them which essentially went unused as there was not many animals interested in the food we bought.The location also offers some monkeys and lemurs to look at as well as a bird experience, which we did not opt to pay for. There is also a dinosaur / dragon exhibit which is decent if you are into those kinds of things. It was cool to see how an average human compares in size to the dinosaurs as the replicas were life-sized.

Marc C — Google review

We were at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch 5/22/24. This was my family's (all adults) favorite thing we did on vacation to San Antonio! Definitely buy a bag of food per person ($5) at the gate so you can feed the animals. It took us about an hour to drive the whole park, stopping often to take pictures and interact with the animals. Great gift shop at the end, also. Highly recommend a visit here!

Carmen M — Google review

Woww. This place is awesome. Such a very good place for every family to visit and adults and kids can enjoy this place. You can feed the animals too here. There is not just animals but bird feeding is also there.There is an entry ticket and also once you reach there is a restaurant and parking space and you can view few animals there . Then you can start the drive to watch other animals where you can feed too.It is a very big drive and it takes you hours (max 3 hours) to finish the entire drive in and out. While starting if you want you can have food in the restaurant near the entrance and halfway through the drive there is a sweet shop where you can buy some sweets (not much liked by me, few were good though)

Charzi C — Google review

4.4

(8385)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (153)

4.5

(1468)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (154)

26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266, USA

(830) 438-7400

22

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (155)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (156)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (157)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (158)

Mentioned on

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Historical place

Nature & Parks

Hiking Trails

Guided tours offered at a 948-acre park with 4 1700s colonial missions, a visitor center & trails.

Beautiful missions. Wonderful piece of history. Have been there for 300 years and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site as of 2015. These are ALL *still* active Catholic Parishes, so respect that, please. We loved Espada the most and they have a neat little gift shop that supports the Parish.

Mark F — Google review

I have visited the Missions twice, a few years back (just getting around to reviewing).I saw the 4 Missions in 1 day (I drove to them all in one day) and then saw the Alamo the next day. Each one was more unique and beautiful than the next and I couldn't possibly pick a favorite! The history and the architecture and the beautiful paintings on the walls are nothing less than magnificent!These historical place have been so well-preserved by the National Park Service and I was so glad that I visited them. The next time I found myself in San Antonio, I even took a friend to see all of them.Don't miss out of these beautiful, historic places that wonderful San Antonio has to offer. (I am going to dig up my photos and post one from each different Mission.)

Tc Z — Google review

If you participate in getting the visitor stamps you’ll want to start at the visitor center for Mission San Jose. The workers there are very helpful and will show you the walking or bike path if you want to visit all of the missions. I personally drove because I was short on time and there’s at most 15 minutes between sites. The visitor’s center will have free guided tours of Mission San Jose but the other three will be self guided. If you want to participate the churches on each site offer pilgrimage stamps for those who travel to the church for each mission. They are active churches so there may be services or events happening when you visit so bear that in mind before entering. Mission Esparza in particular was hosting a baptism when I visited so that is the only church I was unable to go inside of. They do have a beautiful garden there with lots of native plants to see.

Kayla R — Google review

There is so much history to explore at the various missions. The architecture is astounding and it’s fun to just take your time exploring and learning about the history of San Antonio and the surrounding area. The parks are kept clean and tidy making it a great place for all.

Jason B — Google review

When you're in San Antonio don't stop at just the Alamo you've got to check out these other missions in the area as well! Gorgeous Spanish architecture plenty of history and some of the missions still even hold mass. There's five total missions and I would highly recommend you check them all out!

Cody T — Google review

What great Texas history. Also the only world UNESCO heritage site in the state of Texas. They must visit. If you do one of the guided tours with the national Park guide it’s worth it. They also have free Wi-Fi and QR codes to give you the history of the place.

Greg A — Google review

An exceptional tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in San Antonio, Texas. The 5 missions starting with the Alamo to the Mission Espada were each a work of art with their different architectural influences and all built before 1740. We drove the 8 miles and utilized the placards provided at each church except for the audio tour at the Alamo.

N F — Google review

Really cool place to visit. I enjoyed learning about the different missions and the culture at each one. Each mission was beautiful in its own way. I loved the architecture and the simplicity of the design. The park rangers were knowledgeable and kind. Don’t skip this park! It’s way better than the Alamo!

Micaela R — Google review

I loved this National Historical Park! We explored each of the four missions there and while they were all similar, each had its own story to tell. I found Mission San Jose to be my favorite as it has a beautiful church and surrounding grounds.

Jayden — Google review

Wow. Free. No appt. Must see. Glad I went on a weekday so it wasn’t so crowded. You can bike ride but it’ll be most of your day & in the heat it can be a lot. I recommend driving & enjoying your day. 4 missions each 5-10 minutes apart. Pictures are from 3/4 missions.

N P — Google review

The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park consists of a string of missions in southern San Antonio. Its amazing how good a condition the missions are in, considering their age and history. Its well worth a visit and a walk round each one. We did all the missions in a few hours. Each is unique in its own way and its interesting to compare them. There are also other areas alongside them, such as the aqueduct and the Missions County Park, where you can walk along the river.All I can say is it’s well worth a visit.

Andy S — Google review

Very interesting series of old Spanish missions in San Antonio. The are interesting, but do get repetitive with each additional site. They are a must do in the area though if you want to experience the history of the area.

Kenton T — Google review

This was a pretty neat part of history to learn about. It's an historical park that is open to public to walk through and learn a bit of history. I loved how we were able to walk in some areas and see how they lived and what they lived in as well as learning about the battles they went through. If your observant enough you will see names and dates in some of the bricks throughout the whole structure on the areas that were never finished being built. If your a big fan of history this is definitely a spot you don't want to pass up on. It is a great experience for your children to be a part of.

Stephanie M — Google review

First of the four mission parks that we explored today. Very interesting history about the early missions work in this area despite the heat. All the parks are free to go to you and have helpful rangers to answer questions.

Marc S — Google review

We visited two of the sites and they were quite different: Missions Concepcion and San Jose. The latter gave a great feel for what life there was like. Helpful guides at both, a small museum and gift shop at Mission San Jose. A couple miles from town center

Good — Google review

One of the best tours I have experienced in my life! Alex 6, the tour guide was amazing and taught us about the history of 4 San Antonio Missions (Conception, San Jose, San Juan & San Espada). I wholeheartedly recommend the tour!!!

Talisha — Google review

Aside from the heat, we had a great time on the tour. Our guide was amazing. She didn't just make it interesting and informative. She made it fun. I highly suggest showing up for the guided tour when visiting this beautiful historic landmark.

James O — Google review

Amazing place to visit for a trip to San Antonio. We had great experience there with beautiful historic church and native settlement quarters. Pretty good parking, EV charger, EV bikes for rentals. Very close proximity to highways. Must visit place on your trip to S.A.

RM C — Google review

One of the few national historical parks that has free admission. Beautiful mission church. Interesting piece of Texas history. Make sure you take advantage of the (free) ranger guided tour.

David B — Google review

Beautiful places, it's amazing how they r all different. I loved to learn all the history behind the missions and stories of people that built and loved here

Kaja S — Google review

Today we visited almost all the different Missions along the River, so you will see all we visited in the pictures. They are all very absolutely beautiful and you need to get a guide to do a tour!

Royal M — Google review

We went on a UNESCO tour through Viator to all the missions, and it was fantastic! The sites are beautiful; the history of each is unique and interesting; and the guides are wonderful. While I enjoyed the Alamo, it was super crowded. The other missions were well spread out and never felt overrun with people.

Natalie N — Google review

Incredible piece of Spanish architecture here in America. The staff was incredible, sharing great excitement with our children. We were there near closing time and the staff was kind to all even though they needed to close the gates. A huge thanks to Ranger Gewalt for helping our children get their Junior Ranger badges in the 1.5 hrs we were there.

Quinton H — Google review

The San Jose mission was a really cool thing to see. Lots of History there. The old church which is still in use today. The grounds were very very muddy after heavy rain. So make sure you stay on the path. We had a tour guide but we would have been just fine reading the signs ourselves so we kind of went out on our own. Really unique, well maintained grounds. This is a national historic site in national Park so be sure to get your stamp.

Kimber B — Google review

We explored 4 out of 5 missions (we've been to the Alamo before) with our children. There are plenty of trails if you decide to walk, run, or bike around this area. We learned quite a bit about these missions we did not know about (we are not local). I highly recommend you visit all of them. Kid friendly activity especially since you can ask for the Junior Ranger activities so that they can be sworn in as Junior Rangers. We had a fun time.

Natalie R — Google review

Been to SA many times but never once to the Mission's. So much rich history in Texas and San Antonio is a great place to start. It was a great family experience and I would highly recommend, if you like learning about the history of Texas

Troy M — Google review

We visited all 4 missions in the park unit. Each was unique & beautiful. We wanted to walk but ran out of time so drove to each one. I hope to return someday & walk them all. The park is dog friendly & our pup loves earning B.A.R.K. Ranger badges. She enjoyed all the grounds with us. Be sure to get your badge from the visitor center!

Meli K — Google review

This is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Take the very informative and interesting Park Ranger Tour to learn about the history and the people that made and lived in there.

Mercedes S — Google review

4.8

(8551)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (162)

4.5

(1946)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (163)

San Antonio, TX, USA

(210) 932-1001

23

Jacob's Well Natural Area

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (164)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (165)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (166)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (167)

Nature preserve

Sights & Landmarks

A popular swimming spot, this creek features an artesian spring & underwater caves.

Beautiful is all I can say. This park is small but well worth a visit. The well is the star attraction but the hiking paths are good and the bird watching stand is new. The only negative is that there are restrictions if you wish to swim in it, but that is understandable, it’s small. The swimming restrictions are seasonal and by reservation only. Pets are not allowed at the well or the trail leading to it.

Elinkjoe — Google review

Very well marked for the trail, it was about 1/4 mile walk to the area from the parking lot, there are several ways to get there, do need a permit to swim, but swimming is only allowed between April and September. Access to the park was free, the park is very well kept and has a very cute playing area. The well itself was not like pictures we have seen, but impressive nonetheless.

Patricia F — Google review

I know this place was once beautiful and has an unbelievable story behind it, but when I finally was able to make it there, it was not impressive at all. I guess it was just the wrong time for me. It was all algae and dried up. It was sad for me to see knowing how beautiful and fun it can be. It is a beautiful walk from parking lot C to the well. A park ranger was so nice and gave us some history on Jacob's Well.

Terri B — Google review

Nice trail beautiful well 30 feet deep as per the park ranger. Never seen this type of natural well. Nice people jumping in. Swimming and diving with prior reservation only.open 9 am to 6 pm

Gauhar A — Google review

We had a great time at Jacob's Well. The water is low so there is no swimming, but we had fun anyway. It's a short hike to the well, there is a bit of a descent to get there but the path is easy to follow. We enjoyed learning about different ways to conserve water while gardening and watched the video of the well exploration at the visitor center. The staff were very nice and willing to answer any questions we had about the area. There is a small play area for kids as well. Overall, we had a fun trip and felt it was worth the visit even though the water is low.

Jessica W — Google review

We were here during winter time when swimming is not allowed. So this review is only regarding the non swimming visit which is free for all. Just note that reservations and fees are required for entering the water when it's allowed.Parking was easily available - there are about 3 parking lots. Parking lot B has picnic tables and those portable rest rooms. Parking lot C has pavilions available. The well is accessible by walk about 5 mins from any parking lot. Nice scenic area to spend couple of hours easily. Will visit another time for swimming.

Sudheer B — Google review

Very nice hiking trails. Lots to see and walk, not just the well. The well is very beautiful and clear with fish swimming inside. Trails are easy to navigate with clear signage on the route you need to take. The have an indoor nature center with some things to see as well as a a video of a dive exploring the underwater well to watch. There are multiple things for kids to do as well. They even have a large loose parts play area to build things.

Clever C — Google review

Nice little day trip. Quick walk was with mild terrain. This time of year the water level was low. Fish where trapped so you got a good view of them. The well has a nice blueish green color. plenty to explore and to walk around and sew. Some trails would not suitable for those with limited mobility.

Hungry S — Google review

I have to be honest and say I would skip this site next time I am in the area. The water levels were so low there wasn't much to look at. But for me, even if they were higher it would not made for the kind of spot I would want to spend time at again. With that said, I was glad to get to see it when no one else was interested in going due to the water levels.

Michael J — Google review

Jacob's Well is a stunning spot in Texas. This serene and tranquil location is set among huge boulders and a dry creek bed surrounded by lush greenery. However, it is recommended to visit during cooler months to avoid the harsh heat. The water is unfortunately low and not suitable for swimming. Still, the area is home to a beautiful sight of the natural landscape with its serene atmosphere. It is a short walk from the parking lot, making it a great place to take a stroll or picnic and enjoy nature and a peaceful setting.

Stephanie V — Google review

The well itself was pretty amazing, but I was surprised at how many trails and points of interest were there, such as the nature center and gardens and several fun things for young children.

Brandi S — Google review

Neat place to visit, a short hike with beautiful views, lots of shades, and it's free to get in the park. There are some spots that are steep and slippery rocks from upper trails. It's disheartening to see how low the water due to all the development they are doing around the area. Nevertheless, we had a great time during our visit.

Lisna S — Google review

Jacob's Well Natural Area is a beautiful facility with great views and well kept trails. We found the actual area of the water levels to be low and it took away from the beauty of what we had seen in photos beforehand. There are 3 large parking spots with plenty of parking space. FYI: Parking lot C is the closest to the actual Jacob's Well area for those that may have limitations on walking. There are very clean "portapotties" on site as well as hand washing stations. Parking lot A is for vehicles with RVs although there are no hook ups from what I could see. Although we were a bit disappointed that the Jacob's Well area water level was low, I still highly recommend this place for a visit.

Santos G — Google review

I try to be understanding of rules, I really do. But the amount here is ridiculous. For a park with 1 reason to visit it just isn't worth the drive from Austin or San Antonio or well... anywhere. I came here because friend who had visited years ago said it was amazing.Except... they were able to jump in the well. Now mind again I get it the well is dangerous but come on. No drones, no getting within 10ft, no walking the riverbed, no doing anything. It is hot as all get out this time of year the water is non existent Except in the well and so you are hiking sweating like mad and.... nothing.Stand on a cliff and look or go down a MANMADE cement walkway in a "restoration" area... make sense of you can't walk the restoration dry bed area but the park can put in a man made cement walk......And again I get it the cave is dangerous and humans are lacking in intelligence. But ruining it for everyone due to control makes this not worth the drive.If you have kids under 6 maybe this would be a ok trip. They have a education center, some playground stuff. Or maybe a school visiting would be ok. But as an adult tourist it is absolutely not worth it. Thankfully at least entry was free and I didn't pay for...this.

Hawk C — Google review

Water was really low when we were there but the area was very nice to visit because it had other interesting things see and learn from. Good hiking areas and bathrooms.

Daniel T — Google review

The nature trail was amazing. Was within 10 feet of a deer and her fawn. The rangers were very knowledgeable and helpful during the trail walk.

CHRIS P — Google review

Having seen photos previously, I was a little disappointed. The water level is low from the drought and development reducing the water going into the aquifer so the colors aren't pretty and there's no swimming right now. The park and garden is nice, and the visitor center is informative.

Alice P — Google review

I'm on Vacations visiting the most amazing places in Austin Texas and this place is one of my favorites. The entrance to the park is free, and free parking lot too, as soon you come off you car you follow a trail through a community Garden follow down the mountain path until you get to the Jacob's well Blue hole, this one is perhaps the longest underwater cave in Texas and an artesian spring that delivers several thousand gallons of water per minute. It acts as the headwaters to Cypress Creek that flows through Wimberley into Blue hole and then to the Blanco River. The park has clean bathrooms with air conditioning but bring your snacks and water because there are no vending machines, now we are almost in summer and is very hot down there. You can go and take pictures but you can not swim because the levels of the waters are too low, but is definitely something that you don't see everyday, I enjoy coming here I hope you too.

Carlos V — Google review

Loved this spot. I would highly recommend checking it out when available. Plan ahead to see how to pick up tickets.

Matthew M — Google review

Sadly, Jacobs Well is dried up. Hopefully, nature brings it back. It's still a nice hike spot where you can now walk the river bed and get up close to the lil cave areas the water made on the sides of the limestone.**Update** Jacob's Well changes. So look for current reviews or call the park for updates if it's filled up or empty.

HndsDwnThBest — Google review

This was a nice stop while we were traveling through. It was fairly easy to find. There was ample parking and no cost to get in. The trail to the well is well marked abs a pretty easy walk. There was a park ranger at the well, which explained the history of the well and what it was used for.

Jonathan C — Google review

We had a blast scrambling around the rocks and checking out this historic site. (The well is beautiful, but also eerie.) Love that the state has kept this place as natural as they have. It's a gem.

Marie — Google review

Visited on Labor Day.This would typically be a very cool hike except it was 100° in the shade! The entire drive to get there we kept discussing how the river was dried up. Should have been a clue. What we saw vs the pictures on Google was a drastic difference.The hike is 1/4 mile -sounded easy except the heat! I truly wish the conditions of the well were posted at the entrance of the park. The rocks made for some nice pictures but the short hike was not worth what was waiting at the end.Wear non skid shoes! The rocks are smooth and slick with dust and there’s a ton of gravel sized rocks along the path that will make sandals incredibly uncomfortable. It’s only 1/4 miles (1/2 mile) round trip and only took a few mins to get to the end but TAKE WATER in this crazy heat. You will need it.

LeeAnna M — Google review

The place is nice for a short walk. You can take nice pictures, although there's no much too se, but the small well.

Ivan H — Google review

Awesome awesome. Very knowledgeable park ranger on site to answer any questions. Cool place

Tammy A — Google review

What an amazing site! I was in awe once l came upon the well. I saw the photos online but seeing it person was worth the trip. I was bummed the water was low, and no swimming was allowed… understandably. Kathrine, staff member, was on hand to answer questions and give me some insights on Jacobs Well. She pointed out the small turtles, fish… and l even saw a snapping turtle hugging the wall in the shade. It was like getting my very own nature class with Kathrine! She mentioned that if l wanted to swim in fresh creek water to head over to Blue Hole, that was her favorite place to swim and the staff was friendly.

Javier P — Google review

It was a nice hike. Make sure you are wearing proper shoes rocks are a little slippery.

Silka R — Google review

4.5

(1884)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (168)

4.5

(418)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (169)

1699 Mt Sharp Rd, Wimberley, TX 78676, USA

(512) 214-4593

24

Blue Hole Regional Park

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (170)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (171)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (172)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (173)

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City park

Nature & Parks

Parks

Blue Hole Regional Park is a popular destination in Wimberley, TX, known for its lush surroundings and refreshing swimming area. The park features rope swings, a basketball court, and scenic trails for visitors to enjoy. With its spring-fed turquoise waters and cool temperature year-round, it's a surprising paradise nestled in Central Texas. The park's natural beauty makes it a beloved spot for locals and tourists alike seeking refuge from the summer heat.

Blue Hole Regional Park! It’s great, amazing, beautiful and free. The cost is $12, but I think that’s to swim, but I was able to go through and walk around. There are some small inclines, but tennis shoes are good. No need for hiking boots, unless you want the support. Use your judgement. It’s very kid friendly and the park is huge. There is also basketball courts, volleyball and pavilions!

Kimberly F — Google review

I was speechless at the beauty of this swimming hole. DEFINITELY the most beautiful place I've ever swam. The water temperature was delicious... such a nice break from the Texas heat. The swimming area is mostly shaded and the water is clear. They have 2 rope swings that add to the magic of this timeless gem! My only complaint was we couldn't reserve a longer time slot. I WILL DEFINITELY VISIT AGAIN. Sooner than later I hope.Peaceful.Serene.Family friendly.Heaven on Earth.

Carrie R — Google review

My family visited Blue Hole for the first time, and we loved it! It's such a beautiful spot! The water is the perfect temperature where it's refreshing and not too cold. It's also perfect that there's a good size area where the water isn't too deep and you can stand up. Then, further down where the rope swings are, the water is deeper. It's really great for the whole family!

Lillianna H — Google review

Blue Hole is a lovely park bordering Cypress Creek. It has all the features of a traditional park such as fields, and courts, but it sets itself apart with the creek swimming area. In the summer months the water is crisp and blue and beautiful. Life jackets are available for kids and those who can't swim. The earlier you arrive, the better!

Michael B — Google review

Simply put? Heaven on earth! My 1st time here and I will definitely be going back! Not only was the ambiance so relaxing but the joy in everyone’s heart evident throughout. All you could hear, besides the birds and crickets was laughter. People of all ages and nationalities peacefully together enjoying this magical place. If I could bottle and sell the feeling evoked, there would be peace throughout the world! Pictures do not do this place justice. Go and refresh your mind, soul and heart!

Helene M — Google review

We recently visited Blue Hole Regional Park and had an incredible time! The water here is unbelievably clear and clean, making it perfect for swimming and other water activities. We spent hours enjoying the pristine waters, and it was truly refreshing. The park itself is well-maintained, with clean facilities and friendly staff. We had so much fun during our visit, and I highly recommend Blue Hole Regional Park to anyone seeking a beautiful and enjoyable outdoor experience.

Jon J — Google review

Great spot to beat the heat and enjoy a chilly float in the river. The canopy of trees allow an ample amount of shade over the water, keeping it nice and cool. The kids love the chain swings. I appreciate limited tickets sold daily to keep the crowds down. Nice grassy area for picnic blankets and chairs. No need to rent an umbrella or picnic table, in my opinion.

Jana M — Google review

Beautiful park. You have to make reservations and they let you stay in the park for 4 hours. The cypress trees are gorgeous. The water was very cold, though! The steps to get into the water can be slippery. Bring a towel or blanket to lay in the sun after getting out of the water. No glass bottles allowed but we brought a small cooler with canned water and cokes and snacks. Enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

Leslie — Google review

Great place to walk! Different nature trails to follow and a playground. Restrooms are out of order so we didn't stay as long as planned. Pet friendly with pet stations to grab a bag and disposal bins. Ample parking available. Picnic tables are available too.

Gbauman1971 — Google review

Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks, bring towels and chairs and whatever else you need for a good lawn day, then head to Blue Hole Regional Park for a good time. There's a spacious green lawn area you put all your stuff and the beautiful swimming hole is tucked between trees. There's a low tree swing and a higher tree swing that are both a blast. Water is kinda chilly but mostly refreshing.Great way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Gabe M — Google review

We went here on our honeymoon and reserved the morning time slot to go swimming in the river. We had such a great time, the water was super clear and nice and cool on a hot Texas day. Definitely recommend going. Make sure to reserve early so you don’t miss out!!

Lientje S — Google review

After 15 years in Austin I finally made it to Blue Hole and I don’t know what took me so long! It is the most manicured, cared for, and well-operated natural body of water in Central Texas.The lawn is flat and shaded, appointment-only prevents overcrowding, and the water is COOL. They allow picnicking tho they will let you know when your picnic time is up so go prepared to get out of their when your allotted time is over.I was also surprised to find that it’s basically in downtown Wimberly. Very neat! Can’t wait to go back!

Mandi B — Google review

First time swimming at the Blue Hole and my little family of three had a great time. The water was nice and cold, plenty of room to swim, and loved the extra add on of reserving an umbrella. The website was easy to use and the staff was great the day we visited. I would highly recommend. Very family friendly.

Chelsea V — Google review

The amount of enjoyable water spots in the Austin area is overwhelming. This was in my top 5. Locals really seem to know how to enjoy it all day by bringing tubes to relax on as well. As for me- I enjoyed the cool swim on a less busy day. There are good spots to soak up in the sun or relax in the shade on the grass as well. They even rent umbrella areas and eating areas for the perfect no-hassle picnic. The fact that you can bring in food here unlike some of the other spots is a nice luxury. The ropes make it fun for kids and adults alike as well.

Michael J — Google review

I love this place for a fun relaxing day.Water is very clear!Restrooms are clean and dry, they also have changing room.Definitely recommend 💜

Mayela R — Google review

Highly recommend this place for a fun family outing. Water is cold, not as cold as Barton springs but cold enough to give you a chill at first dip. Best way is to take a dunk fast or use the rope to jump in and all is past 🤣 Reservations are required, we booked our spot a month early, please note that alcohol is not allowed. Picnic area is nice with a mix of shade and sunny spots along with camp benches that are reservable. Restrooms are in decent shape and parking is excellent.

Ravioli — Google review

Morning hike at Wimberley Blue Hole Regional Park was incredibly refreshing! 🌿 The cool weather and crisp air, along with a nature walk, were just what we needed! 💙

Sharmila S — Google review

Beautiful spot and not overly crowdedas you have to buy tickets and they cap how many come in. Staff is friendly. Clean restrooms a d changing area.

Robert N — Google review

PURCHASE TICKETS AHEAD I should have looked at ticketing further but I was coming from Jacob's Well and just looking for somewhere to cool off and OOOBOY I found it!! I got lucky like very very lucky! Someone had a extra ticket so i got in!!! And I am so thankful i did.I could not crow about this place anymore then I will here.1 it is beautiful and picturesque on a level for Instagram or national magazines. The trees are huge and ancient standing as guardians. The water is clear and shining. Their are fish, blue gill and turtles aplenty. 4/5 areas to enter the water 2 shallow 1 kinda shallow and 2 deep. Plenty of room for the kids and adults.There is a public area to put out your picnic and lay out for some sun. The water us crisp and cool not freezing or warmed. It is absolutely refreshing. I do suggest bringing a float of some kind. So you can just relax kick back and enjoy this haven.The grounds are very well kept and the banks tended to. There are 2 ripe swings that are chains so they are well kept and sturdy. People here were polite and friendly. You can also being snorkel and swim goggles for extra adventure. Plenty of parking as well.The best part is they sell limited tickets so it isn't over crowded which I have to admit for TX is AMAZING.

Hawk C — Google review

As per the recommendation from Katherine at Jacob’s Well Natural Area, l stopped in at the Blue Hole Regional Park for a swim. What an awesome experience! It wasn’t to crowded, and the weather was just perfect to be in the water. Since I arrived a couple of hours before closing time, l made use of my time by not floating in the water. But swing from a rope (metal chain & ring) from the trees. I am a mature man reliving his youth of summer. I highly recommend this place for a day adventure! One has to book a reservation online before, l would read their website before you go. You will NOT be disappointed.

Javier P — Google review

Absolutely beautiful. The nature park was wonderful; one of the nicest I've seen.

Amanda M — Google review

The Blue Hole Regional Park is well attended by visitors and very busy. There were all ages at both time slots for the Blue Hole water experience. On a hot day, it is a perfect location to enjoy! The park is full of walkers, hikers, bike riders, runners and in such a beautiful setting in Wimberley. I was very impressed with the level of activity.

M J — Google review

A day well spent! We purchased tickets for both the morning and afternoon sessions, and it was well worth it. We didn't rush to get there first thing in the morning and arrived a little after 10. The close parking fills up fast, so you might have to walk a bit to get down there. If you purchase both sessions, you get to stay in from 1-2, before the afternoon session starts. There were only about 10 people in the water during that time, it was so magical and peaceful! My husband made good use of the chain swing, and I swam around. The morning crowd is definitely more families with younger children, and the afternoon is more adult and teenagers. The whole experience was wonderful!

Savannah D — Google review

Beautiful! Lots of trials. No swimming at this time of year and I’m not sure why. Could be water is low.

Daegan P — Google review

Very beautiful!! Refreshing cold water that originates from Jacob's Well and a nearby creek.You need reservations to swim. There is limited parking close to the swimming hole entrance so I had to hike a bit to reach the entrance. But it wasn't too bad.Staff is very friendly and helpful.

Dusty C — Google review

Beautiful start to the swimming season. Definitely still freezing water, but it was a fun time! Costs $12 to enter and need to have a reservation in advance (though it appeared you could make a reservation on your phone while there).

Megan R — Google review

We love the size and feel of this place. It is beautiful and quaint...largely because the amount of swimmers is limited and reservations are required to swim on any given day. It is clean and fairly quiet, even when the swim lawn is full of visitors. The water is cold, but refreshing and clear enough to see the cute fish up-close...which my kids get a kick out of. The rope swings are a blast for adults and kids, alike...whether you are swinging or just watching from below. Literal hours of entertainment. The last time I visited, there was not so much merchandise selection at the gift shop... it was nice to see that they have things like inflatable floats, towels, and hats for purchase now, for very affordable prices!It's great to be able to come in with your own food and drinks, and save some money that way. A great way to spend a hot Summer afternoon.

Sarah H — Google review

Great spot to spend the day with family and/or friends. It’s about 1 hour from Austin (on a Sunday in our experience).If you are planning a visit, make sure to make reservations since they cap their visits into 2 groups (half days) with a fee of $12 per person.I believe it would be fairly priced at the $8 range but understand the reasoning. Ultimately the place is never overcrowded due to the limits ever set and this is a good thing (in comparison to Barton Springs, which gets excessive number of people during the hot summer days).Will definitely come back and take advantage of all the beautiful surroundings.

Francisco C — Google review

It's a well maintained swimming👙 park. Picnic 🧺 area is on the other side of swimming area. The picnic area is open to the public, there are picnic tables and 🔥grills, no reservation needed. But the swimming 🏊 area you need to book the tickets online in advance. You need to check ✅ in on schedule to access in swimming area. No early check in allowed. They have free life jackets supplies for adults and kids. You can bring your own tubes and 🏖️ umbrella here but check there website for size limits or reserve there 🏖️ umbrella and picnic table.

Shirley — Google review

Amazing park. The water is really cold, really clean, and the reservation system helps keep it les crowded. The shallow end still felt excessively crowded but nobody was swimming in the deep end past the rope swings - so go there. Rope swings themselves were super fun too.

Mikey B — Google review

Absolutely the best place to go swim with my family in central Texas. I love the cool water, the rope swings, the shade from the cypress trees. We always rent a picnic table, so we have a place to set up. It's never overcrowded, and the staff are friendly.

Jesse K — Google review

Second time coming, I love that no matter how many times people jumped in the water, the water never turned murky. There is no alge or tons of plants floating in the river. Everything is very nice clean and respected. We drove and hour just to get here and it’s totally worth it. I appreciate the limited entries per day to prevent a super crowded outing. Definitely recommend and will most certainly come back!

Yahaira J — Google review

4.6

(1848)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (174)

4.5

(485)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (175)

333 Blue Hole Ln, Wimberley, TX 78676, USA

(512) 660-9111

25

Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (176)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (177)

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (178)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (179)

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Water park

Water & Amusement Parks

Park

The Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels Texas is a park with a variety of rides and pools. It's owned by a family and has been recognized as one of the best waterparks in the world for the last 15 years.

We had a great time. We bought the Premium meal plan which allows you to eat/snack every 90 minutes and get a drink every 15 minutes. It is well worth the price. Also, we got the Blast Passes so that we could reduce the time spent waiting in lines. Even with passes, you can't see everything in a day. I ended up losing my sunglasses, so if you wear glasses, make sure to wear the glasses string to keep them on your head!!!!!!!!!!!!

Emily F — Google review

Still the hotest coolest time in Texas. Haven't been to the original in probably 10 years. So long that my son barely remembers and asked if we could visit. A lot has changed - digital codes to access the lockers instead of a key on a wristband, Google and Apple Pay instead of a wristband of plastic "splash cash" to buy food and drinks. Yet, much remains the same - free parking, the ability to bring in your own cooler of food and drinks, and more water rides and play areas than you can shake a stick at. I've read recent reviews complaining about rides and unfriendly staff this summer and lamenting the new ownership. This was not our experience. There were a few things that weren't operating, which was annoying in cases. However, our experience with the staff was as friendly as it has always been. It's still a great place to spend cooling off during the hot Summer days.

Edward K — Google review

Schlitterbahn is a "must" for hot Texas summer. There are plenty of things to do and you need at least one day for each park to see and try most of the rides.

Barbara D — Google review

We went on a Thursday and purchased the Fast Lane band and meal deal. It was perfect! We all got the Wunder Pizza, and it was good--what you'd expect from an amusement park. I haven't been in decades, so we rushed to the blast rides first. I recommend staying at the resort because they allow you in an hour before the park opens. Ride all you can in that hour! The Fast Lane band is a must. The lines were long otherwise, but we got priority. It allowed us to ride almost everything in a day. The lazy river in the blast park is nuts! It's not lazy at all. Don't snooze on that and find the chute along the left side. If you time it right, you can catch air. I'm 40 and a mom, and I was having such a good time acting like a ten year old boy lol If you wanna skip a line, Wolf Pack was a long wait and not really worth it. It's just a 3 person tub type tube with a high-sided pipe. Our favorite rides were Congo River, Whitewater Tube Chute, and Master Blaster. The day we went, the Falls and Cliffhanger were closed due to staffing. The staff was mostly friendly. I chatted with one staff member who did say the guests this year had been terrible, and in the 6 years she's worked there, she's never encountered crowds like that. Maybe that's the reason that the other reviews say the staff is grumpy. Perhaps they've been dealing with rude and entitled people their whole shift or season and they're over it. We had a blast and can't recommend the Fast Lane band enough.

Elyse F — Google review

First time here. Lines were kinda long for rides but moved steady. Drinks were good and cold. The lazy river with the tubes was awesome and only 3 ft deep however the waves are forceful to propel us forward but can take a small child fast from his family so be careful with small children. I'm planning another trip already because I want to definitely go back.

Aishia R — Google review

Beautiful place along the Comal River. Rides for all ages and pools to hang out in if you don’t like lines. It was clean and had plenty of tables. Although many of kids employed around the park seemed clueless, there were lifeguards everywhere and they appeared to be well trained and friendly.

Cynthia F — Google review

So much fun for all ages. I’m pregnant so couldn’t ride too many rides but we still had fun. The Kristal River was awesome. Kids loved the Falls and the kiddie area in the original park.

Rachel S — Google review

We started this trip with an excited experience but turned out with little disappointment.Trust me its not to ruin your holiday mood but to consider these points to make your trip planning better.And these points mainly applicable if you visiting on a weekend/holiday where heavy crowd is expected.Visited on a weekend morning. Arrived around 10am but it was around crowded that time with all parking slots filled up.Now we had to book in premium parkingSecondly no shade for entrance crowd for security clearance, lot of people with kids are standing under hot sun. Wish management does something for crowd management or atleast an shade.Secondly every ride gets super busy/crowded and wait time gets multi folded. As well interacted with multiple people, at max you can do 3/4 rides in a park out of 2 parksIts better you get 2 day pass if plan to visit both the parks.Better suggested to visit on weekday or non crowded days for better enjoyment, a personal suggestion

Deepak — Google review

We all had a blast! Loved all the great rides! My grandson has loves wave pools and this one was his favorite, mine also! Great family vacation. We will be back!

Tina M — Google review

Loved this place. After hearing about the best barbecue being in Texas....I tried a few places that were no better than new York. This place was amazing though..... delicious mesquite flavored food.....great sides...super friendly staff. I loved your food and would recommend it to anyone.

Teddy B — Google review

It was a lot of fun. However the blast pass needs huge improvements. The wait times are not consistent with actual wait times. It showed 150min wait on the watch, while there was only 45min wait. But other than that, it was a lot of fun.

Fahri Y — Google review

Nice facility. Great rides.Entry fees are a bit outrageous 2 adults. 1x16 yo, 1x15 yo, 1x13 yo, 1x11 yo. $575. Never again!And. Do NOT get your food or refreshments at the Lagoon Grill. Extensive, unwarranted wait.Otherwise. Super Nice water park.

Thomas H — Google review

Note: we are Season ticket holders.This water park is a great experience for me and my family. We have children ages: 18, 16, 13, 6 & 2. There are a lot of shaded areas, lockers, picnic tables, tubes, soda/icee locations, restaurants, etc.As a season ticket holder you can bring in a cooler (27” x 16”) which is great. You can bring in your own personal bottle and you can fill it up with water.I’ve found the staff to be friendly despite being in the hot Texas sun all day.If you want close free parking come early.I look forward to going back!

Sherman O — Google review

An amazing Waterpark with even better customer service. I made an error while purchasing our tickets and the people at the front window worked for along time to help me fix it. They were incredible!This Waterpark is also so fun and unique! I wish I lived closer!Also buy your tickets in advance of at least one day and online. It will save you a lot of money. Buying the day of online was $5 more per ticket than the day before and at the gate was much more.

Sara O — Google review

Spent two days at the park. Friday was at the Blast park and Sunday at the original park. It’s been 12 years since we have visited. Glad to come back for a couple of days. Spending the extra $ for the Fast Pass definitely makes a difference. Many places gouge you with $ for parking and $ for food. They don’t charge for parking and they encourage you to bring your own food. They have water activities for the whole family. Thinking about a whole family vacation and staying at the park next summer.

Rodney G — Google review

I went on a Saturday with my family. Very beautiful, clean and family friendly water park. Water tube rides aka lazy rivers had different themed courses and thrill levels. Water slides were enjoyable. There were long lines but they were fast moving. Every ride we went were worth the wait and money. We were able enjoy it more than once. Definitely recommend. ❤️

Sabari S — Google review

Great place! Had lots of fun riding on the rides. The only thing that sucks is the wait time. Most rides takes about 20-30 mins.

G.G. — Google review

Schlitterbahn is AMAZING!!!! Their prices and packages are unbelievable… I purchased the $80 or so dollar meal package… which gives you TWO meals a day… every day during the season that you come. Let me tell you, I’ve had brisket plates, pizza, tenders etc. each meal being $15 or so… it pays off within a week of going!!!We also purchased the photo plan which is $45 or so and you get unlimited digital images that they take at the park. I do wish there were more photography employees around the park, but even with that we got well over our money worth during the season. During the week is empty and we love it. Go for an hour or so with my 1 year old and we are set. They have an AMAZING new area for the kids.. slides of all sizes and plenty to get them entertained. Not to mention the season passes go on sale and it’s unbeatable. I’ve grown up here and now taking my daughter is awesome. Oh and you can bring your own cooler with food and drinks!!!!!!!

Jess T — Google review

Seems very disorganized. Got there right as they opened but in order to get the blast pass that was paid for online, you have to go to the main entrance and wait in line to receive the wrist bands (for us it took almost 30 minutes of waiting) which seems so counterproductive. The blast pass is like a reservation and you can only make one reservation for a ride at a time. I get that it’s probably meant to not abuse the privilege but we were only able to utilize it on 4 rides the entire day. There needs to be so much more signage around the parks in general, it’s so easy to not know what you’re doing or where you’re going unless you are a seasoned member. Also, asking for directions or how to get somewhere you could get 4 different answers from 4 different employees. Just disorganized. Also, we brought several beach towels, there’s really no need if it’s hot outside. We dried off before we even made it to the shuttle because it was so hot. Also, water shoes/socks are a must! If you have older kids make sure you’re starting at the right park, we started at the wrong park which seemed to be geared more toward younger kids.

J G — Google review

We had a lot of fun on our visit. The fast pass is 100% worth it if you’re only there one day, we walked straight onto every ride while others were waiting for an hour+. We rode everything we wanted to in both parks in just a few hours. Minus one star because quite a few things were closed, and on the west side of the park things need to be kept up better. It was nice to be able to bring a cooler in.

Faith L — Google review

Had a blast lines got pretty long but we just found other stuff to do until they weren't so bad went on a Friday definitely won't do that again but had a great time well definitely be back but maybe a Wednesday next time nice that you can bring your own food and coolers in they do have a size limit on the coolers

Jenny W — Google review

Make sure you go early in the morning! Otherwise the free parking fills up fast! Or you can pay for parking between $25-$40. Choose to go during the week if possible, if not then be prepared to wait hours in line. It is way too packed, the wait time is about 2 hours per attraction. It’s ridiculous! Also you must take the bus to go to the other water park and the wait time is anywhere between 1-3 hours. Be prepared to wait period. The beers/drinks are way too expensive. We got a turkey leg that was boiled, not smoked and was lacking flavor. They do allow you to bring in a cooler, but it has to be a certain size and they unpack the items in the cooler to ensure you don’t have bottles or alcohol. Doing this causing even longer lines because everyone has a cooler. Make sure to bring snacks, sandwiches and water. It was a fun time overall, but all it takes is one time. Been there, done that and won’t go back. I’d rather just float the river and call it a day!

Andrea O — Google review

Thank you Schlitterbahn for the best summer! Buying a season pass was well worth it. I was there all summer having a blast. The negative is a blast pass is a must if you wanna have fun. The lines are too long!

Steph K — Google review

Great time for the family. Love the free parking and bring your own food and drinks option available. Highly recommend to wear water shoes . Plenty natural shades in picnic areas.They force you to get off at the end, which is reasonable. Line for this was about 30 minutes. Line to get into the wave pool area was longer (can't just walk into the wave pool area anymore). No line to get into the lazy river in the kids area.

Kristina B — Google review

I had a lot of fun although the food, drinks and all the things they sell there are too expensive, you can bring your cooler with your water, your drinks and a little food, also get on all the a For water attractions you have to wait in line for a maximum of 30 minutes, but it's worth it.If you buy a $50 bracelet you can only use it once at each attraction

YOSELIN Y — Google review

Great park for the Summer time!The park is huge with many thrilling rides. The wait time in the normal line is really time taking, more than an hour for all the coasters. I would advise anyone to take the fast pass to use the maximum of the park. The park has east and west wing, they provide tram to take you to both the parks(free).Kids will enjoy, most of them are for 36" to 42" height rides. They provide kidee tube, we need not worry.Plenty of staff allotted in all the places, they help you go through the rides. Lockers are available on a rental basis!Tickets are in deals, we got the all day drink pass which we can refill every 15mintes, it was worth it for this summer 🌞

Sorna C — Google review

Would be lots of fun if you could actually ride rides. Don’t bother going if you don’t want to pay over double to get a fast pass. You will spend all day in line.half the rides are down, even in the middle of the season and they clearly didn’t fix anything.They used to keep up with the park and the people, and it was great. Now it’s old and dirty and in need of a desperate update. The bathroom is disgusting, food storage is so bad I’m really surprised no one has gotten sick. It’s run by kids and you can tell.

Rachell V — Google review

Rode 2 rides for a whole day entry fee. This park prioritizes profits over all customer experience. With the fast lane options, regular patrons have much longer wait times. We literally waited 2 hours to board the Wolf pack ride while we saw fast lane park goers ride twice before we were next to ride. The life guards allowed fast pass to go before regular line patrons. (Apparently he didnt know to alternate? Lack of training?) So unless you plan to double or triple your entrance fee for each person (by purchasing a $49.99 single fast pass or $99 unlimited fast pass) in addition to regular daily ticket price... skip this water park. Kids were miserable in the long slow lines. Won't be back. Also several rides were closed because of the recent rain... again... no notification about this until we were in the park, disappointed with the multiple closed rides.

Rachel E — Google review

What a great water park with great ticket prices. I recommend getting there when the park opens and heading straight to the East side of the park. There are lots of chairs to claim and then open range to many fun slides for adults and small kids. The lazy river has to be my favorite, especially with the incorporation of the wave generator. My Son and I would stay in that all day! The West side of the park has some fun attractions and a very large pool to relax or play volleyball. All in all this definitely is a must do attraction! And you can bring your own cooler for food and drinks. No alcohol, no glass.

Tim B — Google review

We had so much fun! I grew up in San Antonio, but live near Dallas. It was so exciting to bring my kids back and to see all that has changed since I was last here in the late '90's. We stayed ALL day and could've spent a few more days. The Falls was, by far, everyone's favorite ride, but the classic, Raging River, was still amazing. We can't wait to come back!

Michelle F — Google review

By far our favorite visit this summer!! A little disappointed with the lack of organization trying to buy the meal passes for the day. It took an hour and repeated visits to get our correct meals. It was 107 degrees the day we would hear a lot of people had the same issue with being able to refill their drink cups. It is so important to stay hydrated with this heat. There should be more stations available to accommodate. Two people passed out from dehydration. That being said, we had a blast. We loved both parks and all of the fun rides. We took the tram to the original park and fell in love with the wave pool. It was a BLAST!!!! We hope to be able to go again!

Melissa — Google review

So fun! I’ve never been before and a Tuesday at the end of May was a perfect amount of people in the park! The east side was better since the lazy river was closer to rapids river!

Megan M — Google review

Visited with family on Saturday got there early. Enjoyed it so much. It was crowded everyone was so pleasant and polite. My favorite waterpark and the best in the entire country.

Edie C — Google review

Make sure you upgrade your ticket so you don't have to stand in the lines. The lines for the buses for the other parks suck, the waiting part sucks. Bring a cooler with snacks and sandwiches and drinks unless you want to go broke. The park is cashless so bring a credit or debit card. No glass containers allowed. Other than that, once you are in the park, have fun.

J G — Google review

4.3

(10375)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (180)

4.0

(2347)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (181)

400 N Liberty Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130, USA

(830) 625-2351

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26

Gruene Historic District

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Sights & Landmarks

Ghost Towns

Gruene Historic District, established in the mid-1840s by German settlers, flourished with numerous buildings. However, a string of disasters led to its decline around 1922, causing many businesses to close their doors.

4.5

(1004)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (193)

New Braunfels, TX 78130, USA

27

San Marcos Premium Outlets

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Outlet mall

Shopping

Factory Outlets

San Marcos Premium Outlets is a massive shopping destination, comprising over 240 stores with 145 renowned brand outlets. It's a haven for shopaholics, offering luxury and designer labels at discounted prices. The outlet features an extensive range of brands including Prada, Nautica, Valentino, Ann Taylor, Lululemon, Tory Burch, Banana Republic, Gap, Nike, Gucci and more.

The biggest Premium outlet in Texas! It was everything you need to shop. Most of the big brands are located here with big spaces to showcase all their items.There is a big parking area so even if it gets busy you will have a space to park.I would advise to go there on weekdays as it gets too crowded on weekends to enjoy.

Salman H — Google review

Todas las tiendas que deseas para compras del Hogar , ropa y zapatos y comida rica. Especiales por todas las tiendas. Es alAire libre , si hay lluvia o mucho calor no es tan bueno. Muy grande , debes moverte en tu carro , y el estacionamiento es muy difícil de encontrar, yo fui un sábado al medio día(Translated by Google)All the stores you want for household purchases, clothing and shoes and delicious food. Specials in all stores. It is atOutdoors, if it is raining or very hot it is not so good. Very big, you have to get around in your car, and parking is very difficult to find, I went on a Saturday at noon

Diana O — Google review

The handsome guys and beautiful girls at the tax refund counter are very friendly, and the male attendant even speaks Chinese. But I accidentally told them the wrong ticket price from Houston to Taiwan; it's $2500, not $400. I'm very sorry.

Plus M — Google review

Really nice big Outlet with high end Shops.Prada, Gucci, Versace, Coach, etc.And I hope you don’t have to use the restrooms!THEY ARE DISGUSTING.At least the 3 that I inspected during my review.The Lawns and Grounds need attention.Management needs to walk the place and see the flaws……..

Thomas A — Google review

This place has everything for everyone to shop from! Lovely place! There's lots of food, snack, n drink choices and places to sit n take a break as well! ...EVEN a extra large chess game in the courtyard to play! 🥰👍👍

Tanya — Google review

Beautiful shopping center with nice stores. I do wish the outside vendors were held to higher expectations and the indoor food court was definitely lacking. You would expect more for the type of stores around.

Caitlyn L — Google review

Excelente lugar para hacer compras de ropa, calzado, perfumes, juguetes, muebles, etc.Te recomiendo llevar calzado cómodo para que puedas caminar por todo el sitio y usar bloqueador solar. Como sugerencia: al ingresar a alguna tienda en específico, vete a la parte de atrás ya que suele haber productos más rebajados en su precio original.(Translated by Google)Excellent place to shop for clothes, footwear, perfumes, toys, furniture, etc.I recommend wearing comfortable shoes so you can walk around the site and use sunscreen. As a suggestion: when entering a specific store, go to the back as there are usually products that are lower in their original price.

Gabriel L — Google review

I love shopping at the Kate Spade and Lulu stores! I also enjoy driving around to see if any store catches my eye. Very nice outlet mall where you can find great deals. I had snacks and water in my car so that I could drop off stuff and take a mini break before driving to other stores. I did stop at restrooms every now and then, and had to look at a map and then drive to them.

Hailyn B — Google review

Some deals. At this outlet most things are priced pretty close to retail. After 3 trips over 2 years I finally found a deal at the under armor store. The Coach store was out of a variety of mens accessories 12/28. The bathrooms at the food court are horrible. Most truck stops have better bathrooms. Whats up with that. Not good !!!

Donovan E — Google review

A very very big premium outlets with lots and lots of brands so you can be pretty much guaranteed that you will be spoilt for choices. I don't think I want to start writing down the name of shops as it is gonna be a long long list! ;)Parking spots are easily available if you go early. But since the area is so big, be prepared to spend easily the whole day if you are a tourist and you have a lot of stuff to buy.I recall seeing a few pop up stalls selling food and drinks but I don't think there is a food court around nearby. And the washroom looks pretty old and not clean so that is the only reason why I deducted one star.Otherwise I usually drops by at least once whenever I am in town.

Kevin Y — Google review

Plenty of walking around and a lot of outlets to see. The parking wasn't great they could add a bit more parking to the area of even a parking garage. I did not see any public restrooms that were available in the area that we were walking in where all the clothing was. Not a lot of food stands but, the food stands that were there did smell great as we passed it by.

SGP — Google review

My family and I love shopping here!! It has many stores and restaurants to choose from. My kids love coming to spend thier birthday money here. Also the bathrooms have always been very clean and well stocked every time I've used them. Good way to get your exercise in too.

Marisia D — Google review

It is really huge outlet.A real premium outlet!Spent lots of money but it wasn't waisting!

JW M — Google review

Very large outlet. Almost all well known brands are there. I been here in a cold rainy day and walk around shops but I recommend to drive between quarters as parking are available and easy to find. Not all shops with outlet price and no discounts. So expect to pay full price.

Hussein G — Google review

Good outlet just a lot of walking and i. The summer bring water and prepare to walk or repark car. Went today and the high was 112 being all cement and not much shade besides the walkway outside the buildings

TxSushilover — Google review

I'm not sure how the ratings are so high. It's not worth the 6 hour drive we made. There are no phenomenal prices. Everything is the same as the sale prices you can find at home in the normal store. This is truly a normal shopping center. There are plenty of stores in one place though so I gave 2 stars.

Oli's M — Google review

So many great stores here…..Abercrombie and Fitch, Coach, Aeropastel, Klarin, Pottery Barn, Nike, Converse, Lu Lu Lemon, New Balance, Francesca’s, Gap, Guess, and SOOOO many more! You definitely need a couple days to shop this whole outlet center! There are some great deals to be had also. My daughter and I had a great time exploring all of the great outlet stores!

Theresa G — Google review

Love this place! They have all the stores the I love, I come 3 times per year to get all the things the I need, the prices on the high end store are AMAZING!!!Pd. The new store of niche perfume is really good 👍 , the got all the Valentino collection

Macarena F — Google review

Tiendas de marcas reconocidas a precios razonables, amplió estacionamiento baños limpiosLocales pequeños de comida y antojitos.(Translated by Google)Well-known brand stores at reasonable prices, expanded parking, clean bathroomsSmall food and snack venues.

Aracely C — Google review

Huge place with tons of parking space and lots of shops.

Don A — Google review

Visited the outlet after many years and was impressed with the variety of brands available.Due to Black Friday the parking was hard to find. Has huge parking lot. Tanger outlets are right next to it.

Varsha V — Google review

Este lugar es perfecto para encontrar marcas de lujo a buen precio en un solo lugar. Está a 30 min aproximadamente al sur de Austin y a una hora al norte de San Antonio. No olvides pedir tu Tax return en las oficinas de la plaza :)(Translated by Google)This place is perfect for finding luxury brands at a good price in one place. It is approximately 30 minutes south of Austin and an hour north of San Antonio. Don't forget to ask for your Tax return at the offices in the square :)

Rosa M — Google review

IF YOU WANT TO SHOP TILL YOU DROP HERE IS THE PLACE. GO TO THE 9.99 STORE YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. THEY HAVE PANTS..DRESSES I MEAN AWESOME PRICE. ALSO SHOE CARNIVAL AND JOURNEY'S

Macca F — Google review

They have most stores you would expect from a Simons Premium Outlet. I love the architecture, “castle” vibes. Huge! Wear comfy shoes, you will walk a lot. Lots of parking “free” (at least when we went, which was on a Friday), we had to re-park since the place is too huge and did not want to walk so much. Also, Decent prices, not a lot of sales going on when I went though. This only get 3 stars mainly because I was so disappointed from the lack of food choices. You would think, the biggest outlet in Texas would have variety of food choices but boy you’re so wrong. There is a food court, yes. But there are literally only 3 stores open and the food was horrible, seriously. So bring your own snacks if you plan to spend a whole day here, dont even waste your money buying food from the foodcourt because it’s not worth it. You will have fun shopping though.

Shari C — Google review

The place is like heaven for shopping,You will almost all brands outlet here. They have good deals during festive time. During holiday season some outlets have long queue to enter to it,Going early in morning on those days will help avoid queues.Ample car parking available.Also have play areas for kids and clean washrooms.If you are travelling from other states I think you can also claim back the Tax amount spent on purchases.

Arvind C — Google review

Love being in town and able to stop in to purchase gifts for my wife. The staff is always so helpful.

Greg H — Google review

Not like I remember from my days in high school. Nice selection of stores, but the heat is just crazy. Be ready to map what stores you want to go to, but just be aware of the weather. Make quick work of your shopping and you will enjoy the place. Food court is not very big so you’ll have to find another place to eat at. Not recommended for a prolonged stay.

Gerald A — Google review

If you’re looking for a good deal on shoes, this is a good place to stop

David B — Google review

What can I say this place is a shopping paradise and a non-shoppers nightmare. Parking can be crazy on the weekends as the place fills up fast. There’s pretty much every store here with decent bargains if you look around. We come once or twice a year and always leave feeling we got some good deals.

James B — Google review

I love shopping here! There’s a lot of great options for all your wants and needs. There’s something for everyone. Everything is so clean

Valerie O — Google review

This places USED to have great deals. Their prices are not at all outlet prices. I have found much better deals at retail outlets like Macys and Dillards with much less of a hassle. False advertising. With the 50-70% off you will still be paying a high price not at all outlet price. Now, it’s just hype-beware.

Juan L — Google review

4.6

(16577)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (199)

4.5

(1013)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (200)

3939 I-35, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA

(512) 396-2200

28

ZDT's Amusement Park

Amusement park

Water & Amusement Parks

Park

Water park

Theme Parks

Year-round, kid-friendly destination featuring rides, go-karts, a climbing wall, water park & more.

Had a great time here! If you are a rollercoaster enthusiasts, this place is definitely worth the trip for the credit. Switchback is a very unique wooden rollercoaster with some surprising elements. If you want to visit with most bang for your buck I recommend coming the last 3 hours the park is open. $20 for unlimited rides on most of their attractions. Throw an extra $8 and you get dinner as well!

Isaac R — Google review

This is an awesome little family owned park right in a country town. Definitely exceeds expectations! Perfect for a birthday or really any event. Pricing is great. Recommend a membership if you're within an hours drive.

Matt R — Google review

Several fun outdoor amusement park rides, including a roller coaster, that the kids were able to ride over and over again to their hearts content. Inside they had lots and lots of arcade games that are all free play, and they had rock climbing and a trampoline thing. So much for the kids to do, and they can come and go from the different areas whenever. They spent 6hrs there yesterday and only left because the park was literally closing for the night. Not a cheap place, but you get a lot for your money, especially if your kids are there for more than a few hours.***I was told that typically it's very very busy on the weekends, so get there as early as you can. They said it was unusual for it to be not crowded like it was yesterday.

Joshua C — Google review

It was alright. The kids had fun and the park is decent. The mosquitoes at the water area picnic tables were atrocious and chased us away for our lunch at a different area. You guys should contact Walt Disney World to find out how they keep 🦟 out of their central Florida location.

Incafriend — Google review

We had a fun time at ZDT's Amusement Park. While they only have one rollercoaster, Switchback, it is a fun, fast, and unique ride that you get to experience both forward and in reverse. Additionally, they have several other thrill rides that you can go on when you get tired of the Switchback, as well as go-carts, rock climbing, arcade games, a MaxFlight Motion Simulator, and when in season, water rides. And I even liked the food here. Plus, they are cheaper to go to than SeaWorld or Six Flags in San Antonio and the lines are usually much shorter. All in all, ZDT's Amusement Park is a fun way to spend a day, and is definitely worth the drive from San Antonio or Austin.

Taylor S — Google review

We had a great day! Forgot swimsuits so I can't rate water slides but the arcade and inside stuff was great. Outside rides were perfect for my family. Only time we experienced a line was for food (a birthday party backed them up) but the people running it did a great job.

Sarah H — Google review

Great value. Activities are limited there are very few rides and they eliminated at least half of the video games they previously had. That being said for the price it is more than worth it. The entry fee includes go carts, a few rides including some water rides in warmer months, all the video games including a flight simulator, a rock wall, and I'm sure a few other things I'm forgetting. Concession prices are lower than most amusement parks and the staff is always super friendly. I highly recommend ZDTs for any family looking for reasonably priced fun. I would definitely rate 5 stars if they had more rides but they have so few it feels wrong to call it an amusement park.

Melissa F — Google review

I can't say enough positive things about ZDT's amusement park! The all inclusive day pass, which include the arcade, roller coaster rides, bumper cars and water rides- oh, and there's also a two story indoor playground with ball cannons and a 60ft climbing wall, a roller coaster simulator like there's literally something for everyone to do and the price is only $29.95. You can also had a meal package to each ticket, which I believe is only $7? But check the website for more info on that. You just can't beat the price for all of the fun the kids have. It's also very group friendly, so for church groups or day cares the prices are extremely affordable. I took my 9 year old son and my 12 year old niece and they had a blast.

Sommer H — Google review

Love this little park. Reasonable prices for entry and food, and no ticket fee for me, the adult chaperone! And reasonable rules- you can bring in your own food as long as you plan to eat in one of the outdoor areas. I brought three 11 year old boys, gave each an all-access wristband (including lunch) and parked myself at an air-conditioned table to get some work done and read. The food was great and the atmosphere was just right. I was easy for them to find and didn’t worry about their safety. Yes, it’s small if you’re comparing it to Six Flags, but I don’t want to go to Six Flags ever again in my life. I will easily come here again and again as long as my kids are happy here!

Courtney J — Google review

There is no measure to how much we are so thankful, grateful and blessed to have met Dan & Kayden at the Go-Carts. This was life changing and an experience we will never forget! We have been trying to get our toddler to ride anything for 2.5 years, baby slides, baby pools, even the toddler car quarter machine ride he would not go to. But Dan & Kayden were so nice and friendly, he got to go on his first go-cart ride with Mommy & Daddy. He looped around 6x!! He was so excited he couldn't wait to go down the water slide and we went down 6x again! The freefall, and even the roller coaster did not phase him anymore!! We will be forever grateful to the entire team out at ZDT, from the front desk, and all the operators. Everyone was truly respectful, helpful and friendly. Management has done an excellent job selecting this wonderful team. Place was immaculately clean, even I looked under the rollercoaster and other rides for litter. Service, Presentation, Staff & Entertainment beats all the other parks hands down. Great job team. Keep it up! Life-changing for our entire family of 5. Thank you again.

Alfred C — Google review

For such a small park it was a lot of fun. Staff was friendly, helpful, and firm with the kids who were getting out of hand. Great way to spend an afternoon

April F — Google review

Small Park, but huge fun!!! I recommend the unlimited access ticket. No long lines. It is difficult to choose a favorite; however, the Flight simulator is awesome. We plan to return with many friends and family members.

Donald W — Google review

We had the BEST afternoon! It's so nice to see people enjoying their jobs! The staff went above and beyond with the kids!! From playing "snowball fights" to helping distract a 4 yr old who was upset, she couldn't drive the go karts. They cheered her on, saying, "GO Faster!"Thanks again for a great day! We will be back.

Tracy G — Google review

Perfect for all ages! Some of the rides require a specific height, luckily my kids are super tall and were able to ride them. It was not overly crowded when we went which I enjoyed. Pricing is reasonable for the whole day. Recommend going in summertime when the water park is open. Great fun, would gladly go here again.

Tina E — Google review

My son had a joint team birthday party here and he told me "best birthday party EVER" Thank you to all the staff for making his day the best!

Katie H — Google review

Super fun place to bring your kids it's for all ages but probably 10 and under will have the most fun

Tim C — Google review

Helped host a work party here and had a blast. Friendly staff who were extremely accommodating with our needs. Very clean play areas.Things for all ages to enjoy.

Paige M — Google review

Had a great time visiting ZDT Amusement Park in Seguin. What a perfect place to bring the kids on a weekend afternoon. Plenty of fun which includes a very impressive wooden rollercoaster, race track, miniature parachute drop, amazing wall climbs, miniature water park, and vintage video games. Certainly a great place to have a kids birthday party with so many different party areas to choose from. The park is very well maintained and also very family friendly. Highly recommended!!

Joe P — Google review

Pretty small but it's easy to keep track of your kids here and they had fun. The arcade games are free to play though. I guess I overlooked that on the site but it was a very welcome surprise

None Y — Google review

This is a family-owned and operated. I think it was the father who started it, but now the brother and sister are the owners. they are fantastic. They do a lot of school trips, group outings, and partys. they seem to stay busy. I think the kids love being there. And they have good workers and they seem to stay right on top of everything so yes, I will highly recommend them !! they put a Band on your arm so you can leave go eat are home if you live near by, and then come back later on that same day. I've never seen that before. I think that is pretty neat, so go enjoy this place you Have things on the inside and they have a roller coaster. a few different rides even water rides have virtual reality rids inside with an Arcade.Games. go. Take your kids I highly recommend.

Lisa B — Google review

The best part about this place is the go-carts and those kind of suck now that they are electric. The water park is cool. This place is good for smaller kids but for the price do not take older kids. You are just going to waste your money. After about an hour they are over it. But my little kids love it. They zoom back and forth between all of the attractions. I feel like its dated and needs an overhaul. The staff is really nice. The video games are just alright.

Alex S — Google review

This is an awsome place to take kids or grandkids when your on vacation. It is a smaller more personal experience then the big theme parks in the San Antonio at a fraction of the cost. Wrist band pays for everything. Rides were great, Waterpark rides were really fun and the food was good and affordable. Wish we had a place like this back home in Missouri. I give this park 5 stars.

Bobby W — Google review

You can spend the day here and not get bored! The unlimited pass is a great deal if you want indoor and outdoor activities. The water park has 3 slides and a splash pad with a changing area. Lots of arcade games like guitar hero and halo. Large indoor playground, rock wall, bungee trampoline and virtual Rollercoaster. There is a Rollercoaster outside too with a few other rides and go carts. Bathrooms were clean. Food is a little pricey but no too crazy. Indoor and outdoor seating areas.

Maria V — Google review

I love this place so much! For the price and the short wait for rides, its a great deal and very fun. You don’t have to wait in line for basically anything and the food is pretty good. They even have a waterpark with a few tall slides. I go here everytime I’m nearby and it is such a unique fun place.

Heather B — Google review

Guys if you have a wide age range, this is the place to go. There was an activity for every age! Stayed all day till close!

Let's K — Google review

If I could give negative stars I would. Let's start this post by saying the pictures are deceiving. The pictures portray this place as way bigger than it actually is, but you will be sorley mistaken. The price is way over priced for what they offer. When we walked in there was only 4 rides and the arcade, which is VERY small, and the go-carts was a bit of a wait. That was the only thing that was kind of worth it. The rock climb line was ridiculous. I can't even tell you how long that line was. All the water rides were closed and it definitely was not clearly marked big enough on their website. I will tell anyone that is reading this, PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME HERE. PLEASE SPEND YOUR HARD EARN MONEY AND TIME SOMEWHERE ELSE. A regular park with swings and a merry-go-round would be more fun than this place!!!!

Jeremy T — Google review

My daughter loves this place. It was our 3rd year coming for her birthday. Admission is free for adults. We use a coupon for $135, includes:4 passes with all attractions, x-lg pizza, and 4 drinks. That's a great deal.

Amber A — Google review

Wooden roller coaster is super cool. Small little park (went in winter, so no water park) no lines, fun afternoon for a birthday. Clean and tidy.Staff are polite and nice too.

Wendy J — Google review

4.6

(1643)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (201)

4.5

(102)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (202)

301 W Kingsbury St, Seguin, TX 78155, USA

(830) 386-0151

29

King Ranch Visitor Center

Visitor center

The man behind the King Ranch is truly a rags to riches real world success story. Richard King parlayed a keen wit and strong work ethic into an early riverboat navigation career, which lead to his assisting in the supply chain for the Spanish-American War, then a land grant which was the start of ranch which would become an empire, now the largest ranch in the entire US. The Visitor Center is small, but serves as the check-in point for the main ranch bus tour ($20). Reserve your tickets at least 3-5 days in advance or they may be sold out. Also see the museum ($10) and Saddle Shop in town. Make a day of it & eat in one of the charming local restaurants.

Fritz F — Google review

This interesting tour covers the gambit from Texas history, ranching practices, wildlife management and so much more. You'll see all kinds of flora and fauna, you'll see historic structures and implements, you'll see beautiful cattle and horses, and an array of creatures in their natural habitat. This tour packs it into 90 minutes which goes by in a flash.

Jeff V — Google review

Awesome history here! I definitely suggest the bus tour, it is very well worth it! The story of the King Ranch and it's descendants is very cool!

Chris M — Google review

This place is super neat. I would recommend looking at tours in advance because they are not as common as you might think. The store here is small and you should go to the saddle shop for the merchandise!

Jared D — Google review

Staff in the visitor center was very friendly.I did the daily tour which is 1.5 hours long. They take you in a small bus around a little section of the property, and you learn about the history of Richard King who is the founder of King Ranch. You also get to see some of the wildlife. We saw a roadrunner, longhorns, Santa Gertrudis, quarter horses, javelina, deer, peacocks, and several other birds.

A — Google review

If all you ever saw was the inside of a city, I could probably see how this tour would interest you. The only interesting thing I saw was a close-up picture to a long horn (picture below).Our guide was a wealth of knowledge about the place, but, and this is a big but, was a terrible driver.Interesting history thought.

Bryan G — Google review

This is the largest ranch in the US so we wanted to visit it. Ranch tours are offered so we booked online $20/adult, discounts for seniors, military, children. The tour starts at the visitor center where you can watch a video, then get on a small bus. Our tour guide, Janelle was awesome, told us interesting stories about Capt. King and family and the quarter horses, longhorns and San Gertrudis cattle which we drove by. We saw many wild animals, deer, roadrunners, havelina, caracara, turkeys. The only stop was a visit to the weaver’s cottage that had a cattle brand exhibit, loom, spinning wheel, all the other buildings: bunkhouse, barn, mansion we drove by making it a bit difficult to get photos. What makes this tour worth it is the tour guide. Don’t expect a working ranch tour but the history is interesting. Lasted 2hrs.

SAB — Google review

Ranch Hand Breakfast is an annual weekend event for the ranch and city in a festival mode. The breakfast is chuck wagon fare as billed and served out doors at the ranch. It is a very well attended event when it is not raining. We had more than a 90 minute que to achieve event free parking. It was worth the wait. Breakfast was served 7 ro 11 am. Plan for an early arrival. They do stop serving at 11 am.The calf roping occurs earlier in the morning. We missed it. The car show and street fair in downtown Kingsville was good.The excessive volume of the event stage was likely an OSHA violation. The noise of the car speakers at the adjacent car show exacerbated the need for hearing protection and regulation to safe levels at this event.There is ranch rodeo on Sunday of the Ranch Saturday Breakfast. We hope to do that next year. We may arrive by RV on Friday of the event weekend next year for the entire festival.

Dan H — Google review

A bit expensive to ride in an ill-cooled 'short-bus'.Grounds are wonderful, the guide did a good job to tell the story, but unfortunately, they need to upgrade the PA system to a modern and foolproof model.Only the first few rows managed to understand the guide.Not sure what is the purpose of signing all those waivers, since you can step out of the 'short-bus' only once.We were not expecting a petting zoo, but simply an opportunity to see some livestock and horses more upclose.

Stephane P — Google review

Great tour guide but worst tour ever. Difficult to take pictures from inside a crowded bus. We were not allowed outside the bus because of the possibility of being bitten by a rattlesnake. The view of the main house was anti-climactic. The bus drove by what looked like the back of the house, which meant that people on the opposite side of the bus couldn’t even take a quick picture of it. No stops to see inside a barn or bunkhouse. Primarily just stops to look at cattle of different breeds and a few horses in fields. Definitely not worth the money.And don’t get me started about the visitor center. No photography allowed. The one person at the front stopped my wife and told her no photos. It’s the only interaction we had with the staff there. Interesting museum but to charge an entrance fee and not allow personal photos is ridiculous.

Steve H — Google review

We did the regular history tour. Guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. We got to see a large variety of livestock and wildlife.

Janice B — Google review

I’m from a ranching family, so visiting the King Ranch was on my bucket list. The hour -and-a-half tour did not disappoint! There is a 30-min. Video before the tour that really opens one’s eyes to the multi-faceted business that has helped the Ranch to thrive for so long. Well worth the time. This tour should be on anyone’s to-do list If they visit South Texas. Also be sure to visit the King Ranch in Kingsville, too.

Leanne S — Google review

This place is amazing. This is the gold standard in ranching history. Hundreds of thousands of acres of cattle and equine stars. I have a mare from their bloodline (Peppy San Rio from Peppy San Badger) and it was nice to see her heritage. The ladies in the visitor center were very nice and friendly. Highly recommend taking the tour!

Amanda S — Google review

I absolutely loved the ranch! I would come back again and do the other tours also. I wish I had been able to see a real cowboy, but I was told it's was Saturday. Guess cowboys get the weekend off. Who knew. Lol. Beautiful cattle and horses, and graasy fields and buildings. The tour guide was full of interesting stories.

Cara C — Google review

We were on one of the naturalist tours at the ranch on a June morning, the naturalists were great! They pointed out a number of birds, alligators, rabbits, and a coyote. Since it was a hot day, even in the mornings, the animals were already seeking shady spots, so other times of the year may provide a greater number of animal sightings.As someone mentioned in another review, if you're on a tour bus and not sitting on the left side or front seats, you won't see most of the pointed out birds or the alligators (the ponds and stream is on the left.) You won't see the Roadrunners in front of the bus at all. You probably will see the St. Gertrudis cattle and a few birds, though, and the incredible views across all the acreage of the ranch.You aren't allowed to visit the King home but will be able to see a few peacocks, perhaps as you drive by. You can go to the gift shop, of course, and pick up a nice tee.If you can go to the Cowboy BBQ - the food is fantastic, sooo good (tenderist brisket and tasty potato salad). It was catered by AAA Barbeque (I heard they'll be opening up their own restaurant, so check them out!) .

Carolyn R — Google review

4.5

(118)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (203)

4.0

(272)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (204)

2205 TX-141 W, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA

(361) 592-8055

30

Presidio la Bahía State Historic Site

Historical place

Sights & Landmarks

Historic Sites

Spanish Army stronghold from the 18th century, famed as a battle site of the 1836 Texas Revolution.

I am new to Texas and after hearing about this place I thought I'd see it for myself. Well, I can tell you that this place is sacred. It is truly humbling to see what others were willing to sacrifice to win their freedom and leave a great state for others.You often here about the Alamo but seldom about this Presidio. After all it accounts for one of the five points on the Lone Start of Texas.........worth a visit IMO.

_Presbeuo_ M — Google review

A great place to encounter Spanish, Mexican, and Texas history. Very rare Spanish Colonial reconstructed historical site! Plan on several hours at least. Or better yet, spend the night in the "Quarters", you will have the entire compound to your self. BONUS, no TV, WIFI, PHONE. Get away from it all! Staff are great!

Brock B — Google review

It's a great walk through history. It's much bigger than I expected. The museum is full of information and they have lots of period pieces to take you in time. I didn't expect to see that in Goliad, Texas. I do recommend a visit if you're in the area.

Daniel G — Google review

Came here for the first time with my kids. Pretty informative history right here. This place was recommended to us to check out since we were driving through. I honestly didn’t even know anything about this place and its history. The admissions fee was dirt cheap to enter. We watched a short movie about the history of this place before walking around to see old artifacts and info. They have a beautiful courtyard and Chapel. The Fannin monument is down the street from here.Parking is small, but there’s street parking. The staff are really friendly.

K. T — Google review

What a wonderful visit we had here. It’s amazing to walk through a piece of history and to learn about it the people who settled in the area. It’s better than any history book!

Jewell F — Google review

What a wonderful day trip. The place was small and affordable with a small gift shop and the tour guide was really awesome ! We had a blast and are really glad that we spent some time walking around the presidio grounds.

Rebecca S — Google review

Very informative and well laid out. Don't miss if you're into Texas history. But get there early as the build closes at 430. Much to see and lots to take in.

Tony C — Google review

I really enjoyed my visit. Is a great history lesson of the early years of Texas.

Dave B — Google review

Very inexpensive and informative museum. This is a very significant place and you can tell. Any self respecting Texan should put this on their bucket list.

Billy R — Google review

We had an amazing time! The staff was very helpful. My visit was wonderful, I love history and learning about Texas Histor.

Lynda K — Google review

I love it, the place displays the Texas history and provides a good explanation, the staff is very friendly, we will be back, if you like history it is a place you must visit!

Ariane G — Google review

So much history here. Awesome to see. And try to visit when they have the reenactment.

Sjoerd C — Google review

Nice small museum with a gift shop an theater with brief film about the Texas War for Independence from Mexico. See photos.

William B — Google review

A lot of cool history a unique fort and a nice museum. Great place to learn some history. Nice museum and video.

Sam V — Google review

Great site awesome video and amazing staff. The grounds are beautiful and the best time is during living history.

James C — Google review

There is much to learn about and appreciate here. After having read about the history, seeing the Presidio in person was a special experience. You must come here for the re-enactment that is done to commemorate the massacre and the battle at Coleto Creek. They also do an emotionally compelling dramatic re-enactment of the final hours of these men who died for Texas freedom. Every Texan should be required to experience this special tribute on the hallowed ground of the presidio.

Jeff V — Google review

It's a great Texas historical site. As a native Texan, it was great to learn more about those who fought and died for the independence of Texas. Neat to learn how it was rebuilt. I am grateful to all who have donated and volunteered to make this such a wonderful historical site that we can visit.

Aaron R — Google review

I went with my nephew for his 4th grade field trip. We have passed by several times but never been, so I wasn't sure what to expect. They had a few presentations explaining to the kids about artifacts that were found on the grounds and about the flags. The kids had a good time and learned several things about the mission's history.

Laynee H — Google review

Really cool place. Definitely worth visiting. The history is really interesting.

Daniel R — Google review

My husband & I loved walking through the museum areas & the Chapel was one of the prettiest we have ever seen. 2 bus loads of teenagers showed up while we were on the grounds and it was impressive how the historical tour guides handled them. The sweet lady behind the counter that greeted us made us feel very welcome. We are so happy that we visited. Great video to start out the tour too.

Victoria M — Google review

$5 to tour inside the grounds. Definitely worth it! The information and archeological funds are amazing. The chapel was closed, a little disappointed, but it was a lovely stroll.

Amethyst H — Google review

4.8

(1225)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (205)

4.5

(231)34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (206)

217 US-183, Goliad, TX 77963, USA

(361) 645-3752

34 Best Stops Between Alpine and Corpus Christi (2024)
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