Travel Texas
Gruene, Texas
This month Lane and I went to Gruene, Texas with the adults in our extended family. It was a beautiful and fun weekend. We floated the Guadalupe River twice. It was flowing fast. Several of us joined the Guadalupe Swimming Team, including myself.
Some were more sunburned than others. Some had a few bruises and scrapes from falling out of tubes. We were all tired, but we all had smiles on our faces. We were having a blast.
Gruene is a quaint town that sits right on the Guadalupe River. It is the home of Gruene Hall, which is the oldest dance hall in Texas. It was in the movie, “Michael,” with John Travolta years ago. Right next door is the Grist Mill, a great restaurant built in a renovated grist mill.
In addition to these hot spots, there is a winery, a pottery store, art galleries, and many other shops. Everything is in walking distance if you stay in the town. Going to Gruene is a guaranteed good time.
I love to travel. Texas is like a whole other country. In fact, for a decade it was The Republic of Texas. Not only does it have a fascinating history, it is has a diverse landscape. Its size allows it to encompass such diverse regions.
A calm section of the Guadalupe River.
You can do just about anything in Texas. It has a long coastline with beaches and fishing. It has desert and the Davis Mountains. The Palo Duro Canyon is a great place to visit. You also have the hill country and the piney woods. Each region of Texas has a beauty of its own. Each region is full of history and its own charm.
Then there are the cities like Austin, San Antonio, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Houston, Galveston that offer what a variety of places to visit. Each city has its own feel. Austin is our capital. San Antonio has the Riverwalk and the many missions, including the infamous Alamo. Ft. Worth has preserved its cattle town history at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Of course there are many other cities in Texas. The smaller towns like Gruene are just as flavorful. Traveling Texas can be enjoyed over a lifetime. You can travel long distances for a week-long trip. You can travel shorter distances for a weekend stay. There are also many opportunities for fun day trips. The latter are usually less expensive, but very enjoyable.
My first stop when wanting to go somewhere in this state is Travel Tex. It is a great website. You can pick a destination, book your accommodations, check the weather, and much more. They will also send you a free travel guide. I highly recommend checking it out if you want to visit the Lone Star State.
I am not trying to be a travel guide by any means. I had such a good time floating the river with my husband and family that I just wanted to share. Texas is home to many great places in which to live and/or visit. The possibilities seem endless when you travel in Texas.
Where do you like to visit? Let me know because I have a running list of places I want to see. I might just have to add your favorites to my list.
When we lived in Austin, a friend of mine and I would go down to Gruene about twice a year. We always finished off our visit with fudge from one of the stores. It was one of my most fun things to do when we live in TX.
Fudge sounds great. I did not buy any myself while we were there, but there were so many different things to buy. Jellies and spreads galore! Thanks for your comment.
Lara
Pedernales Falls State Park is BEAUTIFUL. Entrance fee is $5 for the day – it was so beautiful when we went. We rode the river and found a little spring that veered off – was a very cold clean spring and we swam in it for hours. It looked like a scene out of a rainforest – green everywhere, a little waterfall into a small pool – you could see the fish swimming around. I really want to go again soon
Great vacation spot! Thank you, Beverly, for suggesting it.
Lara