What involves thoughts if you consider Texas? If you are envisioning how Hollywood presents the Lone Star State, movie and tv have largely come up brief.
There’s greater than meets the attention than Friday night time lights, hootin’ hollerin’ rodeos, and John Deere tractors working open fields.
Of course, legend has it ‘every little thing is larger in Texas’, and whereas that definitely holds true to unavoidable outsized pickup vehicles and old-school poisonous masculinity egos, guests ought to benefit from fish bowl margaritas, humungous Tex-Mex platters, and the beating coronary heart of Texas — it is sprawl of pleasant small cities, every with a singular taste and story to inform.
In reality, Texas could come throughout one-sided culturally, however that could not be farther from the reality with cities deeply ingrained in Mexican heritage, similar to San Antonio and El Paso, breaking tourism information.
Believe it or not, the ‘primary’ metropolis in Texas really gives extra German flare than Mexican tradition and it is gleaming with inviting emerald rivers and down-home allure smack dab between Austin and San Antonio for simple entry.
Dam Right! New Braunfels Is Texas’ Number One’ City
The Texas Travel Awards are a 12 months behind, awarding completely different locations every year for the winner to revel within the distinction of being topped the highest metropolis for a full 12 months.
We’re roughly 4 months into 2025, however the Texas Travel Awards will title the 2025 winner towards the top of the 12 months.
New Braunfels was awarded the title of Destination of the Year for 2024, a small, historic city hugging the jade-ribboned Guadalupe River that Texans from all throughout the state love to go to, together with myself.
As a born and raised Texan, New Braunfels was our go-to household trip spot to appease my guardian’s want to flee ‘Keep up the Jones’s’ mindset of the Dallas ‘burbs all whereas maintaining my sisters and I entertained on the Schlitterbahn water park, tubing the Guadalupe, and hopping aboard the still-ingrained reminiscence of glass-bottom boat excursions in close by San Marcos.
Decades later, New Braunfels nonetheless meets the mark after which some as this pleasant city has grown tremendously each actually and figuratively, whether or not it’s extra vacationers discovering the timeless allure of Gruene, the always-fun river adventures and festivals celebrating German heritage, and naturally, the newfound craze of Buc-ee’s, the world’s favourite beaver-themed gasoline station — a vacation spot in its personal proper.
New Braunfels’ Rustic Village & German Delights
The first time 21-year outdated me pretended to be boujee and complex was in downtown New Braunfels, taking my (ex) girlfriend to a flowery shmancy wine bar with a dim-lit eating room and jazz soundtrack on repeat.
That scene is definitely there if that is your jam, however New Braunfels gives a lot greater than overpriced wine in a cheesy setting that does not match the city’s general vibe.
New Braunfels is extra of a beer drinkin’ city and there is not any higher place to begin than Gruene, a real-life postcard and the closest factor Texas has to a time machine.
Gruene (pronounced like the colour) has stood the check of time for the reason that 1840’s when German settlers based this blip on the map.
Nowadays, guests can take pleasure in a General Store, the well-known Gruene Hall which has hosted musical acts similar to George Strait, quite a few rustic boutiques, and my private favourite, The Gristmill restaurant, set atop the flowing Guadalupe with nice views and even higher margaritas.
Even in the event you’re merely passing by from Austin to San Antonio or vice versa, do not simply cease at Buc-ee’s; find time for Gruene too.
But one occasion you must positively have in mind is Wurstfest, celebrating New Braunfel’s German heritage.
Oktoberfests are cool and all, however Wurstfest feels extra native than some tacky German-themed vacationer traps you discover elsewhere.
The subsequent Wurstfest will not happen till November 2025, however properly definitely worth the wait.
Astounding Nature: Emerald Rivers & The ‘Maldives’ Of Texas
Despite Austin has remodeling into Dallas 2.0 in recent times, New Braunfels has lengthy been an idyllic haven to flee town grind with scenic emerald rivers winding by the sprawling Texas Hill Country.
While it is a frequent spring break getaway for cheap-o school college students who could not afford gasoline cash to Florida, we’re late sufficient into spring now to keep away from probably the most rowdy crowds with “woo!” ladies and blaring audio system.
Tubing the Guadalupe is for all ages and certainly one of my favourite recollections of household holidays rising up, however equally memorable from my school days too — properly, at the very least with the useful mind cells I’ve left.
Texas Tubes is New Braunfel’s top-rated tube rental firm on Google and even gives free parking!
For much more breathtaking waters, close by Canyon Lake has been dubbed the ‘Maldives’ of Texas. The lake water is so pristine, it went viral on social media just a few years in the past.
There are a number of resorts overlooking Canyon Lake for these desirous to make this stunning Texas oasis as their base, however New Braunfels additionally gives quite a few charming inns, together with some with German roots like Sophie’s Gasthaus or in the event you’re making a day journey from San Antonio, go for a keep in certainly one of my favourite inns, the century-old Crockett Hotel — and remember to seize your free cocktail!
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.