Texas Hill Country
If wine, history, and culture served up with a landscape of spring-fed rivers and scenic rugged cliffs sounds divine, go to the Texas Hill Country. The lovely region, near Austin and San Antonio, includes historical Fredericksburg and oozes with Texas hospitality, sophisticated cuisine, outdoor adventure, and Lyndon B. Johnson stories.
The Basics
The Texas Hill Country offers a choose-your-adventure style of itinerary, depending on your interests. There are tours especially for wine lovers, taking you right into the heart of wine production in and around Fredericksburg, home of 50 wineries. If beer is more your style, spend an afternoon sampling craft brews in San Antonio. Take a day or two to explore San Antonio on a pass that includes various activities, including the Witte Museum, San Antonio Zoo, and San Antonio Museum of Art.
President Lyndon B. Johnson was born in Stonewall, a Hill Country town near Johnson City, and his sprawling estate is open for tours that provide insight into his life and presidency. Fold your tour into one that also gives you a sample of the area’s German roots, plus a stop in Luckenbach—made famous by singer Waylon Jennings.
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Things to Know Before You Go
The Hill Country is ideal for anyone wanting a genuine taste of Texas cuisine, nature, and hospitality.
Save time and money by purchasing a tour or pass that combines several different Hill Country destinations and activities.
Wine and beer aficionados can relax and focus on enjoying their drinks, letting someone else handle the driving, with a themed tour.
If you’re a history fan, make some time for an LBJ tour through his “Texas White House,” including climbing aboard his 13-passenger plane, calledAir Force One-Half.
How to Get There
The Hill Country is a large, 25-county region roughly extending north and south of Austin and San Antonio, and generally between I-35 and Highway 29 on the east and west. The best way to see this area is by driving or arranging a guided tour.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
You can explore the Hill Country year-round, as it benefits from temperate weather most of the year. Summer months are the hottest, and snow is possible in winter. Spring starts as early as February, with peak tourism months in March and April, and is a lovely time to see the wildflowers, which sprawl across fields and even along roadsides.
Is Your Dance Card Full?
The Texas Hill Country is home to some of the oldest dance halls in Texas. You can find one of them in Luckenbach, right next to the tiny post office and bar. The oldest is considered to be Gruene Hall, located in the quaint Hill Country town of Gruene (pronounced “green”).
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- South Congress Avenue (SoCo)
- Zilker Metropolitan Park
- Barton Springs
- Lady Bird Lake
- Congress Avenue Bridge (South Congress Bridge)
- 2nd Street District
- Austin Convention Center
- Mexic-Arte Museum
- HOPE Outdoor Gallery (HOG)
- 6th Street
- Driskill Hotel (The Driskill)
- Austin Paramount Theatre
- Texas Governor's Mansion
- French Legation Museum