Best day trip out from Austin? (Houston, San Antonio: home, buy, live)

[southdown]

Where would you go to get out of Austin for the day and see something interesting, beautiful or just different?

How far and how many hours' drive - details please!!!

[txbreeze01]

You can always go to San Antonio and enjoy the river walk, Market Place, Alamo, Sea World, etc

[Moonlady]

One of our favorite day trips is to Fredricksburg and/or Kerrville. I love walking the shops on Main in Fredricksburg and we always stop at Dutchman's Market for what I think is the best ham in the whole world. We usually bring picnic supplies and make ham sandwiches! Sometimes we venture over to Kerville where the highlight of our trip is - don't laugh - Gibson's. For anyone who grew up with a Gibson's, it's a trip back in time. There is also the Cowboy Museum and the James Avery headquarters where you can tour the actual jewelry making facility. This trip is especially nice in the spring when the wildflowers are out and you can also make a stop at Wildseed Farms.

There are several wineries out that way also, if you're into wine tastings. In the summer, you can stop and buy some hill country peaches on the side of the road as well as tomatoes and other homegrown veggies. It's very scenic as well.

It's about an hour and a half to Fredricksburg and another 30 minutes to Kerrville.

[Adios Baltimore]

We just went to Enchanted Rock last weekend. It was awesome and it was a great day for that climb. It's a beautiful view from up there. We had lunch in Fredericksburg afterwards. Nice trip and only about 1.5 hr drive.

[twange]

Check out Bandera. It's a little further, about 115 miles. It's a cute, little tourist town with a cowboy vibe - they call themselves the "Cowboy Capital of the World"- lots of antique shops, honky-tonks and other galleries. It's also in beautiful Hill Country scenery.

Bandera, Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau ( Home )

[Austin-Sylvia]

Go the other direction and check out Smithville. It is a charming Texas town and not so crowded and full of tourists. Here's a link to the website: City of Smithville, Texas : Information Resources for Smithville Residents and Visitors.

[HappyTexan]

Going north would be Salado. Nice old town to go "antiquing" and walk around.

Another favorite is the zoo up in Waco. Go on a nice day..not too hot, not too cold and it makes for a nice day outside.

[love roses]

Salado is nice. I haven't done the Waco Zoo, but hear great things. San Marcos, San Antonio, Brenham, Houston (but leave early in the morning. We've actually made day trips there before.) New Braunfels, Bandera, Kerrville, Fredricksburg, Round Top. Most of these we've done as day trips, others were recommended by friends. Brenham is a little further out than Smithville I think, but if you go to Smithville and Brenhams not too far, go there too. Cool little town. Is Washington-on-the-Brazos too far for a day trip? A friend and I always loved to go through there on the way to Lake Travis when we lived in Houston. It's mostly good for photo ops and there are lots of cool old historical buildings. Not sure about the shopping though. What about Seguin, Fannin, Goliad? Or would those be too far South? Fannin and Goliad have battlegrounds and Forts from when the Spanish were here and I think some of the war of Independance from Mexico was fought there.

[southdown]

You guys are great - thank you

[txbreeze01]

We went to the Waco zoo on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. WE LOVED IT! Because we went during the week we literally saw only 2 other families there. It almost felt like you had the whole zoo to yourself!