NY Times ranks TX Hill Country as #1 summer destination (Houston: house, buying)

[CelesteDF]

If you were tired of visitors from the coasts already, brace yourself for the onslaught. The 31 Places to Go This Summer - NYTimes.com As for me, hey - I've got 2 spare guest rooms in my house

Excerpt:
1. TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
Who needs Europe? The Texas Hill Country, west of Austin and north of San Antonio, might be the next best thing to crossing the Atlantic. The region is lush, colorful and, unlike much of the pancake-flat state, dotted with beautiful green hills that are evocative of Tuscany or the south of France. Moreover, the region is speckled with 22 wineries (www.texaswinetrail.com) that buzz with food and music festivals year round. And towns like Fredericksburg offer a taste of the Old World, with German-style biergartens and schnitzelhäuser.

[smuboy86]

Why did I just get a vision of my beautiful Marble Falls, Burnet, Kingsland, and Llano getting over run with snobby pretentious new yorkers? I mean it's almost bad enough with the Austinization happening, ie the Starbucks right off 281 as you enter Marble Falls.

[sapphire]

Well, how many of us trek to NY to visit ground zero, or to get NY pizza, take in a Broadway show, visit Times Square etc?

It really doesn't affect my life if they want to come here and drink a Starbucks in Marble Falls, TX. I'm sure not going to be drinking one.

[Cookiemeister]

I think all the rich Houstonians and supposedly New Yorkers are also buying up Marfa for get aways.

[doss1]

Um....isn't it too hot to be in the area during the summer? this is a VERY surprising list and I am confused as to how the hill country can be #1. First off, most kids will get bored here quickly, secondly, I don't know how you can beat a cabin in Jackson hole wyoming, white rafter rafting the Yellowstone, walking the Las Vegas strip, driving along the Malibu area, etc. I'm not sure this is a good thing to be listed #1.

[oldmanshirt]

Originally Posted by TexasNick

Um....isn't it too hot to be in the area during the summer? this is a VERY surprising list and I am confused as to how the hill country can be #1. First off, most kids will get bored here quickly, secondly, I don't know how you can beat a cabin in Jackson hole wyoming, white rafter rafting the Yellowstone, walking the Las Vegas strip, driving along the Malibu area, etc. I'm not sure this is a good thing to be listed #1.

The summer weather in the NE isn't that much better than it is in TX.

As for your list of alternative activities, I'll see your cabin in Jackson Hole, your white water rafting in Yellowstone, walking the Vegas strip, and driving on the 101, and raise you spelunking in Natural Bridge Caverns, toobing down the Guadalupe, walking the Paseo del Rio, and taking an afternoon drive along hwy 16 beteen Kerrville and Bandera, or hwy 46 between Boerne and Helotes

[CelesteDF]

Originally Posted by oldmanshirt

The summer weather in the NE isn't that much better than it is in TX.

As for your list of alternative activities, I'll see your cabin in Jackson Hole, your white water rafting in Yellowstone, walking the Vegas strip, and driving on the 101, and raise you spelunking in Natural Bridge Caverns, toobing down the Guadalupe, walking the Paseo del Rio, and taking an afternoon drive along hwy 16 beteen Kerrville and Bandera, or hwy 46 between Boerne and Helotes

Yeah, what he said! And the Hill Country is TONS cheaper than going to all those other places!!

[doss1]

Originally Posted by oldmanshirt

The summer weather in the NE isn't that much better than it is in TX.

As for your list of alternative activities, I'll see your cabin in Jackson Hole, your white water rafting in Yellowstone, walking the Vegas strip, and driving on the 101, and raise you spelunking in Natural Bridge Caverns, toobing down the Guadalupe, walking the Paseo del Rio, and taking an afternoon drive along hwy 16 beteen Kerrville and Bandera, or hwy 46 between Boerne and Helotes

Good points oldmanshirt, and I'd rather stay in Texas for these things, too. We're still blessed with how little the rest of the nation knows about the areas out in the hill country/west Texas areas, but that's changing FAST. Just over a century ago, pioneer families were being killed by Indians. A lost child wandered alone in the wilderness in the Harper area for days before being taken in by the local Indian tribe. This was not long ago. Now we Texans are the indigenous people. Texas is still YOUNG.

[texdav]

I have ahard time believing that any where in texas ranks as th number #1 vacation spot. I don't believe any stats really suport it either.I am sure diney world in florida alone out ranks the hill coubntry.

[sapphire]

Florida didn't make the list at all. I don't think the list includes the expensive touristy places that everyone has "been to, done that."