COMPILED BY ELLE BENT, ZARA FLORES, SIERRA MARTIN & ERIC WEILBACHER Central Texas and South Central Texas provide plenty to explore, be it a variety of outdoor activities, or museums and other cultural attractions. Use this guide to get the most out of the surrounding communities and as a great starting point for out-of-town visitors and guests. This list is not comprehensive. REGIONAL DESTINATIONS GUIDE
A noncomprehensive guide to places to visit and things to see
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Canyon Lake Gorge
Buda Amphitheater & City Park
COURTESY GUADALUPE BLANCO RIVER AUTHORITY
ZARA FLORES COMMUNITY IMPACT
Austin 1 Lady Bird Johnson Wild ower Center Located on 284 acres, The University of Texas Lady Bird Johnson Wild ower Center provides education, outreach, research and more to conserve native plants and create sustainable landscapes. The center o ers tours of the expansive space where visitors can learn about native plants, the Edwards Aquifer and more. The center was also named the Botanic Garden and Arboretum of Texas in 2017. 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin 512 232 0100 www.wild ower.org Canyon Lake 2 Canyon Lake Gorge During the summer ood event of 2002, more than 34 inches of rain created oodwaters swelling Canyon Lake over its spillway for the rst time since the reservoir was completed in 1964 that carved out a 64-acre gorge, expos- ing cretaceous-period fossils, limestone and other curiosities. Visitors can explore dinosaur fossils, exposed areas of the Trinity Aquifer and see recently exposed waterfalls and springs. Guided hikes are available seasonally along with other events. 16029 S. Access Road, Canyon Lake 830 964 5424 www.gbra.org Hays County 3 Buda Amphitheater & City Park Located in the heart of downtown, the Buda Amphitheater & City Park is home to various events all year long, such as the Wiener Dog
6 Purgatory Creek Trails The city of San Marcos has a variety of free outdoor activities and amenities like the river as well as the Purgatory Creek Natural Area. There are more than 1,000 acres with over 10 miles of walkable trails within the upper and lower Purgatory trails. The trails are accessible with an ADA trail in the upper Purgatory section. The trails are open for walking, running, biking, bird watching and other outdoor activities. Upper Purgatory: 1753 Valencia Way, San Marcos Lower Purgatory: 2102 Hunter Road, San Marcos 512 393 8000 www.sanmarcostx.gov 7 San Marcos Premium & Tanger Outlets Located on the outskirts of San Marcos lies a stretch of outlet malls with shops and restaurants ranging from Nike and Levi’s to Saint Laurent and Prada. Stores regularly have anywhere from 20%-50% o merchandise and other deals. 3939 S. I 35, San Marcos 512 396 2200 www.premiumoutlets.com 4015 S. I 35, San Marcos 512 396 7446 At just 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, the San Marcos River is the city’s gem that starts at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and runs south into the Blanco and Guadalupe rivers with various entry points throughout the city. The 75-mile-long river is perfect for swimming, tubing, kayak- ing and other water activities. Sewell Park, 601 University Drive, San Marcos www.tangeroutlet.com 8 San Marcos River
Races, Fajita Fiesta and more. When not hosting events, the park has amenities for the whole family to enjoy for free, including the great lawn, a playground, a splashpad, basketball courts and more. The park can also be rented for private events. 204 San Antonio St., Buda 512 523 1082 www.budaamphitheater.com 4 Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park Considered the heart of downtown, Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park has undergone massive renovations in the past two years to enhance the downtown experience. The park has a gazebo, a playground and various picnic areas throughout with walking paths and fresh shrubbery for all to enjoy. Americans with Disabilities Act improvements have also been made at the park for accessibility to all. The park is also home to the city’s monthly Kyle Market Days, which feature local vendors. 101 S. Burleson St., Kyle 512 262 3939 www.cityo yle.com 5 Meadows Center for Water and the Environment Learn about some of the city’s most precious resources at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. The center aims to protect the environment and educate others about the resources through educational materials, recreational activities and more. The center o ers glass-bottom boat tours of Spring Lake, tours of the Wetlands Boardwalk and more that share information about exotic and native species, plants and other lifeforms. 201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos 512 245 9200 www.meadowscenter.txst.edu
City Park, 170 Charles Austin Drive, San Marcos Rio Vista, 555 Cheatham St., San Marcos www.sanmarcostx.gov 9 Wonder World Cave & Adventure Park Tucked away in San Marcos lies a family- owned and operated park, founded in 1893, chock full of a variety of attractions. Learn about the geological eras of the Earth in the Wonder Cave or hop onto the train that travels through the animal park to see exotic species. There is also an observation tower, 120 feet high, that overlooks the Hill Country. 1000 Prospect St., San Marcos 512 392 6711 www.wonderworldpark.com New Braunfels 10 Gruene Historic District The Gruene Historic District, a small town orig- inally settled by German farmers in the 1840s, has developed into a live music, shopping and river recreation area popular to visitors and residents alike. Home to the Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest dance hall, the small town was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as an entire district. Many his- toric buildings in Gruene have been preserved and turned into shops, restaurants and bars. 1601 Hunter Road, New Braunfels 830 629 5077
www.gruenetexas.com 11 Guadalupe River
The Guadalupe River begins at its headwaters near Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country and wanders 230 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. After the river exits the Canyon Reservoir Dam it provides plenty of slow and rapid areas to oat or paddle from Sattler through New
Visit our calendar for more events: www.rileystavern.com 8894 FM 1102 New Braunfels, TX 78132 2/3 Danny B Harvey and Annie Marie Lewis 2/11 Beth Lee and the Breakups 2/18 Birdlegg and Tight Fit Blues Band
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