New Braunfels

New Braunfels is a river town on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, halfway between Austin and San Antonio on Interstate 35. German settlers founded it, and their heritage shows in the downtown buildings, the museum, the beer halls and the food. Two rivers shape the city: the short, spring-fed Comal River, which runs through the middle of town, and the Guadalupe River just beyond. In warm weather the place turns into a river playground, with people floating on tubes and families filling the parks. The rest of the year it is a calm, friendly town with a historic center and a lively festival calendar.

Landa Park is the Comal River's starting point, a shady park with big trees, walking paths and clear water, and tubing begins close to it. Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort is a large seasonal waterpark, so check its opening dates before you plan around it. Gruene Historic District, a few miles north, is a cluster of old buildings with shops, wineries and Gruene Hall, a dance hall that still hosts live music. The Sophienburg Museum tells the German settlement story, murals decorate downtown, and Natural Bridge Caverns lies to the west. Canyon Lake is a short drive north for boating and swimming.

German food is part of the local identity, with bratwurst, schnitzel, sausage plates and strong beer. The Faust Hotel and Brewing Company, New Braunfels Brewing Company and Guadalupe Brewing Company are good stops for a drink, and Dry Comal Creek Vineyards offers Texas wine. In Gruene, the Gristmill River Restaurant overlooks the Guadalupe River, and a Texas country band at Gruene Hall makes a classic evening. Barbecue, Tex-Mex and river-side burgers are everywhere. Wurstfest in November is the big food event, with sausage, beer, music and dancing, and the downtown Wassailfest in December adds a holiday version.

The historic center around Main Plaza is the best base for walking to restaurants, breweries and the museum. Hotels and rental condos stand along the Comal River and near the waterpark, which suits families in summer. Gruene has inns and cottages for a quieter stay among the old buildings. Chain hotels along Interstate 35 are the practical choice for a night on the road. A car is the easiest way to move between downtown, Landa Park and Gruene. San Antonio International Airport is the closest big airport, and the nearest Amtrak stations are in San Antonio and Austin. Parking fills up on summer weekends.

Summer is peak season, when river tubing, the waterpark and the hot weather all go together, and weekends are crowded. Late spring and early autumn are warm and calmer, and spring brings wildflowers across the Hill Country. November is busy with Wurstfest, and December is pleasant for the holiday events. Winters are mild, with a few cold days when the river is better left alone. One day covers downtown, Landa Park and Gruene. Two or three days let you add a tubing day or the waterpark, Canyon Lake or Natural Bridge Caverns.

New Braunfels sits right on Interstate 35, so it is an easy break between Austin and San Antonio, and San Marcos lies just to the north. West and northwest, Texas roads lead into the Hill Country, toward Canyon Lake, Boerne and Fredericksburg. San Antonio, with the Alamo and the River Walk, is a short drive southwest. It works well as a base for a few days of river fun, or as a night that adds some German-Texan character to an Interstate 35 drive.