Austin Meeting Planner Guide 2008-2009 - (Page 70) luckenbach Made famous by the Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson song, “Luckenbach, Texas – Back to the Basics of Love.” These days, Luckenbach, Texas, to paraphrase John Steinbeck is “A State of Mind”—a place where you can kick back, relax, hear some live music, and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life— like a step back in time. This tiny Hill Country hamlet where “everybody’s somebody” was established as a Trading Post in 1849 making it one of the oldest settlements in Gillespie County. Known the world over, Luckenbach remains just as it was for most of this century, an unpainted general store that doubles as a post office. Still traveling west on Highway 290, Fredericksburg is a short trip from Luckenbach. the southern loop The southern loop features visits to Wimberley, San Marcos, Gruene, New Braunfels, Boerne and Bastrop. (Distance is 170 miles. If driving to all cities in loop, the suggested allowance is 8 to 10 hours with stops.) To start this tour, head south on IH-35 from downtown Austin and exit at Kyle. Proceed west on RM 150 until it becomes FM 3237. Turn onto RR 12 and take this south to Wimberley. group tour planning 70 Wimberley Situated on two beautiful waterways—the Blanco River and Cypress Creek—Wimberley lays claim to being one of the “top 10 small towns in North America.” With its laidback artists colony and collection of charming stores, the town is a favorite destination for shopping, seeing art galleries, or taking a cool dip in Cypress Creek. Hundreds of craftspeople and artisans gather the first Saturday of each month, April through December, for Market Days. From Wimberley, head south on RR 12 until the road joins RR 32. From there, travel east on RR 12 to San Marcos. Fredericksburg Founded in 1846 by the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants, Fredericksburg retains a strong German character to this day. Many people still speak German, and the architecture and culture of the city reflect deep Old World roots. Antique shops, specialty stores and cafés line the picturesque main street. The town has several local wineries, wildflower and lavender farms which are in full bloom from spring to summer. The National Museum of the Pacific War pays tribute to the Pacific battles of World War II and local war hero Admiral Chester Nimitz. Nearby, Enchanted Rock is the second-highest granite dome in North America and a favorite spot for hiking and rock climbing. In summer, orchards overflow with sweet peaches. Take Highway 16 south from Fredericksburg to get to Kerrville. San Marcos San Marcos is a classic Texas Hill Country college town. The San Marcos River runs through the center of town, making it a popular place for tubing and other easygoing river activities. For shoppers, this area is heaven, Tanger Outlet Center and Prime Outlets-San Marcos together make up one of the largest factory outlet complexes in the country. Leaving San Marcos, head south on IH-35 toward New Braunfels. Take FM 306 west and follow the signs to Gruene. Kerrville Lose your heart to the hills and enjoy the magic of the Hill Country in this pleasant town where cowboys and culture come together on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Kerrville is host to an array of annual activities such as Texas Arts & Crafts Fair and the Kerrville Folk Festival. The town is home to the Museum of Western Art where one of the country’s premier collections of cowboy art is exhibited. Long regarded as a health and recreation paradise, Kerrville is touted as having one of the nation’s most ideal climates. At the legendary YO Ranch, deer and antelope play on one of the Southwest’s largest exotic game ranches. To return to Austin, take Highway 16 north to Fredericksburg and then head east on U.S. 290. gruene Originally, Gruene, pronounced like the color “Green,” was a cotton farm owned by Henry D. Gruene and his family. They built the first home in 1872 and modified it over the years. It still stands proudly with its Victoria galleries today as the Gruene Mansion Inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a designated Texas Historic Landmark. No visit would be complete without going to Texas’ oldest “dance hall” saloon, Gruene Hall, where many country-singing stars and legends like Willie Nelson, George Strait, Jerry Jeff Walker and Lyle Lovett have performed over the years. Unique shops, dancing two-step, having interesting places to eat like the Gristmill River Restaurant, or possibly taking a dip in the Guadalupe River makes a visit to Gruene a real treat. From Gruene, head back to IH-35 via FM 306 and go south to New Braunfels. The art-centered community of Wimberley is a popular shopping destination. left: Glassblower at Wimberley Glassworks. ©Weaver/Denise Chambers ©Weaver Multimedia Group/Denise Chambers austin convention & visitors bureau
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