Texas Hill Country Views : Part 2

"Home is behind, the world ahead"- JRR Tolkien

Home. We have left behind every home we knew more times than I can count. Each move took us on a new adventure to a new location, filled with new experiences. But we both crave a home that we can really call our own. A home that we can return to after a long day of work, or a relaxing hike in the mountains, or a joyful visit with friends and family. So we adventure onward, with our homes behind, and the world ahead.

The drive to New Braunfels took longer than expected along a familiar route into Lockhart, my home town, and along the busy highway of I35. We stopped off first in a few rural neighborhoods off the beaten path on the outskirts of New Braunfels. Perched on 1+ acre lots, surrounded by majestic oak trees and families of white tailed deer, beautiful grand homes sat. We drove around the quiet neighborhoods, trying to picture which plot of land we liked, or which home seemed to fit with our individual preferences. A quick pit stop at another local HEB, and moments later we were in Historic Gruene. Towering high in the sky was the easily recognizable Gruene water tower, beckoning visitors to the quaint shops and restaurants that make Gruene a local favorite destination. I love the cute downtown area and the Gristmill Restaurant that sits along the aquamarine Guadalupe River. Gruene Hall sits in the middle of the downtown, generally bustling with the excitement and anticipation of a superstar singer (George Strait, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Eli Young Band, Miranda Lambert & Midland are a few of the famous vocalists to have made an appearance) or local artist featured for the evening. But the afternoon was quiet as we drove to our next destination.

Landa Park sits in the middle of New Braunfels, close to the famous Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort. The beautiful Comal River is a focal point to this Texas Park. The springs that feed into the river are the largest group in the American Southwest and were used to power gristmills, cotton and wool factories in the 1860s. The 51 acres encompassing the park contain a golf course, nature trails, and hundreds of ancient live oak trees (my favorite!!).

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We made our way through Spring Branch and Bulverde, clocked between greenery on both sides of the highway. Bloated white clouds sprinkled a bright blue sky and a free flowing road way as we drove to Boerne, our final Texas hill country stop. Esperanza (which means hope or expectation in Spanish) was a community on the outskirts of Boerne, filled with open spaces and more beautiful homes. We toured the community, then ventured further into the Boerne downtown area. We visited the Cibolo Nature Center, which is a wildlife preserve that includes 62 acres, including Cibolo Creek. Onward we drove, exploring a few more communities throughout Boerne. We discovered a beautiful plot of land overlooking the city of Boerne, tucked in a round about off highway 10. The view was beautiful! On our way south, we found a local San Antonio coffee shop to refresh ourselves for the long drive back to home base as the afternoon moved into early evening. Our minds weary and bellies aching for a home cooked meal, we left the Texas Hill Country in our rear view mirror, ready for next chapter to begin again next week!