Burnet is a town that sits within spitting distance to two perfect hill country lakes, is filled with history and wine, and even a few State Parks. Need I say more…
Culture
While you’re in Burnet, check out Fort Croghan for a lesson on the frontier history of this area. Established in 1849, this fort was built by the U.S. right after the Civil War to protect settlers from hostile Indian tribes, and at this museum, you can step back in time to find a fully-functioning blacksmith shop, powder house and an old look-out post.
Head to the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force for aviation history and to hop aboard their beautifully restored antique planes. You might even find a handful of veterans who’d be happy to show you around.
For the royal treatment, look no further than Perissos Winery. You can opt to relax and drink a glass of their award-winning wines with a view of the Falkenstein Castle in the distance, or take a tour of the winery to see how the wines are made!
Bertram, TX
Just 10 miles outside Burnet is the little town of Bertram. Once a booming railroad town when pink granite was shipped from the Hill Country to other parts of Texas, this small town has sights worth stopping for. Check out the historic 1882 Bertram Depot and take a selfie with the giant oatmeal canister — the star of Bertram’s Oatmeal Festival with neighboring town Oatmeal, TX each year.
Outdoors
Now for the lake! In this town, there’s TONS of lake fun to be had. To explore Inks Lake, head to Inks Lake State Park with miles of hiking trails and plenty of ways to get in the water. If you are feeling risky, I recommend cliff jumping in at the Devil’s Waterhole.
If you are more vampire than swimmer, then dive underground at Longhorn Cavern State Park to explore these caves that are equal parts epic and historic. They’ve been everything from a tribal council room to a 1920′s speakeasy!
To see Lake Buchanan, hop aboard a Vanishing Texas River Cruise taking visitors upstream to experience the “wild” side of Texas. In the winter you might even get the chance to spot bald eagles that spend the winter around the lake. Yet, whether you see eagles or not, you can see the beautiful 25 foot Fall Creek waterfalls, a stunning and unexpected surprise in the Texas Hill Country.
Lake Buchanan
To ride through the falls or just around Lake Buchanan, rent a kayak or canoe from Buchanan Adventure Tours based out of the LCRA’s beautiful Canyon of the Eagles nature park (an excellent place to stop for dinner over the lake or spend the weekend, by the way!)
Keep Exploring
Burnet, TX
