highlight: landforms
Canyon Lake, TX
This reservoir along the Guadalupe River is a great place for swimmin, eatin, and explorin. Check it out.If the first thing on your list is taking a dip, then Canyon Lake has what you need. If you can navigate some steep steps, head to Overlook Park. But if youve got small ones that want to play on a flat, rocky beach, then Comal Park has your name on it.
If you are part explorer, part science nerd, and part history buff, then you need to check out the Canyon Lake Gorge. For some grub, head to Franks Bait & Tacos.
Fredericksburg, TX
Ah Bavaria! Its beautiful, its German, and its about 5,000 miles away. Lucky for us, settlers brought Germany to Texas and named it Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg, TX is a culture clash between boots and lederhosen. It isnt uncommon to see trailers full of cows traveling through downtown and being hauled by German-speaking man wearing a cowboy hat. Seriously! Go see for yourself.
Downtown Fredericksburg is a collection of shops offering just about everything you can imagine. From lady-friendly candles (Circle E Candles) and home accessories, to man-friendly beer and brats (Fredericksburg Brewing Company) and brats. If you are looking for the full German food experience, look no further than The Auslander, an authentic German restaurant in the heart of town.
One thing you cant miss when visiting is the National Museum of the Pacific War. Believe it or not, the national museum commemorating the Pacific combat of WWII is in Fredericksburg. The museum has complete war machines, like a B-12 bomber, tanks, and a Japanese pygmy submarines.
For outdoor-minded folks, head north of town to Enchanted Rock, a stunning pink granite dome rising out of the Texas hill country.
Llano, TX
Llano is the little hill country town that rocks literally. Check it out!
This charming little Texas town sits on the Llano River. Its the the county seat of Llano County. And sits atop the Llano Uplift. See a theme here?
The Llano Uplift is a peculiar rock formation created when granite pushed its way to the surface exposing rocks all around Llano. The most impressive example is Enchanted Rock in South Llano County. The uplift also kicked up tons of rare earth minerals that are scattered all over the county. There is even a type of granite called Llanite that can only be found in Llano County. To learn more about Llanos rock culture and be pointed in the right direction for your own rock hunt, check out Enchanted Rocks and Jewelry on Llanos square.
For the historic side of Llano, drive across Roy Inks Bridge and take a tour of the old Red Top Jail, built in 1895 with its original hanging gallows still inside. Also check out the Dabs Hotel (a stop for Bonnie & Clyde), the Llano Courthouse, the Historic Railyard District, and the LanTex Theater, a classic theater still showing current movies. For something creepy, you can always head to Baby Head Cemetery up Highway 16 from Llano.
All this touring will surely stir up an appetite. For what many consider the best BB-Q in Texas, head to Coopers Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que and choose your meat straight from the outdoor pit. Dont miss the house pecan cobbler. Another great BBQ spot is Inmans Kitchen serving its famous and one-of-a-kind turkey sausage. For lighter fare and a cup of joe, head to Fuel Coffee House, a nonprofit coffeehouse that also serves up free burgers on Sunday evenings.
If you are around town in the winter, you might also get a chance to see wild Bald Eagles that migrate to Llano in the winter to build nests and have babies. For the past couple years, the nest has been just off Highway 29 between Burnet and Llano. Look for the TXDOT pull-off.
You can read my column about Llano from Texas Highways HERE.
For information about Lake Buchanan visit our Burnet, TX page CLICK HERE.
