New Braunfels

New Braunfels is a resort town in the Texas Hill Country.

New Braunfels is usually considered a vacation destination. While it has no university of its own, it has a distinct college town feel, probably due to the huge numbers of students from universities in nearby San Antonio and San Marcos. As the name implies, it has a German heritage, and many of the local attractions capitalize on this. Most of the town's revenue comes from tourism drawn by the incredible rivers, including the Comal River, which is the world's shortest, entirely located within the city limits.

New Braunfels is also the home of several other smaller "towns" within the city. One of these "towns" is Gruene, TX, home of the Gristmill Restaurant and Gruene Hall.

As elsewhere in the region, English and Spanish are the primary languages. But if you're lucky, you might overhear the odd conversation in Texas German, a dialect brought here by 19th-century immigrants that's still today spoken by a few hundred New Braunfelsians. If you're keen on encountering the Texas German language in the wild, it's best to gravitate toward places where older people congregate, such as bowling alleys, hardware and feed stores, and the like.

The Comal and Guadalupe rivers offer beautiful sights.

A historic district. Visiting this little "town" situated along the Guadalupe River is like stepping back in time. Antique shops, restaurants, and niche retail stores make for unique shopping.

• Gruene Hall. The oldest continually operated dance hall in Texas.
• Lone Star Music. A Texas Music retail store which was started on the Internet by award winning entrepreneur Chad Raney and grew into a bricks and mortar retail location.
• Gruene General Store, 1610 Hunter Road, +1 830-629-6021. The General Store has an ice cream bar; dozens of different salsas, jams, and butters; t-shirts; and lots of miscellaneous toys and gifts, all right across the street from Gruene Hall.

Gruene Hall. The oldest continually operated dance hall in Texas.

Lone Star Music. A Texas Music retail store which was started on the Internet by award winning entrepreneur Chad Raney and grew into a bricks and mortar retail location.

Gruene General Store, 1610 Hunter Road, +1 830-629-6021. The General Store has an ice cream bar; dozens of different salsas, jams, and butters; t-shirts; and lots of miscellaneous toys and gifts, all right across the street from Gruene Hall.

• Schlitterbahn, +1 830-625-2351. Consistently called the best waterpark in the world. Complete with four parks, and the highest rated water ride in the country, this waterpark is an ideal tourist spot. See web site for various ticket prices, reserve rooms early to ensure availability.

Schlitterbahn, +1 830-625-2351. Consistently called the best waterpark in the world. Complete with four parks, and the highest rated water ride in the country, this waterpark is an ideal tourist spot. See web site for various ticket prices, reserve rooms early to ensure availability.

This seems to be what the Comal river was created for. People rent an innertube, hop in the water, and float a few miles down the river. The services of a tubing shuttle are often employed to get from the end back to the insertion point, but because of loops in the river it's a very short walk. Note a recent ordinance prohibits carrying coolers with a capacity over 16 quarts on the river in city limits, and consumption or carrying an open container of an alcoholic drink in city parks.

• City Tube Rental, Liberty Ave. (Liberty, between Common and South. Run by the city of New Braunfels. Tube rental also has a $10 deposit, returned when you return the tubes - you are asked to write your name on the receipt, which is kept on file for the day, and your deposit is returned when you provide the rented tubes and name on the receipt. Parking: $7/vehicle, Admission: $5 (not required for tubing), Shuttle: $10/trip, Tube rental: $7 (plus $10 deposit).
• Felger's Tube Rental, Liberty Ave. (Liberty, between Common and South. Offers tubes, shuttles, and parking.

City Tube Rental, Liberty Ave. (Liberty, between Common and South. Run by the city of New Braunfels. Tube rental also has a $10 deposit, returned when you return the tubes - you are asked to write your name on the receipt, which is kept on file for the day, and your deposit is returned when you provide the rented tubes and name on the receipt. Parking: $7/vehicle, Admission: $5 (not required for tubing), Shuttle: $10/trip, Tube rental: $7 (plus $10 deposit).

Felger's Tube Rental, Liberty Ave. (Liberty, between Common and South. Offers tubes, shuttles, and parking.

• New Braunfels Folkfest, 1370 Church Hill Dr. Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage festival celebrating the German/Anglo/Spanish heritage of New Braunfels. Most activities take place at the Heritage Village, but there is a costumed children's parade (the Kindermaskenball Parade) that takes place in Downtown New Braunfels. This is generally held the second week of April, but check the website for more details
• Comal County Fair, Fair Park - Common Street and the Guadalupe River, +1 830-625-1505. The Comal County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in Texas and is generally held the last week of September. The Friday during the Fair is a local holiday with a downtown parade and other activities Generally $3 for Adults, Children free.
• Wurstfest. German for "sausage festival", is held for ten days, beginning the Friday before the first Monday in November. Concessions are found throughout the grounds. Activities celebrating the German heritage take place throughout New Braunfels during Wurstfest (Heritage Exhibit) Admission: $8/person.

New Braunfels Folkfest, 1370 Church Hill Dr. Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage festival celebrating the German/Anglo/Spanish heritage of New Braunfels. Most activities take place at the Heritage Village, but there is a costumed children's parade (the Kindermaskenball Parade) that takes place in Downtown New Braunfels. This is generally held the second week of April, but check the website for more details

Comal County Fair, Fair Park - Common Street and the Guadalupe River, +1 830-625-1505. The Comal County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in Texas and is generally held the last week of September. The Friday during the Fair is a local holiday with a downtown parade and other activities Generally $3 for Adults, Children free.

Wurstfest. German for "sausage festival", is held for ten days, beginning the Friday before the first Monday in November. Concessions are found throughout the grounds. Activities celebrating the German heritage take place throughout New Braunfels during Wurstfest (Heritage Exhibit) Admission: $8/person.

• Landa Park, +1 830-221-4350. A large park along the Comal river. It has lots of trails and open spaces, but is not very secluded. Landa Park also has new and improved playground equipment!
• Panther Canyon Nature Trail, Near 350 Aquatic Circle (in Landa Park, +1 830-221-4350. Panther Canyon Nature Trail is a 51 acre wilderness area at the western edge of Landa Park that is excellent for hiking, geocaching, etc.
• Fair Park, Common Street @ the Guadalupe River. On the Gaudalupe. This park also serves as auxiliary parking for Schlitterbahn during the summer months.
• Cypress Bend Park. On the Guadalupe

Landa Park, +1 830-221-4350. A large park along the Comal river. It has lots of trails and open spaces, but is not very secluded. Landa Park also has new and improved playground equipment!

Panther Canyon Nature Trail, Near 350 Aquatic Circle (in Landa Park, +1 830-221-4350. Panther Canyon Nature Trail is a 51 acre wilderness area at the western edge of Landa Park that is excellent for hiking, geocaching, etc.

Fair Park, Common Street @ the Guadalupe River. On the Gaudalupe. This park also serves as auxiliary parking for Schlitterbahn during the summer months.

Cypress Bend Park. On the Guadalupe

• Natural Bridge Caverns, 26495 Natural Bridge Cavern Rd, +1 210-651-6101. Series of underground caverns west of New Braunfels. From $9.95 to $99.95.

Natural Bridge Caverns, 26495 Natural Bridge Cavern Rd, +1 210-651-6101. Series of underground caverns west of New Braunfels. From $9.95 to $99.95.

• Old Gruene Market Days. A variety of stores in the historic Gruene district of New Braunfels, including a winery, hand-made furniture, and arts/crafts
• Historic New Braunfels Downtown. A large variety of shops along the streets.
• San Marcos Outlet Mall, IH-35 (About 15 min north on IH-35.

Old Gruene Market Days. A variety of stores in the historic Gruene district of New Braunfels, including a winery, hand-made furniture, and arts/crafts

Historic New Braunfels Downtown. A large variety of shops along the streets.

San Marcos Outlet Mall, IH-35 (About 15 min north on IH-35.

• Granzin's Meat Market, 1644 McQueeney Rd (off of IH-35 behind Bluebonnet Motors, +1 830-625-3510. Granzin's has the best and freshest meat for the cheapest price in New Braunfels. If you're planning a bar-b-q while in New Braunfels, Granzin's is the best place to go.
• Naegelin's Bakery, 129 South Seguin (historic downtown, +1 830-625-5722. Naegelin's has been selling baked goods for over 140 years! The gingerbread men, apple struedel and sugar cookies are excellent.
• Gristmill Restaurant, 1287 Gruene Rd. (in historic Gruene, +1 830-625-0684. Alongside the river, Gristmill's large country atmosphere serves up excellent food. It's often a long wait on weekends and predominantly tourist. $20.
• Huisache Grill, 303 W. San Antonio St. (historic downtown, +1 830-620-9001. 11AM-10PM. An intimate and casual restaurant serving creative contemporary cuisine with fresh regional ingredients. $15.
• Pat's Place, 202 S. Union St. (Union at South, right by Prince Solms Park, +1 830-629-1491. Caters to tubing groups. Proper attire is of course required by law (that is, shirts and shoes), but they take to-go orders. Their burgers are great, and they have a variety of local beer.
• Clear Springs Texas Seafood, 1692 S. SH-46 (SH-46 just north of IH-35, +1 830-629-3775. Known for its fried catfish. Amazing country atmosphere.

Granzin's Meat Market, 1644 McQueeney Rd (off of IH-35 behind Bluebonnet Motors, +1 830-625-3510. Granzin's has the best and freshest meat for the cheapest price in New Braunfels. If you're planning a bar-b-q while in New Braunfels, Granzin's is the best place to go.

Naegelin's Bakery, 129 South Seguin (historic downtown, +1 830-625-5722. Naegelin's has been selling baked goods for over 140 years! The gingerbread men, apple struedel and sugar cookies are excellent.

Gristmill Restaurant, 1287 Gruene Rd. (in historic Gruene, +1 830-625-0684. Alongside the river, Gristmill's large country atmosphere serves up excellent food. It's often a long wait on weekends and predominantly tourist. $20.

Huisache Grill, 303 W. San Antonio St. (historic downtown, +1 830-620-9001. 11AM-10PM. An intimate and casual restaurant serving creative contemporary cuisine with fresh regional ingredients. $15.

Pat's Place, 202 S. Union St. (Union at South, right by Prince Solms Park, +1 830-629-1491. Caters to tubing groups. Proper attire is of course required by law (that is, shirts and shoes), but they take to-go orders. Their burgers are great, and they have a variety of local beer.

Clear Springs Texas Seafood, 1692 S. SH-46 (SH-46 just north of IH-35, +1 830-629-3775. Known for its fried catfish. Amazing country atmosphere.

• The Faust Brewing Company, 240 S. Segun Ave., +1 830-625-7791. One of several microbreweries.
• Pat's Place, 202 S. Union St. (Union at South, right by Prince Solms Park, +1 830-629-1491. Has a full bar with several Texas beers.
• The Oyster Bar, 203 S. Seguin Ave. (1/2 block south of the square, +1 830-627-7766. Known as the "OB" to locals, this bar has a full bar with a fun atmosphere.

The Faust Brewing Company, 240 S. Segun Ave., +1 830-625-7791. One of several microbreweries.

Pat's Place, 202 S. Union St. (Union at South, right by Prince Solms Park, +1 830-629-1491. Has a full bar with several Texas beers.

The Oyster Bar, 203 S. Seguin Ave. (1/2 block south of the square, +1 830-627-7766. Known as the "OB" to locals, this bar has a full bar with a fun atmosphere.

• San Antonio is a nearby city with a lot of history and attractions.
• San Marcos - 18 miles northeast of New Braunfels, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops, as well as stretches of river in a more natural state.
• Austin is the capital of Texas, has endless quirks and is definitely worth a visit.

[[San Antonio]] is a nearby city with a lot of history and attractions.

[[San Marcos (Texas)|San Marcos]] - 18 miles northeast of New Braunfels, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops, as well as stretches of river in a more natural state.

[[Austin]] is the capital of [[Texas]], has endless quirks and is definitely worth a visit.