This summer, we took a mini vacation to the Texas Hill Country! We roadtripped to New Braunfels/Gruene for two nights of relaxing fun, and it was just what we needed to take a break from our busy work schedules. From water parks to hidden caverns to dance halls, there are so many fun things to do in New Braunfels.

Here’s how to spend a perfect week in New Braunfels, TX.

 

Things To Do in Gruene, TX

 

Check in to a charming B&B.

There are tons of historic hotels, condos, and Air BnBs located within walking distance of fun shops and restaurants in Gruene and New Braunfels. One of the local favorites is Gruene Mansion Inn, a beautiful historic home built in 1872 in the very heart of Gruene. After setting your bags down in one of the 30 charming rooms, you can two step your way over to one of Gruene’s famous restaurants and leave your car in the parking lot for good. If you’re in the mood to relax, pull up a rocking chair on the back porch and enjoy peaceful riverside views.

For our short trip, we stayed in the Gruene Gusthaus, a spacious studio Air BnB located in the Gruene Lake Village shopping center. Lot’s of unique local shops and tasty restaurants were right downstairs, and the whole area was decorated with twinkling string lights that made a lovely view from our window. Our host even left us a bag of caramel and chocolate popcorn from a shop across the street as a gift!

 

Float on the Comal.

If you’ve decided to visit New Braunfels, you probably already have floating on your to-do list. But just in case you haven’t heard of this Texas town, let me tell you about its claim to fame: The Comal River! You can rent a tube or bring your own, and you can even bring a picnic and some drinks and let them float beside you in an ice chest. Floating the whole river lasts about 2 to 4 hours.

 

Shop ’til you drop in historic Gruene.

Take a stroll through the local shops in the historic district of Gruene. There are lots of places to snag unique souvenirs and tasty snacks. Travel back in time and indulge in some homemade fudge, flavored peanut butter, or soda shop ice cream at the Gruene General Store. Hunt for hidden treasures at Gruene Antique Company. Find a favorite Texas souvenir at The Gruene Haus.

 

Grab some grub at Gruene River Grill.

This restaurant won our hearts with its warm atmosphere and kept us head over heels with its delicious food. Gruene River Grill offers southern comforts, seafood, and Tex-Mex and delivers them with an equal measure of success. The exposed brick walls, wooden beams, towering bookshelves, and warm yellow lighting reminded us nerds of Hogwarts castle a little bit.

Some of our favorite menu items from this trip and previous visits with our family included the Peach Bellini, the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, the Jalapeno Glazed Shrimp Brochettes, the Pan Seared Redfish, the Grilled Chicken Piccata, and the Chicken Fried Steak. The BEST dish in my opinion is on the dessert menu: Southern comfort in the form of their Blackberry Cobbler.

 

Dance the night away at Gruene Hall.

Have you ever wanted to boot scoot across the floor of the oldest dance hall in Texas? Gruene Hall opened in 1878 and it has been delighting visitors from all over the state ever since. With live entertainment seven nights per week plus Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there is always time to catch a show. Ticket prices range from free to around $25, with lots of budget friendly options in between.

 

Things To Do in New Braunfels, Texas

 

Eat your weight in pastries at Nagelin’s.

New Braunfels is home to the oldest bakery in Texas, serving up scrumptious baked goodies since 1868 and still operating today. Nagelin’s is located right off the town square and has a HUGE selection of baked goodies. My favorite treat by far was the apple strudel! I could have honestly eaten several of them back to back it was so good. Austin also really enjoyed his giant cinnamon roll, which was practically the size of his head!

 

Explore history on the New Braunfels Town Square.

Whether you need some caffeine to fuel your river adventures from New Braunfels Coffee, a cool souvenir, or a pint of German beer, you can do it all in the New Braunfels Town Square. Many of the beautiful buildings you’ll pass have been standing for generations, and some even feature elaborate murals of the town’s history. The whole area has a charming European vibe, and it’s nice just to walk around and explore.

 

Slip and Slide at Schlitterbahn

If you want to experience the thrill of rapids with the safety of water park staff members to help you along the way, splurge on a trip to Schlitterbahn! The park has over 40 unique attractions for all ages, including river rapid rides, wave pools, swim up bars, water slides kid zones, and more. The tickets are a splurge at $50 per person for General Admission or $60 per person for Any-Day Admission. But it’s hard to put a price on this much fun!

The park is split into two halves: West Schiltterbahn (the original location) and East Schlitterbahn (the new addition). Tickets grant visitors access to both parks and the shuttle buses that drive between them daily. Our favorite attraction at the whole park is The Falls at East Schlitterbahn, which claims to be the world’s longest water park ride at 3,600 feet long! We rode it over and over again because it has just the right balance of thrill and chill for us.

 

Go spelunking at the Natural Bridge Caverns.

The Natural Bridge Caverns are a remarkable sight, and I would recommend the tour to anyone! The caves are huge and the stalactites and stalagmites look like a city of intricate architecture you have to see in person to believe. This was seriously one of my favorite things we’ve ever done on vacation!

For tips to know before you go, check out this in-depth article about the caverns.

 

Or drive through the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch safari and feed wild animals.

If you’ve already seen the Natural Bridge Caverns, or you just have some extra time to kill, the drive thru safari on the same property is lots of fun too. There are deer, rams, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and more roaming freely throughout the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, and you can toss them snacks from your car. We particularly enjoyed meeting a group of baby ostriches on our trip!

 

Try authentic German cuisine at Apline Haus.

You can’t visit this hub of German culture without tasting some delicious authentic German food! Alpine Haus is the cutest little restaurant cottage with delicious German fare.

We had a really lovely dinner of Bratwurst, Weal Wiener Schnitzel, and Black Forrest Cake that really hit the spot after a long day in the sun at a water park. We left in a happy food coma and we’ve been recommending this spot to our friends ever since!

 

Enjoy live music and a bowl of famous chili from the Phoenix Saloon.

Just off the main square is the first bar in Texas to serve women, the Phoenix Saloon. It was established in 1871 and according to local lore, it originally housed live alligators and badgers in its beer garden and a parrot at the front door who said “Have you paid your bill?” to each guest in German! The building was utilized as a storefront from the prohibition era until 2010, when it “rose from the ashes” again to become a festive local bar. It also claims to be the birthplace of chili powder, and supports that claim by serving the BEST bowl of chili I’ve ever tasted. Thick, flavorful, bean-free Texas chili with sirloin meat instead of ground beef that will haunt your foodie dreams forever. I’m craving a bowl of it as I write this.

The Phoenix Saloon also constantly has live performers playing music during lunchtime, happy hour, and dinner. So while you toast to the first women in Texas history welcomed into a bar and inhale your delicious bowl of chili, you can also enjoy a free show!

 

Plan your own perfect weekend in New Braunfels, Texas!

We had a blast on our mini getaway to the Texas Hill Country, and we are already daydreaming about the next time we can float along the lazy river at Schlitterbahn or pick up some more pastries from Nagelin’s. If you’re looking for vacation with the perfect balance of fun activities and casual relaxation, New Braunfels is an excellent choice!

For more travel tips and itineraries, check out this page. To see more photos and videos from New Braunfels and the rest of our adventures, follow along on Instagram!