Central Hill Country

Cities

• Austin, Texas' state capital, lies on the eastern edge of the region.
• Bee Cave
• Blanco
• Burnet , Nestled at the edge of the spectacular Texas Hill Country about 50 miles northwest of Austin, in the Highland Lakes.
• Cedar Park
• Comfort
• Driftwood
• Dripping Springs
• Fredericksburg - The heart of the German country.
• Harker Heights
• Kerrville - Home of one of the country's largest folk festivals.
• Killeen
• Kyle
• Lakeway - An affluent suburb of Austin.
• Llano
• Luckenbach - Small town with a rich musical heritage.
• New Braunfels - This town is best known for its German culture and heritage, not to mention the Schlitterbahn, persistent in being voted the world's best waterpark.
• Pflugerville
• Round Rock
• San Marcos - A popular riverside destination, this town is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, as well as two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops.
• San Saba
• Stonewall
• Wimberley

Other destinations

• Blanco State Park , near Blanco, +1 830 833 4333.
• Colorado Bend , +1 325 628 3240. Features the beautiful Gorman Falls.
• Enchanted Rock , 16710 Ranch Road 965, near Fredericksburg, +1 830 685 3636. Extremely popular hiking spot, easily a day-trip from Austin. The park centers on a large 425-foot pink granite dome which rises above the surrounding landscape.
• Guadalupe River State Park , +1 830 438 2656.
• Inks Lake , near Burnet, +1 512 793 2223. A manmade lake dating from the 1930s which offers fantastic boating, canoeing, and fishing.
• Longhorn Cavern , near Burnet, +1 830 598 8829. Cool cave with a 1-1/4 mile tour.
• Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park , near Stonewall, +1 830 644 2252. Includes the ranch and one-room schoolhouse from the former president's youth, as well as the Sauer-Beckman Living Farm, which recreates Hill Country farm life as it was at the turn of the century.
• McKinney Falls , 5808 Mckinney Falls Parkway, +1 512 243 1643. 13 miles south of Austin.
• Pedernales Falls , 2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, +1 830 868-7304. Offers picnicking, camping, hiking, swimming, tubing, fishing, and bird watching.

Stay safe

The two major health hazards for visitors to the German Hill Country both involve water, too much of it and too little of it. Flash floods can cover roads with up to 10 feet of water during especially severe thunderstorms. Low spots are signed to indicate the depth of water over the road. Never drive into running water. Every year some motorists die because they drive into a flood.

In the summer, be sure to stay hydrated. The most severe effects of dehydration usually hit those in the best athletic condition. Remember to drink cool, not ice-cold water regularly, and to protect against the sun.