Share The Article
What comes to mind when you think of Texas? If you’re envisioning how Hollywood presents the Lone Star State, film and television have largely come up short.
There’s more than meets the eye than Friday night lights, hootin’ hollerin’ rodeos, and John Deere tractors working open fields.
Of course, legend has it ‘everything is bigger in Texas’, and while that certainly holds true to unavoidable oversized pickup trucks and old-school toxic masculinity egos, visitors should take advantage of fish bowl margaritas, humungous Tex-Mex platters, and the beating heart of Texas — it’s sprawl of delightful small towns, each with a unique flavor and story to tell.
In fact, Texas may come across one-sided culturally, but that couldn’t be further from the truth with cities deeply ingrained in Mexican heritage, such as San Antonio and El Paso, breaking tourism records.
Believe it or not, the ‘number one’ city in Texas actually offers more German flare than Mexican culture and it’s gleaming with inviting emerald rivers and down-home charm smack dab between Austin and San Antonio for easy access.
Dam Right! New Braunfels Is Texas’ Number One’ City
The Texas Travel Awards are a year behind, awarding different destinations each year for the winner to revel in the distinction of being crowned the top city for a full year.
We’re roughly 4 months into 2025, but the Texas Travel Awards will name the 2025 winner toward the end of the year.
New Braunfels was awarded the title of Destination of the Year for 2024, a small, historic town hugging the jade-ribboned Guadalupe River that Texans from all across the state love to visit, including myself.
As a born and raised Texan, New Braunfels was our go-to family vacation spot to appease my parent’s need to escape ‘Keep up the Jones’s’ mindset of the Dallas ‘burbs all while keeping my sisters and I entertained at the Schlitterbahn water park, tubing the Guadalupe, and hopping aboard the still-ingrained memory of glass-bottom boat tours in nearby San Marcos.
Decades later, New Braunfels still meets the mark and then some as this delightful town has grown tremendously both literally and figuratively, whether it be more travelers discovering the timeless charm of Gruene, the always-fun river adventures and festivals celebrating German heritage, and of course, the newfound craze of Buc-ee’s, the world’s favorite beaver-themed gas station — a destination in its own right.
New Braunfels’ Rustic Village & German Delights
The first time 21-year old me pretended to be boujee and sophisticated was in downtown New Braunfels, taking my (ex) girlfriend to a fancy shmancy wine bar with a dim-lit dining room and jazz soundtrack on repeat.
That scene is certainly there if that’s your jam, but New Braunfels offers so much more than overpriced wine in a tacky setting that doesn’t fit the town’s overall vibe.
New Braunfels is more of a beer drinkin’ town and there’s no better starting point than Gruene, a real-life postcard and the closest thing Texas has to a time machine.
Gruene (pronounced like the color) has stood the test of time since the 1840’s when German settlers founded this blip on the map.
Nowadays, visitors can enjoy a General Store, the famous Gruene Hall which has hosted musical acts such as George Strait, numerous rustic boutiques, and my personal favorite, The Gristmill restaurant, set atop the flowing Guadalupe with great views and even better margaritas.
Even if you’re simply passing through from Austin to San Antonio or vice versa, don’t just stop at Buc-ee’s; make time for Gruene too.
But one event you should definitely keep in mind is Wurstfest, celebrating New Braunfel’s German heritage.
Oktoberfests are cool and all, but Wurstfest feels more local than some cheesy German-themed tourist traps you find elsewhere.
The next Wurstfest won’t take place until November 2025, but well worth the wait.
Astounding Nature: Emerald Rivers & The ‘Maldives’ Of Texas
Despite Austin has transforming into Dallas 2.0 in recent years, New Braunfels has long been an idyllic haven to escape the city grind with scenic emerald rivers winding through the sprawling Texas Hill Country.
While it’s a common spring break getaway for cheap-o college students who couldn’t afford gas money to Florida, we’re late enough into spring now to avoid the most rowdy crowds with “woo!” girls and blaring speakers.
Tubing the Guadalupe is for all ages and one of my favorite memories of family vacations growing up, but equally memorable from my college days too — well, at least with the functional brain cells I have left.
Texas Tubes is New Braunfel’s top-rated tube rental company on Google and even offers free parking!
For even more breathtaking waters, nearby Canyon Lake has been dubbed the ‘Maldives’ of Texas. The lake water is so pristine, it went viral on social media a few years ago.
There are multiple resorts overlooking Canyon Lake for those wanting to make this surprising Texas oasis as their base, but New Braunfels also offers numerous charming inns, including some with German roots like Sophie’s Gasthaus or if you’re making a day trip from San Antonio, opt for a stay in one of my favorite hotels, the century-old Crockett Hotel — and don’t forget to grab your free cocktail!
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Please visit:
Our Sponsor