Places

Cowboys and cowgirls desiring to look their best proudly accentuate their outfits with shiny buckles. In Bandera, “The Cowboy Capital of the World,” Hyo Silver accommodates sharp dressers not only with buckles but also with distinctive pieces of jewelry to make eye-catching fashion statements. The boutique is now making its own fashion statement in a beautifully-restored historic structure in the center of town that’s been home to numerous enterprises including Bandera’s first bank. ...

What a year this has been! And we are just now half-way through it. With all the craziness – COVID-19, protests, fires, elections, and more, I’m more than ready for life to return to some level of normal. Thankfully, summer is upon us and with all the recent rains, we have lush, green landscapes to enjoy after the last couple of months of lockdown due to the Corona virus.

The American spirit is difficult to break. Heck, some might say it’s downright impossible! The past many months have no doubt been a trying time for not just us Americans, but for the entire world with the Covid 19 Pandemic. Despite our lives being so deeply affected in many ways, we have persisted.

You are newlyweds but can’t afford a honeymoon on Italy’s Isle of Capri. Where do you go? You have a long holiday weekend and want to take the family someplace impressive. Where do you go? You’re new to Central Texas and want to learn all you can about it. Where do you go? The answer to all these questions is the Texas Hill Country Trail that winds around 19 counties full of scenic beauty, small-town charm, and historic sites. “Green hills roll like waves to the horizon.

Getting married is a symbol of love and what better place to get married than one founded and built and maintained on love. Texas Old Town, near the city of Kyle, is just down the road from the city of Austin but when you are here you will feel like you are way out in the country or that you’ve stepped back in time. The four wedding venues on the 55 acres here are surrounded by grass and trees and flowers, some are near quaint waterfalls and creeks, and each building is handcrafted of w ...

People ask you why you fish for crappies. I mean, what’s the deal? They don’t yank down your scales like a big yellow cat. They don’t strip your reel like a striped bass. They don’t explode the surface like a lunker largemouth. And I’ll bet you haven’t read any Hemingway novels about The Old Man and the Crappie.

Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau managers never stop working to promote their areas of the Hill Country. But planning for, and announcing specific future plans, may be challenging and difficult during these unusual Covid-19 times. In adapting to circumstances, some CoC and CVB managers are shifting their marketing strategy and focus -- and they are optimistic about opening up public events and activities, in accordance with guidelines or state government regulations. U ...

Envision saying “I do” surrounded by your loved ones while overlooking 32 acres of vines. With beauty that transcends the seasons, The Vineyard at Florence offers the perfect setting for your fairytale wedding. Celebrate your love with an Italian feast and dance the night away in Ella Amore, a Tuscan-inspired celebration villa.

Looming large on Brady’s iconic courthouse square is a hidden gem. Passing by the three-story brick building on the northwest corner, one might not give it a second glance. However, nestled inside the almost 100-year-old Hotel Brady is the emerging Trucountry Inn – a vintage boutique respite with Western-themed suites and rooms, an elegant ballroom and a fun, sometimes lively saloon. While finishing touches are still being made inside and outside, beaming owner Heather Myles tips her ...

Want to take a trip back in time? Want to stop the cattle rustlers? Want to star in a Western movie? You can do it every weekend right here in the Hill Country. The good guys with guns in their hands may be you or your family and friends. The bad guys are steel targets.