Very well thought out, they have something for everyone. My dog had a blast and my boyfriend…read moreenjoyed fishing. I had a great time looking at all the beautiful rocks and scenery! Colin is a thoughtful owner. Cute family and dog friendly place!

This is the best Texas Hill country getaway I've ever been to. It offers anything you would ever…read morewant for everyone in the family. We like to tent camp on the river, they have the glamping set ups that are great for the kids, my in-laws stayed in a rental cabin along the river and also rented a RV spot with full hook up. We spent our Central Texas vacation with all of our family on the lamp River and went fishing for rainbow trout and bass. We're gonna come back for the tubing adventure when it warms up a bit. The campground hosts are awesome people and made sure our stay was excellent.

I stopped by South Llano State Park on a roadtrip I took last year. What drew me to this park was…read morethe promise of enjoying the clear water in the river. When I went, it was near the end of day, but the park rangers still admitted me in as the park's gate doesn't close until 10pm. There didn't seem to be many people that day, though I believe it was because I went in the middle of July in very warm temps. However, I was rewarded by the cold and refreshing South Llano River which I enjoyed mostly by myself. Standing in the river near the shore, small fish came up to my feet and ankles and started feeding off of my dead skin. It felt like I was getting a pedicure, except in a natural environment. There were a few places to access the river and plenty of parking around. I saw that they had several miles of trails to explore though I didn't get the chance to hike any of them. It is important to consider that the park is susceptible to flooding as its on low ground, so time your visit accordingly. Personally, I really enjoyed this park and I hope to be able to return during the cooler months to see stars in the dark sky!

This is one of my top three favorite state parks because it was so quiet which allowed for full…read morerelaxation. The trails are well kept and I appreciated being able to do some birdwatching because they have designated areas for this. Additionally the river adds another perk to the park, you can go tubing, fishing, swim, etc. As far as the staff members, overall everybody was nice during check-in but on the night that there was a cold front and hail storm I was seeking help and no one was to be found. The hosts were off duty, the ranger we asked for help at the front that was sitting in his truck was dismissive, and the operator didn't answer. The good thing was that the park is about 15 minutes from the nearby town so I was able to get help there but in a case of emergency, I think somebody should be accessible. Overall, I really love the park. The sites good but beware of the cacti! Depending on which site you select, you may have more or less room for tents in the grassy area. I recommended the sites in the 40s for larger groups. Go to the observatory if you can, the hike is worth the beautiful view! Oh also there's plethora of animals! On this trip I saw deer, a roadrunner, a hog, armadillos, canaries, and hummingbirds.

This is a wonderful place to bring our dogs for a long walk. Very wide, paved paths. Some trees to…read moreprovide shade. A river runs through it (well, it's a stream anyway), and there are dozens of deer just yards away. A great way to get outdoors and enjoy nature, while getting exercise with our Labradors. If you're in the area, give this park a visit.

We have been searching for a fun, multi-purpose park to spend the day outdoors. Louise Hays Park…read morehas everything from miles of bike / walking paths and many amenities for all ages. We had a great time walking next to the Guadalupe River which loops around for miles. Shady areas under the canopy of the trees and lots of picnic areas inside the park. Fishing seems very popular at the park, and you can see the trout swimming around. We walked for 8 miles on Easter Sunday, and the walking paths never seemed crowded. We shared the paths with other walkers, joggers ,runners, and bikes on the path too.

We had come to this park once before because we had gone to the museum up the way but we came again…read moreto explore more of it. Walking down to the water was much easier from the other side. There are tons of little stacks of rocks, art and other things. It's very calm and peaceful. If we had more time we would have gone up the way but we wanted to see more of the area this time. Parking was easy and next to lots of other businesses. The only downside was the gross bathroom. I wish they'd take more time to make sure they're clean. Otherwise I'll be back again to see more.

Perfect mix of wooooow, yaaaaay, and weeeeee. BOY am I glad we stopped here. We were headed…read moresomewhere else entirely and I told the kids, "Change of plans - let's check this place out!" I'll bet we ended up staying for at least two hours. The funky and eclectic outdoor art was an unexpected surprise for sure, and it was cool! Love it when cities and towns allow and promote stuff like this. The rocks and water were our main highlight, as we explored and rock-hopped all over the place. Had it been warmer, we would have taken off shoes and waded across to the strip of land in the middle of the river. But the water was freezing and we didn't. :) I've driven by the area when it's warmer / hotter out and it's clearly a popular area for kids of all ages, including teens. The dam and old metal truss bridge add a lot of character to the area. Just a really cool spot overall. There are also a couple of picnic tables and public restrooms (not just port-a-potties) that weren't as filthy as expected. Much to my amazement and satisfaction, I could take my little girl to the men's room and sit her on the toilet without... well, without bailing out completely and finding another toilet! (hahahaha) We'll definitely seek this spot out again.

This was one of the other parks we decided to explore. I really liked the waterfall feature and the…read morelarge pond filled with ducks. They had the park decorated for Christmas and I'm sure looked really pretty at night. It's not a large park so there's not much to look at but it's still a nice little walk. You can swim here and there is also a small museum. Parking was easy.

Such a beautiful park! Great spot to swim, hike, ride your bike, or just sit & enjoy the waterfall…read more They have really gone out of their way to keep up such a gem like this. Go San Saba!

It was a really nice treat to do this short hike on a really cold morning. At the top of the hill…read moreare impressive views of Fredericksburg...great little city. Nice, clean restrooms and adjacent garden with signs of the local plants flora. Cool.

nice little park. Felt spiritual atop the small hill top where the cross is. Looks to be painted…read morerecently. Short semi steep gravel hill that winded up. Great views. My family enjoyed it. Wow so close to town. Lovely time spent. Reflecting and praying.

What a great hidden gem! I don't understand why this was a completely deserted park both times we…read morevisited. This park has numerous trails for walking or biking. The trails are very nice, wide, and beautifully scenic. One of the trails takes you down to the Colorado River where you can swim or play in the water. It seems pretty clean and not a strong current. I want to jump in the next time we are there. There is a ton of spots for camping, and they all have water and electricity. There are bathrooms and playgrounds for the kiddos. So many trees making shade almost covered the entire park. Extremely clean, nice cut grass, and obviously well taken care of. I'm just so confused why no one was in this park? This is an amazing place to camp, bike, and spend the day! The only weird thing was the second time we went the gate to get into the park was closed. We were able to bike into the park from another park next door. Not sure if there is information on the San Saba website or not. Also, not sure if camping is free or not. We didn't see any signs. If you plan to camp you might want to do a little research first, but I couldn't recommend Risien Park any more.

This was the final park we went to explore but compared to the other two parks this one was a bit…read moreunderwhelming. There was a play area, picnic tables, and a shaded area. There wasn't much reason to get out and explore anymore. It's great for kids and picnics but not enough for us to stay longer.

We wanted to explore San Saba and found this park. I liked this one. Not only are the paths all…read morepaved, but they also go around a historic landmark with a water feature. The deep blue water is so pretty and this park is quite nice for photography. There's even a bird-watching box. The parking lot is a bit small but we went there in the morning and it was pretty easy. The bathrooms are clean as well. There are a few other parks nearby as well.

We came from Dallas to visit Colorado Bend State Park, but unfortunately the State park was closed…read morefor .... Hunting?.... Anyways we turned around and we stopped at this random tiny convenience store along the way to ask if there were other trails close by. The woman told us to go to San Saba for a nature trail. I thank that woman, it was the cutest hidden trail! It looks brand new, very spacious and clean. It is a very short trail - 3/4th of a mile, so we went around several times to make the trip worth it. This is a concrete trail, no natural trails. Very family friendly! Very worth it for the area we were around and the time of the day (almost sundown at that point). We won't ever come back to this area of Texas but it'll be a nice memory that I will have in my heart for the rest of my life!

Absolutely gorgeous park! I went here for some vitamin D and quickly fell in love with the place…read more The butterfly sanctuary was blissfully peaceful. Butterflies floating and gliding all around me with a good book was precisely what I needed. Later, I headed down one of the paths and came to an area with a big beautiful bird feeder set up in a shaded, tucked away area and a lady asked me if I would like to help fill the feeder. I was honored. She explained she was with Friends of Fredericksburg and they are often out there restocking the feeders for their feathery friends. She mentioned their website and I can't wait to research more about them and their events. I will have to venture back that way soon to check out more of the trails and scenery.

Park is nice but be careful where you walk - our dog ended up with his paws full of burs!read more

The Japanese Garden of Peace is located at the National Museum of the Pacific War and was gifted by…read moreJapan in 1976. It's an extremely zen and tranquil space that brought us such harmony on our visit. It's as though you're able to breathe and relax without a care in the world whilst walking this lovely oasis. Everything is meticulous from the koi pond to the raked gravel. The grounds seem to have brought us so much peace and balance as we took it all in. If visiting Fredericksburg, it's a must-see. Bonus: No admission. Free to enter.

This elegant and well crafted garden area hides behind a high stone wall. Access to this garden is…read moreon Washington Street, however, keep in mind it closes at 5 PM. It is beautifully sculpted and even has a tea room on display. This garden is tied in to the National Museum of the Pacific War. There is no entry fee to the garden.