I enjoyed visiting Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, although part of the experience…read morewas limited because the Texas White House was closed for renovations during my visit. It was disappointing not to be able to tour one of the site's main attractions, but there was still plenty to see and enjoy. One of the highlights was driving through the grounds and surrounding area. The route was scenic and offered a nice look at the Texas Hill Country. We also saw lots of cows along the way, which added to the charm and made the drive feel like a genuine Texas experience. Even without access to the Texas White House, I found the site worth visiting. The combination of history, open landscapes, and the relaxed driving tour made for an enjoyable stop. I would recommend it, though visitors should check ahead to see whether any areas are closed for renovation.

The park protects the birthplace, home, ranch, and grave of Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th president of…read morethe United States. During Johnson's administration, the LBJ Ranch was known as the Texas White House because the President spent approximately 20% of his time in office there. Johnson donated the ranch in his will to the public to form the park, with the provision that it "remain a working ranch." You can see his birthplace home, school house, the cemetary where he and his family are buried, the show stables, his prized Hereford cows, and even his downsized "Airforce one-Half" Across the street at the state park you can see the home and building of the Johnson's neighbors, the Sauer--Beckmanns in the living history farm area. There is also a bison herd and longhorns on the property.

While it was a bummer that the Texas White House is currently closed for renovations, exploring the…read morerest of the LBJ Ranch was an incredible experience. We spent some time driving the grounds, visiting the family cemetery, and getting up close to 'Air Force One-Half.' If you're looking to get your National Parks passport stamped, head over to the Junction School House or the visitor center in Johnson City! Definitely planning a return trip once the renovations are complete

I'm not really a history buff, but I do like exploring museums. LBJ was president while I was…read moreyoung, so I do remember him. He did several things as president that had a great influence on our country today. His childhood home is also on the grounds if you're interested. The LBJ ranch is just outside of town, but we didn't have time to make it out there. His presidential airplane is out on the ranch. It's interesting if you're into that kind of thing. Check it out!

My wife and I stopped in and met "Joe"…read more Great guy with a plethora of information. He was very helpful and gave us so many things to do. We took a tour around the lake and then headed over to a place called "Gios" Italian in Llano. So much fun. Thanks "Joe" Definitely added to our trip

Be sure to check out the Lake Buchanan/Inks Lake Chamber of Commerce when you're in the area. They…read morehave numerous brochures and great ideas of things to do in the area.

The tour guide was nice and seemed passionate about the history. There was a lot of things to look…read moreat and I learned quite a bit!

Hidden gem!! If you haven't been here yet, I highly recommend it! So much useful information about…read morethe local area and surrounding areas! Staff are amazing, going above and beyond to help with any inquiries. Everything there is free (tons of brochures and travel guides!)

My brother in law (BIL) will be visiting us in Texas from Chicago for the summer starting in June…read more I was supposed to return to work after vacation on Tuesday, but I am too jetlagged for intensive work. Thus, I will not be starting back to work until next Monday. I have some time this week to recover and do a little scouting for things to do for my BIL. We have taken my BIL to most popular spots in Austin, however, we were looking for some new things to do. Thus, I headed to the Austin Visitors Center located on 5th Street near Congress. Let me be the first to say that the Austin Visitor Center has completed changed since I was there last. The last time I visited they were giving out maps, bluebonnet seeds and other trinkets. It is a full-on operation now...y'all! The Austin Visitor center has transformed into a one-stop shop for travel info, local recommendations, and shopping (yes...shopping!). Shopping includes clothing, hats, magnets, stuffed animals, to name just a few. Wow...I was not ready for this paparazzi of items. Other services include free maps and guides, tour booking services, free Wi Fi, restrooms, charging stations and luggage storage for a small fee. In addition, their coffee shop, 5th and Brew, is a nice respite for tourists. The space is large and spacious. The ladies in the Austin Visitor Center were super sweet and helpful! Such a pleasant experience.... Great space...excellent services.

When friends and family come to visit, I send them here (or I sometimes accompany them)…read more You can get anything here, from gifts and souvenirs to maps and coffee (they have a cafe). Tours are booked in and out of the center as well. A good idea if you only have limited time in Austin and want to see as much as possible. It's truly a welcoming place and a great representation of our city. I also like that there is a large room with comfy seating to rest your weary feet after a day of sightseeing, or to prep for your day of exploration. I can't say enough nice things about this place. It's clean and modern. The staff are so incredibly knowledgeable about everything related to Austin. Super friendly too.

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.

Longhorn Caverns is a great place to go to see some natural Texas beauty. Our tour guide Emily was…read moreabsolutely amazing. She is extremely knowledgeable, confident, and has great puns! We lucked out and got her on a walking tour but you can normally find her on the Wild Cave Tours. My wife has severe anxiety, Emily was extremely understanding, helped her stay calm throughout the walking tour, and gave our family an unforgettable experience. I couldn't thank her enough for everything she did. I highly recommend checking out these Caves, and if you have the gumption to get muddy, spring for the Wild Cave Tour. Either way you go, it's a great experience!

Pictures don't do this place justice!…read more On this beautiful Saturday, I was seeking adventure! This tour is such an amazing deal. My tour guide Eryn was amazing and so funny. Caves are so interesting and there is so much to learn about them . Longhorn Cavern offer 3 different tour options. The cavern walking tour is just like a casual walking tour. The black light tour is where you wear hard hats and walk with a light. The Wild Cave tour is for the extreme explorers who are okay with tight spaces . I chose the cavern walking tour. I highly recommend shoes that have a tight grip. The gift shop has really good options for keepsakes. Also, if you get thirst drinks are available to purchase. I saw a section for pizza, but it was sold out. I had amazing time during my visit. The cave is beautiful and there is so much to see.

The nature center is an extension of the Boerne City Park. Admission is free but donations are…read moreencouraged. I'm encouraging you as well. These folks put their hearts and souls into conserving nature...& it's not free to do so. There's a visitor center, gift shop, and walking trails. Spring-fed marsh, wildflowers, wooded areas, tall-grass, and so on. You can sometimes spot an armadillo or two scurrying about (along with other critters). There's a Monarch Butterfly research field to check out too. They have learning center and auditorium too. Really beautiful way to spend a day in nature.

We had my sister's bridal shower here at The Gathering Hall and it was perfect! We had access to…read morethe kitchen, fridge, and there were quite a few plates and drink containers available for us as well as tables, chairs, and linens! It was in August and incredibly hot outside, but it was so nice inside and we had a great view of the farm in the back! Lots of room to fit 35 people comfortably and it would be even more beautiful with more space in cooler weather! Staff was INCREDIBLY sweet, informative, and helpful!!