i was bored, scavenger hunt was the only thing keeping me from not falling asleep. if i were you,…read moreid go to the one right before this location

This is the Crumbling Castle's first year, and I believe a trip to the Castle will become a holiday…read moretradition for many in the years to come. Located off I-10, it's easy to find and access. For our visit, we took a leisurely and scenic drive through the backroads rather than the more direct and less scenic highway route. Set in a forested area, thousands (millions??) of lights and decorations draw you through a driving trail that will garner your Ooohs and Aaahs, with some Wows along the way. There's a story to follow, too, so be sure to pause and read the story along the way. There are characters and critters playing out various activities throughout the story, too. Super fun and well done! I would prefer that the story was introduced earlier, but it's a great display regardless. Tickets can easily be purchased online on their website. Cost is per vehicle, so grab your family and friends, and get away from holiday stress and add some holiday magic to your life!

Before I even set foot in Texas, Rancho Cortez had already won my heart with their warm and helpful…read moreemails. As a solo traveler visiting the USA for the first time, I had a million questions -- and they patiently answered every single one. By the time I drove up their long, dusty road and caught sight of the charming ranch buildings and heard my first distant neigh, a wave of peace washed over me. I knew I had found something special. My warm welcome included a map to my cabin... which I promptly misread (I have many talents, but navigation is *not* one of them). Thankfully, the wonderful Lisa appeared like a real-life cowboy guardian angel and personally guided me to my cozy cabin. First impression? Spotless. Cool. Authentically Texan. I actually said "wow" out loud -- to no one -- like I was in a commercial. As a true animal lover, I was thrilled to see how well the horses were treated. Guests are encouraged to help groom them, and the wranglers always explain *why* certain things are done -- it's all about respect and care. Whether you're a total beginner or basically Clint Eastwood, they tailor the experience to *you*. Now meet the dream team: Travis, Dawn, Trey, and Cora. Travis and Dawn are the talkers, the entertainers -- always in for a laugh, teasing and challenging each other like true cowboy siblings. Their banter is pure gold, and somehow still leaves space for heartfelt guidance and genuine connection. Trey? He's the quiet cowboy with that dry, perfectly timed humor. When he speaks, you listen -- and when he drops a one-liner, it *lands*. He's got that silent strength vibe going on, and it works. Cora, with her calm and grounding energy, is the soul of serenity. When things get rowdy (and they do), she's the one who gently reins it all in -- the horses love her, and so do the guests. Her presence is like a deep exhale after a long ride. The wranglers feel like a tight-knit family, and you quickly feel part of it. Meals are homey, healthy, and announced by a big ol' bell you'll hear all over the ranch. You'll come running like one of the horses when you hear it. There's always water, coffee, tea, and refreshing drinks during meals, plus your cabin comes with a mini fridge for your own snacks. (The nearest supermarket is about 20 minutes away, but honestly, you won't want to leave.) Between the twice-daily rides, you'll learn to rope like a cowboy, roast smores by the fire, meet the longhorns on a hay ride, or just float in the pristine pool with the sun on your face. My personal favorite spot? A hammock near the dining hall, country music in my ears, goats chilling behind me -- pure bliss. Special shoutout to Miss Katie for the extra riding lessons (worth every penny). The trails are walk-only for safety and horse care, but even as an experienced rider, I never felt bored. They even arranged a more challenging ride when things were quiet -- and let me tell you, there's nothing like the sound of hooves and the warm wind in your ears to remind you you're *alive*. I originally booked one night... I stayed four. The only downside of Rancho Cortez is having to leave. To anyone reading this: whether you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure or a peaceful place to recharge -- book it. Go. Make memories. Laugh at yourself. Ride a horse. Roast a marshmallow. And let your heart be hugged by the spirit of this magical ranch. Thank you, Rancho Cortez. You deserve every star in the Texas sky. Wendy from Belgium

My family had a blast out here at the ranch. Super family oriented and plenty to do…read more If you are looking for an authentic Cowboy ranch, this is it, and I'm talking people too. Mr. Cortez was the ultimate highlight, a true old school Cowboy with that humor of his. He made my family feel right at home, even sat with them at lunch and hilarious conversation. Surprisingly, reading a couple of the negative reviews are taken WAY out of context and no offense to anyone, but it seems like liberals have a problem with the ranch. Here's a big one for instance, as a woman I felt welcomed and not threatened by safety issues. If you are super sensitive with your feelings just stay at home; Cowboys tell it like it is and that's with any Cowboy ranch. Overall, my nieces and nephew had an amazing family day. It was my nephews birthday. His favorite was roping and sure enough, after his visit with the ranch he now wants a rope to practice with! Thanks again for your mentorship and guidance Mr. Cortez. I'll be sure to have my nephew visit again to show you his roping progress!

Great wine, bourbon, and food. Servers are very helpful and friendly…read more We visited for the Taste of Italy and Texas. Great event. Highly recommend.

On a recent trip to Fred, we decided to branch out and visit Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, TX.,…read moreas it's only about a 45-minute ride from downtown Fred. Bending Branch produces some top-notch wines and Bourbon! The winery is beautiful with multiple rooms, from high tops to comfy chairs. There is also a large patio that has some shade. They have a great family story (check out their website) and a unique way to produce bold wines. Being Kentucky natives, their bourbons are full-bodied and range from great for an old-fashioned to smooth as silk, straight up delicious. We enjoyed our red flight tasting, and yes, their Tannat is superb. Both their 2022 and 2021 Estate were complex, not overly fruity and rich. Their Tempranillo is beautifully balanced with some cherry notes and a fine leathery finish. I did sample their high-rye bourbon and was impressed with its smoothness. So impressed that a bottle now sits in my bourbon cabinet at home. This bourbon is easily sipped straight up or with a single ice cube. Bonus: If you do visit Bending Branch, take a short drive to downtown Comfort. There are some cool stores, and you have to check out the historic Giles Hotel. You can access their beautiful courtyard, and we were told by multiple folks that their breakfast is awesome. We are planning a return trip to check out the other wineries in the area and stay here.

I saw that they are having an event this past Saturday for the 250 America birthday celebration. I…read moredecided to go check it out since we were headed to Bandera. They do have a Groupon which is more than half price. The lady was very welcoming and sweet. We were inside the museum and she would call us telling us what performance is starting outside. There is really cool and interesting pieces to admire. We made our way out to the back. They were serving complimentary hot dogs, chips, lemonade and a cake to celebrate. The time when we were there seems all the locals were there. All attention was on us. From getting up to give us their seat to asking us where we are from to ask if we would like more food. It made us feel so special! I had couple of questions on where to find places they did not hesitate to answer and even call each other to get me more information. It was a real memorable morning a this museum!

Relatively small but well run and effortlessly charming museum. Frontier Times is just a couple…read moreblocks outside of downtown Bandera, and contains a wealth of items mostly from the Old West up though the early 20th Century. It's a really great display of Americana. One of the rooms is sure to please any dedicated equestrian as it contains several beautifully crafted saddles and sets of riding gear. Other rooms house collections of old books (*everybody* carried a Bible back then), pictures of family relatives long gone, Wurlitzer-style pipe organs, long-gone paper currencies, even a pair of stuffed cougars named Charlie and Sally! While there we also adopted *cough cough* a stuffed longhorn which was promptly named 'Chisholm'. Since there was also an art exhibit going on, we got a chance to watch a couple big-name Western scene painters like Jack Moss and David Godfrey at work. Definitely worth a visit the next time you're in Bandera!

I must confess I can be cynical or maybe have some aversion to the holidays, particularly…read moreChristmas. Where the expectation is to be merry or to have faith in your fellow (wo)man. In life people aren't always on the ground making snow angels. Nor are Christmas Carollers going to come to your door to bid you good tidings. However, I'm slowly learning if you let your guard down ever so slightly, a beam of light can peek through. "Dickens on Main" in Boerne understands that the Christmas we celebrated as children is the same one we carry with us into adulthood. Me and my partner have been wanting to do it for years, but it's only available once a year. And at that, for two days. I will tell you the basics of it. It is a morning celebration that segues into a huge night extravaganza. It opens at 12pm but Main Street closes its streets from passage by vehicle at 4pm. We opted to go early before the streets were closed. When we arrived almost all parking was nonexistent. Businesses do offer a park and pay option but every lot was full. By sheer luck we were able to find free parking. Main Street is a succession of small local businesses. But during "Dickens on Main" it turns into an idyllic, winter wonderland. If you've ever watched a Hallmark Christmas movie and wished it could become a reality, this would be that opportunity. Garland is hanging everywhere. In every nook and cranny Christmas Spirit is prominent. They even have a snow machine that blows artificial snow onto festival-goers. The sidewalks are overflowing with people going into stores to shop. For example there are antique shops. Places that sell beauty products. A super expensive meat market. Jarred pickles. And of course my favorite shopping: three watering holes all within walking range. By in large the Main Courtyard is the piece de resistance. All things eventually converge here. It is decorated much like Main Street with: ornaments, candy canes and giant Nutcracker figurines. There are Dickensonian Carollers dressed in traditional Victorian fashion walking the grounds. Followed by the litany of vendors selling crafts, food or last minute gift ideas. All my senses the whole time were engaged and overwhelmed. It is alot to take in. While I enjoyed it I do have two critiques. Since the sidewalks are extremely narrow there was not a time where either I was in someone's space. Or vice versa. My suggestion would be to close Main Street to traffic all day and allow the overflow onto the streets. Secondly, they need to do what Wustfest does and offer shuttle bus service. Festival goers could pay a fee to park and be shuttled to the event. When we left at 4pm I saw people parking far and wide just to walk into the event. I definitely would recommend it to the person who wants to share a unique Christmas experience with family, friends or loved ones. Even "The Grinch" cannot escape its charms. "Dickens on Main" is a very special festival if Christmas is your thing. Me, I'm still waiting for a holiday created with craft beer in mind. Santa, I hope you're listening! I've been nice-kinda- sorta- most of the year.

My family and I visited Boerne 1-2 years ago and were told about Dickens on Main. The way it was…read moredescribed to us was .... An event that will make you feel like you're in a hallmark movie. After hearing that, I was sold and knew I had to attend. This year, I made it a point to get my family together for it and off we went. The weather wasn't ideal but the event itself was perfect and as expected! Main Street was shut down at 4PM so people could walk in the street, enjoy the fun and vendors (and also enjoy an adult beverage while shopping). The vendors were dressed up an in character, there were Carolers and tons of fun little food stands in the different "villages". We enjoyed food from some of the restaurants on the street (like a giant cinnamon roll from Richter Bakhaus) as well as vendor foods like the puffy funnel cakes. This is a fun family-friendly event that is great for a couple or for a family with kids! I will definitely be returning next year!

This is a very nice museum in the Texas Hill Country. We had attempted to come here once before but…read moreit had been closed. We were happy that on this attempt we were able to go inside and see the gallery. The price is $7 a person unless you are a first responder or military. The docent did a good job of explaining the layout of the museuem and pointed out some interesting facts about the building itself as well. There are a few different sections of the library such as the painting galleries, the open floor in the beginning and the Texas history section where children can explore and interact with the exhibits. It's not a large museum but there were a lot of paintings and statues to look at. Definitely recommended. Parking is easy and there are also statues outside as well.

I suppose that as a born and bred Texan I should be ashamed to admit that I don't care for western…read moreart--well, I'm not; I just don't care for it. As I child I was inundated with images of cowboys fighting Indians which disturbed me as I'm a member of the Nez Perce Tribe. And then there were pictures of cowboys sitting by the campfire, riding the range, sitting atop a bucking horse--on and on and on. Ho Hum! So it was with some trepidation that I went with a friend to the MOWA today. He is an artist and I went mainly for the purpose of listening to him comment on the finer points of the art--shading, lighting, etc. And I was ready to see row after row of heroic cowboys slaughtering the heathen Redskin. What I found was pleasantly surprising. Yes, Native Americans were well represented, but in only one sculpture was there the typical cowboy and Indian fight. In fact, one large painting portraying the Native American ceremony of Summoning the Buffalo was as moving as it was beautiful as I remember participating in such a ceremony with I was a child. The collection is not vast but the quality of all the artwork was excellent; they were framed artfully and lit properly. Of particular interest was a wagon made by the Studebaker company--yes, the same Studebaker that generations later produced automobiles. And there are docents ready and willing to add greatly to your experience. No need to go on a group tour; these folks are there every day to make the West come alive. A word needs to be said about the building. It was the last public project designed by the noted architect, O'Neil Ford whose well-known projects in San Antonio consisted of La Villita, the Tower of Americas and Trinity University to name a few. While the exterior is indeed stunning with its heavy wooden beams and stacked limestone retaining walls, the interior has 23 boveda domes made of lightweight Mexican brick (a sample is available for handing). As you can see from the attached photo, the domes are art in themselves. So the next time you're in Kerrville--or like me, a resident--do visit the Museum of Western Art. Take it from one who doesn't particularly care for the genre--you'll enjoy it.

Sister Creek is an authentic piece of old, rustic Texas, set in a small town with a very…read moreinteresting history (look up Sisterdale in the 19th century). It's not a fancy winery with a boutique tasting room and live music, but the owners and staff are friendly and welcoming in a genuine way and the wines are of very good quality, and not as pricy as some you'll find on the Hill Country wine roads. The Texas Muscat Canelli (both varieties) is my favorite, and I highly recommend if you like white wines on the sweeter side. There is a small picnic area outside. If you find yourself in the area, stop by.

Blackboard BBQ is our favorite BBQ place, and sister creek vineyards is across the street so we…read moredecided to finally check it out! We got a bottle of the cotton gin red and Sat outside and enjoyed it under their large live oak tree. The inside was a little hectic since they had two group tastings going on. And I think there's I my one bathroom. But this is a good little wine stop in sisterdale and worth supporting.

Such an amazing night! It's a beautiful venue with beyond amazing food! The service was…read moreoutstanding. Highly recommend!

We went on a Saturday morning. The property is gorgeous, right on the river. Wine was wonderful,…read moreservice great. If you are in the area, do not miss this.