Deep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, set between Austin and San Antonio, rests New Braunfels, Texas. Founded by German settlers in 1845, New Braunfels is overflowing with old world heritage and small town Texas charm.
New Braunfels offers plenty of endless adventures with two beautiful rivers and wholesome entertainment at Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch & Caverns. It’s also home to Texas’ oldest bakery, oldest dance hall, and Wurstfest, an annual 10-day festival dedicated to sausage. Even just walking around town taking pictures of the architecture is an experience. Trust us, this is one Texas town you don’t want to miss!
Here is our guide to the best of New Braunfels!
Eat & Drink
On The Grind is the only way to start your day in New Braunfels! With three locations, it’s the prime spot for a drive thru cup of Joe! We highly recommend the Big Tex, which is two shots of espresso, chocolate milk, and caramel/ hazelnut.
If you’ve got a morning sweet tooth then you’ll want to start your morning off at 2 Tarts Bakery. The 2 Tarts family is dedicated to making everything from scratch using only the best ingredients to feed your family, mind, body, and soul. They offer more than custom cakes. You can pick up a coffee along with various baked goods! Be warned their cakes are drool worthy masterpieces.
Photos courtesy of On the Grind and 2 Tarts Bakery’s Instagram accounts
Now on to the real food! I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again, these small towns have so many great restaurants options it’s hard to narrow them down. Let’s start with Muck & Fuss. This craft beer and burger restaurant with a chef-inspired menu has 26 craft beers curated by local and international breweries. Bonus: they have a beautiful courtyard with live local music.
Located next door is Sidecar, a cocktail bar owned and operated by the same owners. The owners got the unique name by breaking up their last name, Muckenfuss!
The River House and Clear Springs are great alternative places to grab a meal in town. And lastly, we have to pay homage to New Braunfels’s German roots and include Alpine Haus. Alpine Haus continues to use authentic old-world recipes and methods of preparation so if you’re looking for a German cuisine experience in Texas, this is your spot.
Photos courtesy of Muck up & Fuss, Sidecar, The River House, Clear Springs, and Alpine Haus’s Instagram accounts
End your day with hand churned gelato! Scoop Street has it all from simple scoops of gelato to dairy free Sorbet or a float! They also offer coffee and serve beer and wine. There are so many scrumptiously unique flavors you’ll want to try them all!
Shopping
Shop till you drop! New Braunfels Candle Company started in 2014 with a dream of putting quality, handmade soy candles into the homes of friends and loved ones in New Braunfels. This family-owned local business chooses to use quality ingredients that are hard to find in commercial brand candles. Things like all-natural soy wax, phthalate-free fragrance oils, and lead-free cotton wicks. Soy candles burn cleaner and they last longer. Plus, you can actually customize your candle, from the scent to the container it comes in.
The Local is New Braunfels’ lifestyle shop. The store offers a curated mix of apparel, jewelry and leather goods, books, plants, gifts, apothecary, and both vintage and new decor with a local spin. Any shopping choice in New Braunfels is a good choice!
Photos courtesy of New Braunfels Candle Company and The Local on Instagram.
Experience
From eating, shopping, and where to stay, everything in NB is an experience! And here are a few more options. First on our list is Landa Park. Landa Park offers a variety of amenities. Walking on the park’s trails or a ride on the miniature train around the 51-acre park. Enjoy a round or two of miniature golf, relax at the playground, or enjoy Panther Canyon Trail. Prince Solms Park and Hinman Island Park are great alternatives with just as much of a variety of amenities.
If you’re looking for museums, try The New Braunfels Railroad Museum or McKenna Children’s Museum. Both are great for all ages and provide a lot of interaction and educational experiences.
Natural Bridge Caverns is another must see! The caverns are great but they recently added a Twisted Trails adventure courses for all ages. Find more details about it here.
Stay
With so much to see and eat, you’re going to need more than one day in New Braunfels! Why not make where you sleep just as unique as the city you’re staying in? With the creation of Airbnb finding unique places to stay has become a both trendy and convenient. Tiny homes, shipping containers, and rustic farmhouse decor have become the latest trends. Here are a few spots we recommend:
