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San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route inspiration

San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country

River Walk lights and German Hill Country towns

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5 days through San Antonio, Texas Hill Country.

San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country is a 5-day curated route with 2 destinations and 16 places to eat, see, and do. Plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    San Antonio on the San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route

    Destination 01

    San Antonio

    8 places

    The River Walk under holiday lights; 3 nights for the river, the missions and the Pearl.

    • River Walk near San AntonioPhoto: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0

      River Walk

      Stone-lined walkways along the San Antonio River, with cypress trees and bridges strung with lights through the holidays.

      Tip Take a river barge after dark for the best view of the lights from the water.

      DoDowntownFree2 hrAfter dark
    • The Alamo near San AntonioPhoto: Lanis J Rossi · CC BY-SA 4.0

      The Alamo

      Spanish mission founded in 1718, where the 1836 battle was fought; the old church is free to enter.

      Tip Reserve a free timed entry online to skip the line; Alamo Plaza has a tall Christmas tree in season.

      SeeDowntownFree60 minMorning
    • San Fernando Cathedral near San AntonioPhoto: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0

      San Fernando Cathedral

      Cathedral founded in 1738 on Main Plaza, whose facade hosts San Antonio | The Saga, a free light projection on the city's history.

      Tip The projection runs several nights a week after dark; check the schedule before you go.

      SeeMain PlazaFree45 minAfter dark
    • Mission San Jose near San AntonioPhoto: Ashland Thomas · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Mission San Jose

      The largest of San Antonio's Spanish colonial missions, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with restored walls and church.

      Tip Rent a bike and ride the Mission Reach trail along the river between the missions.

      SeeMission ReachFree1.5 hrMorning
    • Pearl near San AntonioPhoto: Bilestone · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Pearl

      The 1883 Pearl Brewery turned food and shopping district on the River Walk, with a weekend farmers market and holiday events.

      Tip Go on a weekend morning for the farmers market, then walk the Museum Reach back toward downtown.

      ShopPearl$$2.5 hrWeekend morning
    • Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia near San AntonioPhoto: Todd Dwyer · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia

      Tex-Mex restaurant and bakery in Market Square since 1941, its ceilings hung with Christmas lights and pinatas all year.

      Tip Pick up pan dulce at the bakery counter on the way out.

      EatMarket Square$$75 minBreakfast

    • Menger Bar

      Dark-paneled 1887 bar in the Menger Hotel beside the Alamo, modeled on the House of Lords pub in London.

      DrinkDowntown$$60 minEvening
    • Hotel Emma near San AntonioPhoto: Sarahstrunk · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Hotel Emma

      Hotel in the Pearl's 1894 brewhouse, keeping the old machinery in its lobby, with a library bar and rooms on the river.

      StayPearl$$$$
  2. 2
    Texas Hill Country on the San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route

    Destination 02

    Texas Hill Country

    8 places

    Fredericksburg's German square and Johnson City's lights; 2 nights between the two towns.

    • Pedernales Electric Cooperative lights

      The electric co-op's headquarters lawn in Johnson City, its live oaks wrapped in lights, centerpiece of the town's holiday display.

      Tip Free to walk; park once and walk the two blocks to the lit courthouse square.

      SeeJohnson CityFree60 minAfter dark
    • Blanco County Courthouse near Texas Hill CountryPhoto: Nicolas Henderson · CC BY 2.0

      Blanco County Courthouse

      Limestone 1916 courthouse on Johnson City's square, outlined in lights and decorated for the season.

      SeeJohnson CityFree30 minAfter dark
    • Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park near Texas Hill CountryPhoto: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

      LBJ's ranch on the Pedernales, with the Texas White House, his birthplace and family cemetery on a self-driven tour.

      Tip Pick up the free driving permit at the LBJ State Park visitor center across the river.

      SeeStonewallFree2 hrMorning
    • Marktplatz near Texas Hill CountryPhoto: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Marktplatz

      Fredericksburg's town square with the Vereins Kirche replica, a tall German Christmas pyramid and the town tree in season.

      Tip Come at dusk when the pyramid and tree are lit.

      SeeFredericksburgFree45 minDusk
    • Main Street Fredericksburg near Texas Hill CountryPhoto: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Main Street Fredericksburg

      Long main street of 19th-century limestone storefronts with boutiques, bakeries and wine-tasting rooms.

      ShopFredericksburg$$2 hrAfternoon
    • National Museum of the Pacific War near Texas Hill CountryPhoto: Myotus · CC BY 4.0

      National Museum of the Pacific War

      Large World War II museum in Admiral Nimitz's hometown, with aircraft, a combat zone and the Nimitz Hotel.

      Tip Allow at least half a day; tickets are valid for 48 hours.

      SeeFredericksburg$$3 hrMorning
    • Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Texas Hill CountryPhoto: Jmbuytaert · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

      Pink granite dome rising about 130 m above the hills north of Fredericksburg; the summit trail is a steep 1 km climb.

      Tip Reserve a day pass online in advance; winter mornings are cool and clear.

      Outdoors$3 hrMorning

    • Fredericksburg Brewing Company

      Texas's oldest brewpub, open since 1994 in a historic building on Main Street, with German-style beers.

      DrinkFredericksburg$$75 minEvening

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country.

Spend three nights in San Antonio while the River Walk is strung with lights from the cypress trees to the bridges. Walk the river at night, see the Alamo and the light show on San Fernando Cathedral, ride out to the 18th-century Mission San Jose, and spend an afternoon at the Pearl, the restored brewery district upriver. Then drive north into the Hill Country: German-founded Fredericksburg has its Christmas pyramid on the Marktplatz, Main Street shops and the National Museum of the Pacific War, and Enchanted Rock's granite dome is a short drive away. Finish in Johnson City, where the Pedernales Electric Cooperative grounds and the courthouse square are lit up every night of the season, with the LBJ Ranch on the way.

Good for Families and road-trippers who want festive lights, Texas history and small-town Christmas in mild weather.

When to go

The River Walk lights are switched on at the Ford Holiday River Parade, held the Friday after Thanksgiving, and stay up into early January. Fiesta de las Luminarias lines the River Walk with paper-bag lanterns on December weekends. Johnson City's lights run nightly from late November to early January, and LBJ State Park holds its tree lighting in mid-December. Days are usually mild (15-20 C) with occasional cold fronts; pack a jacket for the evenings.

Getting around

Fly into San Antonio (SAT) and walk or use rideshare downtown; the River Walk links the Alamo, the hotels and the Pearl. Rent a car for the Hill Country: San Antonio to Fredericksburg is about 1 hr 15 min on I-10 and US-87, Fredericksburg to Johnson City 40 min on US-290 past the LBJ Ranch, and Johnson City to Austin's airport (AUS) about 1 hr 15 min if you fly out from there.

Tips for your crew

  • River Walk restaurants fill up on the parade night and luminaria weekends; book dinner tables ahead or eat early.
  • Reserve an Enchanted Rock day pass online before you go; the park closes its gate when it reaches capacity.
  • Stay overnight in Johnson City or Fredericksburg rather than driving back to San Antonio after the lights.

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