Inks Lake State Park in Burnet (pronounced BURN-it DERN it) was our home for the 4 nights before Easter weekend. Thanks to my friend Tim in Arlington for recommending this park.
We arrived early in the day and were able to get a beautiful waterfront site. The bad news is we would have to leave on Good Friday because the park was full for Easter weekend. I knew we would love the area when we saw bluebonnets lining the roads to the park.
Our waterfront campsite was a great place to watch ducks, geese and all the water activities. We saw people paddling canoes and kayaks, floating on tubes, and fishing from motor boats. The sunsets were gorgeous.
Mallards at Inks Lake Dove at Inks LakeCanada Geese at Inks LakeHooded Merganser at Inks LakeTurtles on a log at Inks LakeSunset at Inks Lake
I love talking to locals to find out the best places to see. We stopped at Longhorn Caverns State Park one morning to ask about the tours. The ranger had seen me taking pictures of bluebonnets beside the road and he told us about a great scenic drive south of Llano. We were headed to Llano for lunch so we were off on a bluebonnet hunt after we stuffed ourselves with brisket and ribs.
Cooper’s Barbeque in Llano, Texas
Indian PaintbrushBluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush along Park Road 4Bluebonnets beside a streamBoots and bluebonnetsBeth in the bluebonnets
One afternoon we toured nearby Longhorn Caverns. During prohibition the cavern was privately owned and the cavern was run as a honky tonk and restaurant. In one of the large rooms was a bandstand with tables set up all around. When prohibition was repealed the owner gave the land to the state of Texas.
Crystals in Longhorn CavernThis dog was formed naturallyLonghorn CavernLonghorn CavernEastern Pipistrelle bat about three inches long at Longhorn CavernEastern Pipistrelle bat about three inches long at Longhorn CavernLonghorn Cavern State ParkBuilt by the CCC in the 1930’s at Longhorn Cavern State Park
One morning we took a hike on the Valley Spring trail in the state park. The trail started out beside the lake and wound through the woods with wildflowers growing beneath the trees.
Blondie getting her feet wet at Inks LakeDeil’s Waterhole on Inks LakeBluebonnets beside the Spring Valley trail at Inks LakeTop of the waterfallBeside the waterfallWaterfall at Inks Lake
Inks Lake State Park has moved up near the top of my list of favorite state parks. Our site was a back in paved pad with water and electric hookups, a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook. We had a huge area beneath shade trees to set up our chairs and watch the world go by. There are two fishing piers, a marina and boat launch, canoe and kayak rentals, playground, camp store, and several hiking trails. Click to read my campground review of Inks Lake State Park.
There is so much to see and do in the Texas Hill Country we could have stayed a month and not seen in all. Unfortunately, we only had about two weeks to explore this beautiful area in the heart of Texas. The hill country includes San Antonio and Austin and extends west about 200 miles. Driving through the area on mostly twisting, two lane roads we saw canyons and creeks, dance halls and wineries, historic sites and ranches, quaint small towns and old homesteads, green grass and more wildflowers than I ever imagined. We dined on barbeque and schnitzel and I bought a cowboy hat!
Our first home base in the hill country was Cranes Mill, a beautiful Corps of Engineers park on Canyon Lake near New Braunfels. We enjoyed driving on the country roads to explore the area. The bluebonnets were really starting to bloom and we saw more and more each day.
The first order of business was to eat some Texas Barbeque. One of my brothers lived in San Antonio for a few years and told us not to miss the Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas. We started out our first full day in the hill country driving the back roads to have our first taste of brisket, ribs, sausage and turkey. After our delicious lunch we stopped to visit the Dr. Joseph Pound homestead. Dr. Pound and his family settled there in 1853 and raised 9 children. His descendants lived in the home continuously until 1983.
Salt Lick BarbequeBuckboard used by the Pound familyBall Moss on live oak at the Pound HomesteadPound Homestead in Dripping Springs, Texas
On a beautiful sunny Friday we took a drive to Luckenbach and a winery near Fredericksburg.
Luckenbach, TexasLuckenbach, TexasLuckenbach Dance HallMusic on a sunny Friday afternoonDown in Luckenbach, Texas, ain’t nobody feeling no painLuckenbach, TexasFat Ass Winery, Fredericksburg, Texas
We enjoyed touring the LBJ State Park and Historic Site in Stonewall. Lyndon Johnson was our 36th president and spent much of his presidency at his ranch on the Perdanales River. Adjacent to the ranch is the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, a working farm which recreates a Hill Country farm at the turn of the 20th century.
The driving tour of his ranch goes around the air strip where he would land in a small plane he called Air Force One Half because Air Force One was too large to land on the landing strip. President Johnson left the ranch to be enjoyed by all the people so there is no charge to tour the park.
Hog at the living history exhibitSaddles at the LBJ RanchAt the LBJ RanchIn the show barn at the ranchBluebonnets on the LBJ RanchAir Force One was to big to land on the landing strip so he called this plane that flew him from Austin “Air Force One Half”
We also enjoyed visiting some of the towns in the area. Many of the older buildings in the hill country are made of stone because of the lack of wood for building.
Gazebo in New Braunfels, TexasHenne Hardware in New Braunfels – since 1857Comal County Courthouse in New BraunfelsOne of the stone buildings in FredericksburgHome in Gruene, Texas
On a sunny Palm Sunday we strolled through the town of Gruene where we enjoyed music at one of the oldest dance halls in Texas. Our Sunday drive continued to the artistic town of Wimberley and a walk along the banks of the Cypress Creek.
Gruene Water TowerGruene Hall is one of the oldest dance halls in TexasGruene Hall on a Sunday afternoonGruene Hall on a Sunday afternoonSign in Wimberley, TexasTotem beside Cypress Creek in WimberleyCypress Creek in WimberleyCypress Creek in Wimberley
While driving around we passed many interesting ranches and the Albert Dance Hall and Twin Sisters Dance Hall. Although we were still a little early to see the bluebonnets in all their glory we enjoyed seeing patches of them beside the roads.
Sculpture at the entrance to a ranchGotta love TexasBluebonnets near Stonewall, TexasBluebonnets near Stonewall, TexasBluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush
When we weren’t sightseeing we enjoyed our large lake front campsite at Crane’s Mill.
Cranes Mill Campground on Canyon LakeWe saw deer almost every day at Cranes Mill CampgroundDeer, Canyon LakeSunset over Canyon Lake
We hated to say goodbye to the Texas Gulf coast. Even with the overcast gray skies, fog and rain the whole time we were there we loved it. We knew we would miss the salt air and the sound of the waves from our campsite at Mustang Island but we had lots more of Texas to see.
Miles and Miles of Texas
Our journey from the Gulf took us across miles and miles of Texas to Laredo. On either side of the road were fields of cactus, mesquite and blooming Yucca plants. I spotted the tail of a wolf or coyote going into the brush on my side of the road. Henry and I both saw wild turkeys.
We arrived at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park on a beautiful, SUNNY Sunday afternoon. Finally, blue sky! The park was filled with families enjoying Sunday afternoon picnics.
Indian Blanket FlowersLake Casa BlancaLake Casa Blanca State Park
One of the goals of this trip was to see the Texas bluebonnets in bloom. The state flower of Texas, the bluebonnets usually reach their peak in late March and early April. Texas is the only place in the world where two of the bluebonnet species are found growing naturally.
We didn’t expect to see any blooms until we were farther north in Texas but Mona Liza over at Lowe’s RV Adventures had spotted bluebonnets around Lake Casa Blanca before we arrived. Thanks to her I was on the lookout and found a small patch in the campground and one of the park rangers told us about a patch near one of the picnic areas in the park. The small field was covered with bluebonnets! What an unexpected treat to see bluebonnets so early in our trip!
Texas Bluebonnets in LaredoTexas Bluebonnets in LaredoBluebonnets in the campgroundTexas Bluebonnets in LaredoTexas Bluebonnets in LaredoBluebonnets in the campground
We spent 2 nights in Lake Casa Blanca International State Park. Our site was a paved pull through with water and electric hookups, a picnic table under a covered shelter, and a fire ring. There were willows and other trees around our site and we could see the lake through the trees. There is a boat launch, fishing pier, and many picnic areas in the park. The park is located near the loop road and close to restaurants and shopping.
Our next stop was Claytor Lake State Park. We have camped there several times and enjoyed every one of our visits. On our last morning I saw about 8 deer running through the woods as Blondie and I walked on one of the several hiking trails.
Early morning at the Claytor Lake MarinaClaytor Lake MarinaSwimming beach at Claytor Lake State ParkSwim platform at Claytor Lake State ParkMoon rising through the trees
The Redbuds were blooming all through the woods in the park.
Redbuds were blooming all through the woodsRedbud bloomsRedbuds
Our mountain journey continued at Virginia’s Natural Bridge where we walked along the nature trail beside Cedar Creek to the Natural Bridge and Lace Falls. The bridge and trail are privately owned and beautifully maintained.
The arch is 215 feet high, 55 feet higher than Niagara Falls. It is 40 feet thick, 100 feet wide, and is 90 feet between the walls. Highway 11 crosses over the bridge.
George Washington surveyed the bridge and the surrounding area in 1750. What is believed to be his initials can be seen high up on one of the walls.
The warm, sunny spring day was perfect for walking along the nature trail.
Natural Bridge, VirginiaSmall waterfall beside the trail at Natural Bridge, VirginiaThe trail next to Cedar CreekBlondie got to play in the creekThe trail ends at beautiful Lace WaterfallThe Lost River flowing from the mountainAnother small waterfall in the creekRelaxing at Lace WaterfallView of the bridge as we returned from our hikeWaterfall on Cedar CreekSurvey Marker with George Washington’s initials from 1750
Wildflowers were blooming all along the trail
I think this is DewberryMoss surrounds this wildflower growing in the rock wallPerriwinkleDaffodil beside the trailYellow wildflower beside the trailWildflowers beside the trail
We camped for 2 nights at the Natural Bridge KOA, about 5 miles from the Natural Bridge.
Wandering Dawgs 