5 Super Fun Hill Country Amusement Parks by Arlene Yuen

5 Don’t Miss Hill Country Amusement Parks

by Arlene Yuen

Whether you have extra time on your hands or need to plan a family outing, get yourself to one of these awesome amusement parks in the Hill Country.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wonder_World_Park.jpg

Wonder World Park in San Marcos, known as the first show cave in Texas and located on the Balcones fault line, has been entertaining families in the Hill Country for 105 years. Created by an earthquake, it also has the Tejas Observation Tower, Anti-gravity house, Mystery Mountain and Texas Wildlife Petting Park.  If you visit between September 1 and February 29, they are open Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 5pm.  Fridays are for groups only and require reservations.

Photo: http://texastriggs.blogspot.com/2011/12/morgans-wonderland.html

If you find yourself in the northeast side of San Antonio, be sure to make a stop at Morgan's Wonderland, constructed in an abandoned quarry.  This unique theme park was designed with special needs in mind.  Many different attractions will keep your day full including catch-and-release fishing, a gymnasium, playscapes and activities. Hours for Friday are 4-9pm, Saturday 12-9, Sunday 11am-4pm.

Photo: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/travel/weekend-getaways/article/New-Texas-roller-coaster-puts-riders-on-the-fast-6595861.php#photo-8864698

At ZDT's Amusement Park, located in Sequin, everyone from toddlers to teens will be entertained. Affectionately named after the owner's three children Zach, Danielle, and Tiffany, this park is growing and making improvements year after year.  The Mad Raft water coaster and the Switchback are some of the newest attractions to try. Along with the family thrill rides, there's also the Rock Wall and Silo Climb. Open weekends and spring break week, hours vary so be sure to check online.

Photo: https://sites.utexas.edu/isss/2015/05/texas-excursion-six-flags-fiesta-texas/

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, also located in San Antonio, provides rides of all thrill levels, from tame for the toddler to extreme for the teen.  See online for specific hours and dates. Holiday in the Park will be open through Sunday, January 3. Then closing and reopening the last weekend in February, weekends in March and two weeks for Spring Break. And, then again weekends through April.  Be sure to get there in May when the water park opens for business.

Photo: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kiddie-acres-amusement-park-and-miniature-golf-austin?select=Av41S0yXOVlbZzCSnjK18g

For anyone with kids 10 and under, Austin has just the amusement park for you: Kiddie Acres.  Open to the public year round except on Mondays and specified holidays (January 1) weather permitting. There is no general admission but rather a ticket system for nominal fees. The kids can also try their hand at an 18-hole miniature golf course and take a ride on a pony.

Make a point to spend time with your family at one of these awesome amusement parks found in the Texas Hill Country.  Just be sure you check their websites for exact operating days/times. 

Also located in the Hill Country are: SeaWorld San Antonio, Schlitterbahn, and Splashtown San Antonio.

5 Must-See Museums of the Texas Hill Country

Whether you are new to the area or have lived here all of your life, there are several museums on this "Must See" Museums of the Hill Country list.  History buffs and adventure-seekers alike will enjoy new experiences as their expectations are challenged.

1) Tucked in the cramped and cozy streets of downtown, is a little treasure formerly known as the French Embassy.  Currently known as the French Ligation Museum, this beautiful throwback to the days when livestock roamed free on the streets of Austin, is slightly hidden behind a concrete wall.  The main house, unattached kitchen and carriage house sit atop the stretch of rolling green grass. As the docent walks you from the front gallery porch, highlighting the view of the Capitol, to the tiny shared bedrooms, she points out decorative features that double as functional. Finishing the tour you will experience games that children of days gone by would have played from "ball and cup" to stilts. 

Photo credit: do512family.com.

2) As you enter the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum,  you are immediately transported to a 1950's dime store. Proceed a little further and your eyes are overcome by hundreds of buck horns displayed all around you. Your first response may be ”This is a whimsical and silly place”. And though there is some truth to this, continue on and you will be pleasantly surprised.  The halls are covered in hundreds of species of record-holders (most famously known is the "78-point buck".) A more recent addition to the Buckhorn is the Texas Rangers Museum with artifacts and even replicas of a jailhouse and 1934 Bonnie&Clyde car. 

Photo credit: buckhornmuseum.com.

3) Touted as "the most comprehensive, well-organized, and informative military museum" by the Wall Street Journal, the National Museum of the Pacific War does not disappoint.  Located on six acres, Admiral Nimitz Museum, George H. W. Bush Gallery, and Plaza of Presidents are a few of the attractions that will make you wish you allotted more time for this trip to Fredericksburg. Once here you will also understand why this is the only museum in the U. S. dedicated to the Pacific-Asiatic Theaters in WWII. 

Photo credit: http://24intx.com/2013/12/18/fredericksburg/.

4) Self-proclaimed as "unusual, bizarre, and freaky" the Museum of the Weird welcomes you to "come visit America's strangest attraction." Have you ever seen a real human skeleton? How about a shrunken head? Ever experienced a séance? All of this and more for your ocular pleasure can be found in this compact collection that keeps Austin "weird".

5) Did you know Dr. Pepper is a native Texan? Invented in a corner drug store by a young pharmacist, this beverage called "the most misunderstood soft drink" is made up of 23 fruit flavors.  The 3-story gallery located in downtown Waco (Dr. Pepper Museum) is a collection of historical remnants showcasing 1930's radio broadcasts, impact on advertising with movies, decades of television commercials, bottling equipment, and a replica of the original drug store. Wrap up your tour at the soda fountain and enjoy this refreshing and famous soft drink.

So, hit the road! Get out there and explore in a new and exciting way as you check out some, if not all, of these weird and wonderful museums of the Texas Hill Country.

More Murals, Please

In an effort to explore our new city, my darling husband came up with a fantastic surprise of visiting some "hot spots" known for their artistry (aka graffiti).

The perfect way to start an Austin morning is with a cup of Jo's coffee shop on what the locals call SoCo (South Congress). Right there on the mint green wall is some famous graffiti "I Love You So Much".

Right around the corner, in a quaint little neighborhood (1720 S. 1st St), we posed in front of the famous "Greetings From Austin" mural. This mural is so vibrant and indicative of the many tourist attractions with the capital, Congress Avenue Bridge and more.

Next, Hubby drove us to MLK and Alamo. We hiked the grassy knoll next to The United Way for Greater Austin building and posed in front of "You're My Butter Half". This mural is so beautifully painted with precision and color and so clever!

Lastly we made our stop at "Jeremiah, The Bullfrog" in downtown (21st and Guadalupe). In its simplicity, it expresses Austin's uniqueness.

We have so much more to explore, but what a great way to start! 

Fantastic Frederiskburg

This sweet little town is just an hour's drive from Austin and has so much to offer. With its quaintness, it shines in sophisticated country chic.

Downtown is glittered with one-of-a-kind shops specializing in such things as wine all the way to toys. The shop owners are neither dismissive or overpowering as you enter their stores. They are welcoming with a very casual presence.

Frederiskburg 's architecture is intricate and reminiscent of Germany circa 19th century. Don't miss the Pacific War Museum where you can learn about Admiral Nimitz or pay your respects in the Memorial Courtyard or the Plaza of Presidents.

As we made our way down the main street, we happened upon many eateries. One of which was an adorable Hawaiian yogurt shop. We also lunched at Sunset Inn and Suites' restaurant. The decor was "southern California" with beach scenes and minimalist furniture.  The food was good and the place was fun.

On our way out of town, we also stopped at Wild Seed Farms.  You can't miss the beauty that blankets the side of the highway. It's a family owned wildflower farm that provides quality wildflower seeds to the public.  It is a cornucopia for the senses.  From its vivid colors to its soothing aromas to the rock music coming from the gazebo, there's quite a lot to see and even a lot to do. We wandered the grounds, admiring and trying to identify the various plants. We stopped at the gift shop and purchased our own wildflower seeds. The fun live band drew us toward the vine-covered gazebo which led us to a courtyard beautifully landscaped that the butterflies love to call home.  We hadn't planned on this place but spent half of our day there.

What a great day trip!

I'm New Here

It turns out: I'm not as adventurous as I once was.  I'm a little shocked to find this out because I truly did not know when this happened.  I was always the girl who was up for anything.  I liked trying new things.  New food, new places, new people. Anything.

Maybe I spent too much time in my last residence.  Maybe I had allowed my roots to run a little too deep.  Deep roots make for difficult transplants.  Darn near impossible.

Don't get me wrong, Austin, Texas is a beautiful place.  The landscape is lush and vibrant.  There are rolling hills, trees everywhere, bubbling brooks, and flowers of every color, shape and size.  The sky is so blue.  That perfect baby blue that lacks smog. The clouds are big and white and fluffy.

But, it will take me a moment to acclimate to my new surroundings.  There's a lot to see and do here and I maybe I should make the most of it...