By Ki Gray
Head west, between Austin and San Marcos, across the seemingly endless Texas Hill Country vistas dotted by quaint towns and you will find the old mill town of Wimberley. The town was first settled in the 1840s, after Texas became a state. Mills powered by Cypress Creek kept the town growing, and changing names, for decades. Each new mill owner gave the settlement a new name, until it officially became Wimberley in 1880 after then mill owner Pleasant Wimberley.
Perhaps the best known spot in Wimberley is Blue Hole. Shaded by Cypress trees, this spring-fed swimming hole is always inviting. Purchased by the city of Wimberley in 2005 with the help of the Texas Department of Wildlife and other public funding sources, Blue Hole will be enjoyed for generations to come. The grassy banks that surround the cool waters are perfect for sunbathing and picnicking. The rope swings hanging from the tall branches of the Cypress trees entice daredevils to leap into the deep water with splash.
Other outdoor activities include hiking the Cypress Creek Nature trails, which has 7.24 acres of trails crisscrossed by the babbling creek. There are great Hill Country views from the top of Mount Baldy. The stone steps carved along the path to Mount Baldy, also called Prayer Mountain, make this a pleasant hike.
Beautiful Hill Country views can be found along the drive to the Devil's Backbone off of Ranch Road 12, where the whole valley can be seen and then grab a bite at one of the nearby taverns. The town of Wimberley goes to the banks of the Blanco River and another popular drive is River Road. The river may entice drivers to stop and fish, swim or drift down the river on a tube.
Visitors to Wimberley will want to meander over to the Driftwood Estate Winery, which has seven grape varieties on its 20 acre vineyard. Enjoy the views from the deck where the winery serves lunch and offers tastings year around. Another tasty Wimberley destination is the Bella Vista Ranch, an Italian style family farm. This home of the First Texas Olive Oil Company has over 1000 producing olive trees and an olive press. There are also seasonal fruits and vegetables, a winery, tasting room and gift shop, with tours and tastings daily.
Wimberley Market Days are on the first Saturday of the month, March through December. With over 400 booths, there is something for everyone at this historical market. It is the oldest continuous outdoor market in the Hill Country and the second oldest in Texas. Even just a stroll down Main Street is a unique Wimberley experience with its eclectic array of shops and eateries. This Hill Country town needs to be put on the to-do list.
Ki graduated from UT, and stayed in Austin to live and works as a broker in the Austin real estate market. He authored a website, which serves Austin real estate buyers. It has a feature, which includes free searches of houses in the Austin MLS. His site also provides a map based home search for Wimberley real estate
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Head west, between Austin and San Marcos, across the seemingly endless Texas Hill Country vistas dotted by quaint towns and you will find the old mill town of Wimberley. The town was first settled in the 1840s, after Texas became a state. Mills powered by Cypress Creek kept the town growing, and changing names, for decades. Each new mill owner gave the settlement a new name, until it officially became Wimberley in 1880 after then mill owner Pleasant Wimberley.
Perhaps the best known spot in Wimberley is Blue Hole. Shaded by Cypress trees, this spring-fed swimming hole is always inviting. Purchased by the city of Wimberley in 2005 with the help of the Texas Department of Wildlife and other public funding sources, Blue Hole will be enjoyed for generations to come. The grassy banks that surround the cool waters are perfect for sunbathing and picnicking. The rope swings hanging from the tall branches of the Cypress trees entice daredevils to leap into the deep water with splash.
Other outdoor activities include hiking the Cypress Creek Nature trails, which has 7.24 acres of trails crisscrossed by the babbling creek. There are great Hill Country views from the top of Mount Baldy. The stone steps carved along the path to Mount Baldy, also called Prayer Mountain, make this a pleasant hike.
Beautiful Hill Country views can be found along the drive to the Devil's Backbone off of Ranch Road 12, where the whole valley can be seen and then grab a bite at one of the nearby taverns. The town of Wimberley goes to the banks of the Blanco River and another popular drive is River Road. The river may entice drivers to stop and fish, swim or drift down the river on a tube.
Visitors to Wimberley will want to meander over to the Driftwood Estate Winery, which has seven grape varieties on its 20 acre vineyard. Enjoy the views from the deck where the winery serves lunch and offers tastings year around. Another tasty Wimberley destination is the Bella Vista Ranch, an Italian style family farm. This home of the First Texas Olive Oil Company has over 1000 producing olive trees and an olive press. There are also seasonal fruits and vegetables, a winery, tasting room and gift shop, with tours and tastings daily.
Wimberley Market Days are on the first Saturday of the month, March through December. With over 400 booths, there is something for everyone at this historical market. It is the oldest continuous outdoor market in the Hill Country and the second oldest in Texas. Even just a stroll down Main Street is a unique Wimberley experience with its eclectic array of shops and eateries. This Hill Country town needs to be put on the to-do list.
Ki graduated from UT, and stayed in Austin to live and works as a broker in the Austin real estate market. He authored a website, which serves Austin real estate buyers. It has a feature, which includes free searches of houses in the Austin MLS. His site also provides a map based home search for Wimberley real estate
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