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Gruene, Texas
First on the list is an oldie but a goodie – Gruene, Texas. Named after the founding family, this small Texas town rests along the Guadalupe River nestled in the heart of the Hill Country.
Adventure opportunities are endless. From taking a drive to drink in the scenery of rolling hills and fields to peacefully floating along the river to dancing the night away at the historic Gruene Hall.
The town itself is very small and easily walkable. With quaint shops, antique stores, and delicious restaurants on every corner, there is something for every taste.
If you visit during the summer, be prepared for hot temperatures! Get out and explore in the mornings or evenings. If you Visit during the rest of the year, your weather might be better but you won’t have the opportunity to float the river – if that’s the case, another trip to float is highly recommended!
We visited for our 5th wedding anniversary in August and stayed at the Gruene Mansion Inn. This B&B was in the heart of the Gruene Family Homestead and cotton gin. Both the walkability and the history were enticing!
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Another history-filled location with a great downtown. Known for being a popular spot with the 20’s mobsters – Al Capone in particular – this town holds the therapeutic Bathhouse Row. The Hot Springs the town of Hot Springs is named after are rumored to have healing properties. Earlier in the decade, people in droves for a chance to escape their ailments in the heat of the springs. Today you can still visit Buckstaff Bathhouse and experience a traditional Hot Springs Spa therapy session.
Around the strip of eight historic bathhouses, there is a wonderfully walkable downtown… a couple of blocks in each direction.
Behind the downtown is the Hot Springs National Park. We did a little hiking but quickly wore out due to elevation. After we drove to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, observation tower higher in the park. You do have to pay an additional fee but it is well worth it. The view from the top is impossible to beat.
We visited back in 2016 to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. Lucky for us, there was cool weather, clouds, and the shade of the National Park to give us a break from the heat of the August sun. We stayed at the Spring Street Inn bed and breakfast. It was a great spot, a short walk from downtown.
Granbury, Texas
We love a good downtown and visiting this town for our 4th wedding anniversary did not disappoint. There are blocks of history, from an old theater to a haunted motel, the Historic Nutt House Hotel, and restaurants to shop after shop of antiques.
Near downtown is also Lake Granbury. Swim off the beaches or sit along the bank and drink in the views… you win either way.
While in this area west of the DFW metroplex, a must-visit is Dinosaur Valley State Park. Hike along the footprints of dinosaurs, climb to high points in the park and overlook the river, and camp if you’re feeling up to it! We made a day-trip out of it and that was perfect for our trip. If you go for a day – be intentional about your time.
During our trip, we stayed right outside downtown at the Captain’s House. This was a great option as we could enjoy Lake Granbury and still walk to town!
Shreveport, Louisiana
An odd ball on the list, this town did not make the cut for its awesome downtown and antique shopping but for its more promiscuous offerings. Shreveport (Bosier City), Louisiana is a hub of casinos. Affectionately referred to as the boats, these casinos stay within legal boundaries by only offering gambling on boats in the river. Sounds a little strange but once you’re in the casino, you wouldn’t even know that you’re floating on the river. Most of the casinos have expanded outside their boats to offer hotels and other amenities.
If you have gambled before than there is a good chance you have an offer from the casinos waiting for you. If this is your first time, still call the casino before booking to see if there are any promotional opportunities you could take advantage of to save a few bucks.
We usually stay in Sam’s Town but El Dorado is a good option, too! For our 2nd wedding anniversary, Sam’s Town and their discounted rooms return gambler rooms served us well.
Flint, Texas
The last on the list, Flint, Texas is a easily accessible from Dallas/Fort-Worth. Located in East Texas, this town made the cut thanks to its peaceful atmosphere. It is not as activity intensive as the other getaways. Centered around a resort, the town doesn’t have much to offer but Tyler is a close drive and offers anything you could want.
We suggest enjoying your time at the resort – slow down and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. If you want to get out and about, though, visit Tyler State Park and Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary.
Tyler State Park offers wonderful trails around a crystal clear, spring-fed lake. Surrounded by the state park, this lake never disappoints. If visiting in the summer, come prepared to take a dip! This lake will make a believer out of anyone hesitant to swim in lakes. The clear water destroys any ominous feelings. Instead, you can see the fishies swimming around.
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary is a big-cat rescue and well-worth the visit if this is up your alley. Admission is a little pricey but it goes to a great cause! The refuge is large so be prepared to spend about half a day here! Admission comes with a tour an then visitors are encouraged to stick around and visit their favorite cats again.
While celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary, we stayed at our Holiday Inn Timeshare on Lake Palestine.
Follow Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary @tiger_creek https://tigercreek.org/
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