What to do ● Where to eat ● Where to stay ● Float the river
Named after an original farm settlement’s founding family, Gruene, Texas is a small Texas town nestled along the Guadalupe River right in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.
Famous for many reasons, Gruene, Texas attracts many visitors every year. From their antique stores and boutique shopping to Gruene Hall to the Guadalupe River, there are many reasons to visit this quaint Texas Town.
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What to Do
For those who like to adventure and explore, opportunities are endless. A visitor to Gruene can take a drive and drink in the scenery of the rolling hills and fields of the Texas Hill Country or peacefully float along the Guadalupe River or dance the night away at the historic Gruene Hall.
The downtown of Gruene is petite and easily walked.
Choosing accommodations that are located centrally in the town of Gruene provides the easiest access to the downtown area of Gruene. Staying near downtown Gruene removes the hassle of finding parking where options are limited and removes the time that would be spent traveling to/from town and loading into the car.
Visitors to downtown Gruene will find quaint shops, antique stores, and a cowboy hat shop to name a few. Patronizing these small businesses is a great way to support the local community and give back!
Also located in downtown Gruene is the infamous Gruene Hall! A staple of Texas country music history, this is a can’t miss when visiting the small charming Texas town of Gruene. Wither you stop in for a beer or make an evening out of it – listening to the live music and dancing, every visitor to Gruene needs to step in Gruene Hall to breathe in the history and step out onto the old, smooth, hardwood dance floor.
Floating the river is one of the most popular things to do in this area during the summer. Keep reading for more information on floating the Guadalupe River or click here to jump down.
Where to Eat
Delicious restaurants on every corner in the small Texas town of Gruene. The area was settled by German immigrants back in the 1800s and the German culture has not left the area. You will find delicious German food, Southern cooking, and BBQ in Gruene, Texas.
One of our favorite restaurants in Gruene that we return to every visit is the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar. This building is one of the original parts of the old Gruene homestead that still stands – the cotton gin. Historic building turned restaurant, you can drink in the past of Gruene will enjoying a view of the Guadalupe River and eating some wonderful food. If you need to walk (or dance) off your dinner, the historic Gruene Hall is just next door.
Where to Stay
The best place to stay in Gruene, Texas is the Gruene Mansion Inn. This historic bed and breakfast is in the heart of the Gruene Family Homestead and cotton gin. Both the walkability and the history were enticing! With a main house and many out buildings, there plenty of rooms to stay in and some feature a porch with a view of the Guadalupe River. As a Bed and Breakfast in Gruene, Texas, the Gruene Mansion Inn will provide a complimentary breakfast and for some special occasions they will gift the occupants with a local bottle of wine – talk about customer service! The crew at the Gruene Mansion Inn is very welcoming and the rooms and common areas are sparkling clean.
If you visit Gruene, Texas 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 necessarily have the opportunity to float the Guadalupe River – if that’s the case, another trip to float is highly recommended!
Float the River
Floating the Guadalupe River is an activity that can’t be missed! You can make your own trip while floating the river. Visitors who want to day-drink and party will do so but there are many families who float the river with their children. Floating the Guadalupe River from Gruene, Texas is easy. There are two major tube rentals right there in town that will either let you get in the Guadalupe River right there at their rental service location and pick you up after you have floated down river OR they will shuttle you up river and wait for you to float down to their rental location where you can get out of the water and return your tube immediately.
My personal preference is to be shuttled up river and arrive at the float location for two reasons, number one is you will not have to wait on the shuttle once nor watch out for the exit location on the river and number two is there are some serious rapids on the Guadalupe River right before you get to Gruene that are almost guaranteed to knock you out of your tube.
The weekends on the Guadalupe River are busy and some can be hectic. If you enjoy the peace and quiet, I highly recommend floating the river on a weekday. We floated on a Thursday in the summer and only encountered two or three people (on kayaks).
Staying in Gruene, Texas is a wonderful vacation destination idea for people from all walks of life and interests! A visitor to Gruene can make the trip what they want to experience, from a relaxing and romantic stay, to a family-friendly oriented vacation, to an adventurous and party atmosphere, there is something for everyone in Gruene, Texas.
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