Thirty miles south of the Live Music Capital of the World sits San Marcos, a college town with a notable music history of its own. Home to Texas State University and its student-run radio station KTSW 89.9, the city of 74,000 vibrates with songwriters’ circles, karaoke nights, music festivals, and career-launching venues. Perhaps the most famous venue is Cheatham Street Warehouse, which opened in 1974 and incubated Texas’ progressive country movement. It hosted early performances by Lone Star luminaries including George Strait and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jazz has also been celebrated since 1989, when trumpet professor Keith Winking founded the Hill Country Jazz Festival—renamed the Butch Miles Jazz Festival last year to honor the former faculty member and Count Basie Orchestra drummer. Beyond campus, Summer in the Park has hosted free outdoor concerts for 39 seasons, right off the spring-fed San Marcos River. The city is an ideal escape for nature and music lovers alike.
DISTANCE FROM
AUSTIN
40 minutes
SAN ANTONIO
1 hour
HOUSTON
2.5 hours
DALLAS
3.5 hours
EL PASO
8.5 hours
Stay
The Meadows Center
There’s something soothing about peering into the blue-green depths of Spring Lake from a glass-bottom boat. Below, the Balcones Fault bubbles with 100 million gallons of water, making it one of the largest artesian springs in the state. Along with boat tours and paddleboard rentals, the center offers glowing kayaks for nighttime excursions.
Eat & Shop
Don Japanese Kitchen
Over the years, Bobcats have claimed Don’s waffle fries—drenched in house-made teriyaki and spicy mayo—are the only thing keeping them alive. The namesake Donburi rice bowl includes chicken katsu and torched salmon.
Learn & See
The Wittliff Collections
Find Sandra Cisneros’ Manolo Blahnik heels and Daniel Johnston’s handwritten letters before touring an exhibit on Jerry Jeff Walker’s 1973 album ¡Viva Terlingua! The free-to-visit collections sit on the seventh floor of Texas State’s Alkek Library.
Eat
Sewell Park
In 1917, led by math professor S.M. Sewell, students helped build this on-campus oasis, where the water is 72 degrees, year-round. Activities include swimming, sand volleyball, and basketball. Each May, Texas State grads jump into the river after commencement, gowns and all.
Shop
Sundance Records
Opened in 1977 by Bobby and Nancy Barnard, the original Sundance grew into one of Texas’ leading independent record shops before closing in 2012. The revived edition, now run by 1990s employee Kevin Kotara, has an eclectic record and CD collection and poster- plastered walls.
Eat
Melrose River Club
Envisioned as a quirky alternative to I-35 chain hotels, Melrose River Club rests on 12 acres along the water. Lodging includes 35 cabins for guests ages 16 and up. Don’t miss the champagne vending machine. Rooms start at $179/night.
