Tucked under towering cypress and pecan trees, the artist community of Wimberley is located between Austin and San Antonio. The Hill Country hamlet marks where the Blanco River meets Cypress Creek, drawing swimmers to the shaded oasis at Blue Hole Regional Park every summer. Named after mill owner Pleasant Wimberley in 1880, the village started as a trading post as early as 1848 but did not incorporate until 2000. Today, the town of about 3,000 residents maintains its artistic heritage with dozens of boutiques and monthly Market Days. One of the Hill Country’s largest outdoor markets, the event takes place on the first Saturday of the month from March to December. But shopping and swimming aren’t the only reasons to check out the area: Wimberley is a Dark Sky Community, inviting visitors to trade bright city lights for unadulterated views of the stars at night.
DISTANCE FROM
Austin
50 minutes
San Antonio
1 hour
Houston
3 hours
Dallas
3.5 hours
El Paso
8 hours
Stay
Creekhaven Inn & Spa
Close enough to hear live music from the square at night but quiet enough to wake to birdsong, this family-run bed-and-breakfast and spa was one of Wimberley’s first guesthouses. Enjoy breakfast and coffee delivered to your door, then lounge on hammocks under a canopy of trees. Rooms start at $229/night.
See
Blue Hole Regional Park
A public swimming hole since the 1920s, the city of Wimberley purchased the 126-acre park in 2005 to prevent urban development. Reservations are key, with swimming season open from May 1 through Labor Day, as well as weekends in September. The park also hosts biannual star parties in the spring and fall
See
Bygone hotel pool
If you miss out on Blue Hole reservations, a day pass at the Bygone’s pool is an ideal alternative. Transformed from a roadside motor lodge into a modern boutique hotel, the property has nostalgic charm and unmatched views of the Blanco River Valley.
Shop
Shop on the square
Wander through the locally owned boutiques and specialty stores lining the square. Browse vintage treasures at Creekside Vintage and Nightbird Boutique, find a new plant at Ceremony Botanical Studio, and don’t miss handmade Texan trinkets at Senior Citizens Craft Shop.
eat
Creekhouse Kitchen & Bar
Dine on hearty salads, grass-fed burgers, and tacos at this restaurant overlooking Cypress Creek. The locally owned eatery regularly hosts live music.
drink
the shady llama
Snag a spot under the lights at the Shady Llama to catch a classic Hill Country sunset. The bar sources its draft beer and wine exclusively from Texas producers. If you’re lucky, you might spot one of the property’s miniature donkeys or llamas. Although—true to the bar’s name—the animals prefer shade.
