Things to Do

New Braunfels: The City That Warms Up When Things Cool Down

By  | 
Tony Maples Photography

 

Though most people associate New Braunfels with Schlitterbahn, the water park is not the only thing this town has to offer. You can enjoy a trip to this tiny Texas Hill Country hamlet during the fall and winter, when the park does not operate. Discover the many things New Braunfels has to offer during the cooler months, and you may discover a new off-season vacation spot.

Check Out Wineries and Craft Breweries

Hill Country Craft Beer Trail Gives You Directions to Multiple Breweries Near New Braunfels

Photo: Facebook/Hill Country Craft Beer Trail

Texas has numerous wineries and craft breweries, and what better time than the cooler months to visit these? Just in the New Braunfels area, you can find three wine producers (La Cruz de Comal, Dry Comal Creek Vineyards, and Blue Lotus Winery) and three breweries (New Braunfels, Faust, and Guadalupe). Why not go on an expedition to visit them all and find your favorite beer or wine? Or you can opt for a guided tour of the of one of the breweries along the Hill Country Craft Beer Trail. This trail guides you to the three breweries in New Braunfels and beyond to other beer makers in Central Texas. It’s a great way to get to know Texas brews.

Welcome the Holiday Season

Wurstfest represented at a New York City parade

Photo: Facebook/Wurstfest

The fall and winter are when those in New Braunfels put on their party hats. Thanks to the German heritage of the town, the cooler months host a pair of German-themed festivals. In November, you can enjoy the best of the wurst at Wurstfest. This is a celebration of sausage and all things German. And during December, don’t miss the Christmas event, Wassailfest. Street closures give you the chance to walk around to check out downtown stores while you do your holiday shopping, and of course, don’t forget to sample some wassail and food as you do.

Get Cultured at a Museum

Sophienburg Museum and Archives in New Braunfels

Photo: Facebook/Sophienburg Museum and Archives

New Braunfels has several museums to help you connect to the past. The New Braunfels Railroad Museum is a free attraction that takes you back in time to when railroads reigned as the supreme form of transportation in Texas. For an overview of New Braunfels history, stop by the Sophienburg Museum. This museum not only features exhibits outlining immigration into New Braunfels but it also serves as a repository for historic documents. Many professional and amateur historians and genealogists research German immigration at the Sophienburg archives.

Check Out Live Music

Gruene Hall in New Braunfels

Photo: Facebook/Gruene Hall

What would a trip through the Texas Hill Country be without live music? And one of the most well-known music venues and oldest dance hall, Gruene Hall, is located in New Braunfels’ Gruene historic district. With numerous free shows on an almost daily basis, you won’t feel that your music life lacks anything. Two-step your way to Gruene to scratch that live music itch.

Play Outdoors

Landa Park Railroad in New Braunfels

Photo: Facebook/I Love Texas

Unlike other parts of the country where the coming of winter means putting away outdoor activities that don’t involve snow, New Braunfels has perfectly mild weather that makes being outside in the fall and winter comfortable. With cooler weather and fewer mosquitoes, the Texas Hill Country becomes the perfect place to venture in the fall. For simply going on short hikes, bird watching, or picnicking, check out the city parks, Landa and Fischer parks, but if you want to fish, try visiting one of the many fishing spots around town. With so much to do, you won’t run short of outdoor activities, even in the cooler months of the year.