8 Best Sights in The Hill Country, Texas

About 30 miles southwest of Austin off Route 71 is a small nature preserve that is home to one of the Hill Country's most beautiful natural pools. The continuously flowing Hamilton Creek spills over an enormous limestone outcropping, creating a beautiful 50-foot waterfall that gently spills into the crystal waters of Hamilton Pool. A popular swimming spot for decades, it's a lovely place to explore and walk. Reservations are required in advance. Entry fees are cash-only in person, credit card online.

Formed over thousands of years from water cutting and dissolving limestone bedrock, Longhorn Caverns are a fantastic exhibit of Texas natural history. With a history of Comanche tribes seeking refuge in the caves and calcite-crystal beds, the caverns are a perfect destination for families interested in how the limestone caverns in the Hill Country were formed. Be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes; it gets slippery down there.

Nature lovers will enjoy strolling the trails through a 100-acre nature center set aside for the conservation of natural grasslands, marshlands, and riverbeds. Educational outdoor workshops and camps are available for kids, and night hikes are also on offer. At historic Herff Farm, you can explore community gardens and trails as well as learn about land stewardship.

If you need a little relief from the Texas heat, a trip here will certainly cool you off. Just a few miles east of Marble Falls in Spicewood, the springs are actually two separate swimming holes on a private ranch opened to the public. From Route 71, splash through a low-water crossing and up to a hilltop bluff with hypnotic views of rolling grasslands, sprawling oak trees, and an undisturbed horizon. Park your car near the main house and stroll down a flight of outdoor stairs to the spring-fed pools. Be prepared for the biting chill as your toes hit the water.

It’s not what you’d expect to find in Texas, but this nonprofit conservation foundation is a place where you can visit giraffes and rhinos that roam a vast fenced-in space and are extremely well tended to. The goal here is to raise awareness and funds to help wildlife conservation initiatives in Africa. Founded by a conservationist who helped design Disney’s Animal Kingdom, visitors (ages 12 and over) can also stay overnight in four villas with picture windows to maximize viewing and learn as much as they can from the animal caregivers.

Dedicated to preserving the authenticity of America's Western heritage, this museum not only showcases Western art from past and present artists, but also shares the rich and complex history of Native Americans, settlers, women of the West, mountain men, cowboys, and tradesmen in the West through educational programs. A frequent rotation of events features local wineries and collaborative workshops with artists.

Thousands of sun-beaten travelers seek refuge from the Texas heat each year at this 65-acre water park with more than 40 rides and family activities spread over six areas, with a river running through it. If you plan to spend several days at the Park, look into booking a stay at the resort.

This nonprofit interactive museum, a really cool high-tech space housed in a refurbished 1880s mill, offers a wealth of fun—and education—for kids and grown-ups alike. Exhibitions run the gamut from Sharks to the Food Forest, deep sea robotics, a virtual body table, and so much more.