And so, the adventure begins
Renting our venue at Stargazer Ranch in Bulverde, Texas lets you enjoy the view and natural surroundings of Texas Hill Country without the noises of a resort.
Eisenhower State Park
The difficult parts of this hike are actually all on the Hillview trail leading you to the Red Oak trail. You will have a steep climb as well as a few long steps down off large rocks. One thing I noticed about this park is there is usually little chance of having a serene quiet hike. There are many other hikers and joggers that come out here. Airplanes fly overhand on landing approaches and there is a military training base nearby that is often shooting on the firing range.
In spite of all this, I was pleasantly surprised when I got on the Red Oak trail. I immediately noticed that it was much less traveled and seemed quieter. The first half of this trail is under a canopy of trees and along a creek bed. I noticed much more wildlife signs than at any other place in the park. Unfortunately, it is a short trail that leads back to the Hillview Trail. Once back on Hillview you can turn left and come back the way you came or look at your map and pick a different route.
Old Tunnel State Park
Bat-viewing opportunities exist seven nights a week and educational presentations are given Thursday through Sunday, May through October.
The historical marker at the top of the hill outlines the building of the Old Tunnel. The Fredericksburg Historical Society provided the marker to the area. A kiosk located at the upper viewing area provides information about the bats at this location, bats in general, and a brief description of the policies and procedures of the state park. An additional kiosk, located at the lower viewing area, provides a brief history of the tunnel, as well as additional information on Mexican free-tailed bats and other bats of the world.
Friedrich Wilderness Park
Friedrich Wilderness Park offers approximately 10 miles of hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty. It is home to rare birds, terrestrial orchids, steep hills, and deep canyons. It is internationally known for bird watching. Perched on the edge of the Balcones Escarpment, Friedrich is a nesting site for two federally listed endangered species of birds: the Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler.
Natural Bridge Caverns
Who says adventure has to be ABOVE the ground....why not go under!
Natural Bridge Caverns is an amazing feat of nature in San Antonio, that offers a number of tours so you can explore them, and then some additional above-ground fun because...well why not!
Each tour offers you something different, so you can really pick the one that is best for your family. The Discovery Tour lets you experience huge, impressive formations that were formed by single drops of water over millions of years.
Cave Without A Name
Some people say that this underground adventure is THE most beautiful in Texas, so why not take the family and decide for yourself!
Cave Without A Name has been giving families underground adventures since all the way back in 1939 - that's a lot of family fun that's been had!
Less than 40 miles from downtown San Antonio, and 12 miles from Boerne, these caverns can be found in the heart of the rolling hills of Texas Hill Country, so why not make a day of it, get out of the city and really enjoy what nature has created - above AND below ground!