When you’re looking for a peaceful and easy day trip or short getaway, consider the charming town of Wimberley, Texas. Located just an hour southwest of Austin, this Hill Country hot spot offers a peaceful break from busy life with gorgeous landscapes, a quaint small town square, lots of great eateries and wineries, and lovely places to take a dip in some clear cool water.
Blanco River, Wimberley; photo credit: Heidi Okla
While we have certainly enjoyed many day trips to Wimberley with the kids, we recently went on a Moms-only getaway, and had a relaxing time. Let us walk you through some of our highlights to help you plan your next visit to Wimberley.
Winding Down in Wimberley
The Shady Llama
The Shady Llama is a family-owned outdoor beer and wine garden that has awesome Hill Country views. You can bring the whole gang because kids are welcome, and frankly they’d be sad to miss a visit to this fun setting. On the property, you’ll find six llamas and two miniature donkeys that you can feed. They have a wide range of beverage options — local selections of beer & wine, or opt for an iced tea or soda. You can also order up lunch or dinner from one of the on-site food trucks.
Shady Llama; photo credit: Heidi Okla
Jacob’s Well Natural Area
Note that swimming at Jacob’s Well is temporarily suspended as of June 29, 2022.
Known as one of the most significant natural geologic treasures in the Texas Hill Country, Jacob’s Well includes one of the longest underwater caves in Texas and is also an artesian spring. The well surges up thousands of gallons of water and acts as headwaters to Cypress Creek, which flows to the Blue Hole and the Blanco River. There is no fee required for parking or to visit the nature preserve where you can enjoy short hikes and birding, but reservations are required for those wanting to swim during the summer season. Click here for more info and tips for planning your visit.
Jacob’s Well; photo credit: Heidi Okla
Collective Retreats – Hill Country
For the ultimate glamping experience, we booked a one-night stay in a luxurious tent at Collective Retreats. Located along the Blanco River on a sustainable, eco-friendly ranch, you’ll find a collection of Summit Tents outfitted with plush beds, private bathrooms, and outdoor decks with Adirondack chairs for a quiet place to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. While we enjoyed our stay without kids on this getaway, they do invite children of all ages, and you can book the Family Suite that includes a tent tent for you and an adjacent smaller tent for the kiddos. There is a main common area that includes the Three Peaks Lodge dining tent where you can enjoy happy hour, a full chef’s tasting menu for a lovely farm-to-table dinner under the stars, and also a complimentary breakfast. This area has sweeping views, plenty of seating, and a large fit pit that is perfect for making s’mores in the evening. You’ll find lots of hammocks on the property to enjoy a quiet place to read or nap. There are yard games, and hiking trails, You can also add on an activity to your stay such as horseback riding or in-tent massage. We had the most wonderful time during our luxury glamping experience! Click here to read about our stay!
Collective Retreats; photo credit: Heidi Okla
Wimberley Square
Wimberley square is a quaint little area that includes a wide variety of charming shops and restaurants with great waterside views of Cypress Creek. You can spend hours strolling through shops offering locally-made jewelry, crafts, home decor, clothing, and much more. There are plenty of art galleries to pop into as well. While in the town, you can also stop into the Visitor Center just across from the Wimberley Square at 14100 Ranch Road 12.
Scene in Wimberley Square; Photo credit: Heidi Okla
Blue Hole Regional Park
Possibly best known as a summertime swimming destination, Blue Hole Regional Park also includes approximately 4.5 miles of trails, picnic areas, a playscape, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, and an amphitheater. The entire park is open to visitors year-round, but the Swimming Area is open by reservation only from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and weekends in September. Click here for more info about visiting this park.
Blue Hole Swimming Area; photo credit: Heidi Okal
Pioneer Town at 7A Ranch
For something out of the old Wild West, you can make a stop at Pioneer Town, located on the property of the 7A Ranch Resort. Take a short walk through a reenvisioned western town that includes an opera house, the pioneer chapel, and a bottle house (made entirely of glass bottles) as well as a seasonal ice cream parlor and arcade. Purchase a day pass for river access to the beautiful banks of the Blanco for $5/person from October-April. Click here for more info about 7A Ranch & view their lodging options, too.
Pioneer Town at sunset; photo credit: Heidi Okla
Of course, this is only a tiny sample of all the fun that awaits in Wimberley. For more, visit the City of Wimberley website or the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce site.
