I hope everyone had a wonderful winter. Spring is definitely in the air. If you are looking for a weekend or week outing in the Hill Country, you can find what you are looking for in New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Wimberley, and San Marcos.

Wimberley:
Market Days are back in Wimberley! Come see over 470 vendor booths in a great outdoor setting the first Saturday of the month. Your shopping won’t be complete until you check out the shops in the Wimberley Square. The Central Texas Bonsai Exhibit and Wimberley Glass Works are must see attractions! Finish with dinner at Mandola Winery’s Trattoria Lisina or one of the fabulous restaurants at the Junction - Cedar Grove Steakhouse and Casa Loma Tex-Mex. Then enjoy the evening at Creekhaven Inn or Highpoint Manor.

New Braunfels/Gruene:
For outdoor types, enjoy an outing to the Animal World & Snake Farm, a helicopter ride with Helicopter Tours of Texas, or skiing and wakeboarding at Texas Ski Ranch. Plus Schlitterbahn will be opening soon! Relax on a lazy ride down the river with Rio Raft or Mountain Breeze Camp. Great campsites are also available. New Braunfels has unique shopping in downtown and in the historical district of Gruene. Many great hotels are available such as the La Quinta Inn & Suites, the new Sleep Inn & Suites, Executive Inn & Suites, and the Super 8. Try German food at Friesenhaus, incredible burgers at Iron Horse Grill, or barbecue at McBee’s. For fine dining, try The Vineyards Restaurant in Garden Ridge.

Canyon Lake:
Canyon Lake offers great fishing and boating. For our shoppers, try Faithville Shopping Center or downtown Sattler on FM 2673. For real Italian pizza, you must try Parziale’s Pizzeria. There are also several great home-cooking restaurants in the area. For cabins, RV sites, and tent camping, Rio Raft & Resort and the Riverside Resort are scenic locations.

San Marcos:
Texas State University is located in the scenic hills of San Marcos. Enjoy touring the campus and see where LBJ went to college. Check your email and relax with a cup of coffee at Tantra or the Coffee Pot. Find treasures at Second to None Upscale Resale. Enjoy the many parks and Aquarena Center’s glass bottom boat.

Highpoint Manor Inn is running a Valentine’s Special. It will include a two-night stay, a candlelight dinner one of the nights, champagne and flowers.

The package rate for rooms in the main house will be $300, and for the cottages it will be $400. The offer is valid Thursday, Feb. 14th thru Sunday Feb. 17th, 2008, and of course, breakfast is included both days.

For more information on Highpoint Manor Inn, go to the website at www.highpointmanorinn.com or call 866-847-5225.

Three generations have been staying and playing at Rio Raft & Resort in Canyon Lake, where unique river fun and scenic Hill Country beauty are the perfect combination for an unforgettable family vacation. Located on the Guadalupe River, at 14130 River Rd., and just minutes from beautiful Canyon Lake, Rio Raft & Resort offers 25 cozy cabins, RV hookups, guided fishing trips, camping, swimming, tubing, rafting, and of course, breathtaking scenery. The cabins overlook the river, and all have individual decks and barbecue grills. Since 1977 this family-owned resort has been the perfect place for family reunions. You can float lazily in the river frontage, or try something more exciting like a thrilling whitewater trip or novice run. Whatever the ride, you’ll love the panoramic beauty of the cypress-canopied river and green shrouded hills. Rio Raft & Resort is open year round for great fun! For more information call 830-964-3613 or 877-RIO-RAFT (746-7238) or visit www.rioraft.com.

Click to see RioRaft on the Discovery Map.