Tons of Fun around Kerrville

Wow! It was a HOT summer here in Texas! However, despite the heat beating down on us, we had a blast in Kerrville, Texas. If we loved exploring the area this much while we were melting in the heat, I can only imagine how gorgeous and refreshing exploring this part of the hill country will be during the Spring or Fall, The cities of Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt are neighboring towns seemingly connected as they parallel the Guadalupe River. We decided to see what each one had to offer.

Explored the Parks, Rivers and Lakes.

Guadalupe Park was great for an after dinner activity. There is a large spillway where you can walk across the top and watch the beautiful sunset. We caught a glimpse of a riverboat cruise going by and spied deer in the brush.

We also found Lake New Ingram to be quite pretty…and entertaining! Only the bravest lake goers would slide down the slippery slope of the concrete dam, either on a scrap piece of something they brought or hardcore on their britches, and we had a front row seat to watch the action (pictured at the very top).

Visited The Coming King Sculpture and Prayer Garden.

https://thecomingkingfoundation.org/home/

This was a great morning activity for us before the weather got too hot. We enjoyed a stroll through the garden reading scriptures and looking at the sculptures. It was truly special to read the prayers of hundreds of other visitors who had written their prayers on rocks along the path. The volunteers had a marker for us to borrow to write our own prayers, but it wouldn’t hurt to bring your own.

This garden sits up at the top of a pretty steep hill, but you are able to drive and park up at the top. The views are incredible!

Cost: Free

Bathrooms: Yes

Took selfies at the very random roadside attraction Stonehenge 2.

.http://www.hcaf.com/stonehenge-ii/

I just couldn’t resist seeing this silly thing! Maybe it’s because i’ve seen the original across the pond. The replica is 90% as wide and 60% as tall as the original Stonehenge in England.

We didn’t realize Stonehenge 2 was situated in the front lawn of the Hill Country Arts Foundation and Amphitheater, which was a nice little surprise. They hold events year round and the theatre run shows regularly. We weren’t able to stay for a show, but we did take a peek at the amphitheater . The drama and theatric vibes were strong with our 3 little ones as they hopped on stage and took a bow.

Shopping in charming Downtown Kerrville.

.https://www.kerrvilletexascvb.com/

Very cute downtown with a nice lookout point over the river. On certain days, the shops get together to hold fun events for visitors. The day we visited it was “pink flamingo” day, when select stores hid pink flamingos somewhere in their boutique and if you found one, you claimed a prize at the front desk.

If you love antique shopping and you have a lot of time to browse, I’d strongly recommend visiting Sunrise Antique Mall. I think you could spend an entire day in there and still not have seen all their antiques. It was fun!

Explored Riverside Nature Center.

This nature center had indoor and outdoor activities fun for everyone. We enjoyed completing a scavenger hunt, climbing on the “spider web”, exploring the Arthropod exhibit, and listening to bird calls. We did not have time to try the trails, and because we went in the middle of summer, there was less foliage and plants in bloom for us to look at.

Are you a sucker for a sucker? I am…usually. How about a worm sucker? I was feeling daring at the gift shop and decided to try a worm sucker. I’d never seen one of those and I thought it sounded like an adventure. Hmmm… I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t make it past about 2 licks.

Cost: Free (donations encouraged)

Bathrooms: Yes

Boot scooted our way to the rodeo and dancehall at Criders in Hunt.

I LOVED this evening out! First we watched the small town rodeo with barrel racing and bull riding. All the kids were invited down from the stands to participate in a contest to chase the calves and see who could pull a ribbon off of it. It was a riot!

After the rodeo we walked next door to the outdoor dance hall to hear live music. The dance floor filled up quickly!

You can purchase tickets at the door, and the ticket includes admission to the rodeo and to the dancehall.

https://cridersrandd.com/

Note: Most picnic tables at the dance hall are reservation only. Reservations can be made online. If you don’t reserve a table, seating options are very limited. There are concessions and bathrooms at the dancehall.

Camp Verde General Store & Restaurant http://www.campverdegeneralstore.com/

Just outside Kerrville, Camp Verde General Store & Restaurant offers a unique and historical experience. The food is refreshing and served in Texas-sized portions. The general store boasts the oldest post office that is still in service in Texas. The camel logo on the sign also has interesting significance, but I can’t tell you everything! It is well worth a stop!

Note: Reservations for dining are strongly suggested even for lunch.

Ohana’s Shaved Ice & Ice cream https://m.facebook.com/OhanasShavedIce?_rdr

This sweet stop was much needed on a summer afternoon and was conveniently located across the street from an easy entrance point to Lake New Ingram. You can splash and get ice cream after, or get ice cream first and then splash…it tastes great either way!

Cafe at the Ridge

https://www.shopsattheridge.com/cafe-at-the-ridge

This is place was SO COOL! There is no way to explain in words how neat Cafe at the Ridge is, especially in the evenings…its just a feeling you get when you’re there. A festive and cozy backyard feeling made the atmosphere just right for savoring my meal a little longer, and letting the kids run and play until dark. Live music was playing, the chickens were running the coop, and the porch swing was my spot as I sipped my evening beverage. Ahh…can you feel it?

Billy Gene’s

https://billygenes.com/

Classic down home cooking. The atmosphere is casual and fun. Great views of the river from the patio. Yes, my entire plate was covered in gravy and I loved every minute of it! We went early to beat the crowd and didn’t need reservations to get in.

Buckhorn Lake Resort

https://www.buckhornlake.com/

We really enjoyed this quiet RV resort. We stayed in one of their cabin/cottages. It worked out nicely for us to have our own kitchen and back patio, as well as separate sleeping spaces. We were pleasantly surprised at how *extremely* comfortable the bedding was…and we don’t get to say that often! It was an easy walk to the pool, pickle ball court and creek (if you wanted to fish). We would stay here again!

Note: this resort is not close to any dining or shopping. It will take you at least 5-10 minutes of driving to reach most dining options.