Bougainvillea Blooms Hill Country Covid Travel Experience

Hill Country Road Trip

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Sunset beyond Guadalupe River in Hill Country
Sunset over Guadalupe River in Hill Country

This was our second annual ‘cousins‘ Hill Country road trip, and our 1st trip, not only since the cases have spiked, but actually since Covid originated. One cousin lives north of San Antonio with the best location, and is gracious enough to host all of us. We are running out of summer and we wanted to get together before school starts, so we grabbed our masks and hit the road.

Traveling with masks
Traveling with masks

Our friends, who are really like family, were picking up a new car on Wednesday in Tyler (near where we live), so they came over from Louisiana and spent with the night with us. We all got up early Thursday morning and headed southwest to the land of high fences and short trees. And I think they almost had the new car figured out by the time we returned on Sunday! Nothing like learning on the road. Yikes! Ha ha

Hill Country Road Trip with friends
Hill Country Road Trip with friends

Taking the scenic route, we went on a little bit different path than usual, but we still ended up going through Waco. On the suggestion of some other friends of ours, we decided to try a café there, called Revival. I am super glad we did and definitely plan on going back! I ordered a burger with mushrooms and onions which was delicious and a side of sweet potato fries, because that is one of my favorites! The others ordered various salads and were very pleased too. Customers were spread out in the restaurant and we were instructed to scan a QR code to digitally access the menu. Masks were required to enter and while moving around the restaurant, but not while sitting at our table. Very modern and clean restaurant with ample covered outdoor patio seating.

Revival Eastside Eatery in Waco, TX
Revival Eastside Eatery in Waco, TX
Burger and sweet potato fries at Revival Eastside Eatery in Waco, TX
Burger and sweet potato fries at Revival Eastside Eatery

Murals are always a ‘stop the car’ moment. I love all of the creativity plastered on the side of a building. We saw this collection as we were driving away from Revival and my friend was a good sport and stopped. He said he almost got hit 3 times waiting on me, but that it was ok. Hahaha We safely got back on the road and continued our journey.

Eastside mural in Waco
Eastside mural in Waco

As we were driving in on HWY 281, several wineries caught our attention, especially two with very nice structures sitting way up on hilltops around the Johnson City area. One building looked a little like a castle or something up there but we didn’t see a sign and the other had a sign advertising ‘winery with views’. So of course we want to check it out! At the time tho, we were headed to New Braunfels for dinner and were searching online for pie to pick up along the way.

Headed up to the hilltop winery (Arc De Texas)
Headed up to the hilltop winery (Arc De Texas)

We found a place called Mrs. Bush’s Pie Company with good reviews that was located around Canyon Lake. We were headed that way, so it was perfect. We called to see if they were open, considering many businesses have varied their hours during this time. They told us they were open and had plenty of pies, cakes and cookies. We ran by Mrs. Bush’s, picked up a chocolate silk pie, a pecan pie and a huge cowboy cookie. They were all a hit and everyone needed to know the name of the bakery and where it was located (so I’m sharing it with you also!). I can’t lie tho, Fredericksburg Pie Co is still my top choice and I love the chocolate chip pecan pie when I go.

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Good old fashion pie place, Mrs. Bush's Pie Co around Canyon Lake, TX
Good old fashion pie place, Mrs. Bush’s Pie Co around Canyon Lake, TX

Since our hotel allowed us to check in up to 3 am, we decided to go ahead and go to our actual destination at our cousin’s house after dinner. It was a perfect nite on their fabulous covered patio catching up and enjoying nature. A comfy rope swing was a wonderful addition this year. We visited until pretty late, not exactly 3 am, but it had been a long day, it was time to go check into our hotel.

Relaxing and enjoying the slower pace of the Hill Country
Relaxing and enjoying the slower pace of the Hill Country

Staying in our hotel was certainly not the plan, even though it was a very nice and fairly new Hampton Inn, in a nearby area, Bulverde. The rooms were furnished with a luxury touch and extremely clean with breakfast included. They were providing boxed breakfasts in lieu of a buffet due to COVID. Of course, we skipped that and headed back to the next town to our gathering place for a hearty home cooked breakfast and sunrise mimosas! Ok, we may have made the name up, but our pineapple orange juice mimosas with a juicy cherry addition looked the part.

Sunrise mimosa
Sunrise mimosa
Breakfast is served! Come and get it!
Breakfast is served! Come and get it!

We were all sitting on the huge covered front porch admiring all of the new landscaping (at least what the deer hadn’t nibbled away) and decided we needed to go check out the hill top winery. This ended up being a very good decision!

View of Flowers
Enjoying the view of flowers (that the deer hadn’t eaten) from the front porch

It was called Arc De Texas and had a rooftop terrace!! We drove out to Johnson City and up the steep incline to the top where the winery was perched. We purchased some wine, local beer, and some monogrammed glasses and headed up to the roof. The winery was enforcing masks and we were gladly complying. Once we reached the rooftop we could take them off and enjoy the views and drinks.

Arc De Texas
Arc De Texas
Hilltop winery with a view
Hilltop winery with a view
Hiking up to the tasting room with masks
Hiking up to the tasting room
Just hanging out on rooftop at Arc De Texas
Just hanging out on rooftop at Arc De Texas
Sparkling in the new glass
Sparkling in the new glass

It was very windy because some thunder storms were blowing in. We stayed for a while, soaking in the incredible 360° sprawling acreage views from our elevated vantage point. We discovered that the castle looking building was actually a lighthouse building and part of the same property. Arc De Texas is basically a resort winery with various accommodations. The multistory building we were on top of had several floors for guest and the lighthouse building slept 15, so obviously we were planning a future gathering with that being homebase. Actually, we just added it to our list because we now have several places on our accommodations list for our annual cousins trips. One of the other places we are looking forward to is a party house on the river with a pool, which sounds like a great place to hang out in the Texas summer heat.

Windy on the rooftop today!
Windy on the rooftop today!
View of resort pool and beyond at Arc De Texas
View of resort pool and beyond at Arc De Texas
The girls
The girls
The guys
The guys

We did some of the usual things on this trip, like watching the deer. They are all over our cousin’s subdivision wandering freely. The property is also located very near the river so we were able to enjoy the beautiful views and watch the sunset. Eating well while we are there is an understatement. I mentioned that they were the best hosts. They are also fabulous cooks so there is plenty of cooking in including lots of grilling, sweets and big breakfasts. All typical things we really enjoy about visiting them!

Hi deer
Hi deer
Curious deer
Curious deer
Sunset reflecting in window
Sunset reflecting in window

Our adventures usually vary, and on this trip, we spent a fair share of time in New Braunfels. First stop (after stopping for pie) was actually New Braunfels, as one of the younger cousins was moving into a new house and we were able to christen the house with a kick off dinner there the first night. We discussed what a neat area downtown New Braunfels is, so we ended up going back Saturday for antiquing and checking out it’s very charming downtown area.

You are in the right place when you see the gazebo New Braunfels
You are in the right place when you see the gazebo
Charming shop filled streets New Braunfels
Charming shop filled streets New Braunfels
Theater with mural by train depot New Braunfels
Theater with mural by train depot New Braunfels

We had a late lunch at the Huisache Grill. The food was really wonderful. Love the atmosphere and the outdoor seating area surrounded by more boutiques tucked away off the main blocks. The restaurant was very cautious requiring masks, providing hand sanitizer and a digital menu via a QR scan as before. Everyone was pretty impressed with their food and the portions. Of course I love that they served rolls and butter while you waited.

Huisache Grill New Braunfels
Huisache Grill New Braunfels
Entrance around back Huisache Grill New Braunfels
Entrance around back Huisache Grill New Braunfels
Outdoor seating and more shopping
Outdoor seating and more shopping
Broiled salmon
Broiled salmon
Enjoying our delicious lunch at Huisache Grill New Braunfels
Enjoying our delicious lunch at Huisache Grill New Braunfels

After lunch we hit one more antique shop, called Traveling Gypsy, before heading back. I was able to snag a very unique 3 tiered tray shelf with a beaded trim for my bath. That will lead to more shopping to fill it up!

Traveling Gypsy New Braunfels
Traveling Gypsy New Braunfels

Our lunch was late, about mid afternoon, so we decided to go to a friend’s house in the neighborhood, to enjoy the sunset down by the river before playing games and cooking out on our last night.

Beautiful view anytime of day
Beautiful view anytime of day
Great deck view overlooking Guadalupe River
Great deck view overlooking Guadalupe River
Watching the sunset with my love
Watching the sunset with my love

Sunday morning we got up early and headed back out of town on yet another scenic route. Our friend likes to avoid the interstate so we just sat back and enjoyed the views and the company. There were two Buc-ee’s on our way and other than the masks, you would never know there was a pandemic by the crowd. If you aren’t familiar with Buc-ee’s, they are a mega super gas station and convenience store. They are typically swarming with folks due to the extraordinary amount of gas pumps, restroom stalls and vast selection of food, snacks and merchandise they have, and this time was no exception! The restrooms are basically express, with so many stalls and hand sanitizer pumps in each stall! Don’t ever pass up the chance to stop at a Buc-ee’s. Haha

Maybe more risky was when we stopped in Crockett to have lunch at Rosemary’s Hilltop Cafe. We were the only ones I saw wearing masks at all. I guess it’s more locals and they know each other and aren’t worried. Possibly they all had just come from church together?! It had very good reviews on TripAdvisor, but you know how perspectives can vary-remember our AirBnb experience in Naples?! Yikes!

Home at last and picking up our 16 year old Jack Russell, Trit!! Missed our little guy!!

So happy together! Back home with dog.
So happy together!

Hope you’ve enjoyed our Covid-era road trip experience and maybe gained some insight, if you were curious how traveling looks now. Here are some windy outtakes for you!

Fighting the wind! Wind blowing hair.
Fighting the wind!
Fighting the wind! Wind blowing hair.
There goes the hair!
Fighting the wind! Wind blowing hair.
The hair is a losing battle!

50 thoughts on “Hill Country Road Trip”

  1. What a fun road trip! I love cousin get togethers. We don’t do it often enough in my family, sadly.

  2. What a great roadtrip adventures you guys had – considering the situation. It just proves to say that you can still enjoy while following the safety protocols.

  3. Sounds like another great trip in the books. You brought back memories when you mentioned the deer eating the flowers. We had to stop planting flowers at one of our properties because they ate them every single time.

  4. I love Waco and the Hill Country. I grew up vacationing in this area as a child. Great memories of family fun!

      1. Friends, safe travel, and beautiful vistas (along with pie). What could be better? Sounds like fun was HS by all!

  5. What a trip! You guys look like you were having an amazing time. I especially loved the food porn. That salmon dish looked very tasty.

  6. Sounds like you had a wonderful first post-covid outing! We have visited a few wineries as well in our summer travels.

  7. I have never heard of this area. Definitely a serene area with lots to see. Thanks for the info!

    1. As many times as I have been to San Antonio, with family living there, I really hadn’t explored the area just north until last couple of years. It’s so relaxing up there!

  8. I love all the wide open spaces you were driving through. Road trips can be so fun, especially when the company is right!

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