A Weekend Guide to New Braunfels, Texas

Friday evening: settle in, then head to Gruene

Check in, drop your bags and use the pool while the light is still good. Self check-in means you are not waiting on anyone at the front desk, which matters when you arrive late.

Gruene is about a ten minute drive. Gruene Hall opens its doors in the afternoon and usually has live music by evening, with no cover for many of the early sets. Grab dinner nearby, then wander the historic district while the porches are lit.

Saturday morning: the Comal and the Guadalupe

The Comal River runs about 72 degrees year round, which makes it the friendliest float in the state for families with younger kids. It is short, shaded and easy to do twice in a day.

The Guadalupe is the longer, more scenic option with cypress lined banks and a bit more current. Outfitters rent tubes, kayaks and shuttles along River Road, and most trips run two to four hours.

Pack light: water shoes, a dry bag, sunscreen and cash for the shuttle. Glass and styrofoam are not allowed on either river.

Saturday afternoon: Landa Park and downtown

Landa Park holds the headwaters of the Comal, giant oaks and a spring fed swimming pool. It is a good place to slow down between river trips.

Downtown New Braunfels is built around the Main Plaza bandstand. Naegelin's, the oldest bakery in Texas, is the local answer for strudel and kolaches, and the surrounding blocks are full of antique shops and small restaurants.

Sunday: waterpark or a slow morning

Schlitterbahn is the reason many families come to New Braunfels in the first place, with river rides built into the natural landscape. Arrive at opening if you are going on a summer weekend.

If you would rather keep it quiet, cook breakfast in the condo, take a last swim in the courtyard pool and drive home mid afternoon. San Antonio is about 35 minutes away and Austin is about an hour.

Where to stay

Staying in a condo rather than a hotel room gives you a kitchen for river day snacks, a washer and dryer for wet swimsuits and separate bedrooms so nobody wakes the kids at 6am.

Our condos at The Mercer sit in Freiheit Village, roughly five miles from downtown and two miles from Gruene, with a pool, a bar and grill courtyard and ping pong on site.