Lone Star All-Stars
The ride from San Antonio to Austin, TX, is down-home friendly
The Route: From San Antonio—home of the Alamo—Highway 16 points northwest, through countryside draped in wildflowers. In Bandera, the Cowboy Capital of the World, learn how to ride, groom, and feed horses at the Hill Country Equestrian Lodge (hillcountryequestlodge.com). “We have cute saddles for kids as young as two,” says co-owner Dianne Lindig Lovett. Ramble on Highway 16 to the north. Orchards strung along the Pedernales River offer peachy delights: cobblers, jam, ice cream, and pickin' (texaspeaches.com has a map). Explore Longhorn Cavern State Park, with sparkling calcite-covered walls and a mysterious dog-shaped formation. Highway 71 leads east to the capital, Austin, where you'll find fams cooling off at Barton Springs, a natural swimming hole. At sunset, go to Congress Avenue Bridge to witness more than a million Mexican bats flying out in search of dinner.
Sleep: San Antonio's Westin Riverwalk (westinriverwalksanantonio.com) sits near the Alamo and Riverwalk boat rides. The Hyatt Regency Austin (austin.hyatt.com) has a pool with river views and is walking distance from the bat show.
Local Eats: Dig into buttery brisket at Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que (coopersbbqllano.com).
