6 Best Sights in The Hill Country, Texas

About 30 miles southwest of Austin off Highway 71 is this small nature preserve that is home to one of the Hill Country's most beautiful natural pools. The continuously flowing Hamilton Creek spills over an enormous limestone outcropping, creating a beautiful 50-foot waterfall that gently plunges into the crystal waters of Hamilton Pool. A popular swimming spot for decades, recent rock fallings have closed the pool to swimming for the foreseeable future; it's still a lovely place to explore and walk. Reservations to visit are required in advance. Entry fees are cash only.

Formed over thousands of years from water cutting and dissolving limestone bedrock, Longhorn Caverns are a fantastic exhibit of Texas natural history. With a history of Comanche tribes seeking refuge in the caves and calcite-crystal beds, the caverns are a perfect destination for families interested in how the limestone caverns in the Hill Country were formed. Be sure to wear rubber-sole shoes; it gets slippery down there.

Nature lovers will enjoy strolling the trails through a 100-acre nature center set aside for the conservation of natural grasslands, marshlands, and riverbeds. Educational outdoor workshops and camps are available for kids. At Herff Farm, you can explore community gardens and trails as well as learn about land stewardship.

If you need a little relief from the Texas heat, a trip here will certainly cool you off. Just a few miles east of Marble Falls in Spicewood, the springs are actually two separate swimming holes on a private ranch opened to the public. From Highway 71, splash through a low-water crossing and up to a hilltop bluff with hypnotic views of rolling grasslands, sprawling oak trees, and an undisturbed horizon. Park your car near the main house and stroll down a flight of outdoor stairs to the spring-fed pools. Be prepared for the biting chill as your toes hit the water.

Thousands of sun-beaten travelers seek refuge from the Texas heat each year at this 65-acre waterpark with more than 40 rides and family activities spread over six areas.

Dedicated to preserving the authenticity of America's Western heritage, this museum not only showcases Western art from past and present artists, but also shares the rich and complex history of Native Americans, settlers, mountain men, cowboys, and tradesmen in the West through educational programs. Interactive seminars give youngsters a chance to build their own "home on the range" and see how difficult life was on the open frontier.