Buda
Buda is a bedroom community of Austin, located within an easy commute to downtown. It manages to maintain its small town charm and has created a quaint depot station to embrace rather than try to hide the train tracks that cut across at the north end of town.
Buda is located 20 miles south of Austin -- 1 hr north of San Antonio
You'll find Buda to be a crisp town with a sprinkling of antique shops, but at only a block or so long, it's not going to occupy your day.
Buda Park and Pavilion are used for public concerts and festivals, including Budafest which takes place in early December. Check the chamber website for exact dates.
Not far outside Buda, off IH 35 is Cabela's. This is a stop you're going to want to make. It's not quite in the spirit of the Texas Hill Country, in terms of charm and historic importance, but it's done in the tradition of "everything is bigger in Texas."
This is the largest sporting goods store I have ever experienced -- and it is an experience. Cabela's has an indoor aquarium with catfish the size of my right leg. They have a full museum of "critters" native to Texas. And they have a cafeteria style restaurant overlooking a snowy-mountain peak with stuffed goats. And of course, they have every hunting, fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, and archery piece of equipment that you have ever coveted.
Drive Times
Getting from one place to another takes time in the Hill Country. Texas is a big state and there's a lot of land to traverse. I've put together a drive time grid of how long it takes to get from one place to another.
Roadtrips through the Hill Country
The very thought of a roadtrip sparks energy in the air. As a college student, my best friend and I would stock the car with candy bars, sodas and enough clothing to last a week. We'd head off to Vegas or the mountains or sites yet unknown for an overnight.
