New Braunfels is home to many natural and historic places to explore. Check out the list below to find the right experience for you and your family!
Landa Park
This 51-acre park is along both sides of Landa Lake, a man-made lake using water from the Comal River. This naturally makes Landa Park a prime location for water lovers, with paddle boat rentals, a spring-fed pool, and an Olympic pool available for public use. Picnic pavilions and tables sit under ancient oak trees, providing plenty of shade. There are many multi-use trails throughout the park, as well as the Panther Canyon Nature Trail and William and Dolores Schumann Arboretum, where visitors can learn all about the local ecosystem. If walking isn’t your thing, a miniature train set chugs along through the park, and there is a playground for kids of all ages.
Gruene Historic District
Ernst Gruene arrived in the original townsite of New Braunfels, but acreage was limited. He decided to settle just north of the original town and would build a small town there with a cotton gin, mercantile store, and dance hall. The town would prosper until the great depression caused hardship. Most businesses closed except the Dance Hall. In 1974, Chip Kaufman, an architecture student from Austin, saw the old ghost town and would work to make it a nationally recognized historic district. He would find new owners for the refurbished late 1800’s building which today are restaurants, shops, and offices. The dance hall is also still in business and offers a look into the history of Texas.
Downtown New Braunfels
New Braunfels has a beautiful downtown with so many boutiques, museums, restaurants, nightlife, and historical buildings. Naegelin’s is the oldest existing Texas bakery and still calls downtown home. The oldest Texas hardware store, Henne, is also located here. The preserved small businesses and unique architectural style reminisce back to the early days of Texas. Downtown stretches from Seguin Avenue to San Antonio Street, meeting at the Main Plaza. Events are held all throughout the year here from holiday gatherings to concerts in the summer.
Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is one of the deepest lakes in Texas, and is only 14 miles from New Braunfels. Much larger than Landa Lake, Canyon Lake offers fisherman, boaters, and sunbathers a tranquil retreat. The lake is located along the Guadalupe River, and eight public parks with picnicking, boat ramps, and camping line the 80 miles of scenic shoreline. On the other side of the Canyon Dam, you can go tubing down the Guadalupe River and maybe catch a glimpse of some 100 million-year-old fossils and dinosaur prints.
Natural Bridge Caverns
Sitting 180 feet below ground, Natural Bridge Caverns offers an exciting look at ancient stalactite, stalagmite, and other rock formations. There is fun for all ages, with gem and fossil mining for smaller children, and a 60-foot vertical obstacle course with a zip line to get your heart pumping. A souvenir shop and café greet you on your way out for a gift or a quick bite.
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