Discover the Ultimate Fall Escape in Texas Hill Country
- Kayla
- Sep 5
- 5 min read
I don't say this lightly when I say that this was the ideal fall calm-cation getaway. My family and I have explored the Hill Country area extensively, and this was one of my favorite trips that we have taken. Our Thanksgiving trip in 2023 to Concan, Texas, is etched in my memory. The sights, the scents, the peace. Initially, we planned to go tent camping, but we backed out at the last moment and found a perfect, simple little cabin that still gave us the camping feel but was more comfortable for the cold weather we were slated for.
The cabin was part of a small cluster of cabins similar in size and style, but we ended up being the only guests during our stay. This made it much more peaceful than our anticipated state park camping experience. The kids were able to really spread out and do some serious target practice with their Zing Bows. By the way, I highly recommend this toy for any camping family. I digress, even if other families had been present, there was a nice distance between each outdoor space. Our cabin featured a large tic tac toe game, a picnic table, and a lovely firepit with a seating area. We were able to roast marshmallows and stargaze in complete tranquility every evening! It was a dream.
Since our stay coincided with Thanksgiving, we had a rather unique menu planned that was suitable for camping. I had prepared most items in advance to be reheated. We enjoyed Thanksgiving turkey meatballs with stuffing and cranberries. I will say- having a full kitchen to work in verses a camping kitchen setup was a welcomed change to our trip as well.
Lost Maples Natural Area: While it's an awesome place to live, Houston is not somewhere that makes anyone's list for fall color. For our Thanksgiving break trip we wanted to enjoy stunning fall colors, which led us to plan our trip in this particular part of Hill Country. Lost Maples is a must for "leaf peeping." A pro tip I'd like to offer is to reserve your entry time in advance. This park is packed in the fall- because of course everyone else wants to see and experience the unique beauty of the area too! I didn't know about this until we arrived at the park and saw a sign. Opps, you live and learn! I now check to see if every park we visit accepts advance registrations. You must also like to drive if you plan on heading out this way. It is a hike to get to, but man do you see some incredible scenery along the way. Something else that needs to be noted about this area of Texas is that there is barely any cell reception- so be prepared for that in advance. Download your maps in case you can't get them to load.
Since we were unable to secure a morning time slot for Lost Maples, before our strenuous afternoon hike we looped around to Utopia, Texas to waste some time and to try the acclaimed Lost Maples Cafe. I had heard about their amazing pies and felt that it was a must stop. But alas, they didn't have any pies made at the time of our visit. We still enjoyed our brunch though! We spent some time wandering around the small town where we stumbled upon The Deli Post, a charming gift shop with delicious coffee. It was a delightful and unexpected find! Another spontaneous activity was discovering a bounty of pecans in the side yard of a church. A gentleman doing yard work told us it was fine to pick some up, so we filled a bag to take with us!
Once at Lost Maples we chose to do the East Trail and the East-West Trail. While challenging at times, the East trail is a must do and truly captures the essence of what makes this park special. Our kids hung in there and felt very accomplished at the end. Along this trail we saw bigtooth maples, bald cypress, and sycamore trees all dressed in their fall splendor. We also got to see the unique monkey rock, the grotto, and explore the dry Sabinal River bed. I can't wait to get back out to this park and see the other side that we didn't get to hike one day.
Garner State Park: If you are a camper, I would say Garner State Park is a must visit gem for camping in Texas. This state park truly has it all! In addition to hiking and enjoying the fall scenery, there is a plethora of things to do inside the park. We were able to spend most of the day here with zero complaints from the kids.
We began our day by hiking to the Old Baldy Summit and then spent some time wandering around the trails that connected close to the river. Although our kids weren't interested this time, you could rent kayaks, paddle boats, or paddle boards to enjoy the river. The river's unique charm and the majestic trees in the area were breathtaking to witness in person. After hiking we played mini golf and had lunch at the Garner Grill and finished it off with ice cream. During the warmer months they offer river floating and nightly dances. But, you won't find Matt and I on the dance floor! We both have two left feet.
Although Texas may not typically be considered for fall foliage experiences, I hope it has now earned a place on your list. This trip holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite journeys in Texas to date.
If you are driving out that way from the Houston area I have a few more recommendations for you. These were stops that we took worth mentioning along the way.
Schulze's Pit Room (Seguin)- Some of the best BBQ and BBQ sauce I had while living in Texas. We ate here on the way out to Concan and stopped again on the way back to eat and buy sauce to take home.
Silver Creek Specialty Meats and Gourmet Coffee (Hondo)- Hands down the coolest coffee shop I have ever been to. Not only did they have your typical amazing coffee shop offerings, they had a great little indoor play area for kids. They also sold specialty meats and homemade goodies. Matt and I were very brave and took the owner up on her offer to try Parisa. Now, while we did not purchase any, I will say it was tasty. Just for fun, I am going to let you google what that dish is on your own : )
Unsure how to begin planning your Texas or fall foliage trip? Send me a message and we'll start organizing it together!
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