Wimberley

THE HILL COUNTRY of Texas was a great spot for our family's gathering at Christmas-time a few years ago. More specifically, our holiday headquarters were located in the small village of Wimberley. My wife and I, our son, and my parents spent several days in a house which gave us a view of the Blanco River from our big front porch. It was an easy walk just down the terrace and across the street to the water. Our accomodations provided us with a kitchen, a large dining area, family room, bedrooms, and bathrooms - plenty of space for the five of us. And, a couple of happy surprises greeted us upon arrival: we had a Christmas tree recently cut and ready to be decorated; plus, we quickly noticed an adequate supply of wood for the fireplace.
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Wimberley is a picturesque village situated in the midst of natural and rugged beauty. Country meadows and majestic hills are everywhere! The village is home to artists, authors, and musicians who were looking for a quiet and slower-paced lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. And yet, Wimberley is now known as a resort and retirement area.
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Once only a little trading post at Cypress Creek, Wimberley is on Highway 12 about 15 miles north of San Marcos and I-35. From there Austin is northeast on the Interstate less than an hour away, and San Antonio is a little further to the southwest. New Braunfels, Johnson City, and several other Texas towns are all within easy driving distance of Wimberley.

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A variety of quaint shops, studios, and art galleries are part of Wimberley's everyday charm. The village square and Olde Towne Plaza is a popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike, and cypress trees enhance the downtown landscape. The village hosts "Market Days" on the first Saturday of each month from April through December. These special events attract hundreds of people to over 400 booths set up in the downtown area. During the summer Market Days are expanded to an additional Saturday each month.
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There's plenty to do in Wimberley, and in the surrounding area, during any season of the year. In addition to shopping, other popular activities include arts and crafts, golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, climbing, camping, and sightseeing.
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Our family loved being in Wimberley! It was such a unique little village. And, we enjoyed exploring the Texas Hill Country. On one evening we journeyed to Austin to see the Russian Ballet Company in a magnificient performance of The Nutcracker. On another day we traveled to Johnson City to see the LBJ Ranch. We were in San Marcos a couple of times, and even made our way to New Braunfels.
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The memories of Christmas in Wimberley are vivid - and still great fun to recall. The sounds of Christmas carols, the smells of spiral-cut ham and turkey with all the trimmings for our feast on Christmas Day, plus just being together as a family all combine to continue to bring us joy. The mention of Wimberley still puts a smile on our faces and brings a tug to our hearts.
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It's easy to recommend Wimberley and the Texas Hill Country as a special leisure destination. It's also easy to suggest that the village and the surrounding area might just be one of the most unique and special places to enjoy a vacation. For our family, it certainly was!

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-- A part of the Olde Towne Plaza in Wimberley, Texas is pictured above.