Attractions in New Braunfels

New Braunfels is beautiful, but it’s also packed with fun and adventure. Old-world heritage is on display in the Gruene Historic District. Downtown New Braunfels offers upbeat retail, unique dining experiences, and fabulous nightlife. Mix in water, animals, and caves, and you’ve got the makings of the best family vacation ever.

Canyon Lake
Spectacular views of the Texas Hill Country and 80 miles of coastline make this a great destination for campers, vacationers, and day trippers. Water activities range from quiet and reflective sailing and fishing to exciting water skiing and parasailing.

Downtown New Braunfels
Walk through downtown New Braunfels, and you’ll see more than 150 years of German influence. Murals throughout the city illustrate the colorful history and are the perfect backdrop to world-class shopping, dining, playing, and sleeping – so you can do it all again. 

Gruene
This restored historic district plays host to a number of artists, artisans, potters, boutiques, and restaurants. Gruene Hall, Texas’ Oldest Dance Hall, features singer/songwriters like Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, and Pat Green, as well as a mix of national touring acts and local and regional up-and-comers.

Landa Park
Landa Park offers picnic facilities under the shade of giant, ancient oak trees. Walk or jog on the park’s unique trails or ride a miniature train that chugs around the 51-acre park. An excursion on a paddle boat is one of the best ways to see the Comal Springs and Landa Lake. Take in a round of miniature golf, relax at the playground, or enjoy the flora and fauna on the Panther Canyon Nature Trail.

Museums
History buffs have several intriguing museums to visit. Historic Old Town - New Braunfels Conservation Society has restored and furnished 18 buildings (ca. 1849 – 1870) to form Conservation Plaza. The Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture showcases the work of the early German craftsmen and artisans. Sophienburg Museum and Archives also preserve the history of Texas’ German settlers. The New Braunfels Railroad Museum has artifacts and photographs from the golden age of railroading on display. The McKenna Children’s Museum will delight the wee ones with hands-on adventure.

Music
Enjoy live music every day of the week in New Braunfels. Dance Halls and honky-tonks like Gruene Hall, Freiheit Country Store, and Watering Hole Saloon, join Whitewater Amphitheater, a “Texas-sized” outdoor concert venue on the banks of the Guadalupe, in featuring traditional country, Texas music, Americana, and national performers. KNBT Radio, the top Americana station in the nation, airs Texas music throughout the region and on the Internet.

Natural Bridge Caverns
Visitors to the state’s biggest and best show cave can expect an otherworldly experience in the series of limestone formations. In addition to walking tours, the Adventure Cave Tour offers a more daring exploration of undeveloped portions of the caverns. The Mining Sluice offers kids a chance to pan for semi-precious stones they get to keep. Take to the skies high above Texas as you ascend the Twisted Trails Zip Rail and Ropes Course!

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
A Texas-style African safari experience with more than 40 different species from antelope to giraffes to wildebeests to zebras. In addition to the main safari route, which lets you see and feed exotic animals up close from your car windows, the ranch also offers guided safari tours, a walk-through aviary, and a life-size dinosaur experience!

Rivers
Guadalupe River - Best known for attracting generations of “tubers” for a refreshing float to beat the summer heat, the Guadalupe also lures canoe and kayak enthusiasts to peaceful paddling and exciting whitewater rapids. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts flock to camps and resorts along the tree-lined banks of the river.

Comal River - The Comal enjoys a unique claim to fame: it is the shortest river in the United States. The 2.5-mile-long Comal starts at the largest natural springs in Texas, and its broad, slow flow makes it ideal for a quiet tubing experience. The clear spring waters are perfect for snorkeling and diving.

Schlitterbahn
Travel Channel calls Schlitterbahn the World’s Best Waterpark for a good reason. The park’s high-tech attractions and natural Comal River setting have made it the most popular summertime waterpark in the country. Schlitterbahn, which loosely translates from German as “slippery road,” features more than 51 attractions.

Shopping
Diverse and eclectic shops are found in Historic Downtown New Braunfels, the Gruene Historic District, and the huge outlet malls along Interstate 35. We offer antique shops, boutiques showcasing Texas artisans, and other unique establishments. Top off the evening wining and dining in New Braunfels’ best restaurants.

Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre
Catch a show or two under the stars! Enjoy a nostalgic experience while watching new movies and your retro favorites from the comfort of your vehicle or lawn chair. Stars & Stripes boasts three of the biggest movie screens in Texas and the latest projection and audio technology. Restless kids? Just send them over to the on-site playground. Check out double features on Friday & Saturday nights, you’ll want to be sure to visit the 50’s Cafe for some Rockin’ Eats and Tasty Treats!

Texas Ski Ranch
This extreme water recreation complex features water skiing and wakeboarding without a boat, plus paintball and ax-throwing facilities.

Trout Fishing
New Braunfels is one of the very few trout hot spots in the southern United States. The cold water of the Guadalupe makes it an ideal home for the trout, which are stocked in the river several times a year. This attracts fly fishing enthusiasts from across the nation.