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    A Cowboy Summer

    Lasso up a cowboy-themed summer with rodeo, live music, and more in Bandera

    CultureMap Create
    Jun 14, 2024 | 12:00 pm

    This summer is the perfect time to discover for yourself why Bandera, the Cowboy Capital of the World, lives up to its name.

    Yes, there are real cowboys and cowgirls aplenty and lots of ranches at which to ride horses, but it’s the cowboy spirit of the town that truly captivates. Bandera’s genuine, welcoming attitude is what that inspires folks to return again and again when they want to escape the pressures of everyday life and be surrounded by friendly folks, gorgeous nature, and fun times.

    Here are just some upcoming summer activities to help you plan your next trip to Bandera:

    Summer is rodeo season in Bandera. Every Friday night through July 29 at Mansfield Park, you can whoop and holler for the cowboys and cowgirls as they compete for less than the cost of a first-run movie ticket. There is no instant replay here — the action is real. And nothing is more fun to watch than the mutton bustin' and calf scramble.

    After the rodeo, seek out one of the many watering holes and dance the night away to live music.

    Every Saturday during the morning hours and just past lunch, witness not one but two different gunfight shows right in the heart of downtown Bandera. Don't be surprised to see a horse-drawn wagon, chuck wagon, and possibly a Longhorn as well. And the best part? All these activities are free.

    In the heat of the afternoon, head to either the Frontier Times Museum or Bandera Natural History & New Spain Art Museum to escape the heat.

    Or step down into Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Bar to enjoy a lively jam session. Don't forget to enjoy an ice cream treat at the Bandera General Store as you browse through their great selection of vintage boots.

    On June 29, along the banks of the Medina River in City Park, everyone is invited to the free, family-friendly Bandera Riverfest. It is reminiscent of an old-fashioned community picnic, with food vendors, a hot dog and watermelon-eating contest, car show, and Bandera's very own American Idol-style competition.

    The Fourth of July is not just a one-day celebration in Bandera. This year it's being celebrated for the whole weekend, beginning on Thursday, the Fourth itself, with the annual pet parade in City Park and (human) parade in Lakehills. Cap off your evening at 11th Street Cowboy Bar with Rick Rice.

    On Friday night, enjoy the rodeo and then head back to 11th Street to hear Gary P. Nunn; Saturday night brings a concert by Weldon Henson.

    Expect to see plenty of cowboys and cowgirls the weekend of July 26-27, as Bandera celebrates the National Day of the American Cowboy at Mansfield Park. Rodeos happen on both Friday and Saturday night, plus a sanctioned barbecue cook-off on Saturday, cowboy poets, musicians, Western re-enactors, interactive games and activities for the kids, and so much more.

    Keep up with all the latest happenings, who is playing where, and upcoming fun in Bandera here.

    Bandera

    Photo courtesy of Bandera CVB

    Summer is rodeo season in Bandera.

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    where to travel right now

    Hill Country wineries beckon + 9 more Texas travel ideas for June

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 2, 2026 | 3:00 pm
    Texas Hill Country Wineries tastings
    Photo courtesy of Texas Hill Country Wineries
    The Barrels & Bites pass offers Hill Country wine lovers upscale tasting experiences or curated food and wine pairings.

    School's out, summer has arrived, and with it comes a bounty of weekend getaway inspiration for Houston travelers.

    Travelers on the hunt for the ultimate summer adventure outside of H-Town can head down Austin for a Father's Day barbecue showdown, leap to the coast for a restaurant takeover at a Galveston hotel, or say hello to Maisie the Highland cow at a new farm retreat in Jewett, Texas.

    Here are CultureMap's top picks for a June vacation around Texas.

    Around Texas

    As summer arrives and gas prices remain high, fuel-conscious Texas travelers can book their next road trip with transportation startup Shutto, which recently launched new routes connecting major cities like Dallas, Austin, Houston Galleria, and The Woodlands. Each route includes a pit stop at Buc-ee's — a quintessential road trip moment — and travelers can also book private, customizable trips beyond the scheduled routes. Fares start at $87 per person to Austin and $97 per person to Houston, and trips can be booked online.

    Central Texas and the Hill Country

    The historic Faust Hotel in New Braunfels has finally completed its thoughtful restoration and reopened its doors for Hill Country travelers. All 45 guest rooms and 15 deluxe suites have been updated with king beds, custom vanities, 55-inch streaming televisions, retro Frigidaire mini-fridges, and much more. The hotel's new signature restaurant, Wilhelm & Werner, mixes Texas and European culinary influences with dishes like an "apple strudel" of foie gras and pork, saffron tagliatelle with Gulf shrimp, and poulet rôti with a savory bread pudding. Nightly rates at the Faust Hotel begin at $215 in June.

    Faust Hotel New Braunfels The revamped Faust Hotel blends the property's historic bones with new furnishings. Photo by Jason Risner

    A Gonzales County wellness retreat is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a roster of new services, events, workshops, and more to come later this year. Ottine Mineral Springs is now offering private Watsu experiences, a massage performed in the mineral pools by licensed therapists before the general public arrives. The oasis will soon offer poolside cabana rentals, and open a climate-controlled indoor lounge and soaking space. Guests can book day passes (starting at $65), events, and spa services online. Reservations are required.

    Limestone Fields, a new farm retreat on Lake Limestone in Jewett, is now accepting reservations for stays on its 16-acre property that sits along Lake Limestone. Guests are welcome to explore the expansive area, which also includes a working farm with chickens, ducks, and two Scottish Highland cows. Limestone Fields hosts 10 furnished cabins with front decks that overlook a pond and back decks that open to the lake. Stays start at $200 a night and usually have a two-night minimum. Prices vary with seasonality.

    Maisie the Scottish Highland cow at Limestone Fields Maisie is a miniature Highland cow that lives on the farm.Photo by Ashley Estave

    Texas trade organization Texas Hill Country Wineries is offering a new way to experience its participating wineries' vintages with a new Barrels & Bites weekend event pass running from June 12-14. During the weekend, passholders can visit up to four wineries each day for winemaker-led experiences including elevated tastings or curated food and wine pairings. New this year is the Grand Tasting event at Ron Yates in Johnson City on Friday night from 5-7 pm, where passholders and single-ticket holders can try samples from 21 different wineries. Individual passes are $175, couples passes are $300, and single tickets for the Grand Tasting are $35 per person.

    Austin

    Adventurers can take their barbecue-loving dads for a smoke-filled weekend at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin for Father's Day weekend from June 19-20. The resort will host its second annual barbecue festival, Smoke: A Celebration of Fire and Flavor, bringing together the most prolific pitmasters and acclaimed restaurants for two days of live-fire cooking and live entertainment. The weekend kicks off with a VIP dinner experience on Friday featuring a multicourse meal of elevated barbecue dishes from chefs, and the barbecue showdown will commence Saturday with an open-air tasting event, live music, and a fireworks finale. Weekend bundle passes are $479 per person, with single admission tickets available for each day of the festival.

    San Antonio

    Magik Theatre, a beloved San Antonio children's performing arts center, is getting ready to for its grand reopening after months of renovations with a celebration party and a performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar starting Saturday, June 13. The reopening party will feature a ribbon-cutting at Hemisfair Park, plus children's activities, a live DJ, and more. The Party in the Park is free to the public. Tickets for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which will run until August 2, range from $26.50-$33.50 per person.

    On the Gulf Coast

    Galveston's seaside refuge Hotel Lucine is hosting the third annual Bludorn by The Sea dining series from June 12-13. Acclaimed Houston chef Aaron Bludorn will stage a two-night takeover of the hotel's on-site restaurant, The Fancy, with a raw bar pop-up from 4-7 pm, and elaborate four-course dinners planned each night. A Courtyard Party will precede Saturday's dinner from 12-3 pm with a yakitori-style grill-out and live music. Dinner reservations for Friday and Saturday ($95 per person) can be booked via OpenTable, and visitors are encouraged to book a stay at the hotel for the weekend.

    Dallas-Fort Worth

    June brings the arrival of World Cup season, and one Dallas-Fort Worth hotel is making its debut just in time to welcome FIFA fans from all over the world. The retro Caravan Court Hotel in Arlington will open at 205 N. Collins St. on June 1, less than a mile away from AT&T Stadium. The hotel offers 143 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, an in-house restaurant, martini bar, and a rooftop lounge. Room rates begin at $109 per night in June.

    Texas Hill Country Wineries tastings

    Photo courtesy of Texas Hill Country Wineries

    The Barrels & Bites pass offers Hill Country wine lovers upscale tasting experiences or curated food and wine pairings.

    Hotel Vin in Grapevine has launched a new "Route 66 Pit Stop" package in celebration of the iconic roadway's 100th anniversary. The package includes an Americana snack basket, Texas wine flight, disposable camera for capturing the journey, and grab-and-go breakfast for the road. Guests can also visit “The Vin Pit Stop" Lounge at WineYard Grille + Bar, the hotel's al fresco dining concept, for light bites, road trip-inspired specialty cocktail flights and Texas wine. Nightly rates for the "Route 66 Pit Stop" package start at $419.

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