Hit The Road

Cedar Park: Where the Texas Hill Country comes alive

You'll all spend a lot of time outdoors here.

Photo courtesy of Visit Cedar Park

Just 25 minutes north of downtown Austin is the youthful and dynamic Cedar Park, lovingly known as the Texas Hill Country's cool little cousin.

Though not incorporated as a city until 1973, Cedar Park actually has a much longer history, having been originally founded in 1887.

Now it flaunts its own unique brand of charm with an impressive live music scene, plenty of sports-fueled entertainment (go Austin Ice Bats!), and easy access to the great outdoors with parks, trails, lake adventures, and more.

While there are many ways to take in all of Cedar Park's charms, here's a short list of ways to get started.

Where to play outside
Living up to its name, Cedar Park boasts an abundance of natural riches for those who love the great outdoors. There are more than 30 parks within city limits, including the newly opened Lakeline Park, and more greenspace projects in the works, such as Bell Park.

Be sure to put Veterans Memorial Park on your must-see list. It includes a community garden, large pool with multiple swim areas, and basketball and tennis courts, but the centerpiece of the park is the Veterans Memorial Monument. Life-size sculptures of soldiers are complemented by brick pavers and bronzed leaves engraved with soldiers’ names and dates of service. Inside Veterans Memorial Park is Cedar Park Bark Park, a five-acre wonderland for dogs that includes a natural dog pond, dog drinking fountains, and dog shower stations.

The Brushy Creek Trail is a scenic, 6.75-mile gem with six parks along the way that include amenities like splash pads, swimming areas, climbing rocks, fishing docks, canoeing and kayaking, disc golf, and multiple picnic areas. With beautiful Hill Country views at every turn, it’s no wonder it’s so popular for hiking, jogging, and family bike rides.

For swimming, boating, and canoeing, head to Twin Lakes Park and also enjoy sand volleyball, a sports field, and even an archery range.

Another perfect day trip is Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which is about 30 minutes away. The natural wildlife refuge is an internationally Important Bird Area and features gorgeous Hill Country views and many nature trails.

How to refuel deliciously
Craving the smoky, saucy goodness of real Texas barbecue? Head to Stiles Switch BBQ for a nostalgic setting and the can’t-miss flavors of classic brisket and more.

In the mood for Southern comfort food? Jack Allen’s Kitchen serves it up with a Texas twist. Want a craft beer in a cool setting? Whitestone Brewery has you covered and serves 600 Degrees Pizzeria, too.

Cedar Park is an official Brew City Community, so be sure to check out Red Horn Brewery and Coffee Roasters, Oasis Texas Brewing Company, 5th Element Brewing, and Brewtique, as well.

That’s only the beginning, with other hot spots like Levant Café & Grill for authentic Mediterranean fare; Blue Corn Harvest for farm-to-table Southwestern cuisine; and The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen for the best in creative American dishes plus a must-try weekend brunch.

What else to do
Home to the Texas Stars and the Austin Spurs, the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park flaunts plenty of courtside action between hockey and basketball games. But there’s more to put on the calendar with concerts, performances, and entertainment of all kinds.

H-E-B Center hosts sports games, concerts, and more.Photo courtesy of Visit Cedar Park

Live music can also be found at the Haute Spot, which combines a chill, outdoor setting with all the tunes from every genre plus an onsite restaurant and bar.

For an innovative new destination experience, The Crossover is a family-friendly place for athletic events, training and wellness activities, and games and entertainment — not to mention dining and food trucks. Dip into the eSports Cave and game for an hour or even the whole day. Fun fact: Cedar Park is the first Texas city to receive the Digital Media Community certification from the Texas Film Commission.

A good, low-key hang is exactly what you’ll find at The Good Lot, witha food truck court, kids play area, and free live music on Fridays and Saturdays and other fun weekly activities like trivia and open mic nights.

Kick back at The Good Lot.Photo courtesy of Visit Cedar Park

You’ll want to check out the brand-new Cedar Park Public Library when it opens its doors on November 1. The library has near-daily events that the whole family will love, from arts and craft groups to story time, magic shows, and even farmers markets.

Mark your calendar for Cedar Park's annual events, including Cedar Fest, a two-day barbecue extravaganza; Taste of Cedar Park, a food, wine, and craft beer tasting; Fable Fest, a Renaissance Fair-inspired festival; anda tree lighting and Santa’s workshop event every Christmas season.

More to see
Ride the rails with the Austin Steam Train Association, which celebrates and preserves the experience of historic, steam-era railroading. A variety of vintage trains take you through the Hill Country, with special rides dedicated to wine tastings, brunch, holiday fun, and more.

Step back in time on the railroad.Photo courtesy of Visit Cedar Park

Mother Nature and manmade art collide at the Cedar Park Sculpture Garden, which features sculptures from Texas-based artists interspersed through walking trails and lovely landscaping. The artwork generally rotates annually, so there’s always something new to see.

Where to stay
Cedar Park has 13 hotels within its city limits plus a full-service RV park, meaning you'll always find a comfy place to rest your head after a long day of exploring.

Cedar Park is always growing and expanding, with exciting new entertainment, restaurants, hotels, and more on the horizon. Learn more here and follow Cedar Park on Instagram and Facebook.

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Now hear this

New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

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