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    ROAD TRIPS

    7 quirky and unusual places to stay in the Texas Hill Country

    Luke Applewhite
    Luke Applewhite
    Sep 11, 2025 | 2:06 pm
    Missing Hotel

    Missing Hotel's cabins perch high on the hill tops.

    Missing Hotel/ Facebook

    For weekend warriors looking to escape Houston, the Hill Country offers more than just wine tastings and antique shopping. The rolling hills hide some of the most unique properties in the world. From safari ranches with rhinos to a life-sized bird's nest, these are the weirdest, wildest, and most unforgettable places to rest your head in Texas — because your hotel should be as memorable as your road trip.

    Cypress Valley — Spicewood
    If you've ever wanted to build a treehouse, but only had a few spindly saplings in your suburban backyard, this adventurous hideaway might cure some lifelong FOMO. With a winding tangle of rope bridges and trellises, the compound might look like a particularly elaborate rope course, but the rooms are more Jane than Tarzan. Snap a few shots of the distressed wood walls and oversized pendants for post-trip design inspo, then turn the cell phone off for the weekend.

    Barons Creekside Yes, you can sleep in this wagon.Barons Creekside/ Facebook

    Barons CreekSide Glamping Wagons — Fredericksburg
    Yes, playing The Oregon Trail video game caused a generation to distrust covered wagons, and the iffy salad bars at K-Bob's probably didn't help. These replica Conestoga settler's wagons don't have a risk of typhoid fever. The 220 square feet spaces have roomy showers, sinks, and all the conveniences of home. But guests will probably want to spend most of their time outdoors, lounging in a hammock near the fire pit.

    Longneck Manor — Fredericksburg
    You might expect to find goats, cows, and chickens on a Hill Country ranch. Longneck ups the ante with ambling rhinos and wagging Labradors. Founded by Rick Barongi, a former director at the Houston Zoo, the safari resort works with conservation groups to quell any Joe Exotic-style ethical concerns. Overstuffed furnishings and luxe linens give all the comforts of a high-end hotel, but there are some amenities that the Four Seasons can't replicate. The suite offers a private window into the barn, where baby giraffes happily munch on leaves.

    Missing Hotel— Marble Falls
    If Swiss Family Robinson's hardworking patriarch studied Modernist architecture, he might have drafted something like this Marble Falls enclave. The various cabins and geodesic domes may have urban niceties, but the canopy of old-growth trees is light-years from the hustle and bustle. Don't expect to make a stay into a working vacation — even the owners admit the Wi-Fi is spotty. Instead, give yourself the permission to forget about time by taking a dip in a private plunge pool or swaying along to a record.

    Onera Fredericksburg The Diamond is Onera Fredericksburg's unique take on an A-Frame. Photo by Jeff Jones

    Onera — Fredericksburg
    This Hill Country resort is a CultureMap obsession, both for the breathtaking natural setting and the avant-garde architecture. In August, the spot debuted 23 new units with striking geometric forms that look more like minimalistic monoliths than buildings. Inside, the owners provide few distractions. Why nibble on tchotchkes when you can feast on spectacular vistas?

    Skybox Cabins — Glen Rose
    Although all of the cabins on this compound have charming themes, ranging from a tribute to 17th-century French pigeonniers to buzzy pollinators, the most coveted is The Nest. It isn't just a catchy name. Guests can actually perch in a human-sized aerie outfitted with pillows and twinkle lights. Bring up a portable speaker and cuddle into a tête-à-tête. Recommended listening: Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather."

    Kerrville Texaco Station Recharge your batteries at the Kerrville Texaco Station.Photo courtesy of Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau

    Texaco Texaco Station — Kerrville
    Yes, you read that right. You can actually spend the night in a repurposed Texaco gas station without having to wear a pair of coveralls. The 40s building is pure Americana, filled with quirky touches like a Dr. Pepper machine, a row of sporty vintage toys, and a trash can fashioned from a Mobil oil drum. And the recreational areas could be pulled straight out of Life magazine. Put on a bowling shirt and play table tennis or grill hot dogs inside a courtyard sodded with artificial turf.

    hill countryfredericksburgmarble fallsglen rosespicewoodkerrvillehotelsglampingairbnbstravel
    news/travel

    lets go camping

    4 scenic Texas campgrounds named among America's best in 2026

    Amber Heckler
    Mar 10, 2026 | 12:15 pm
    Tropic Island Resort in Port Aransas, top campgrounds for glamping 2026
    Photo courtesy of Campspot
    Tropic Island Resort in Port Aransas is a must-visit destination in 2026.

    Four Texas campsites have been lauded among the best campgrounds in America, according to the 2026 Campspot Awards.

    The award-winning campgrounds are must-visit destinations that "turn a simple getaway into an unforgettable adventure," and are chosen based on a thorough review of over 3 million data points spanning guest ratings, reservation data, park features, and the quality of their Campspot Marketplace listing pages.

    "The 2026 Campspot Awards highlight the best campgrounds across North America, recognized for their amazing locations, outstanding amenities, and unforgettable experiences," the report said. "Whether you're seeking adventure or relaxation, these winning destinations set the standard for exceptional camping."

    One coastal Texas campground, Tropic Island Resort in Port Aransas, was named to the top campgrounds for glamping nationwide.

    Tropic Island Resort is located about 200 miles from Houston in the heart of Port Aransas, and is just a short drive away from the beach, local restaurants, and shops. There are more than 170 different sites for visitors, such as fully furnished cottages, apartments, hotel rooms, and back-in and pull-thru RV sites.

    Tropic Island Resort in Port Aransas, top campgrounds for glamping 2026 Rates at Tropic Island resort begin at $35 per night for back-in RV sites.Photo courtesy of Campspot

    This isn't the first time Tropic Island Resort has earned acclaim in the annual Campspot Awards; it was dubbed one of the best campgrounds for national park lovers in 2023.

    Other award-winning Texas campgrounds
    The Vineyards Campground & Cabins
    in Grapevine, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb 270 miles from Houston, was named as one of the top campgrounds in U.S. and one of the best campgrounds for RVs.

    The Vineyards is situated along Grapevine Lake, mere minutes from all of the wineries and shops on Historic Main Street in downtown Grapevine. The campground boasts national recognition for its "serene ambiance, scenic landscapes, lakeside panoramas, and attentive staff."

    "After check-in, treat the kids to the playground or don your swimsuit and head to the private sandy beach for a day by the water," the campsite's profile said.

    For Texans searching for a one-of-a-kind camping adventures in the Hill Country, Campspot provides two options: Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country in New Braunfels, a suburb outside San Antonio, and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Fredericksburg.

    Like The Vineyards, Camp Fimfo earned a new distinction as one of the best campgrounds in the U.S. for 2026, and the Fredericksburg resort was also included in Campspot's list of the top campgrounds for RVs.

    campgroundscampspotawardsgrapevinevacationstravelnew braunfelshill countryfredericksburgport aransas
    news/travel
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