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Swimming holes and wine via a luxe RV: Your Hill Country guide
Much like marveling at the changing leaves in New England each fall, wildflower spotting each spring in the Texas Hill Country is a highly anticipated event. Even Winter Storm Uri couldn't halt their blooms, with wildflower season sweeping Texas in March, April, and May.
But bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush are just one spectacular part of the Hill Country. To properly see it all, consider renting a luxury RV.
RVshare has more than 100,000 vehicles in a wide range of styles, amenities, and sizes. The largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace can help you secure everything from a travel trailer to a luxury motorhome, all backed with sterling customer service from the RVshare team.
Once you're set up to ride in style, make sure to hit these hot spots:
Texas Wine Trail
There are more than 50 unique and visually stunning wineries scattered throughout the Hill Country, from Austin to Fredericksburg, Lampasas to New Braunfels.
You can sip and savor at your choice of wineries, or purchase an Event Passport and go on one of the four self-guided wine tours run by Texas Hill Country Wineries. With the passport, you can to taste at up to four wineries per day over the course of each event, as well as receive exclusive discounts on bottle purchases.
Hill Country Beer Trail
Vino not your thing? Hop-heads can start in New Braunfels and visit 17 craft breweries via self-guided tour or shuttle bus. You also get to see some of the Hill Country's most notable scenic attractions, such as legendary Luckenbach, TX, and the rolling hills of the "Devil’s Backbone" on historic — and supposedly haunted — FM32.
Floating the rivers
Another treasured Texas pastime is grabbing a few inflatable tubes and a buoyant cooler and lazily coasting your way down the river. Which river, you ask? Take your pick. From the Comal to the Guadalupe, the Blanco to the San Marcos, there's no shortage of gentle waterways ready to welcome visitors during the warmer months.
Take a dip in the swimming holes
Similarly, the Hill Country has a plethora of beautiful lagoons, eddies, and natural springs. Cool off at Barton Springs Pool, which is in Zilker Park and is filled from a channel of Barton Creek, or discover The Blue Hole, which is surrounded by lush greenery in Wimberley and includes several rope swings.
Underwater caves lurk beneath Jacob's Well, also in Wimberley, though the public isn't allowed to explore them. However, you'll be perfectly happy to remain near the surface thanks to a year-round water temperature of 68 degrees.
Explore the area's German heritage
Gruene, New Braunfels, and Fredericksburg are where a number of German settlers made their home and their influence is still strongly felt today.
By 1990, 17 percent of Texans could claim at least partial German heritage and vestiges of Texas German, a language once commonly heard in the Hill Country, still prevail. You can still order up Bavarian favorites at several German restaurants.
Drop in at the distilleries
Vodka, sotol, whiskey, and gin all have a home in the Hill Country. Some, like Deep Eddy and Dripping Springs, you might already be well acquainted with, while others like Desert Door and Treaty Oak might become a welcome addition to your bar. Take a tour to see how these spirits are made and have a taste on your way out.
Ready to hit the road
Founded in 2013, RVshare is available in all 50 states and backed by a safe and secure booking platform. Renters get payment and fraud protection, plus 24/7 emergency roadside service and even free delivery where available, while owners get to list for free with the help of one-on-one rental coaching and are protected with renter verification and insurance coverage.
Most stays average $150 a night, and anyone with a driver's license can rent an RV (though all drivers must be 25 and up). One-way trips aren't out of the picture, and pets are welcome in specified vehicles. To rent an RV for your next road trip, click here.
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