Texas Road Trip: Hill Country Part 2
This time, I had work in Eastland and then in Austin, so I meandered south from Eastland along highway 16 and spent a couple of days in Horseshoe Bay. Eastland is about an hour and a half west of Fort Worth, and this is a great route if you heading to the Hill Country from points west of Fort Worth or want to avoid I-35 and don’t mind the scenic route. I encountered almost no traffic and the roads are well paved. Driving this route was a perfect destresser!
Once again, I was in awe of how pretty central Texas is. Having grown up on the high plains, I’m pretty much in awe anytime I see trees!
DeLeon
The first stop along my solo road trip was the tiny town of DeLeon. I saw a sign for a coffee shop, and, in desperate need of caffeine, quickly parked and dashed in. DeLeon doesn’t so much have a square as a little strip of buildings that include shops, a library and city hall, right on HWY 16. The coffee shop was a cafe called Two or More and was the cutest little place. They had a walk-up coffee bar, but also sit down seating if you were looking for more than just a cup o’ joe. My peppermint mocha was perfect. I almost invariably find independent coffee shops better than a certain big chain and love seeking them out. I can’t comment on the food, but the pastries in the deli case were hard to resist.
With my mocha in hand, I popped into a few of the shops along the main drag. There are gift shops and antique shops. Some were closed mid-week, but most were open. The little town of DeLeon is a good stop if you need a decent cup of coffee or just want to stretch your legs for a bit.
Llano
My next stop was Llano. This was a great stop! There are plenty of stores, a coffee shop, and a wine bar, scattered around the old courthouse on the town square. This time I opted for the wine bar, Main Street Affairs, over coffee. Main Street Affairs did not disappoint. It is well stocked with Texas wines and the barista was happy to let me try a couple before ordering. Her recommendations were right on point, and I’d love the chance to go back when I had more time to spend and less driving to do.
After sampling the wine, I journeyed around the square hitting the little boutiques, antique stores, and a cute little candy shop.
Horseshoe Bay
Finally, I made my way to Horseshoe Bay, where I had rented a condo at the Horseshoe Bay Resort to hole up and study for an exam I was taking in Austin. This was the perfect hideout spot. I was there during the off-season, so hardly anyone was around.
I sadly spent most of my time there holed up studying, but I wandered the grounds a bit, which are gorgeous!
This is the perfect place for a couple’s getaway or a family vacation. Lots of pools, lake access with all the related water amenities, gorgeous Japanese gardens, a mini-putting course, and a spa.
I really enjoyed my second jaunt through the Hill Country, even though it was mostly a working trip. I really look forward to returning when I have more time to play and explore.
