New Braunfels Vacation

Making a Splash in the Lone Star State

Your pastoral New Braunfels vacation awaits you deep in the heart of Texas, where rivers dance, springs gurgle, water parks reign supreme — and lucky WorldMark owners (and timeshare renters like YOU!) have a picturesque vacation destination. Ask about availability at the New Braunfels Timeshare Rental now.

Wilkommen zum New Braunfels

The city of New Braunfels carries deep German associations. The word “braunfels” means “brown rock,” and the city was founded in 1845 (the same year Texas was annexed to the United States) by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels who christened this new American outpost in memory of his namesake European hometown.

Solms-Braunfels was the commissioner general of the Adelsverein, a society comprised of 21 noblemen who organized in 1842 with the goal of establishing a viable German community in Texas territory.

Lack of employment opportunities and political uncertainty in Germany made immigrating to a new land enormously appealing to the band of farmers, merchants, and tradesmen who made the journey with Solms-Braunfels.

The newcomers initially landed in the Texas coastal cities of Galveston and (now ghost town) Indianola in July 1844, and slowly began the inland trek to the properties purchased by the Adelsverein.

Knowing they would not get situated in their new designated homeland before winter set in, the colonists stopped to rest and resupply at a spring-studded way station known as “Las Fontanas.”

This oasis was located at the junction of the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers and was wildly enticing, offering high ground, clean water, farmland and plentiful lumber. Solms-Braunfels bought two leagues of local land — nearly 10,000 acres — and the city of New Braunfels was born.

Great expectations

If your vision of Texas is arid and flat, New Braunfels offers a refreshing surprise. The gently sloping hills and rambling rivers make the city verdant and inviting. Water is a major theme; New Braunfels is, in fact, known as the “tubing capital of Texas” thanks to the rivers’ ideal conditions for floating and rafting.

This newer WorldMark resort sits just a few hundred yards from the Guadalupe River. The resort contains a total of 46 units comprised of two- and three-bedroom units and threebedroom Presidentials. All contain the classic WorldMark touches of a full kitchen, washer and dryer, TV, VCR/DVD combo, CD player and ResortNet high-speed Internet access (a small fee applies). Most units have pull-out sofas in lieu of the customary Murphy beds.

The resort’s amenities include an outdoor pool and spa, barbecue grills, recreation center, gaming arcade, exercise room and business center. Resort buildings are designed with homey front porches in front of each unit, and Craftsman-like styling with arched ceilings and wooden accents is evident.

Ask about availability at the New Braunfels vacation rental now.

Take me to the river(s)

With the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers defining the town, it’s no wonder water sports and water parks are big business in New Braunfels. Canoes, kayaks, rafts, tubes and all manner of inflatables can be seen bobbing down the waterways throughout the summer months. Get started with your aquatic adventures by paying a visit to Rockin’ R Rides (800-55FLOAT; nearest location 250 feet from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental). Doing business for more than 25 years, this local favorite rents tubes and rafts, guides group excursions, and even runs a wilderness tent-camping ground, all with an eye toward river conservation and responsible recreation. An even closer option is Gruene River Company (888-705-2800; 25 feet from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental), which provides inflatable rafts and kayaks for independent tubing or guided expeditions lasting from 90 minutes to six hours.

For an unforgettably unique and soggy sports adventure you can’t beat Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort (2 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental). The award-winning park is family owned, and offers a dizzying array of rafting rivers, tunnel slides, water coasters, surfing rides, aqua funhouses, breaking-wave beaches, lagoon hot tubs, activity pools and plenty of kid-friendly amusements, spread across 65 acres just north of the Comal River. The “Master Blaster” ride has consistently won the honor of “Best Water Ride in the Nation.” It combines the thrill of an uphill roller coaster with the speed of a water-jet-propelled boat ride that blasts down a three-story plunge and returns uphill before spiraling down again into tunnels and twisting figure-eights.

Dry land

New Braunfels also offers a bevy of activity options for those who prefer to go about their day without squishy shoes. Landa Park (2.5 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental) has picnic areas, walking and jogging paths, an arboretum tour, an 18-hole minigolf course, and even a miniature train ride.

The Texas Ski Ranch (830-627-2843; 10 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental) presents an astonishing 70-acre spread where you can skateboard, rock climb and view motocross demos. If you can’t resist getting wet, try wakeskating or wakeboarding on the cable lake, or test-drive some zippy watercraft from a vast inventory of Master Craft boats.

Natural Bridge Caverns (210-651-6101; 16 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental) is an organic showplace anchored by an exquisite 60-foot limestone archway. Miles of passages and chambers are filled with stalactites, stalagmites, rock flows, soda straws and other delicate — and still continuously forming — rock and mineral configurations. Take the basic Discovery Tour; get grittier with an Adventure Tour, which requires crawling and rappelling in areas not open to the general public; or explore the Watchtower Challenge, where you’ll climb a 40-foot tower before donning a zip line harness to launch yourself into the great wide open for a rush than can reach 25 miles per hour.

Salad to smoke to steak

So many ways to work up an appetite call for numerous choices to satisfy a hungry tummy. New Braunfels delivers with an assortment of eateries close at hand. Try the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar (830-625-0684; 0.7 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental) for fare that runs the gamut from steamed veggies and fresh salads to hefty burgers and fried chicken, all in the charming setting of a 100-year-old converted cotton gin.

The New Braunfels Smokehouse (830-625-2416; 2.8 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental) offers beef, pork, poultry, jerky and sausage, all hickorysmoked and made on the premises. The smokehouse combines a “tastin’ kitchen” restaurant with a country store, so you can dine at your leisure from a full menu, purchase delicacies for cooking in your New Braunfels timeshare rental kitchen, or pick up an order at the convenient new drive-thru.

And for those special occasions when only a slab of beef will do, Myron’s Prime Steakhouse (830-624-1024; 3.3 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental) will provide an unforgettable dining experience. This casual but elegant (albeit pricey) bistro is housed in New Braunfels’ old Palace Movie Theatre, and serves up filets, strips, rib-eyes and T-bones cooked to order in a posh atmosphere with impeccable service.

Learn from the past

The town of New Braunfels still retains vestiges of its original German heritage, and with a little poking around you can discover gems such as Henne Hardware (830-606-6707; 3 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental), rumored to be the oldest hardware store in Texas; Naegelin’s Bakery (830-625-5722; 3.2 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental) which has been turning out European pastries, cookies and breads since 1868; and the Lindheimer Home (830-608-1512; 3.4 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental), a well-preserved example of early fachwerk, timber-framed architecture similar to the English Tudor style.

But for a deeper delve into New Braunfels’ history head to the Sophienburg Museum (830-629-1572; 3.7 miles from the New Braunfels vacation timeshare rental). Named for Prince Solms-Braunfels’ fiancée, Lady Sophia, and built on a hill the Prince chose himself for a castle he never built, the museum is a goldmine of archival information, paintings, furnishings and artifacts.

Spend some time in this gateway to the past and you’ll soon feel the presence of the hearty band of German pioneers who gave up everything they knew for a more hopeful life in small patch of green land at the crossroads of two restorative rivers.

Enjoy a Day Trip to Austin

About forty miles north from the New Braunfels vacation rental (Ask about availability now) lies Austin. The capital city of Texas, Austin proclaims itself to be the “Live Music Capital of the World,” and proudly promotes the motto “Keep Austin Weird.” Austin is a chameleon of a town; whatever you need or want it to be is what it can be. If you only have a short time to sample the many facets of this diverse and eccentric metropolis, here are a few suggestions:

Sound it out: Music is everywhere in this tuneful town. Some clubs of note include Antones (historic blues venue), Beerland (rock n’ roll in a vintage setting), Elephant Room (cool jazz in a basement), Emo’s (alternative and — surprise! — emo), Saxon Pub (country, rock and blues) and Stubs (cold beer, barbecue, and everyone from the newest bands to Joan Baez).

Hugs and quesos: The pursuit of perfect queso — the hot melted cheese dip enjoyed with tortilla chips — is serious business in Austin. Whether it’s a classic yellow pool of gooey cheese, festooned with black beans, or marbled with spinach and masquerading as health food, practically every restaurant in town has its own take on this favorite treat.

Grand Government: They like things oversized in Texas, and Austin is no exception. The largest state capitol building in the U.S. can be found here, covering three acres and boasting a stunning rotunda and dome. Take a self-guided tour through the recently restored halls and chambers, as well as the beautifully landscaped grounds; or opt for a free guided tour to get the scoop on Texas’ colorful and quirky political past.

Go batty: Bet you didn’t know the biggest urban bat colony in all of North America happens to reside under a bridge in downtown Austin — the Congress Avenue Bridge, to be exact. The city runs a Bat Hotline (512-416-5700) for those who wish to witness the nightly mass exodus of the winged mammals. The sight of 1.5 million bats floating above the city is staggering, squeaky and not to be missed.

This article was based upon an article about New Braunfels and the New Braunfels timeshare rental, originally appearing in our timeshare owners' magazine.

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