Real Estate Photographer in Wimberley, TX

In Fredericksburg, the Main Street is wide enough to U-turn a horse-and-buggy and lined with a hundred wine tasting rooms. In Marfa, unexplained lights blink on the desert horizon while minimalist art fills old army sheds. In Port Aransas, you can drive your car straight onto 18 miles of Gulf sand. That is the range packed into a single Texas weekend, and the trick is picking a town small enough to slow you down but stocked with enough to fill two or three days. These nine small towns each make an easy Friday-to-Sunday base, and no two feel remotely alike. Pick a direction and go.

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Fredericksburg

Start in the Hill Country's beating heart. Fredericksburg was founded by German settlers in 1846, and it has leaned all the way into that heritage: a mile-long Main Street of limestone storefronts, biergartens, and a town square, the Marktplatz, anchored by a replica of the old octagonal Vereins Kirche. The streets here are famously wide, built so a horse-and-buggy could pull a U-turn, and today they are lined with more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms in and around town.

History buffs get an unexpected heavyweight: the National Museum of the Pacific War, a sprawling Smithsonian-affiliate here because Fredericksburg was the hometown of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. Walk the 700-plus historic structures on a self-guided tour, then drive 15 minutes out to Enchanted Rock, a giant pink-granite dome you can hike for a sunset over the whole region. It is the rare town that satisfies wine people and history people in the same afternoon.

Wimberley

Twenty minutes off the beaten path, Wimberley is the Hill Country at its most swimmable. The star is Blue Hole, a spring-fed swimming hole where a rope swing hangs over jade-green water shaded by ancient cypress trees, the kind of spot that ruins ordinary pools for you forever. Just north, Jacob's Well is an artesian spring dropping into one of the longest underwater cave systems in Texas, mesmerizing to look at and strictly reservation-only to swim.

Back in the village, Wimberley Square is a cluster of galleries, boutiques, and cafes made for aimless wandering, and on the first Saturday of the month, Market Days turns the town into one of the largest outdoor markets in the region. Book a night at a creekside cabin and you have got the whole formula: swim, browse, repeat.

Dripping Springs

Officially the "Gateway to the Hill Country," Dripping Springs takes its name from the water that trickles off its limestone ledges, and the headliner is Hamilton Pool Preserve, a collapsed grotto where a 50-foot waterfall spills into a jade swimming hole beneath a stone overhang. It is so popular you will need a reservation, and it is worth every bit of the planning.

The town has quietly become a drinks destination, too. It bills itself the "Wedding Capital of Texas," but it might as well claim the tasting-room capital: Deep Eddy Vodka distills here, Twisted X brews here, and hillside wineries like Bell Springs pour local vintages with a plate of good food and a Hill Country sunset. Add the Texas Hill Country Olive Company, a 15-acre grove with a Tuscan-style villa, and you have got a weekend that never strays far from a glass in hand.

New Braunfels

New Braunfels is where you go to get on the water. Two spring-fed rivers, the Comal (the shortest river in Texas) and the Guadalupe, run right through town, and tubing them on a hot afternoon is practically the state religion. Landa Park spreads across 51 acres along the Comal with a spring-fed swimming pool, a miniature train, and shady picnic lawns, while Schlitterbahn set the standard for the American water park right here.

The soul of the town, though, is Gruene, a historic district on the National Register that used to be its own village. At its center stands Gruene Hall, built in 1878 and the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas, a tin-roofed room where George Strait and Lyle Lovett cut their teeth and where live music still spills onto the porch on weekend nights. Tube by day, two-step by night.

Jefferson

Swing east into the Piney Woods and the vibe changes completely. Jefferson, a town of about 2,000 on Big Cypress Bayou, was once one of the busiest inland steamboat ports in Texas, and when the river trade dried up and the railroad bypassed it, the town simply stopped in time. The payoff for you is a downtown of brick storefronts, antebellum homes, gas lanterns, and antique shops that has earned it the nickname "the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Texas," with more than 40 of them.

This is a town built for a slow weekend. Take a bayou boat tour through the cypress, ride the restored steam train of the Jefferson Railway, or bed down at the 1858 Excelsior House, one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the state. Jefferson also claims to be one of the most haunted towns in Texas, so if a lantern-lit ghost walk is your idea of a good evening, you are in luck.

Granbury

Southwest of Fort Worth, Granbury wraps its whole downtown around a limestone courthouse square, the first town square in Texas listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1890 Hood County Courthouse holds the center, ringed by restored brick buildings full of wine bars, boutiques, and the historic Granbury Opera House, which still stages live shows year-round.

Then there is the lake. Lake Granbury laps right up to downtown, with a sandy City Beach, boat launches, and lakeside restaurants that turn a history stroll into a full weekend. The town has a mischievous streak, too, claiming both the grave of outlaw Jesse James and a doll museum among its attractions. Historic square plus a beach a block away is a hard combination to beat.

Marfa

Now for the strangest, and maybe the most magnetic, town on the list. Out in the high desert of West Texas, tiny Marfa became an unlikely art-world pilgrimage after minimalist Donald Judd moved here in the 1970s and filled old army sheds with massive installations, now the Chinati Foundation. Add the Ballroom Marfa art space and a downtown of galleries, and you have a place where cutting-edge art sits next to a 1880s courthouse in the middle of nowhere.

The town's other claim is the Marfa Lights, mysterious glowing orbs that appear on the southeastern horizon on clear nights, unexplained for over a century and viewable from an official roadside platform. Between the art, the lights, the design-hotel scene, and the sheer remoteness, Marfa is less a weekend trip than a personality test. You will either never want to leave or never fully understand it.

Marshall

Back in East Texas, Marshall calls itself the "Birthplace of Boogie-Woogie," and it backs up the music with serious architecture. The 1900 Harrison County Courthouse anchors the square in a showy mash-up of Renaissance Revival, Beaux-Arts, and Classical styles, and it lights up for the Wonderland of Lights, one of the largest holiday light festivals in the country, every winter.

The town does historic lodging well. Ginocchio, a restaurant with an elegant brick-and-dark-wood interior, occupies part of the 1896 Ginocchio Hotel, and the 1929 Art Deco Hotel Marshall was once the grandest stop in East Texas. Between the courthouse, the museums, and the boogie-woogie legacy, Marshall rewards travelers who like their weekends soaked in history and a little bit of rhythm.

Port Aransas

End at the coast. "Port A," on Mustang Island, is the Texas beach weekend distilled: miles of open Gulf sand you can actually drive onto, a working harbor full of shrimp boats, and a laid-back, golf-cart-friendly pace that peels the stress right off. The beach runs for some 18 miles, so even on a busy weekend you can find your own patch of sand.

There is more here than sunbathing. The Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center sends a boardwalk out over the wetlands, where roseate spoonbills and alligators put on a show, and Roberts Point Park has an observation tower for watching dolphins escort the boats through the channel. Duck into the little Chapel on the Dunes, catch a redfish, and let the last night of the weekend fade out over the water.

Pick Your Texas Weekend

That is the beauty of a Texas weekend: the state is big enough that you never have to repeat yourself. Sip wine among the limestone storefronts of Fredericksburg, tube the rivers of New Braunfels, chase ghosts through the bayou port of Jefferson, puzzle over the desert lights of Marfa, or just drive onto the sand at Port Aransas. Nine towns, five wildly different corners of one state, and every one of them close enough to reach by Friday night. Your only real problem is picking just one.

The big and beautiful state of Texas is full of scenic small towns to choose from. Art installations, giant cypress trees, a collection of Western-romance film memorabilia: this list rounds up ten of the most beautiful. If you are ready to walk streets lined with preserved houses from different eras, sip local brews while live music plays, and paddle through gorgeous swamps, then you are ready for a road trip through the 28th state.

Texas towns that fly under the radar

Fredericksburg

The Germanic town of Fredericksburg is the ideal location for those who want to dig into history. Start with the National Museum of the Pacific War, a Smithsonian affiliate and the only museum in the continental US dedicated solely to the Pacific theater of World War II. This museum honors those who served in the war and commemorates their efforts. For local history, check out the Vereins Kirche Museum, which focuses on the town's heritage and local legend. To talk over your new local and national historic discoveries over a glass of wine, head to Barons Creek Vineyards. Here, guests can choose from an especially curated list of wine and food pairings.

Wimberley

This beautiful little town has a turquoise gem at its center: Jacob's Well, a spring-fed swimming hole beloved by locals. These days, swimming is limited to summer and by reservation only, but the sight of the cypress trees stretching over the water is worth the stop on its own. Dry off and walk through Wimberley Square, which is full of cafes and boutiques. Only 2.5 miles away from the square is another natural wonder.

Old Baldy Park offers the chance to see the entirety of Wimberley Valley. Hikers are only 218 stone steps away from this view, which is breathtaking during the day or beneath the night stars. To learn about the earliest Wimberley settlers, tour the Wimberley Valley Museum. You'll leave with an intimate understanding of a gorgeous town.

Seguin

Begin your journey through Seguin at the Sebastopol House Historic Site, a restored 1856 Greek revival lime-crete mansion. The ultra-sturdy "lime-crete" (a mixture of gravel and lime) construction was popular at the time, but it is now a rare sight. Tour this rare structure to discover the lost art that perfectly blends chemistry and construction.

Then, stretch your legs at Max Starcke Park, where the Guadalupe River winds past a golf course, shaded picnic spots, and walking trails, a local favorite for kayaking and lazy afternoons by the water. Before leaving Seguin, make sure to check out its famous roadside attraction, the World's Largest Pecan, a nod to the town's pecan-growing roots.

Boerne

Founded by German freethinkers in the 1850s, Boerne sits in the heart of the Hill Country and wears its heritage on the limestone storefronts of Hauptstrasse, its historic main street. Stroll the shops and biergartens downtown, then catch the Boerne Village Band, one of the oldest continuously performing German community bands in the country. For natural beauty, the Cibolo Center for Conservation protects creekside woodlands, marsh, and prairie laced with easy trails right at the edge of town. Just outside Boerne, you can descend into the Cave Without a Name, a living cavern of still pools and towering rock formations that more than earns a spot on this list.

Clifton

Clifton was once home to the largest Norwegian settlement in Texas. In the Norse Historic District, about 40 structures remain from this era, offering travelers a glimpse at this small town's earliest days. More beautiful sights await. Known as "one of the 100 best rural art communities in the nation," Clifton houses its impressive collection of art in the Bosque Arts Center gallery. Here, visitors will not only find Western and contemporary art, but also live theater and photography exhibits. The true beauty of Clifton can be found in the preserved pieces of its history. Explore the Bosque Memorial Museum, where visitors can find artifacts from the town's original immigrants. Those exploring the grounds will even find a log cabin in which one of the town's original occupants lived.

Ennis

Ennis is full of rare experiences, such as the Galaxy Drive-In Theatre. This retro theater offers a wide variety of blockbuster films across multiple screens. There is also a snack bar filled with funnel cakes, soft drinks, pizza, and of course, popcorn. After seeing a film, step back into the romantic past of railway travel at the Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum inside the former Van Noy restaurant. The museum shows the evolution of the railway system in Ennis, featuring exhibits showcasing vintage locomotives and historic photographs. Finally, explore the natural beauty of Texas, which is so beloved at Kachina Prairie. This Blackland Prairie is a rare preserved piece of the long-lost landscape of the past.

Gonzales

Known as a botanical wonderland, the lush Palmetto State Park is the soul of this small town. These grounds are alive with plants, wildlife, and rushing rivers and creeks. The San Marcos River cuts through the park, offering a place to swim or kayak. Get to know this beautiful small town through its gorgeous memorial museum, the Gonzales Memorial Museum. The stone structure not only exhibits halls and sculptures, but also an amphitheater, which hosts public gatherings and entertaining productions. For a darker peek into the past, tour the Gonzales County Jail Museum to see historic jail cells and replica gallows.

The state's prettiest little towns

Waxahachie

Waxahachie has so much unique beauty to share. Take the Gingerbread House Tour, where Victorian, Gingerbread, Gothic Revival, and Queen Anne home styles line the streets. Architecture fans and history buffs will delight in this whimsical walk. After the stroll, cool off in Lake Waxahachie at Spring Park. Aside from being a great place to float and wade through the water, the lake is also locally known as a great fishing spot. Continue your journey downtown at ART on the Square, where locally crafted art is showcased. The murals, abstract paintings, and other crafts are for sale, making it a great opportunity for tourists to take home a piece of Waxahachie's spirit.

Jefferson

Start your voyage through the historic town of Jefferson on a swamp tour. Take a narrated riverboat tour through the magnificent Caddo Lake. This lake is known as one of the most beautiful in the south, being surrounded by cypress trees, Spanish moss, and other wild wonders waiting to be discovered. Get to know this small town more intimately at the Jefferson Historical Museum, which houses the important relics of Jefferson's past. No tour of Northeast Texas is complete without visiting the Gone With the Wind Museum. This nostalgia-packed museum offers a glimpse into the cinematic landscape behind a romantic masterpiece.

Marfa

To understand the true creative spirit of Marfa, visit Ballroom Marfa, which showcases minimalist sculptures and art exhibits. The Ballroom also commissions artists around Texas, so you can find their work (such as the Prada Marfa) on random stretches of highway through Texas. Travelers will find more rare crafts in Raba Vintage, a vintage shop started by Texas locals. Wrap up the day by listening to live music at Marfa Spirit Co., and have a drink of their popular Desert Pechuga made from native ingredients. End the evening by heading just outside town to view the mysterious Marfa Lights, an unexplained natural phenomenon that has intrigued visitors for decades.

Finishing Thoughts

The small towns that comprise the vast state of Texas are full of unique character and rare beauty. At the same time, there is so much beauty to be found in the landscape of the Lone Star State; even more beauty lies within the art of its locals, sprinkled throughout small towns in the form of gallery exhibits, murals, and "gingerbread" houses. The towns on this list may take your breath away, but they will also fill you with the wildest kind of wonder that can only be found in Texas.

KYLE, Texas — Hays County Development Services has released a preliminary draft of the County's updated Development Regulations and is inviting residents, developers, property owners and other stakeholders to attend a series of open house meetings to review the proposed changes and provide feedback.

Key topics addressed in the draft include:

• Water availability and conservation

• Water quality and stormwater management

• Erosion and sediment control

• Floodplain management

• Environmental protection

• Transportation infrastructure

Community members are encouraged to attend one of the following open-house meetings to learn more about the proposed regulations, ask questions and share their input.

Open House Schedule

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 6 p.m.

• Dripping Springs Ranch Park

1042 Event Center Drive

Dripping Springs, Texas

• Wimberley Community Center

14068 Ranch Road 12

Wimberley, Texas

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 | 6 p.m.

• City of Buda City Hall/Library Multipurpose Room

409 E. Loop St., Building 100

Buda, Texas

• San Marcos Public Library

625 E. Hopkins St.

San Marcos, Texas

"The Development Regulations help guide how growth occurs in Hays County, and it's important that they reflect both our current needs and our vision for the future," said Hays County Development Services Interim Director Michael Berlad. "We encourage everyone with an interest in the future of our communities to review the draft, attend an open house and share their perspectives. Public feedback and transparency are an essential part of creating regulations that are effective, balanced and responsive to the needs of Hays County."

Residents who are unable to attend an open house may still review the draft regulations and submit comments. For more information, to provide feedback or to stay informed about future meetings and project updates, contact the Hays County Development Services Department at 512-393-2150 or visit https://www.hayscountytx.gov/565/Development-Regulations-Re-Write.