Planning the perfect day trip takes some work but is well worth it. Today, we’d like to share some of our favorite trips closer to home – as well as a few tips to make your mini-vacation as smooth as possible.

With our day trip ideas and planning tips, you’re sure to have an unforgettable day that you’ll want to repeat again very soon!

Step One: Figure out Where You Want to Go

The first step in planning a Texas Hill Country day trip is to figure out where you would like to go. There are many options, so here are a few of our favorite Hunt, TX day trip ideas.

• Bandera: This is considered the Cowboy Capital of the World. Bandera is about an hour away from San Antonio and only 45 minutes from Hunt, TX. There’s live country music, a real-life saloon, and a frontier museum. If you have kids, we’re sure they’ll thoroughly enjoy playing cowboy for the day in Bandera.

• Fredericksburg: Located seventy miles north of San Antonio (and only about 50 minutes from Hunt, TX), Fredericksburg is a German settlement. There are art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants with the best German food in Texas. In honor of local hero Chester Nimitz – commander-in-chief of the WWII Pacific Fleet – there is a special museum dedicated to him at the National Museum of the Pacific War.

• Flower Day Trip: Spring and summer are the perfect time to go on a day trip to check out all of the gorgeous native wildflowers. These are the top five places for flower lovers to visit.

1. Fredericksburg – After you visit the National Museum of the Pacific War, take a picnic in the countryside and enjoy the lovely red poppies and bluebonnets.
2. Round Rock – For those who love history, there’s a historic graveyard that’s full of bluebonnets each season.
3. Willow City – Enjoy the beautiful Willow City Loop, with luscious bluebonnets, rolling hills, and majestic mountains.
4. Llano – Fields of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush, plus a ghost town (Pontotoc)!
5. Kingsland – Fields full of Indian paintbrush and bluebonnets.

• Hill Country Science Mill: Your children will love this science museum that focuses on engaging young minds in innovative ways. Their goal is to inspire young ones (and the young at heart!) to connect with science and see how it is used in the world. Believe us – after you leave the Hill Country Science Mill your kids will definitely think that science is cool.

Step Two: Planning the Perfect Day Trip

It’s easy to get lost in figuring out where you want to go. Besides finding day trip ideas, you’ll need to spend some time actually planning your trip. Here are some tips to help you plan a fun and affordable day trip.

1. Set a Budget & Stick to It

One of the great things about taking a day trip is that you get to get away from it all without having to spend a lot of money. It is still easy, though, for the costs to start adding up. Avoid extra costs by not going so far away from home that you have to spend money on a hotel. Another idea – make at least one of your day trips strictly focused on nature. Visit meadows, parks, and swimming holes. This kind of day trip is still super fun, but it can help you save a lot of money.

2. Act Like a Tourist

Go to well-known tourist destinations that you normally wouldn’t go to as a local. Even if you think you know all there is to know about where you live, you’ll discover something new and interesting.

3. Pack Some Essentials

Planning ahead means packing the car with some “just in case” essentials. Bring a blanket and jackets, pack a lunch and plenty of fluids, and bring along some games for the kids. And don’t forget your car’s emergency kit.

Make Sure to Take a Break at The Hunt Store

When you take your day trip to the Texas Hill Country, make sure to stop by The Hunt Store. We’re the perfect place to stop for a tasty meal or to pick up some refreshments for your trip. Or, feel free to sit back, relax, and enjoy some conversation with the locals along with live music. We’re positive spending time with some of the Texas Hill Country locals will be the perfect ending to an awesome day trip.