Your guide to a perfect day trip in the Texas Hill Country.
Hidden in the hill country, less than an hour southwest of Austin, is Wimberley, an artist haven. The cute horseshoe shaped downtown is full of shops galore. My favorites are The River House Boutique for unique western home decor and Wall Street Western for vintage cowboy boots. For drinks, I’d wander over to Chill’s on the Creek for one of their famous Mextinis, my grandmother’s favorite stop.
But the real heart of Wimberley is found on walking along the southern sidewalk on Ranch Rd 12. Here you’ll find art gallery after art gallery, filled to the brim with watercolor paintings and bronze sculptures featuring beautiful Texan and western sceneries. Pitzer’s Fine Arts is my personal favorite. Their bronze sculptures are so expressive, you'll feel like you know the subject before you read the plaque. Scattered around the town are 6-foot tall painted cowboy boots, each painted by a different artist: https://www.bootifulwimberley.com/boots, each one with its own unique theme.
One hidden treasure just outside of town is a small hole-in-the-wall tavern and honkytonk, Devil’s Backbone. Named after the famously windy country road you drive to get there, this little bar is like stepping back into the 1980s. Dollar bills line the ceiling and walls; everything has a little layer of grime, but there’s a jukebox in the corner that’ll play whatever you’d like. They recently opened up a small side building for concerts; buy your tickets in advance: https://www.devilsbackbonetavern.com/live-music. The little venue sells out quick!
If you're driving to Austin, take the detour. Wimberley's got more character per block than towns twice its size.
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