A Nice Day in Gruene, Texas
There are certainly a lot of fun places in Texas, and if you are looking for a wonderful day trip from Austin, look to Gruene, Texas! Pronounced like the color green, Gruene is a German-Texan town that used to be a significant cotton producing city but has since become a city on the National Register of Historic Places. Gruene is in New Braunfels, about an hour away from Austin, depending on traffic. It’s a great place to spend a day, walking around shopping, then grabbing a glass of wine by the river. Below are my favorite spots to stop at in Gruene, Texas:
Gruene General Store
Located on the main strip of Gruene on Hunter Road, the Gruene General Store is a great place to get your souvenirs. There are a ton of Texas items, hot sauces, apparel, hats, snacks, fudge, ice cream and more. So much to look at, it’s fun for all ages.
Gruene Olive Tasting Room
Another great spot for souvenirs, especially if you like olive oils and vinegar, is the Gruene Olive Tasting Room. As the name suggests, you can taste the many, many types of olive oils and vinegars they have! It is located on the main strip on Hunter Road, in a charming house. Besides vinegars and olive oils, they carry fun accessories as well.
Gruene Coffee Haus
Tucked away on the main strip of Hunter Road is a terrific coffee shop. I love a good sweet coffee and the caramel frappe at Gruene Coffee Haus’ version is so incredibly delicious! Unfortunately I did not get to try their other drinks, as my partner got a java chip frappe (which was also delicious) but everything looked and smelled wonderful.
Gruene Hall
Built in 1878, Gruene Hall is one of the oldest dancing halls in Texas, and maybe the most famous. It’s a great place to catch a live show. You never know if the artist you are seeing is going to blow up!
Winery on the Gruene
Winery on the Gruene is a cute, woman-owned, award-winning winery to stop by, have a few glasses, and enjoy the Guadalupe River. There is a ton of outdoor seating. It’s family and pet friendly. They also have some kitchy merch for sale.
TL;DR
Visit Gruene, Texas as a day trip from Austin! Check out the Gruene General Store, Gruene Olive Tasting Room, Gruene Coffee Haus, Gruene Hall and Winery on the Gruene.