Activities in Bandera, Texas

Since Bandera is the "Cowboy Capital of the World," it's best to start off your day as a cowboy. Spend a day on the ranch and ride horses, eat authentic Texas cuisine and see interesting animals. There's even a ranch just for alcapas, which look like small llamas. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, rodeos open to the public take place twice a week. Even when the rodeo is in its off-season, there are always cowboys around practicing. For horse riding, several services offer a couple of hours of trail riding through the scenic Texas Hill Country. Be sure to top off your cowboy experience by dropping into the several honky tonks and saloons peppered throughout Bandera, where you can hear live music and country swing dance. Be sure to learn the Texas Two-Step!

Trails, creeks, hills and limestone formations abound in Bandera. Take a short drive to Medina, about 15 miles away, to tour apple orchards at the Apple Capital of Texas. Bandera County is home to Lost Maples National Park, where the leaves turn colors in the fall. Those who enjoy birding will be happy to know more than 200 species of birds live in the area. Be sure to check out the Hill Country State National Area, where nature and wildlife trails offer a sampling of Texas' varied habitats. Keep your eyes out for the endangered golden cheeked warbler. For the children, skipping rocks and hunting for fossils are favorite activities.

The Frontier Times Museum offers more than 40,000 artifacts from Old West, pioneer and prehistoric times. Marked by a tiki post and home of a shrunken head, this isn't your typical museum. Be sure to ask the curator about the ghost stories associated with the museum. Motorcyclists will appreciate the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum at Lost Maples, and music lovers should check out the Bandera Music Hall of Fame Project, a digital jukebox at the city library that contains songs from artists that have played in town.