Category: Family Fun

For those not familiar with the term “Texas Hill Country”, it references the geographic area that covers 25 counties in West, Central, and South Texas. The most notable locations include Austin, Lockhart, New Braunfels, San Marcos, and Wimberley. And there are a few lesser-known towns you might want to check out.

People love coming to the Texas Hill Country because of its breathtaking views, photograph-worthy scenes, history, and adventurous spirit. The possibilities are many! Here are different places to help you find a match for your interests.

Austin

Kyle residents choose to live here because they can savor the country living while being close enough to Austin and all the fun stuff it has to offer. Especially the music fans because Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. It’s no surprise considering Austin has many live music venues.

Sports fans love watching University of Texas teams and FC Austin play. SXSW is held here every year for the latest in music, interactive, and movies. And Austin Bergstrom International airport will take you where you want to go.

San Marcos

Among other things, but most people head to San Marcos for one thing: outlet shopping at Premium Outlets and the Tanger Outlets. It has two full-sized outlet centers side-by-side with more than 200 stores to explore. Be sure to stop by San Marcos Downtown Square filled with boutique, unique shops, and restaurants.

Wimberley

Located 18 miles from Kyle, Wimberley is a town that sits between Austin and San Antonio. It’s where Cypress Creek and Blanco River connect turning Wimberley into a refreshing summer destination. Check out Blue Hole Regional Park, Jacob’s Well Natural Area, and Wimberley Market Days.

Canyon Lake

If you love recreation, then head straight to Canyon Lake for swimming, boating, fishing, camping, sailing, kayaking, and more. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages eight parks, two marinas, a golf course, a yacht club, and the property surrounding the lake.

Lockhart

One word describes Lockhart for a lot of people: Barbecue. After all, it’s the BBQ Capital of Texas. Many of the top BBQ joints can be found within 18 miles of Kyle. It’s also a favorite for day trips and weekend getaways. The city’s website lists all the places you may want to explore as well as lodging.

New Braunfels

You have so many options in New Braunfels including Gruene Historic District. This place is on the National Register of Historic Places with its many buildings that have been around since the 1800s. The Comal River is a spring-fed park that remains 72 degrees all year long.

Schlitterbahn Water Park, Natural Bridge Caverns, Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo, and McKenna Children’s Museum are all found there. It’s a great spot for a getaway weekend. Considering it’s around 30 minutes from Kyle, you can easily visit often.

What are your favorite Texas Hill Country destinations? Let us know on social media by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

Kyle is filled with many delicious dining options. But sometimes folks like to venture outside of city limits to expand their experiences to other places. Only 13 minutes from Crosswinds in Kyle, Buda has much to offer by way of dining. The Buda dining scene is hopping as several notable restaurants have chosen to call Buda home.

Here are some places popping up in Buda that are worth checking out.

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ

One place has been making the news and that’s Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ (11500 Menchaca Road Austin, Texas 78748). The restaurant has appeared on Season 29 of “Dinners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” with Guy Fieri.

TexasMonthly Magazine also features their Texas pitmaster who is the youngest female pitmaster in Texas barbecue. Eliana Gutierrez is a 21-year-old and learned out how to barbecue from Valentina’s owner Miguel Vidal. And CNN Travel has also featured Valetina’s. The restaurant is in the process of moving to a new location with a full bar. Watch their website for updates.

Shugabees

Another BBQ restaurant and trailer in Buda worth tasting is Sugabees (1750 Farm to Market 1626, Buda, TX 78610) inside of Bucks Backyard. They serve BBQ on homemade tortillas, jalapeño potato salad, smoked chicken salad, spiced beans, mustard potato salad, and Beenana or chocolate Shugapudding.

You can pick up a favorite beverage at Bucks and enjoy your Shugabees in its new indoor / outdoor bar or relax on the back deck that overlooks Onion Creek. They have live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Visit Buck’s website for upcoming live performances.

Willie’s Joint and Bandit Taco

Budaful foods is the catering company behind the stove at Willie’s Joint (824 Main St., Buda, Texas 78610) and in the Bandit Taco food truck. Willie’s Joint serves up burgers and sandwiches as well as adult drinks. While they’re a family-friendly restaurant, only 21 and older can dine in the 1940s ranch-style house after 10 PM.

If you’re at Willie’s Joint, you can order food online from Bandit Tacos and they’ll let you know when it’s ready. And like its name, you’ll find a menu filled with all kinds of taco options including breakfast tacos. So, you get two-for-one when you go to Willie’s Joint: Burgers ‘n’ tacos!

Mud Bugs

Love seafood? You won’t have to drive to Louisiana for Cajun food. Just head to Mudbugs (306 S. Main St Suite 107 Buda, Texas 78610) for Cajun cookin’ at this old soul restaurant serving shrimp, crab, crawfish, scallops, as well as non-seafood items.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Do a search for Buda restaurants for more choices. But these should get you off to a great start!

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

Kyle residents can go from riding in a car to riding on a horse in just 20 minutes. Texas Trail Rides at Lone Star Ranch aims to “Keep Austin country.” They love to say the best way to experience Austin is on horseback.

About Texas Trail Rides

There are few places in Texas where you can go on ranch trail rides on 600+ acres of land in the Austin Hill Country. Texas Trail Rides provides riders with safety gear and lead ’em across the scenic creek into beautiful nature within Austin city limits.

This is a working ranch and they request you arrive 30 minutes before your ride for an orientation. They’ll get you fitted for helmets and introduce you to your horse. Wear close-toed shoes (tennis shoes and boots) and long pants. They also recommend bringing sunglasses and water.

Just browse Texas Trail Ride on Instagram or Texas Trail Ride’s Facebook and you’ll want to be transported there. Horseback riding is their main service, but there is more to be had at Lone Star Ranch for the full Texas experience.

About Lone Star Ranch

Lone Star Ranch has miles of trails, creeks, and fields for a memorable day. Besides horseback riding, they offer archery, fishing, and tomahawk and ax throwing. If you want more firepower, they have experienced marksmen and adventure guides who can create a custom trap shoot.

Want to take horseback riding to the next level? They offer private lessons and an after-school riding program where students can learn barrel racing and dressage. Applying an approach based on an organization called Pony Club, they teach you how to be horse people not just riders.

ATV guided tours take you on an adventure around the ranch. An ATV experience includes safety instruction, ATV instructors, helmets, and fuel. Those opting for a fishing excursion can try fly fishing, bass fishing, or creek fishing. Want to explore the crystal-clear creeks and wildlife up close? Kayaks and SUP (stand-up paddle boarding) are just the ticket.

Their cow-folk can also show you a real-life, private rodeo complete with steers and trick roping! And if you have a larger group, they’ll rustle up some big fun such as Armadillo Racing. For the buckaroos, they have a farm animal petting zoo and pony rides.

Explore the photos on Lone Star Ranch Texas on Instagram to see what waits for you.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

It’s time for another edition of the Keep It Kyle Pie Series that proves how Kyle earned its nickname as the Pie Capital of Texas. You’ll find food establishments and restaurants all over Kyle pushing out delicious pizza and dessert pies.

Next up is Aviator Pizza. You’ll find it at 856 Kohlers Crossing Suite 305 Kyle, TX 78640.

About Aviator Pizza

First opened in 2014, the pizza place is locally owned and operated that offers sourced craft pizza and a Texas craft beer bar. The Kyle location is Aviator Pizza’s third. The restaurant also has locations in Elgin, Austin’s South Congress neighborhood, and Parmer Lane in Austin.

Check out Aviator’s Yelp page with the mouthwatering photos. Looks like a party for the taste buds waiting to happen!

What’s on the Menu at Aviator Pizza?

You’ll find a menu full of specialty pizza options. Aviator Pizza makes all the sauces and uses fresh-made dough and ingredients. Gluten-free options are available in the 12-inch. Check out the South Austin pizza with its red sauce base, prosciutto, goat cheese, wild arugula tossed in their homemade honey balsamic wine vinaigrette.

You’ll find the traditional favorites including vegetarian, Margherita, meat lovers known as Meat Almighty, and Hawaiian. They also have Major Tom with a red sauce base, pepperoni, sage sausage, red onions, green peppers, and fresh portabella mushrooms. Buffalo chicken, BBQ grilled chicken, spinach, and chicken fajita are available.

Another original is Ground Control with many of the same ingredients as Major Tom and adds pit-smoked ham, ground beef, and black olives. Garlic lovers, check out the Flying Garlic with its garlic butter base and grilled chicken.

What do you get when pizza and nachos get together? El Nacho pizza with a red sauce, ground beef, olives, jalapenos, cheddar, and tortilla strips. It’s nacho your ordinary pizza! The menu contains vegan and vegetarian options like sriracha Brussel sprouts and goat cheese. They have vegan cheese for substitutions.

Non-pizza options consist of focaccia, calzones, and salads. The grinder sandwiches are a simple sourdough hoagie. And dessert? Bowl us over with their cinnamon dessert selections. These use Aviator’s crust topped with a cinnamon sauce base and homemade cream cheese icing. OK, we’re done here as we need to run out and get some for ourselves!

More Kyle pies:

• MOD Pizza
• Fox’s Pizza Den
• Ilario’s Italian Cuisine

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

May is a great time to go hiking. Not one bit of winter cold remains and yet it’s not hot as Texas can be in July and August. Here are some of the great places to go for a hike near the Crosswinds Community in Kyle. Many of these are just a 30-minute drive from Kyle.

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Starting at Austin’s Zilker Park, Barton Creek Greenbelt (3755-B S Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78704) offers some of the best hiking trails in Texas with seven miles of trails. Hiking on its trail, you’ll see limestone cliffs, dense foliage, and bodies of water. Visit the website for its access points and additional information. Kyle residents can go from their doorsteps to hiking within 30 minutes.

Lady Bird Lake

Ten miles of trail awaits you at the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail located at Lady Bird Lake (1820 S Lakeshore Blvd, Austin, TX 78741). People rave about the park’s view of Austin, waterside scenery, and granite pathways.

McKinney Falls State Park

Less than half an hour’s drive from Kyle, McKinney Falls State Park (5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy., Austin, TX 78744) is a sight to see with Onion Creek flowing over limestone ledges. You’ll explore a whopping nine miles of trails. If you’d like to push a stroller, there are almost 3 miles of hard surface trail.

After you finish your hike, you might have an urge to take a dip in the water. There’s nothing like a refreshing swim after an energizing hike.

Jacob’s Well Natural Area

Open year-round, Jacob’s Well Natural Area (1699 Mt. Sharp Rd., Wimberley, Texas 78676) features more than 81 acres surrounding the spring. Fans laud its ecological splendor, limestone cliffs, and native vegetation. Every hiking trail has something different to see.

You can finish off your hike with a swim in the Trinity aquifer. Its temperature remains at 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Swimming is available between May and October.

Future: Great Spring Trail

While this trail is in the works, it’s worth knowing about as it opens sometime in 2022. This trail is part of one continuous trail that runs from San Antonio to Austin. In Kyle, it will go from the Blanco River and meet up with Plum Creek.

The City of Kyle has already received a grant award for the trail from The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Stay tuned as we’ll post updates when it makes progress.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

 

Beautiful weather has finally arrived and we’re all raring to enjoy the great outdoors. Probably more so this year than any other because of all that’s been going on. Here are Crosswinds in Kyle residents’ favorite parks closest to home.

Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park

In 1880, two acres of City Square Park (101 S. Burleson Rd., Kyle, Texas 78640) made up the town center. Today, it’s a park that includes the grounds around City Hall and the Kyle Train Depot. The City renamed the park Mark Kyle Hartson City Square Park in 2011. The park holds marquee events.

Steeplechase Dog Park

Dog lovers can head to Steeplechase Dog Park (135 Hallie Dr, Kyle, TX 78640) with their fur babies. This park features 31 acres of open space and Plum Creek flowing through it. There, you’ll have access to a covered pavilion, playscapes, trails, baseball and football fields, disc golf, and basketball and sand volleyball courts.

Jacob’s Well Natural Area

For ecological splendor just 30 minutes from Kyle, go to Jacob’s Well Natural Area (1699 Mt. Sharp Rd., Wimberley, Texas 78676). The preserve is filled with more than 81 acres surrounding the spring where you’ll find limestone cliffs and native vegetation thriving. Open year-round for exploring, hikers can explore a variety of trails with things to see at each one.

It’s the home of the second-largest full submerged cave in Texas. The water comes from the Trinity Aquifer that flows its way from the underground cave system. The deepest part of the cave is 140 feet deep. Except for swimming, no reservations are needed to visit JWNA

McKinney Falls State Park

Located fewer than 30 minutes from Kyle, McKinney Falls State Park (5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy., Austin, TX 78744) is an oasis where you’ll find the waters of Onion Creek streaming over limestone ledges. This park contains almost nine miles of trails for a memorable hike or bike ride. It also has a 2.8-mile hard surface trail for those who want to push strollers or go on an easy bike ride.

You can also go fishing and swimming. No license is required to fish from shore in any Texas state park. Fans of camping have a choice of more than 80 campsites with water and electric hookups.

Gregg-Clarke Park

The Gregg and Clarke families ensured the community had a large park for recreation and special events. The result is Gregg-Clarke Park (1231-1301 W Center St, Kyle, TX 78640), a multi-use park that includes Kyle Pool, lit softball and baseball fields, tennis courts, a covered pavilion, walking trails, wide-open spaces, and shaded playscapes. It anchors Kyle Pool. Kyle residents can reserve Ash Pavilion for private events.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Contact our Crosswinds team.

Welcome to another edition of the Keep It Kyle Pie Series to show you why Kyle is the Pie Capital of Texas. Restaurants and food establishments all around Kyle make incredible pies—both pizzas and desserts.

Next up is Ilario’s Italian Cuisine. You’ll find it in the HEB Plus Center on 5401 FM 1626, Suite 801, Kyle, TX 78640—just 11 minutes from Crosswinds!

About Ilario’s

Ilario is an Italian word that means cheerful, happy, and joyful. The restaurant aims to bring authentic Italian and New York-style pizza to Kyle. They make everything from scratch and use the freshest ingredients because they want your experience to be a joyful one.

Everyone who orders from Ilario’s will be happy. That’s because the Italian restaurant has all the favorites you’d want on the menu.

What’s on the Menu at Ilario’s Italian Cuisine?

Oh, my goodness, y’all! Just look at the photos of the pizzas and pastas. Salad lovers will find a medley of salad options. Popular salads like Caesar, garden, and large wedge are available. A couple catch our eye like Shelby’s Parmigiana Salad named for the owner’s daughter. This contains either Caesar or Garden Salad of your choice topped with golden strips of chicken parmigiana.

The other delicious-sounding salad is Ilario’s Honey Pecan Salad that blends crunchiness and sweetness. It has chopped honey pecans, raisins, and fresh raspberries with balsamic vinaigrette to bring it all together.

A kid’s menu and subs are available with options including meatball, Philly cheesesteak, chicken parmigiana, Italian, and chicken ranch. What’s an Italian restaurant without traditional dishes of lasagna, manicotti, spaghetti, and more? All of them show up on the menu. They also have a “Pasta Your Way” option to build your own or choose from fan favorites.

As for pizza, you can order traditional options or stuffed, like Calzone and Stromboli.  Calzones are similar to stuffed pizza in a pocket. Stromboli is a stuffed roll made with hand-tossed pizza dough, Ilario’s proprietary pizza sauce, and a bevy of ingredients.

And dessert? Mama mia! With chocolate molten lava cake, cheesecake, tiramisu, cannoli, and cheesecake, it’ll be challenging to pick. One reviewer recommends the cannoli. Sounds good to us!

More Kyle pies:

• Fox’s Pizza Den
• Pizza Classics Kyle
• MOD Pizza

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.