“I never ate at a place in Boerne I didn’t love. Just follow the smells.” The young, pretty, blonde lady working at Boerne Visitor Center who gave us this advice was right. Great places to eat are at the forefront when we visit a new town. Boerne (pronounced bernie) offers wonderful food and a lot more. Shopping, events, dining, lodging, outdoor activities, historical buildings, breweries, and wineries adorn this delightful small town. If you need reasons to visit Boerne, Texas, here they are…

To start off your visit to Boerne, take the scenic route into town by accessing highway 46. Make your first stop at the Visitors Center at 282 North Main Street and pick up your town maps. There are clean bathrooms and a water fountain at the Visitors Center so you can start your day off comfortably.

*Note: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning that if you book through my link, I will make a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

History

Boerne is named for Ludwig Börne, a man who inspired many people to leave Germany in the 1840s and travel to the new world. The town of Boerne was founded by new German settlers in 1852. The German immigrants brought with them their own language, customs, and music—much of which is still alive today. The Germans came to colonize. Through hard work a town of unique buildings that are treasured, preserved, and restored are the heart of Boerne.

The pioneer settlers faced extreme conditions such as exposure, disease, primitive living conditions, as well as raids from indigenous people. Despite the harsh conditions, Boerne grew into prosperity as businesses began and stagecoach routes took hold. Consequently, William Dietert established Boerne’s first business, a gristmill and a sawmill on the Cibolo Creek. The business was soon followed by a blacksmith shop, a livery stable, a butcher shop, a saloon, and a general store.

Where to Stay

What to Do when you Visit Boerne

1. Boerne City Lake Park – 1 City Lake Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Suggested to us by the guide at the Visitors Center as the best place in Boerne to watch the sunset, the 100-acre community park offers swimming, fishing, boat dock and ramp, volleyball court, covered playground, 9-hole Frisbee golf, picnic units with grills, trails, and more. Kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent during peak season. In contrast, motorized boats are not allowed.

2. Cibolo Nature Center & Herff Farm – 140 City Park Road, Boerne, TX 78006

“The earth has its music for those who will listen.” – George Santayana

Cibolo Nature Center offers miles of trails for people to enjoy as they visit Boerne. The area boasts four unique ecosystems. Keep your eyes out for the beautiful red cardinals adorning the grasses and trees throughout the grounds.

My favourite was Cibolo Creek Trail (1/2 km or 1/3 mile) where the towering cypress trees shelter you from the Texas sun. The creek is a great place for photos.

The Marshland Trail (1/2 km or 1/3 mile) is an easy, handicap accessible trail winding through marshes and grassy paths. Different species of birds, fish, and insects will intrigue the nature lover.

The Woodlands Trail (800 metres or 1/2 mile) is a chance to enjoy the shade of the oak and juniper trees. The footpath is easy and serene.

The Native Texas Prairie Trail (800 metres or 1/2 mile) is a pocket of Texas prairie containing native tall-grass species such as bluestem and switchgrass.

Something extra fun and interesting for grown-ups and children alike is Cibolo Dinosaur Trackway. The tracks are an exact copy of the original dinosaur footprints uncovered on the Boerne Lake Spillway after a flood. The large prints were likely left by the tridactyl theropod Acrocanthosaurus. The smaller three-toed prints are not clear enough for identification. The dinosaurs walked the region around 110 million years ago.

Trail hours are dawn to dusk. Washrooms are in the Visitors Center. Cibolo Nature Center is free to visit and donations are welcome.

3. Feed the Ducks

Before (or after) enjoying an exquisite beer at The Dodging Duck Brewhaus on River Road, take a walk along Cibolo Creek. You will soon discover why the brewery has chosen the name it so proudly displays. Note the “Ducks Crossing” signs on River Road. The numerous ducks are friendly and will get up and close and personal if you tempt them with a little treat.

4. Take a Self-Guided Historic Walking Tour

Pick up the map and guide at the Boerne Visitors Center for your self-guided historic walking tour. The guide focuses on three sections of town where you can see the historic homes and buildings—North Main Street tour, Downtown tour, and South Main Street tour.

Small-Town Travel Tip: There is a rare 1614 Bible on display at the Boerne Public Library (451 North Main Street, Building 100)

While walking the historic streets of Boerne, take note of the gorgeous sprawling oak trees in the front yards of dwellings and businesses. These trees are often hundreds of years old and deserve admiration.

Notable Structures

There are numerous historic buildings to see and admire while you visit Boerne—far too many for the purposes of this article. Here are structures that we found particularly interesting and picturesque.

North Main Street

5. St. Helena’s Episcopal Church – 410 N. Main

In 1881, St. Helena’s was the first church allowed within the city limits of Boerne. Note the lovely, quiet courtyard along the side of the church.

Downtown Boerne

6. Theis House – Newton Alley

One of the oldest structures in town, Theis House was constructed in 1858. Hand-hewn beams and poles hold together with wooden pegs, mud and daub construction. The house has been restored and it is a little tricky to find because it is not on a main street.

South Main Street

7. Kronkosky Tower – 418 W. Highland

Built by a San Antonio business tycoon in 1911 as part of his lavish estate, the property now belongs to the Benedictine Sisters. The pagoda type structure can be seen from many vantage points in Boerne. Entrance to the tower is by appointment only.

8. Robert E. Lee House – 525 S. Main

Constructed in 1860, it is said General Lee stayed in this tiny house on his way to Fort Sam Houston from Camp Verde. The wee structure was part of the O’Grady Inn, operating before the Civil War.

9. St. Peter The Apostolic Catholic Churches – 202 W. Kronkosky

The little church on the right of the bigger church was built in 1866 and the bigger church was completed in 1923. The bigger church is modelled after Mission Concepcion in San Antonio.

Where to Eat and Drink

10. The Boerne Wine Company – 302 South Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006

Who doesn’t love a little indulgence of a glass of wine to take a break from walking and shopping? The atmosphere at Boerne Wine Company is casual and comfortable. Take note of their self-serve enomatic machines allowing you to sample and drink by the glass, half-glass or sip. It’s a great way to taste their rotating selection of 300 different wines from around the world.

11. Cibolo Beer Creek Brewing Company – 488 South Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006

If beer flights are your thing, check out the Cibolo Beer Creek Brewing Company. This family-owned establishment offers a casual atmosphere with an outdoor Biergarten. Do note, the traffic is loud and busy on the main street in Boerne; however, the patio is still cozy. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.

12. The Dodging Duck Brewhaus – 402 River Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Fantastic beer and tremendous vibe = the Dodging Duck Brewhaus. First of all, we could have spent the whole afternoon here sipping a beer or two on the large outdoor Biergarten but we had plans and driving to do. Best to practice self-control. The patio is also dog friendly.

On August 1, 2002, the Dodging Duck introduced craft beer to Boerne. Their beer is brewed onsite in a 10 barrel (1173 litres or 310 gallons) Bohemian Brewery system. Ian, the head brewer, is always hard at work on his next recipe. The beer is fresh and unfiltered (just the way we like it!), stored at 1° Celsius and poured from stainless steel serving tanks through chilled lines. There is virtually no contact with air or light until the beer hits your glass.

Try the Quackinator Doppelbock. Brewed in the style originated by 18th-century monks, this fantastic beer is made with the finest German malt and hops. The 7.6% ABV and 18 IBU make it the perfect brew for dark beer lovers. The Quackinator is one of our favourite Texas beers.

Along with pints, you can order flights and take-home growlers.

13. Little Gretel Restaurant – 518 River Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Boerne is bursting with German heritage. Little Gretel offers homemade, authentic German food of Central European delights, blending heritage from Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Chef Denise (owner and chef at Little Gretel) takes pride in preserving recipes from her heritage. Her mother was a chef in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and worked over 50 years in the restaurant industry. Most of Denise’s recipes were learned by her mother’s side in the Czech Republic.

Try Gretel’s Schnitzel, with fresh spaetzle and homemade sauerkraut. It echoes the food in Germany with buttery noodles offset by the pungent sauerkraut with just a hint of sweetness and caraway, served hot. Comfort food at its finest.

Where to Shop

14. Visit Boerne Main Street (Hill Country Mile)

Named a Texas “Great Street” by the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Hill Country Mile features modern shops and restaurants located in beautiful, historic buildings. You can find every treasure imaginable from trendy clothing, exclusive home décor, and art galleries.

15. Carousel Antiques and Fickle Pickles – 118 South Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006

While enjoying our lunch at Little Gretel, we poured over the guides we had picked up at the Visitors Center to plan our day. Our waitress approached our table.

“What are you planning to see?”

“Well, we love historical buildings, food, wine, and beer. What do you suggest?”

She went on to say we had to visit the pickle store on the main street because they had the best pickles around—because I love pickles it was not hard to convince me.

Our waitress had good taste. The Fickle Pickle provides free samples and see if you can stop at one. I had to have two.

The Fickle Pickle is a family-owned business of 38 years and going strong. The pickles are handmade and the family gets together to jar them as a family—love in every jar. They ship everywhere in the world except Australia. You can even buy the juice to use as marinades. The shop keeper said some people drink it. A jar of the juice is in our refrigerator waiting for a special recipe.

Reasons to Visit Boerne, Texas

Most importantly, whether you visit Boerne for a day or a week, these reasons to visit Boerne, Texas will provide some of the best food, entertainment, and hospitality in the Texas Hill Country. Far from a sleepy town, Boerne is bustling with activity. Now is the time to visit Boerne, one of the most visited destinations in the Great State of Texas.

All pictures in this post are taken by Charlotte, yours truly, as always, unless otherwise stated.