Spelunker – [spi-luhng-ker] noun; 1.  A person who explores caves, especially as a hobby (from dictionary.reference.com).

Spelunking is just one of the many things to do at Colorado Bend State Park, located just 1.25 hours from Kingsland, Texas, 2 hours from Austin, on 5,328 acres and smack in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country.   Colorado Bend State Park offers the outdoor enthusiast great camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, swimming, paddling, birding and wildlife viewing and even guided tours.  With 32 miles of multiuse routes, there is something for explorers of every skill level.

Gorman Falls, just one of the park’s gems, is a 60-foot high cascade that can be experienced on a guided tour.  The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and is a 1.5-mile hike. There are also approximately 150 wild caves located in the park, some accessible with a guided tour.

Wild life is prolific and includes white-tail deer, Guadalupe bass, bats, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, numerous song birds, armadillos, and squirrels.  Boaters and paddlers can access 23,000-acre Lake Buchanan from the park’s boat ramp on the Colorado River.

Whether you've already made the Texas Hill Country your vacation, second, or retirement home or you're just visiting, pack up the family and get spelunking! 

For more information and calendar of events, go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/colorado-bend.

Austin, Texas, the gateway to the Texas Hill Country, is known for many things such has one of the best cities in the country to live for its thriving economy, scenic landscape, safety and quality of life, but is probably best known as “The Music Capital of The World,” thanks in part to the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  Inspired by the PBS concert series of the same name created in 1976 initially to celebrate the music of Texas, ACL Music Festival was born in 2002 and has grown into an internationally recognized music festival and attracts approximately 75,000 people daily from all over the world and features a wide range of musical styles and genres.  Oh, we can't forget about the yummy, eclectic food vendors and the many ACL cares organizations that the festival promotes to help the community and beyond.

Attention foodies, wine enthusiasts, artisan lovers and live music devotees!  Whether you’re just visiting or you’ve already made the Texas Hill Country your second or vacation home, you won’t want to miss the 7th Annual Dripping With Taste Festival on Saturday, September 13, 2014, in Dripping Springs, Texas!  Located on the grounds of the new Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center, this is the perfect location to showcase Texas wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, chefs, caterers, artisans, and musicians!  Dripping Springs is located just one hour southeast of Kingsland.  Directions here.

The festival will directly benefit the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors’ Bureau.

Information about the Dripping With Taste Festival provided by www.drippingwithtaste.com.

What began in 1977 as a good-humored bid to put  Oatmeal, Texas back on the map after state map-makers overlooked the teeny-tiny community, the festival has evolved into one of the wackiest, whimsical, small-town festivals anywhere!  Visitors from all over come to witness it "snowing" oatmeal and participate in crazy fun and events like:

• The Oatmeal Festival Fun Run - A 3.3-mile "Run-For-Your-Oats" begins under the water tower on Vaughan Street at 8:03 a.m. on August 30.  Bring you sugar and run for your oats!  Click here for more information.
  
• Oatmeal Festival Cook-Off - Contestants can enter their oatmeal cook-off dishes in 7 categories:  breads, cakes, pies, cookies, bars, snack mix, and low fat/low cholesterol.  Click here for more info.
• Oatmeal Festival Parade - The Grand Parade will wind its way through downtown Bertram.  Click here for more information.
• Oatmeal softball tournament.
  
• "Miss Oatmeal" pageant.
• Arts and Crafts.
• Zany games.
• Kids' events.
  
• Live Music and dancing.
• "Groaty Oats" contest.
  
• Click here for full schedule of events.
  

The festival begins Friday, August 29th in Oatmeal, Texas at 5:03 p.m.
with a BBQ dinner and the Miss Oatmeal Pageant!
  Make sure you BYOS... bring your own sugar!

2014 Texas Wine Month
October 1 – 31, 2014
Tickets available August 13th!

October is one of our favorite times of the year…..it’s TEXAS WINE MONTH!  What a great way to usher in fall by savoring the delightful flavors of the participating 42 wineries here on the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail.

Tickets go on sale August 13th and are valid the entire month of October.  Tickets include a full complimentary tasting at each participating winery with a limit of 4 wineries per day and a 15% discount on 3-bottle purchases at each winery.  Tickets are $60.00 per couple or $35.00 per single.  The average tasting fee at each participating winery is $9.00 per person which equals $36.00 per person if visiting 4 wineries per day!  A great deal, so be sure and get tickets for your family and friends! Your ticket will include a Tasting Booklet that can be picked up at your first winery.  Each winery you visit will stamp the booklet on the day you visit.  Each day you can taste and get stamped at up to 4 wineries.  Couples will receive one booklet and two tastings (one per person).

Visit texaswinetrail.com for more details!  See you out on the wine trail!