9 Best Small Towns In Texas For A Crowd-Free Summer
The largest state in the contiguous United States by landmass is also the second most populous in the country. So, it is common to find several cities in this state, like Houston and San Antonio, bustling with crowds year-round, especially in summer. However, with a whopping 268,596 square miles, Texas is large enough to have something for everybody, including those who want a crowd-free summer. Across the state, laid-back travelers will find small towns where the only thing missing is the chaos that accompanies crowds. Everything else, from abundant sunshine to history, culture, and outdoor recreation, awaits in these towns to delight summer travelers. Without further ado, step away from the noise this summer and head to these towns for a relaxing summer worth remembering.
Canyon
For many tourists, Canyon is just the gateway town to Palo Duro Canyon, which begins as a valley from the town and transforms into a canyon eastward. But Canyon is too beautiful and replete with incredible sights and sounds to be reduced to only a gateway. For instance, it is home to the Canyon Aqua Park, where people of all ages are invited to come ward off the heat with water-based attractions and activities. Those who love wildlife will have the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge to explore and see black-tailed prairie dogs, bird species like burrowing owls, and other interesting creatures.
Meanwhile, it is almost impossible to ignore Palo Duro Canyon while in town, as it is the area’s biggest attraction. Located around 14 miles from town, this area is a massive canyon system stretching up to 120 miles long, and reaching depths of 800 feet. Nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Texas, it is considered the second-largest canyon system in the US. It invites adventurers to spend all summer hiking and biking to see stunning geological formations and expansive canyon scenery.
Gruene
Gruene is a tiny town along the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels that offers a euphoric mix of history, entertainment, and outdoor activities all summer, with no crowds to contend with. Here, summer travelers can spend hours enjoying live music at the Gruene Hall, the state’s oldest operating dance hall, or kayaking and fly fishing on the Guadalupe River.
Elsewhere, the Gristmill River Restaurant is a great place to dine and hang out with locals while enjoying views of the river. Gruene is also home to the Gruene General Store, which was established in 1878 and features souvenirs like cowboy hats and keychains. Meanwhile, summer travelers can enjoy a unique lodging experience at the Gruene Mansion Inn, a Victorian-style house built in 1872 with unique rooms reminiscent of the Victorian era.
Port Isabel
Port Isabel is a beautiful town in South Texas, where history and coastal vibes combine to make summers memorable. Located on an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico, this town is home to the Pirate's Landing Fishing Pier, the longest in the state, boasting impressive scenery, excellent fishing conditions, and lots of fishing equipment. Nearby, the Port Isabel Lighthouse stands as one of the state’s oldest lighthouses, built in 1852.
History buffs will enjoy touring the lighthouse and its keeper’s cottage, or climbing its 75 steps for impressive coastal scenery. Additionally, the Port Isabel Historical Museum is in town to offer more detailed information about the history of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre region. The museum’s collection includes artifacts and exhibits covering the Coahuiltecan Indians, who were the area’s early inhabitants, the area’s shrimp and sports fishing industry, and the US-Mexican War.
Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs is a small town, perfect for a quiet escape from the bustling Austin, which is just 23 miles away. More importantly, Dripping Springs is a paradise for nature buffs and a gateway to the Hill Country, brimming with rolling hills, spring-fed creeks, vineyards, and farmsteads. The Hamilton Pool Preserve is one of the town’s striking features that will delight summer travelers with a 50-foot-tall waterfall that forms a pool ideal for swimming. While swimming in this pool may be restricted sometimes, the preserve is also a great place to hike and enjoy the sights of cliffs, plants, animals, birds, and the turquoise pool.
Furthermore, the Reimers Ranch Park is in town to delight summer travelers with 18 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, rock climbing, and fishing or swimming on the Pedernales River. As for wine lovers, the Bell Springs Winery is a must-visit as it features some of the best wine, beer, and food that the Texas Hill Country has to offer.
Wimberley
Wimberley is a serene town on Cypress Creek, soaked in Hill Country hospitality, and full of recreation. This town is where travelers will find the Blue Hole Regional Park, a premier natural destination offering a respite from Texas’s scorching summer heat. The park is home to a spring-fed swimming hole, beautiful cypress trees, rope swings, a disc golf course, scenic picnic areas, and well-maintained trails for hiking and biking.
Cypress Falls Swimming Hole is another great attraction in Wimberley, where summer visitors can swim and kayak in spring-fed waters or picnic under the shade of cypress trees. In the meantime, the Wimberley Valley Museum is a great place to learn about the town’s early settlers, while the nearby Old Baldy Park offers a unique hiking adventure with 218 rock steps and 360-degree views of the Wimberley Valley.
Marble Falls
Marble Falls sits beautifully on the shores of Lake Marble Falls, where it beckons to travelers to come enjoy a relaxing summer vacation. Those who heed the call will be met with Johnson and Lakeside Parks, both of which offer boating access to the lake. Additionally, Johnson Park has biking and hiking trails, and a picnic area, while Lakeside Park has sporting facilities and a swimming pool. Elsewhere, the Flat Creek Estate Winery will impress wine lovers with its beautiful vineyards, educational tours, 18-hole disc golf, and full-service restaurant.
The nearby Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge will further delight wildlife lovers as it has over seven miles of nature trails, leading to sights of endangered birds and rugged canyons. Art lovers are not left out as the Beloved Gallery and Museo Benini are in town with stunning artworks. The Museo Benini is particularly outstanding, as it features outdoor sculpture trails and the three-dimensional works of the world-famed Italian artist Benini.
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is one of the best places to visit in Texas in summer for many reasons. In addition to its laid-back atmosphere, this town is a melting pot of outdoor recreation and history-related endeavors. For one, it is home to the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, where a swimming pool, sports facilities, nature trails, five pavilions, picnic tables, and the Live Oak Creek set the stage for endless adventures, including fishing. Notably, Fredericksburg was founded by Germans, and the Pioneer Museum is open today to offer a peek into the lives of the town's early German settlers who initially refused to adopt English and created a Texas German language instead.
More history is available at the National Museum of the Pacific War, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of World War II artifacts, including plaques dedicated to those who served in the Pacific Theater. Fredericksburg also appeals to summer travelers with its numerous wineries, particularly the Grape Creek Vineyards, which features beautiful vineyards, onsite dining, and a wide variety of wines.
Rockport
Rockport's location is already an indicator of the amazing experiences it offers, and its small population of around 10,000 makes it more appealing. The town is beautifully located on Live Oak Peninsula, which splits Aransas Bay from Copano Bay. With the shores of two bays, beach fun is always a guarantee here, and Rockport Beach often takes the top spot. This massive beach on Aransas Bay is a summer haven with boat ramps, a saltwater pool, picnic areas, and two fishing piers, setting the stage for recreational activities, including boating and jet skiing.
Away from the shores, Rockport invites curious summer travelers to the nearby Lamar Peninsula to see The Big Tree, which is considered the oldest tree in Texas and one of the most famous live oaks in the world. This tree is preserved in the 300-acre Goose Island State Park, which offers more exciting activities such as birdwatching, fishing, and camping. For history enthusiasts, Rockport hosts the Texas Maritime Museum, the state’s official maritime museum. Opened in 1989, this museum is where to learn about the history of the Texas Gulf Coast, with artifacts and exhibits covering shipbuilding, explorers and shipwrecks, oil drilling, and coastal industries.
Port Aransas
As the only developed town on Mustang Island with a population below 3,000 people, Port Aransas is a pretty secluded place for a summer away from the crowds. Here, visitors will share over 18 miles of pristine beachfront with few people. This is despite some of the beaches, like the 6.3-mile Port Aransas Beach, offering endless activities from birdwatching to sunbathing, sandcastle building, fishing, surfing, beach driving, and parasailing.
Nearby, the Mustang Island State Park has a five-mile beachfront to further excite summer travelers, as well as dozens of campsites, and opportunities for kayaking, birdwatching, fishing, and hiking. As for avid bird lovers, the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center is a must-visit on a summer vacation here to hike and see hundreds of birds, including ducks, pelicans, and songbirds. As if that is not enough, boat rides are offered to the nearby San Jose Island, where secluded beaches, birds, and lots of seashells await to help travelers unwind.
Discover these placid summer escapes in the Lone Star State, and enjoy the vibes of the season outdoors without the crowd. From Port Aransas and its dreamy beaches to Wimberley and its many swimming holes, you will be spoiled for options. Even better, you could have all the places to yourself or be in the company of a few summer vacationers, which makes the experiences more intimate and sensational. And there is the variety: history, nature, culture, cuisine, whatever appeals to the inner you, all on the table when you sneak into these lovely, cozy towns for the summer.
