Boerne (pronounced Bernie) offers a Texas Hill Country experience that’s easy to discover and full of character, with a compact downtown, scenic outdoor spaces, and historic buildings full of galleries, boutiques, cafés, and museums.
The Hill Country Mile is Boerne’s central hub for delicious food and shopping. There are independent coffee shops, a custom hat bar, and standout spots like the Free Roam Brewing Co – you’ll love their crisp Hop Skud IPA. Richter Tavern and Bakhaus turns out fresh pastries and internationally inspired dishes from its historic home, including cinnamon rolls the size of Texas. You’ll certainly notice the Hill Country roots here, but Boerne also has a contemporary edge, with a growing number of farm-to-table options and stylish bars.
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Boerne offers a fantastic mix of town and trails. The Cibolo features a tall-grass prairie, woodland, creek watershead, and marshland environments — great for walking or bird watching. The Herff Farm Farmers Market brings together locals and visitors every weekend with seasonal produce, handmade goods, and live music. For water activities and a laid-back picnic setting, head to Boerne City Lake Park where you can cool off on a warm summer’s day or you can even try sailing and paddleboarding.
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Boerne’s Old Jail Museum tells the story of this region with artifacts and guided tours inside the original 19th-century structure – just don’t misbehave or else you might spend longer in one of its cells than you planned. The AgriCultural Museum and Arts Center, a sprawling museum space plus an active blacksmith shop, explores rural life and early industry in the area with everything from quarterly antique tractor pulls to bi-monthly bring-your-own-instrument bluegrass jams. Together, these sites offer insight into the German and pioneer influences that shaped the town.
Photo cred: Charles Whitman Images
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The Hill Country Mile also serves as the cultural core of Boerne. Here, you’ll find local art, live performances, and frequent events ranging from outdoor markets to evening concerts. Nearby, the Cave Without a Name is a truly unique venue — part natural wonder, part acoustic space — where concerts that might feature cello recitals or jazz quartets are held inside the cavern as you gaze in wonder at stalactites and stalagmites.
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