This post is sponsored by the City of New Braunfels and all opinions are my own. Prost!

We recently checked into a little Texas town that made me fall in love with Texas whitewater long ago. New Braunfels and Gruene both boast abundant natural beauty, German culture, and heritage. New Braunfels was purchased and established by Prince Carl Solms-Braunfels in 1845. Additionally, Ernst and Antoinette Gruene arrived in Galveston in 1845, getting things started. Both locations are perfect venues to learn about the deep German roots of Texas culture. The water recreation is booming locally and the entertainment options are endless when visiting New Braunfels. Here is one big list to cover it all. History, natural springs, and fun, all you need to do is jump in!

Learning in New Braunfels

One of the main benefits for us as a homeschool and e-learning/ e-working family over the years is the ability to educate the children anywhere we choose. This leaves the world wide open for curiosity and exploration at any given whim. When things are getting mundane at home, it’s easy to pack it up and relocate. The beauty of New Braunfels and the nostalgia of Gruene, Texas are always at the top of our bucket list for a myriad of reasons. Natural wonders of the local landscape such as Natural Bridge Caverns and underground springs featured at Landa Park lend countless hours of education in the realms of earth science, geology, geography, and wonder. The history and cultural heritage is showcased extensively at the Sophienburg Museum, highly recommended for an education-based visit. The museum was named after Prince Carl Solms's young bride who refused to join him here in Texas and ultimately Prince Carl left Texas behind to return overseas to be with his love and never returned to Texas!

Small Town Texas Charm in Gruene, Texas

Activities in Gruene cater to a variety of social engagements from family activities to a romantic night out on the town. You don’t have to look far to find something interesting to do here. Almost everything is within walking distance from; danceh…

When you step out in Gruene you begin to feel the deep sense of southern tradition ingrained in the sidewalks of the streets. Gruene always feels familiar and comforting. Activities in Gruene cater to a variety of social engagements from family activities to a romantic night out on the town. You don’t have to look far to find something interesting to do here. Almost everything is within walking distance from; dancehalls, small-town shopping, music, excellent dining, and riverfront fun, Gruene has it all.

Gruene’s Yellow Haus

The Victorian setting and style of the house give off the perfect feel of chic southern hospitality with its elegant paneling, vaulted ceilings, and grand chandelier! The sitting porch out front on the main street that runs through Gruene made a per…

We were lucky enough to stay a few nights in Gruene’s Yellow Haus managed by the Guadalupe River Houses. The Yellow house is perfect for large family groups and I have even had several people mention to me they have stayed in the Yellow Haus for bridal parties and fun girls' weekends. The Victorian setting and style of the house give off the perfect feel of chic southern hospitality with its elegant paneling, vaulted ceilings, and grand chandelier. We had a lovely afternoon sitting out on the porch front with a front set to the main street that runs through Gruene. It made a perfect spot to relax, unwind and, allowed for a few school lessons in the sun. The children took turns reading and checking papers as we watched people stroll by on their way to the square in this quaint little town.

New Braunfels Whitewater

Visiting places like Prince Solms Park, Landa Park, and Camp Hueco Springs takes me back to the ’90s when the water was high and the vibes were awesome.

I grew up training for slalom kayak on the whitewater in New Braunfels. Visiting places like Prince Solms Park, Landa Park, and Camp Hueco Springs takes me back to the ’90s when the water was high and the vibes were awesome. I was pleased to find so many other individuals safely social distancing yet enjoying the weather and the outdoors as we explored all the gorgeous whitewater features that New Braunfels has to offer.

Water Recreation on the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers

Rockin R Rentals. The rental company caters to recreation on the Guadalupe River and the Comal River in Texas. They offer toobs, rafts, kayaks, and standup paddleboards. They are the only outfitter with locations on both the Guadalupe and Comal.

I was thrilled to get away with my two older children on a guided tour hosted by Rockin R Rentals. The rental company caters to recreation on the Guadalupe River and the Comal River in Texas. They offer toobs, rafts, kayaks, and standup paddleboards. They are the only outfitter with locations on both the Guadalupe and Comal. Our trip departed from the Rockin R headquarters on prime riverfront real estate in the heart of Gruene. We opted for an inflatable kayak trip and had two great guides lead us downriver to the next take out point where a comfortable bus met us and shuttled us back. Rockin R took all the guesswork out of our river trip and we were able to sit back, relax, enjoy the rapids and each other's company. It was some much-needed one on one time with my big kids!

Spass Walking Tour at Panther Canyon in Landa Park

At the height of our homeschool journey in New Braunfels, we found ourselves at the beloved Landa Park. Landa Park was a big part of my childhood with whimsical train rides for children, a sprawling playground, expansive nature trails, and cool crisp water. We had a walking tour scheduled with Jan Kingsbury from Spass Walking Tours and I was pleasantly surprised at the rich Native American and German history inside of Landa Park. The executive director of the Headwaters at the Comal, Nancy Pappas, met up with us at the beginning of our tour and brought along some native tools and artifacts to help bring to life the pre-historic mural at the Wurstfest grounds where our journey began. Jan was a wealth of information and knew all the best places and stories. We explored many sites of the early settlers and the original underground springs that still feed the Comal River today and are an integral part of the Edwards Aquifer. Afterwards,a we descended to the Panther Canyon trail and learned even more about this intriguing area.

Dining Safely While Traveling and Following Guidelines

Traveling is very important to us as a family. Travel is also an important part of our homeschool curriculum. Travel piques my interest and curiosity as a mother and allows me to decompress and unwind from the pace and responsibility of home life. Taking the time to give my children the gift of exploring other communities, cultures, and geographical wonders is important to me. New Braunfels and Gruene are very close to home for us, the drive is a breeze. Working and learning remotely as a family, a staycation if you will, is a wonderful way to reconnect to one another and take in the sights and sounds of a new environment. Furthering our knowledge and learning together as a family, side by side is priceless. There is so much to do in this exciting area of Texas and I never feel like we have seen it all. We always find ourselves back in New Braunfels checking one more hidden wonder off our list.