Property at a Glance: River Road Treehouses

River Road Treehouses bring a childhood daydream to life: hiding from the world inside a treehouse. Tucked into a grove of 80-foot cypress trees, the property’s six treehouse cabins are outfitted with modern amenities, such as full kitchens and free WiFi. Descend from the canopy and walk across the street to a private river park to lounge in the sun or go fishing.

• Enjoy the breeze from your attached deck.
• Natural light spills in from floor-to-ceiling windows for an airy vibe.
• Enjoy bird watching at a raised level right outside your window.
• Go for a swim or catch some fish in the nearby Guadalupe River.
• Distance from Austin: about 55 miles.

Texas Hill Country: Pastoral Landscape of Ranches, Rivers, and German-American Towns

A picturesque region of rolling hills and valleys covered in bluebonnets, the area of central Texas known as Texas Hill Country has been compared to the landscape of Tuscany by the New York Times. Texas Hill Country is a backyard playground for nearby cities, as it lies just west of Austin and northwest of San Antonio. Urbanites often escape here for the weekend to enjoy the slower pace and beat the heat—the region’s slightly higher elevation means it’s often less humid. With many state parks and spring-fed rivers, the Hill Country is also a haven for outdoorsy types; activities range from fishing and tubing to rock climbing. The Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is popular thanks to its main attraction: a gigantic pink-granite dome in the middle of the park.

Among the Hill Country’s major towns, Bandera best captures its cowboy spirit. It’s not uncommon to catch an open rodeo in the summer or to see a ranch hand riding to the store on horseback. The town is also surrounded by dude ranches where you can get a taste of the local lifestyle. Just north of Bandera, the town of Fredericksburg is also worth exploring. Along with New Braunfels, it was one of the main settlements of local German immigrants in the 1840s—a heritage that visitors can still see today in the “Willkommen” signs hung on shop doors.