Whether a fun getaway means a day of cowboy art, folk music, or arts and crafts, you're in luck in the community of Kerrville, located northwest of San Antonio along I-10. Considered by many to be the capital of the Hill Country, this town offers visitors plenty of attractions with attractions including fine art, outdoor fun, the great outdoors, and some of the top festivals in the state.

With its surrounding hills and the clear waters of the Guadalupe River, Kerrville is an outdoor lover's paradise, whatever time of year you visit. Make time for a visit to the Kerrville-Schreiner Park which offers seven miles of hiking trails, as well as fishing and swimming in the Guadalupe River.

If you'd like to extend your day trip, screened shelters and campsites are also available. You can learn more about the flora and fauna of the Hill Country with a stop at the Riverside Nature Center. This informative center includes walking paths, a wildflower meadow, butterfly gardens, and gardens featuring native grasses, trees, and flowers.

Those rolling hills have also been the inspiration for many artists, so it's not surprising that Kerrville is home to many internationally recognized artists. For a look at world-class Western art, make a visit to the Museum of Western Art. This hilltop museum features work by members of the Cowboy Artists of America. Western-themed paintings and sculpture fill the museum.

Kerrville's appreciation for the arts continues in its revitalized downtown, where antiques shops and art galleries offer excellent shopping. The high quality of the artwork available in Kerrville attests to the community's status as a magnet for artists from across the Southwest.

Whatever type of art you're looking for, you'll find it at one of the festivals for which Kerrville is known throughout the state. The Texas State Arts and Crafts Fair, always scheduled for late May on the grounds of Shreiner College. The event draws over 200 artists from across the state. No manufactured, mass produced, or molded items are permitted, and all the artisans must reside in Texas to participate.

In late May and early June, mark your calendar for the annual Kerrville Folk Festival. One of Texas' best loved music gatherings, this extravaganza of song is held nine miles south of town at the Quiet Valley Ranch.

The ranches that surround Kerrville are as much an attraction as the city itself. One of the best known is the Y.O. Ranch, founded by Charles Schreiner and the family whose name is synonymous with Kerrville. Charles Schreiner, who became a Texas Ranger at the age of 16, came to Kerrville as a young man in the 1850s, and following the Civil War began a dry goods store and started acquiring land. The Charles Schreiner Company was the first business in America to recognize the value of mohair, the product of Angora goats. Before long, Schreiner made Kerrville the mohair capital of the world.

In 1880 Schreiner acquired the Y. O. Ranch, which grew over the next 20 years to over 600,000 acres, covering a distance of 80 miles. Today the Schreiner family still owns the ranch, located in nearby Mountain Home. You can visit and tour the ranch for a look at its Texas Longhorns and many exotic species.

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