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Daytripping in Kerrville
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.
Return to Kerrville
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