Start with the water
Morning is everything in the Hill Country. Arrive early at Hamilton Pool, where the waterfall drips from a limestone overhang and the kids will be quiet for at least a minute. Reservations aren't optional, so book before you leave home.
Climb something pink
By afternoon, head west. Enchanted Rock is a short, steep scramble that even small legs can handle, and the view from the top is the whole Hill Country laid out like a quilt.
Spend the night in Fredericksburg. Walk Main Street, buy a basket of peaches, and let dinner run long.
End with a two-step
On your way home, stop at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels. The afternoon sets are often free and all-ages — the best kind of Texas education there is.
Ask the Texan