Accommodations

New Braunfels [1] is a B&B kind of town, especially its Gruene Historic District [2]. San Antonio and Austin residents often make weekend getaways to New Braunfels, using a Gruene B&B as home base while they tube and shop. One of the most popular destinations is Gruene Mansion Inn (1275 Gruene Rd., 830/629-2641, gruenemansioninn.com, rooms start at $165 and most weekends have a two-night minimum stay).

This is where the town’s namesake, Henry D. Gruene, once lived; his Victorian home and its outbuildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Gruene’s mansion has been converted into 30 guest rooms, each with its own entrance, private bathroom, and porch, and the rooms are decorated with a heavily furnished “Victorian rustic elegance.” Free Wi-Fi service is available, and breakfast consists of a buffet with several hot items, pastries, breads, and fruit.

Another highly regarded option is Gruene Homestead Inn (832 Gruene Rd., 800/238-5534, 830/606-0216, www.gruenehomesteadinn.com [3], rooms start at $115), a collection of historic farm houses on eight acres. Amenities include private baths and porches, free wireless Internet, and a full breakfast. Guests also have access to the swimming pool and hot tub, and family accommodations on this former German homestead are available in cottages and guest houses that sleep up to five people. Catch a local blues or Americana band on the inn’s grounds at Tavern in the Gruene, a live music venue featuring a full bar, shuffleboard table, and horseshoe pit.

New Braunfels [1] has several decent non-chain hotel accommodations as well, including the fancy Faust Hotel (240 S. Seguin Ave., 830/625-7791, www.fausthotel.com [4], $119 d). Built in 1929, this elegant hotel has an added bonus: an on-site microbrewery. The Faust Brewing Company, the only microbrewery in New Braunfels, is located in the hotel’s original beer garden and serves some tasty brews, including a crisp hefeweizen wheat beer. The rooms are pretty nice too, with period furnishings and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also provides a free breakfast.

Not nearly as upscale is the tuber-friendly collection of cottages on the river at The Other Place (385 Other Place Dr., 830/625-5114, www.theotherplaceresort.com [5], cabins range from $150 to more than $300). This natural spot has been around since 1910, when it was founded as Camp Giesecke, and its four wooded acres are bordered by 1,400 feet of river frontage in the horseshoe bend of the Comal River. Each unit has central air/heat, a full kitchen with dishes and utensils, a dining area, and a private porch overlooking the river. Be forewarned: There are no phones or TVs in the rooms, so guests have to rely on good ol’ fashioned conversation and game playing (or their iPods) for entertainment.