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Bluebonnets and Pink Buttercup flowers at the\u00a0Bulverde Community Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mia Valdez\/MySA<\/p>\n
Minutes from San Antonio, hidden off of U.S. 281, is a small town \u2014 a village, really \u2014 known for its relaxing charm, stunning hiking trails and food scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Bulverde<\/a>, which is often referred to as the “Front Porch of the Texas Hill Country,” is one of the coolest towns I’ve visited in the region. It’s relatively tiny, with plenty of shops, outdoor amenities and restaurants lining its historic downtown strip.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n I recently went on a day trip to the small town, where I got to explore the San Antonio suburb’s state parks, taste its country-style foods and sip on bourbon.\u00a0<\/p>\n A colorful mural at the Old Hill Country store, a gas station in downtown Bulverde, Texas. The small town is a Certified Scenic City, and the local Mammen Family Public Library has a popular butterfly garden.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mia Valdez\/MySA<\/p>\n How to get to Bulverde, Texas<\/p>\n Forge Imports in Bulverde sells furniture, outdoor fountains and a number of wrought iron accent pieces imported from Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mia Valdez\/MySA Forge Imports in Bulverde sells furniture, outdoor fountains and a number of wrought iron accent pieces imported from Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mia Valdez\/MySA From Hatch Cafe & Bistro: The French Roll, a\u00a0 Mia Valdez\/MySA<\/p>\n Bulverde is 29 miles north of San Antonio. To get there, you can take U.S. 281 North. If you’re coming from Austin, roughly 72 miles northeast of the small town, it’s about an hour and a half long drive via Interstate 35 South and then west on Texas 46.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Things to do in Bulverde<\/p>\n I started my day trip with a drive to\u00a0Hatch Cafe & Bistro, a popular breakfast and brunch spot, located at 2360 Bulverde Rd,,\u00a0Bulverde, TX 78163. There, I fueled up on a The French Roll, a cinnamon roll, layered with custard and powdered sugar, bacon, eggs and a\u00a0cappuccino while enjoying a pleasant outdoor view of the Historic Old Village of\u00a0Bulverde, the city’s downtown area.<\/p>\n Inside, there’s a small bakery with yummy-looking big pastries.\u00a0My meal cost about $17 before taxes and tip.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n From Hatch Cafe & Bistro: The French Roll, a\u00a0 Mia Valdez\/MySA<\/p>\n I visited\u00a0Guadalupe River State Park<\/a> for a short hike (adult day pass is $7). It\u2019s popular for swimming, camping, fishing, tubing, and canoeing\u2014and you can also mountain bike or ride horses. They even offer a 2.5-hour guided tour of Honey Creek every Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Guadalupe River State Park in Bulverde,Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mia Valdez\/MySA<\/p>\n I then grabbed my second coffee of the day at a cool little drive thru called Apollo’s Coffee<\/a>, which sits off U.S. 281 in a neat-looking freight container and then visited a unique wrought-iron import boutique named Forge Imports, which was perfect for me to stroll through with coffee in hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The market was full of fun knick-knacks, furniture, and curios from around the world. While the vibe is casual, the craftsmanship is top-notch \u2014 with a playful sense of humor. I considered a clay pot, a wrought-iron dinosaur or even a giant pi\u00f1ata, but ultimately chose a small armadillo draped in a Texas flag\u2014now sitting on my desk.<\/p>\n Forge Imports in Bulverde sells furniture, outdoor fountains and a number of wrought iron accent pieces imported from Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mia Valdez\/MySA Forge Imports in Bulverde sells furniture, outdoor fountains and a number of wrought iron accent pieces imported from Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mia Valdez\/MySA Forge Imports in Bulverde sells furniture, outdoor fountains and a number of wrought iron accent pieces imported from Mexico.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mia Valdez\/MySA<\/p>\n Where to eat, drink in Bulverde, Texas<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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sliced cinnamon roll, dipped in a\u00a0Licor 43 French toast custard, and dusted with powdered sugar. It comes with scrambled eggs, bacon, maple syrup, and fruit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
sliced cinnamon roll, dipped in a\u00a0Licor 43 French toast custard, and dusted with powdered sugar. It comes with scrambled eggs, bacon, maple syrup, and fruit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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