Enjoy the Texas Hill Country

Next weekend should be great for camping.  If you are heading to Colorado Bend State Park they will be having a guided tour of Gorman Falls and a cave tour.  That is a really nice park for camping, but make sure you get there early to snag a good place down by the water.  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/colorado_bend/

After spending your day enjoying Cinco de Mayo celebrations you could head out to the Twin Sisters Dance Hall tonight and do some boot scootin.  It is a fine example of one of the last of the great old dance halls that are still around in the Hill Country.  This is a superb place to spend the evening with your favorite girl.  http://www.twinsistersdancehall.com/

The Lions Club is starting to rent tubes this weekend.  If you want to go tubing on a relatively secluded part of the San Marcos to avoid the crowds using the Lions tubes you could put in at Rio Vista Dam (where most people take out) and float down to  Stokes Park.  You will have to provide your own shuttle, but this is a relatively quiet and little used portion of the river.  You can find information about Stokes Park on our website.  It is off of Cape Road.  Have fun.  http://hillcountryoutdoorguide.com/

It is time for a really big moon.  This Saturday the moon is going to be at its closest distance from our planet and la luna will look even larger than usual.   Be sure to take your favorite person out to a remote location for the best viewing and then let nature take its course.  http://earthsky.org/tonight/is-biggest-and-closest-full-moon-on-may-5-2012-a-supermoon

Depending on what you think about a bike rally has a lot to do with whether you will want to go to Luckenbach this weekend.   Event organizers will be throwing the Hill Country Run rally in Luckenbach and it promises to feature lots and lots and lots of bikes.  It would be a good time to participate if you have a bike, or you could just hang out and look at the fancy two wheelers.  This won’t be nearly as rowdy as some of the other events of this nature in case you are looking for something a little more family friendly.  http://www.hillcountryrun.com/

If you are looking for something fun to do outside you could head out to one of those excellent chili cookoffs this Saturday.  One of the better ones is in Marble for the annual chili cookoff at Johnson Park.  There will be plenty to eat and of course they will have drink booths and other activities.  Nice way to get out and spend the day before the dog days arrive.  http://dailytrib.com/latest/14977-howdy-roo-chili-cookoff-brings-the-heat-to-marble-falls-may-5/

Is Cinco de Mayo.  There should be plenty of celebrations going on this weekend and many will feature delicious food, dancing and lots of music.  Be sure to get out and celebrate before it gets too stinking hot.  http://www.visitsanantonio.com/visitors/plan/local-info/events-calendar/event-details/index.aspx?id=4660

If you are going to be camping at Inks Lake State Park this weekend Saturday would be a great time to take advantage of one of their many outdoor programs.  They will be teaching canoe/kayak basics that will feature a guided tour up to Devils Waterhole.  They also will have a couple of guided hikes available in case you want to learn more about the natural features in the park.  Have fun.  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/canoe-kayak-basics-with-tour-to-devils-waterhole-5

This weekend up in the northern part of the Hill Country organizers will be holding the big BBQ and goat cookoff in Goldthwaite.  There will be lots of food of course, and they also will have a fun run, one of those freaky clowns for the kids, a best dressed goat contest, a rodeo and (don’t tell the Baptists) dancing in the streets.  Sounds like a lot of fun.  http://www.goldthwaite.biz/

This weekend will be a great time to head out to the Garner State Park area for Nature Quest.  This week long event will teach you lots and lots about birds, bats, butterflies, insects, huge trees, plants, wildflowers and wildlife habitat over in the western part of the Hill Country.  Excellent way to learn more about the country of 1100 springs.  www.hillcountrynaturequest.