Abby Jane Bakeshop has become a Central Texas favorite for its pastries, breads and sweets, all made with stone-milled flours ground fresh each week at Barton Springs Mill next door. The menu ranges from croissants and kolaches to quiches, sandwiches, cookies and doughnuts, plus seasonal specials that often sell out before noon. Visitors can also purchase flour from Barton Springs Mill, making it a convenient stop after one of the mill’s baking classes.

A converted chapel, now a New American restaurant, is a visual feast of colorful tiles, carved beams, glittering chandeliers, wooden statues tucked into alcoves, plush velvet and leather banquettes, and a sleek marble bar. Set within the luxury Camp Lucy Resort, the setting feels as transportive as the menu, which draws influences from Italy, Spain, France, Japan, India and beyond. On Wednesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the restaurant also offers an elegant afternoon tea.

This deaf-owned, mom-and-pop crepe house serves up sweet and savory fillings in a cozy roadside cabin. The menu has something for everyone, with options for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diners. While best known for their soft, flavorful crepes, they also offer sandwiches, salads, soups and pastries. Drinks range from coffee and tea to milkshakes and smoothies. And while they’ve expanded to more locations, including South Lamar, the Dripping Springs brick-and-mortar remains the original.

A local favorite, Pig Pen BBQ has spent 20 years perfecting rubs and smoking techniques, serving up Texas-style meats like brisket, ribs and pulled pork alongside classic sides such as potato salad, coleslaw, green beans and mac and cheese. The juicy, tender brisket is the star, but the pork ribs and spicy sausage are equally worth ordering. What sets the restaurant apart is its fusion-inspired “Mexi-Que” menu, with tacos, nachos, fajitas and burritos rounding out the lineup.

This brewery and taproom is known for its small-batch craft beers and an easygoing, family- and dog-friendly atmosphere. The lineup spans lagers, IPAs and ales, with tasting flights available for those looking to sample a range of styles. The space feels welcoming and relaxed, making it an ideal spot for sunny afternoons spent on the shaded patio with a beer in hand and lawn games nearby.

Named after Austin’s iconic Deep Eddy Pool, Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room offers a laid-back setting to sample locally crafted spirits. While vodka can be polarizing, the distillery’s lineup of flavored expressions tends to win people over. Guests can visit and tour the facility during its Wednesday-through-Sunday hours or book experiences such as cocktail classes and private tastings. It offers plenty of outdoor seating, yard games, and a BBQ food truck on site.

Veteran-owned craft brewpub 12 Fox Beer Co. offers small-batch beers made with single-sourced malt and European-inspired techniques. The rotating, seasonal tap list is complemented by wine, cider, hop water and nonalcoholic options. Family- and dog-friendly, the taproom features a shaded outdoor space with rotating burger and Mediterranean food trucks.

Bell Springs Winery & Brewery offers the best of both worlds, serving handcrafted wines alongside small-batch beers in a relaxed, family- and dog-friendly setting. The tree-shaded grounds have a peaceful, park-like feel. It’s an easygoing spot to settle in with a wine or beer flight paired with a charcuterie board and linger awhile.

This boutique luxury hotel doubles as a storybook wedding venue, offering resort-style accommodations and suites designed with bold color, layered prints and antique details. The estate features a vineyard, spa, pool and on-site restaurant, with sweeping views of the Texas Hill Country and Onion Creek, creating a setting that feels both lavish and transportive.

This Hill Country glamping retreat offers a quiet place to unplug amid pasture views and winding country roads, less than 30 minutes from Pedernales Falls State Park. Set on 15 acres, the pet-friendly property pairs camping-style cabins and tents with hotel comforts, including heated pools with cabanas, a beer garden, restaurant, walking trails and park-style grills and fire pits. Each accommodation includes Wi-Fi, heating and air conditioning, plus a microwave, mini fridge and coffee maker.

For a romantic, off-the-grid escape, The Yurtopian offers a private Hill Country retreat designed for rest and seclusion. Each yurt includes a king-size bed, hot tub, fire pit and a private rooftop deck with sweeping views across the Texas Hill Country. The 46-acre, dog-friendly property also features a central lodge with an indoor fireplace, outdoor fire pits, a covered porch, an open-air pavilion and access to a shaded wet-weather creek with grassy lawns and a hiking loop.

Rugged and unpretentious, Milton Reimers Ranch Park is a draw for hikers, climbers and paddlers seeking wide-open Hill Country terrain. Limestone bluffs rise above a spring-fed river canyon, where kayakers drift past boulders and trail runners wind through scrub oak and rocky switchbacks.

Just a short drive away, Hamilton Pool Preserve offers one of Central Texas’s most striking natural swimming holes. Emerald water spills into a collapsed grotto framed by limestone overhangs, creating a cool, shaded escape on hot summer days.