We all know the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas.  But the stars are never brighter than in the clear summer skies and there’s nowhere deeper in the heart to Texas than Blanco.

Even if you’ve visited our Texas Hill Country haven before, coming during the summer is an entirely new experience.  In the list below, we’ll spotlight some of the special ways to make your trip to Blanco this summer unforgettable.

Blanco Lavender Festival

Ah, lavender.  We put it in our candles, our shampoos, and our soaps, because it makes our day-to-day just a little more pleasant. Now imagine an entire festival dedicated to it!  Follow the aroma to the annual Blanco Lavender Festival, held every June during the height of the lavender season when the flowers are at their purple peak.

Held on the grounds of Blanco’s historic courthouse, the beating heart of the festival is the extensive market where artisans will be selling everything from lavender soaps to lavender lemonade.  For some extra fun lavender beverages, pay a visit to the Big Tent, where you’ll find lavender beer, lavender margaritas, and the festival’s signature “Lavender Lizzie.”

One of the most popular parts of the festival is the opportunity to visit Hill Country Lavender, Texas’ first commercial lavender farm.  You haven’t really had the lavender experience until you smell it at its freshest.  The farm even has a small shop with soaps, seasons, candles and more, so you can have a keepsake to remember your trip every time you catch that familiar scent.

Blanco State Park

If you’re looking for a classic summer adventure, you’ll find it at Blanco State Park. With over 100 acres right in the middle of the Texas Hill Country – the state’s most beautiful region – and sitting along the Blanco River, Blanco State Park is a veritable paradise for nature lovers.

Wash off that summer sun by jumping into the river for a swim, made all the more convenient by a series of dams that allow for dedicated swimming areas.  You can also rent a kayak and spend a day of pure bliss paddling along the river’s gentle currents.  Largemouth bass and catfish make the river home, so if you’re angling for some angling, you’re bound to catch something.

As great as the river is, the park also provides several hiking trails that take you all through the most scenic areas.  All that hiking and paddling is sure to make you hungry, so whether you’re cooking up a catch or just packing sandwiches, the park’s lush and towers trees are perfect for catching some shade without losing out on the nature experience.

Milam & Greene

What’s a summer vacation about other than relaxing?  And where better to relax than an award-winning distillery in the Texas Hill Country? That’s exactly what you get with Milam & Greene, one of the most prestigious distilleries in the United States, located right here in Blanco.

Founded by whiskey experts and master distillers, Milam & Greene specializes in small-batch bourbons and ryes, which have rightly earned national acclaim.  But don’t take our word for it! make an appointment for their tasting room to get some quality time with a nice triple-cask bourbon or maybe a little port-finished rye.

Drinking companions don’t come much better than the Hill Country breeze, so if you’re looking for the ideal spot to enjoy that drink, Milam and Greene’s oak-shaded outdoor space is tough to beat.

Your Perfect Summer Getaway in the Texas Hill Country

When it comes to a summer getaway, what you need is a place to escape to – a place where you can leave behind responsibilities, deadlines, and the daily routine.  Blanco makes that easy with its unique flower of small-town Texas.  From the fragrant fields of the Lavender Festival to the serene waters of the Blanco River to the smooth sips t Milam & Greene, a summer getaway to Blanco plans itself!

But the first step is choosing your lodging.  To make that as simple as possible, we’ve put together a collection of Blanco’s coziest lodging options.