One of the area's most beautiful and oldest settlements, Bastrop bears more resemblance to the Deep South than Central Texas. Grand antebellum mansions create a unique slice of the past, while more than 125 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Bastrop State Park add to the ambience.

Cabela's, "the World's Foremost Outfitter," opened its doors in Buda in summer 2005. This outdoor enthusiast's paradise showcases a one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture, Conservation Mountain, museum, giant aquarium and wildlife diorama. Downtown Buda is known for its quaint, historical Main Street and a wealth of antique shopping.

Nestled amid the Highland Lakes is the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas. It is also home to Canyon of the Eagles, a 940-acre park that serves as a winter nesting ground for the American bald eagle. Enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Buchanan's limestone cliffs on the Vanishing Texas River cruise and tour Fall Creek Vineyards at Tow. Longhorn Cavern dates back more than a million years and once housed a hideout for outlaw Sam Bass and a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

One of the most popular Hill Country towns, this little slice of Germany is a mecca for shopping and dining. The picturesque main street is lined with antique shops, speciality stores and cafes. The National Museum of the Pacific War pays tribute to the Pacific Theater battles of World War II and local war hero Admiral Chester Nimitz.

Although rapidly becoming a suburb of Austin, Georgetown still exists as a separate town in its own right to provide visitors with the best of both worlds. The town centers around a historic courthouse surrounded by a Victorian-style town square, restored as one of the nation's first "Main Street" cities. Attractions include many specialty and antique shops, Southwestern University, Lake Georgetown and Inner Space Cavern.

Founded in the 1870s, Gruene (pronounced "green") reflects pure Texas. Nestled on the banks of the Guadalupe River, the former ghost town is listed as a National Historic District and is home to Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas. Stroll through interesting shops and galleries, the famous Grist Mill Restaurant and Gruene Mansion. For the more adventurous, float the Guadalupe River.

The hometown of President Lyndon Baines Johnson chronicles his life at the Johnson boyhood home, schoolhouse and family ranch that served as the Texas White House during his presidency. Tours of the ranch- located in the LBJ National Historic Park at Stonewall- pass by the homestead and include views of Texas Longhorns, buffaloes and the former president's burial site. At nearby LBJ State Park, the Sauer-Beckman Farmstead relives rural life in the early 1900s with living history demonstrations and historic farm buildings.

Cowboys and culture come together in this idyllic town. A health and recreation paradise, Kerrville is considered by many to contain the nation's most ideal climate. Music abounds here, particulary around Memorial Day during the Kerrville Folk Festival. The National Center for American Western Art exhibits one of the country's premier collections of cowboy art. At the YO Ranch, deer and antelope play on one of the Southwest's largest exotic game preserves.

Known the world over, Luckenbach remains just as it has for most of this century- an unpainted general store that doubles as a post office, beer joint and dance hall. The tiny hamlet that Willie, Waylon and the boys made famous comes to life on weekends with banjo pickers, guitar players and fiddlers gathering for impromptu music beneath the live oaks.

A quintessential Hill Country town, Marble Falls retains its rural charm while still providing many upscale pleasures. North of town sits Granite Mountain, a huge dome of pink and red granite from which the Texas State Capitol was constructed. Lakes Marble Falls, Travis, Buchanan, Inks and LBJ surround the area with plenty of water for fishing, boating and skiing.