Texas Bluebonnet Trail

The bluebonnet is the official flower of the state of Texas. On the same day trip during which I saw Luckenbach, I drove a stretch of the “Bluebonnet Trail” in the Texas hill country outside of Austin. Here’s what you do (from the Austin visitor’s guide).

The stretch between Burnet and Marble Falls was quite pretty. I had heard of the bluebonnets and the trail, but never a peep about the cacti in the area. This isn’t the arid, desert part of the state so the cacti were kind of unexpected. That’s the best part, the cacti mixed in with the flowers. The weather was crap, but the flowers were still beautiful. There is a bluebonnet festival in Burnet (not Burnett, that is actually a different town several hours away) each April. I personally prefer having my own car and roaming at will to a set festival.

If you skip the shopping, etc., the trip is easily do-able in a half day. You could get it done after work if you’re motivated and the traffic getting out of the city isn’t bad.