A Week in San Antonio - Days 4 & 5

We spent the last two days in New Braunfels.  New Braunfels is a small German town that offers a multitude of family activities.  Earlier in the week, we checked out Natural Bridge Caverns.  We have ventured through Natural Bridge Wildlife Safari previously.  We have even conquered the new and old sides of Schlitterbahn.  This trip, our quest was the Comal River.

Floating the river is a Texas favorite.  Just you, your friends and family, your cooler, and tubes.  New
Braunfels offers two rivers to float, the Comal and Guadalupe rivers.  In my opinion, the Comal is a much more family friendly river.  The float can be up to two hours, depending on where you drop in.  Your journey takes you along side the older portion of Schlitterbahn.  If you prefer a longer float, you will want to  drop in at the city tube chute.  Since we had little ones with us, we decided for a shorter float and dropped in at a public access point just on the edge of the newer portion of Schlitterbahn.

With little guys, I highly recommend a tube with a bottom.  I would also recommend a tube that is easy to grab.  We floated with another family.  In total, there were four adults and four children.  This worked out well walking down to the access point and getting everyone in their tubes.  Once everyone was in their tube, the float began.  We had a relaxing time just letting the current take us down river.  Now let me share a few things to keep in mind when you decide to float the river.

1. The river water is chilly.  It is spring fed, so the water can get cold.  Once you get used to it, it feels great.  Our kids did not trust us when we said it was cold.  When we were on the river, they wanted to get in and swim.  Once we got to a slightly deeper section, I got out of my tube and brought them in one by one.  None of the three lasted more than a couple of minutes in the water.
2. Have a plan when you enter the river.  We put one adult in first, then the two older kids, another adult, the two younger kids, and finally the last two adults.  This worked well so we could create our "tube train," and not lose anyone in the current.
3. You are in the middle of a river.  There are no bathrooms, trash cans, or food trucks.  Make sure you take care of your business before you get in, bring any drinks (no glass containers) you want during your float, and haul your trash out.
4. If you or your children are not strong swimmers, wear a life jacket.  While there are no rapids on the part of the river we floated, I have seen many tubers flip their tube when they drop in at the city tube chute.    For kids, I recommend "Puddle Jumpers."  They are class II Coast Guard approved life jackets, and do not ride up like a traditional life jacket can.  

We rented a condo at Camp Warnecke, in New Braunfels.  Look for my next post, which will include a detailed review of this property.  This location was great.  We had Schlitterbahn out our front door and the Comal river out our back door.  This was a great place for families.  After our first float of the day, it was time for lunch.  We had friend chicken from Bush's Chicken.  The great thing about this place is that we were able to order in bulk and eat family style.  Everything

tasted great and was not too greasy.  The rolls were light and fluffy, great for dipping in the country gravy that comes with your chicken order.  That night, we ate at Rudy's BBQ.  Rudy's is a Texas institution.  Again, we ordered in bulk and at family style.  One thing you should know about Rudy's... the food is served on paper, not plates.  If you are eating with little guys, make sure you ask for extra paper liners to give each kid their own place to eat.

On our last day, we checked out two of New Braunfels' public parks before leaving to head home.  Landa and Fischer Parks are both maintained by the city.  They are great family parks offering areas to run, play, explore, and picnic.  Fischer park also has a splash pad, two fishing ponds, and is home to Fischer Park Nature Education Center.  Landa Park is filled with historical sites, playscapes, trails,  sand volleyball, and a wading pool.  Both parks offer a multitude of family activities.

After a full day floating the river and spending the next morning at the parks, it was time to head back to Houston.  On our way home, we made sure to stop at Buccee's.  It's funny when we travel with the kids, they always seem to spot Buccee's before we do.  Let me tell you that no road trip is complete without a trip to Buccee's.  They can be busy, but the restrooms are very very clean, they offer a wide variety of snacks including beef jerky and healthier options.  You can even purchase a fire pit or BBQ pit if you need to.

At the end of five fun-filled days, our trip was over.  This was another great adventure in San Antonio with an side-trip to New Braunfels.  Check back to see where our next adventure will take us.

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