It’s time for another (long overdue) ROAD TRIP ARTICLE!! I know you’ve missed them – my apologies. To make it up to you, I’ve put together what just might be the best one yet. We all welcome tips for saving a dime or two, especially in the summer when gas prices are high and we’re driving more than ever. Road trips can be super expensive, so we often miss out on unforgettable experiences and memories. But that all ends here because this road trip only requires ONE tank of gas! The average car gets about 300 miles per tank, and this trip is only 103. So you could technically do it three times and still not run out of gas. Isn’t that amazing? I think so. See for yourself.

(The Google Map with exact directions and addresses can be found here.)

Google Maps

  1. Tower of the Americas (San Antonio)

Flickr/nanpalmero First stop is Tower of the Americas. It’s undoubtedly more beautiful at night, but we’ll still get an incredible view in the morning. Being hundreds of feet in the air and getting a birds-eye view of an entire city is an amazing experience regardless of the time of day.

  1. The Alamo (San Antonio)

Flickr/John Carrel Now we’re headed to one of the most historic sites in the entire country, The Alamo. It’s very humbling to spend some time in a place where people fought and died for our freedom and reflect on our blessings.

  1. Natural Bridge Caverns (San Antonio)

Facebook/naturalbridgecavernstx Still in San Antonio, our next stop is the famous Natural Bridge Caverns. It’s an unforgettable tour no matter when you take it, but as I just mentioned a few days ago, the recent rains have filled up the Glen Rose Aquifer and transformed the underground cave into a magical grotto that you absolutely have to see.

  1. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (San Antonio)

Flickr/franstepin Now we’re headed right next door to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. No need to go to Africa to experience a safari when you can do it right here in Texas! They even give you food pellets to feed the animals straight from your hand. Just be careful who you offer them to - an ostrich once stuck its entire neck in the window of my family’s car!

  1. Landa Falls Tube Rentals (New Braunfels)

Flickr/paddymurphy Now we’ll take a little drive to New Braunfels for some tubing - because it isn’t summer in Texas without a float, right? Landa Falls prides itself on being the longest float on the Comal, so that’s who we’ll rent from today.

  1. The Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar (New Braunfels)

Flickr/nanpalmero Being in the water (even if you aren’t actually swimming) really works up an appetite. Luckily, there’s an amazing restaurant (taste AND atmosphere-wise) nearby where we can grab some dinner. There’s nothing better than enjoying a meal while watching the rapids of the Guadalupe River right outside your window.

  1. Peter Pan Mini Golf (Austin)

Flickr/NabeWise Now that we’re all fed and happy, we can finish up our night with a few fun-filled stops. First up is Peter Pan Mini Golf, a place that really lives up to the slogan, “Keep Austin Weird.” Every hole has a really wacky obstacle like an evil bunny or crazy clown. Oh, and it’s BYOB. Do with that information what you will.

  1. Mount Bonnell (Austin)

Flickr/atmtx After a few rounds of golf (and plenty of beer), it’s time to watch the sunset from the top of the mountain. When the rays glisten over the Colorado River below and it’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop…there’s just nothing like it.

  1. Congress Avenue Bats (Austin)

Flickr/jahborgs Our last stop is possibly the most obligatory sight to see in Austin - millions of bats emerging from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk. If our plans go accordingly, we’ll arrive here just in time to witness the entire spectacle, which takes about 15 minutes. It’s truly an amazing experience that I make sure to see at least once every summer.

So…who’s ready to jump in the car? I’ll drive!

Google Maps

Flickr/nanpalmero

First stop is Tower of the Americas. It’s undoubtedly more beautiful at night, but we’ll still get an incredible view in the morning. Being hundreds of feet in the air and getting a birds-eye view of an entire city is an amazing experience regardless of the time of day.

Flickr/John Carrel

Now we’re headed to one of the most historic sites in the entire country, The Alamo. It’s very humbling to spend some time in a place where people fought and died for our freedom and reflect on our blessings.

Facebook/naturalbridgecavernstx

Still in San Antonio, our next stop is the famous Natural Bridge Caverns. It’s an unforgettable tour no matter when you take it, but as I just mentioned a few days ago, the recent rains have filled up the Glen Rose Aquifer and transformed the underground cave into a magical grotto that you absolutely have to see.

Flickr/franstepin

Now we’re headed right next door to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. No need to go to Africa to experience a safari when you can do it right here in Texas! They even give you food pellets to feed the animals straight from your hand. Just be careful who you offer them to - an ostrich once stuck its entire neck in the window of my family’s car!

Flickr/paddymurphy

Now we’ll take a little drive to New Braunfels for some tubing - because it isn’t summer in Texas without a float, right? Landa Falls prides itself on being the longest float on the Comal, so that’s who we’ll rent from today.

Being in the water (even if you aren’t actually swimming) really works up an appetite. Luckily, there’s an amazing restaurant (taste AND atmosphere-wise) nearby where we can grab some dinner. There’s nothing better than enjoying a meal while watching the rapids of the Guadalupe River right outside your window.

Flickr/NabeWise

Now that we’re all fed and happy, we can finish up our night with a few fun-filled stops. First up is Peter Pan Mini Golf, a place that really lives up to the slogan, “Keep Austin Weird.” Every hole has a really wacky obstacle like an evil bunny or crazy clown. Oh, and it’s BYOB. Do with that information what you will.

Flickr/atmtx

After a few rounds of golf (and plenty of beer), it’s time to watch the sunset from the top of the mountain. When the rays glisten over the Colorado River below and it’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop…there’s just nothing like it.

Flickr/jahborgs

Our last stop is possibly the most obligatory sight to see in Austin - millions of bats emerging from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk. If our plans go accordingly, we’ll arrive here just in time to witness the entire spectacle, which takes about 15 minutes. It’s truly an amazing experience that I make sure to see at least once every summer.

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