18 Best Things to Do in Dripping Springs, Texas

© Jason Stitt/stock.adobe.com

Home to a beautiful swimming hole fed by a 50-foot waterfall, the Hamilton Pool Preserve is a popular summer destination for visitors and locals alike. The swimming hole is surrounded by limestone slabs, the bottoms of which are dotted with stalactites and various types of moss, and it's located at the end of a quarter-mile trail that takes approximately 15 minutes to hike. Visitors are welcome to explore the rest of the 232-acre preserve as well, and guided hour-long hikes are offered on Saturdays. An entrance fee is charged per vehicle, and reservations are required every day between March and October and on weekends year-round.

24300 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 512-264-2740

© Jaimie Tuchman/stock.adobe.com

Stretching for almost three miles along the bank of the Pedernales River, the Milton Reimers Ranch Park boasts excellent swimming and fishing holes, world-class rock climbing, and more than 18 miles of hiking trails to explore. Complimentary guided hiking tours are offered every Saturday between November and April, and special bird walks are held on the first Saturday of the month during this time as well. Another highlight is the park's astronomical observatory, which offers a full schedule of exciting programs and events. Permits are required to enter the park, and both daily and annual options are available.

23610 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 512-264-1923

© Treaty Oak Distilling

Located on a 28-acre ranch just outside Dripping Springs, Treaty Oak Distilling is a unique distillery with an open-air bar and a globally inspired bistro. They specialize in making high-quality whiskey and gin from organic heirloom corn and pure local spring water, but they love all other sorts of beverages as well, and they offer a small wine portfolio and a creative selection of craft beer. Tours of the production facility are offered several times a day Monday through Saturday, and visitors are also welcome to sit down in the tasting room and enjoy a guided tasting of wine or spirits.

16604 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 512-599-0335

© Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm

Surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of Texas Hill Country, Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm is a unique culinary destination owned and operated by a talented chef. The heart of the property is a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen that hosts regular cooking classes and hands-on workshops, but visitors can also sometimes enjoy gourmet meals in the dining room. If you love it here so much that you want to spend a night or two, you can book one of the cozy rooms in the lodge, which come with access to a communal outdoor kitchen and infinity pool.

5818 Farm to Market 165, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 830-833-0910

© Hawk's Shadow

Named after the owners' beloved horse, Hawk's Shadow is a boutique winery that carefully crafts all its wine using Texas-grown grapes, many of which come right from the estate's own vineyards. Their portfolio boasts a wide variety of different wines, including both reds and whites, and most can be sampled in the winery's spacious tasting room. If you're like a more in-depth experience, you can also book a tour with a special barrel tasting. The property can be booked for private events, and during regular opening hours, customers are welcome to sit outside on the spacious lawn while they enjoy their purchase.

7500 McGregor Ln, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 866-551-9463

© Dr. Pound Farmstead

Created in 1854 to serve as a home for the first doctor in Hays County, the Dr. Pound Farmstead is now a house museum that offers a fascinating look at the history of Dripping Springs and the people who have lived here over the years. The home has remained almost unchanged over the years, with the exception of electricity being installed in 1947, and more than 90% of the furnishings and museum items were owned by members of the Pound family. Visitors are welcome during opening hours Friday through Sunday, and appointments can often be arranged during weekdays as well.

570 Founders Park Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 512-858-2030

© Suds Monkey Brewing Company

Housed inside a rustic but welcoming warehouse, the Suds Monkey Brewing Company is a family-owned brewery that makes some of the best beer in Texas. Their regular lineup of beer includes everything from creamy porters to classic pale ales, and there are often several seasonal varieties to choose from as well, including a dry Irish stout produced specially for St. Patrick's Day. If you get hungry, the taproom also serves starters, salads, and customizable pizzas, and kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal on Thursdays. Other events include Wednesday trivia nights, Friday all-day happy hour, and a car show on some Sundays.

12024 US-290, Austin, TX 78737, Phone: 512-222-3893

© Dripping Springs Ranch Park

Another park located on former ranch land, Dripping Springs Ranch Park is a peaceful 130-acre oasis that offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. It's particularly popular with both leisure and competitive horseback riders who come to use the arena and the trails, but there are plenty of trails for hikers as well, and other amenities include picnic tables, a children's playground, and primitive campsites. Festivals, farmers' markets, and livestock shows are often held here, and if you're planning a wedding or other special event, there are both indoor and outdoor event spaces available for rent.

1042 Event Center Dr, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 512-894-2046

© Texas Hill Country Olive Co.

Family owned and operated since 2008, the Texas Hill Country Olive Co. produces authentic Italian-style olive oil made with organic olives grown right on their property. Some of their oils are infused with garlic, jalapeno, or citrus fruit, and they produce their own balsamic vinegar as well. Visitors can sample all of their products in the on-site tasting room, and there's also a bistro that serves lunch seven days a week. If you'd like to learn more about how the oil and vinegar are made, you can even take an educational tour of the facility on Friday or Saturday afternoons.

2530 W Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, Phone: 512-607-6512

© Bell Springs Winery

Wine enthusiasts who want to experience some of the best that the Texas Hill Country has to offer ought to drop by Bell Springs Winery. Just a short drive from Austin, off of Highway 290, the Bell Springs Winery has something for every guest to enjoy with multiple variations of white, red, and rose wines available. Order your choice of wine by the glass or by the bottle while enjoying their rustic winery and tasting room. Sit outside by the fire or enjoy your drink of choice indoors at this family-friendly and dog-friendly establishment, which frequently hosts live music for its guests to enjoy. If wine isn’t your thing, Bell Springs Winery also offers an array of beers on tap to try.

3700 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-643-7398

© Solaro Estate Winery

Eager to sample some of Texas’ best wines? Look no further than the Solaro Estate Vineyards and Winery. Known for its motto, “The Art of Science”, this winery has made it its mission to treat every bottle produced at their establishment as a piece of art. Solaro Estate produces limited quantities of wine yearly, many of which have received international awards and accolades. Visits to the winery are something to look forward to as guests can sample the winery’s offerings from a serene and shaded patio that offers a spectacular view of the Solaro Vineyards. Guests can select a range of wines to choose from which are served with a delightfully prepared charcuterie board to pair.

13111 Silver Creek Road, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 832-660-8642

© Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room

At Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room, there is a saying that the crew standby: “Bourbon is for thinking. Tequila is for trouble. But vodka is for something bigger.” That bigger thing? According to Deep Eddy, it’s fun. True to that motto, exploring the different vodkas on offer at Deep Eddy is fun indeed, with various flavors and styles to choose from. Try peach, cranberry, lime, or even sweet tea flavored vodkas, or head over to the mixologist who is more than eager to whip you up one of Deep Eddy’s epic cocktails. At the tasting room, guests can enjoy their choice of vodka-based beverages with American snack classics and other classic vodka food pairings.

2250 E Highway 290, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-994-3534

© Family Business Beer Company

This family-owned brewery is settled within 15 acres of gorgeous land just a short drive from Austin. For the many who don’t mind the drive, a great assortment of hand-crafted beers is waiting to be enjoyed in the serenity and relaxing atmosphere of the hill country. Believing that variety is what makes life spicey, Family Business Beer Company frequently releases seasonal offerings and one-offs alongside their year-round classic brews. Try fruity American IPAs like the Cosmic Cowboy or tuck into a pint of their 2019 GABF Silver Medalist, the Golden Age German Pilsner. The best part? All of these beers can be enjoyed along with a great slice of pizza made straight from the brewery’s on-site food truck.

19510 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-829-4202

© Twisted X Brewing Company

Known for their exquisite handcrafted and quality craft beers, the Twisted X Brewing Company operates from a 3-barrel pilot system brewery deep in the heart of Texas. A visit to their tasting room is all it takes to sample the brewery’s popular small-batch craft beers, all of which are made from the finest ingredients that the brewmaster sources with detail and care. With new recipes constantly being developed and tested, there’s something new to try with each visit to the Twisted X Brewing Company. Twisted X’s lineup includes their Hill Country Certified Austin Lager, their Pitmaster Prime Pilsner, deemed the official beer of barbecue, and the Gulf Kolsh Blonde Ale. Other offerings include the McConauHaze, as well as Frio Lime and Chili Pequin flavored hard seltzers.

23455 W RR 150, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-829-5323

© Madeleine Steinbach/stock.adobe.com

For those on the hunt for some of the freshest produce and unique artisanal finds that Dripping Springs has to offer, one of the best places to search has got to be the city's farmers market. Open every Wednesday morning, the Farmers Market is located at the Pound House Farmstead at Founders Memorial Park. Connecting local farmers and vendors with a captured audience not only allows for great products to be found and purchased, but also for the heritage of the city to be learned and explored. If you need further convincing, the City of Dripping Springs Farmers Market has been voted the top farmers market in Texas and in the entire Southwest, so you can be sure that you’re in for a treat.

Founders Park Road, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-858-4725

© Dripping Springs Vodka

Home to award-winning small batch vodkas, bourbons, and gins is Dripping Springs Vodka, Texas Hill Country’s first distillery. Established in 2005 by the Kelleher Brothers, Dripping Springs Vodka officially sold its first bottle of vodka in 2007 and has been producing the county’s finest small batch spirits ever since. With recognized offerings like the Dripping Springs Gins and 1876 Bourbons added to its roster, Dripping Springs Vodka has its forever home located on ten gorgeous acres in Dripping Springs and welcomes visitors to its grounds via tastings, tours, and other events. Beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces can accommodate various party sizes from small intimate groups to grand parties of people, and the visitor center is always at the ready to tell guests the story behind Dripping Springs Vodka.

5530 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-858-1199

© Solstice Outdoors

Owned by businessman-turned-artist, Chris Smartt, Solstice Outdoors, or just Solstice for short, was founded in October of 2007 after Chris decided that he wanted to leave the corporate world to pour his passion into a business that had a soul. With a passion for sculptures and gardening and a desire to provide an outdoor space for visitors to enjoy, Solstice was born. What started as a small plant nursery and art gallery has now grown into a sprawling complex with gorgeous landscape designs to explore and installation services to avail. As guests explore the garden, they can also search for the various sculptures on display and learn about gardening and landscaping. There is also a small store to visit which sells locally produced items like hand-crafted soap.

4230 U.S. 290, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-439-9802

© Homespun Kitchen and Bar

Tuck into a gorgeously crafted farm-to-table meal at the Homespun Kitchen and Bar. Situated at the heart of Dripping Springs along East Mercer Street, this restaurant leans into European and American influences to dish up mouthwatering offerings that look and taste absolutely delicious. Patrons to the Homespun Kitchen and Bar can look forward to a rustic dining atmosphere as well as fresh and seasonal produce sourced locally. Sample classic small bites like the Fried Pickles and Jalapeno Sticks or the Grilled Shrimp Tostadas, before diving into heartier entrees such as the Steak du Jour or the Fried Catfish Pontchartrain. For those visiting during the weekend, Homespun Kitchen and Bar has a great Sunday Brunch Menu with mouthwatering selections like the HKB Crab Cake Benedict, and the Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs.

131 E Mercer Street, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, Phone: 512-829-4064