Welcome to San Marvelous
Texas is often described as another world — another universe even. Within that, the residents of San Marcos playfully call themselves San Martians. Nestled in the central region of Hill Country conveniently between the hubs of San Antonio and Austin, this corridor of Texas is exploding with new businesses, residents, and tourism. It’s one of the fastest growing cities in one of the fastest growing states. Spend some time there and it’s easy to see why – the people, the culture, the river life, and OMG that food. Take a peek around, would you?
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The art scene here is growing — quickly. The three galleries here are all less than a year old. Relocating from Massachusetts when they saw the potential of the region, Rio Clara Studio was the first to open last September (and actually won the business of the year award). Together with the two other new spots, Studio 218 and Dahlia Woods Gallery, they have open doors every Third Thursday of the month with wine, cheese and other free fun.
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Studio 218 Gallery is one of the more unique spaces as it doubles as a performance venue. Not a gallery in the traditional sense, you can see costumes from the shows and a wall of masks representing Joy and Sorrow, the two main characters in their current production.
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A bit further afield, Wimberley Glassworks is another must-see for its unique art installations and daily glass blowing demonstrations. Boy, does that room get hot, hot, hot. 2,100-degrees Fahrenheit to be exact. You can see the 2,000-year-old glass coloring technique or poke around the gallery for unique light installations, bowls and artisan decor.
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Baking under the hot Texas sun, the San Marcos River welds and twists through town, offering plenty of waterfront recreation opportunities. Take a glass bottom boat to see beneath the surface and get a peek into what is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited region in the US. Tours run every day, rain or shine, and are operated by the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.
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Despite the many dams, waterfront parks and swimming holes in San Marcos, the best way to get wet and wild is with a kayak tour during the day or a glow in the dark SUP tour at night. The SUP boards are outfitted with interchangeable neon lights that set the mood for a river safari to remember, making for an incredible after-dark experience.
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In Texas unique sports are not confined to the river. Football is undoubtedly a way of life in the South, but San Marcos has stepped up their game with a kooky new version of pigskin called unicycle football. The rec league plays on Sundays and the public can watch games for free. It’s amazing to see these all-stars roll around making incredible catches while balancing on one-wheel.
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Barbeque is a staple food group in Texas, and if you want the crème of the crop, you simply have to go to Kent Black’s. An institution since the 30s, the mouthwatering brisket is cooked for 14 hours to ensure it’s fall-off-the-bone tender. The sides are self-serve, so feel free to get crazy and try a bit of everything, including the bacon mac and cheese and the pecan pie. It’s what dreams are made of.
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San Marcos has a surprising amount of food options for those that want to sprinkle some diversity into your cuisine. The elevated yet approachable Root Cellar Cafe is great for brunch, while Sakura is an interesting sushi, hot pot, and hibachi experience. Of course, the local food truck park, Hitch, offers innumerable international options if you want to throw yourself a bit of a food crawl.
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By now, you’ve earned yourself a nightcap. There are a handful of craft breweries in town perfect for tossing back a cold one, but AquaBrew is our go-to for live music and satiable pub snacks. With barbacoa toastadas and green chile beer fondue and desserts like this oh-so-decadent turtle brownie and Nutella shake, you might be rolling out of here (or never want to leave).
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