• Longhorns are a symbol of the Old West in Texas.to and fro image by buckwheat from Fotolia.com
  
  Bandera, Texas lies 50 miles from San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country. Bandera was surveyed in 1853 and Polish settlers arrived there in 1855. The town remains proud of its history and cowboy heritage today. In winter, people seeking to escape the cold and snow of the upper Great Plains fill Bandera's RV parks. Year-round, Bandera offers vacationers a taste of the true West and plenty of fun activities, allowing them to take home a "real Texas" experience.
  
  

Where to Stay

• Vacation on a Texas ranch.horses image by nutech21 from Fotolia.com
  
  Get the full Bandera experience by staying at a guest or Dude ranch. These offer horseback riding, meals, swimming and other activities. Ranch lodging ranges from family cabins and large group bunkhouses to motel-style rooms. You can stay a day, a week or longer. Other lodging options include bed and breakfast inns, a standard-style motel in town, numerous RV parks with all the amenities for short- or long-term stays and rental cabins near the Medina River that flows through town.
  
  

What to Do

• Outdoor activities are Bandera's specialty.Kayaking image by ne_fall_photos from Fotolia.com
  
  Ride horses regardless of your equestrian level at guest ranches, even if you stay elsewhere. Rent a canoe or tube for floating down the Medina River, when water levels allow. Camp out under the Texas sky. Hunting and fishing remain popular activities. Bandera's public course welcomes visiting golfers. Stores on and off Main Street make shopping for western souvenirs fun and easy.
  
  Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, cowboys and brave visitors compete in two rodeos held every Friday night. Several bars and nightclubs feature live music every weekend. Bandera's Mansfield Park hosts motorcycle rallies such as Thunder in the Hills in April; the city also holds rodeo events and western exhibitions throughout the year. Labor Day weekend features "Celebrate Bandera!" The festivities include an intertribal Powwow, staged gunfights, music, dances and cowboy church on Sunday.
  
  

Where to Eat

• Barbeque is a Texas tradition.steak image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
  
  Several fast food chains, including Sonic, Subway and Dairy Queen, operate in Bandera. For traditional Texas dining, try the OST restaurant, Busbee's BBQ & Catering or Texarita's Mesquite Grill & Cantina. The China Bowl restaurant across the street from the Bandera County courthouse is open seven days a week. Popular eateries in nearby towns include El Chaparral in Helotes and Mac & Ernie's Roadside Eatery in Tarpley.
  
  

Area Parks

• Parks in the Bandera area offer many picnic sites.picnic table by a creek image by Carol Wingert from Fotolia.com
  
  Bandera County Park at Medina Lake offers boating, swimming and fishing for day use. Use the boat launch ramp for a $5 fee, as of 2010. Hill Country State Natural Area, southwest of Bandera, offers Texas vistas and trails for horses, hiking and mountain biking. Primitive campsites are available, but do not offer potable water. A scenic drive northwest of Bandera takes you to Lost Maples State Natural Area, featuring a large stand of the uncommon Uvalde Bigtooth Maple, which can display spectacular fall color. Hiking, tent and RV camping, and picnicking along the Sabinal River are popular activities.