Spring Break in Hill Country

Best Things Nearby:
San Antonio (Riverwalk, the Alamo, the zoo, Sea World, Six Flags), Austin, New Braunfels, Gruene, Fredericksburg

Best Things About the Resort:
The friendliness of the staff and the amenities - several pools, mini-golf, horseback riding, game rooms, movie theater

Resort Experience:
Our extended family of six – grandparents, parents, and two children - stayed in a two-bedroom unit at the Hill Country Resort over Easter week 2005. Our check-in on Saturday afternoon was pleasant and efficient. We were lucky to get a presidential unit overlooking Canyon Lake.

Upon arrival, we found our unit to be in good condition, with plenty of space. Both bedrooms had a Jacuzzi tub, which was nice. To our surprise, there was a washer/dryer and VCR in the unit. We thought the large balcony with nice views was a plus. There were a couple of negatives about the unit. First, the unit smelled like dogs. The resort does allow pets, which is detraction if you are not a pet owner. We tried covering up the odor with sprays, but it always came back. Second, the couch needed to be replaced, since you sank to the floor when you sat on it. We had maintenance come and tighten the springs, which they did quite efficiently, but we really could have used a new one.

We really enjoyed the amenities that the resort had to offer. There were numerous pools – some with gorgeous views – and one right near our unit. The mini-golf course was also very nice. We did the horseback riding one day, which we thought was a decent value at $15 per person. There were also two game rooms with pool tables, air hockey, etc., and a movie theater. Our kids really liked the nice selection of board games that were available for us to borrow.

The resort itself is in the middle of nowhere, but it's central to lots of things if you don’t mind driving a bit. We made day trips to San Antonio, Austin, Gruene/New Braunfels, and Fredericksburg. One of the highlights was rafting down the Guadalupe River. We also had some excellent, reasonably priced meals. We especially liked the Gristmill restaurant in Gruene, Plooky’s Cajun Boiling Pot in Canyon Lake, and the Italian Garden Café, also in Canyon Lake.

All in all, we had a wonderful time at Silverleaf Texas Hill Country resort. We found the staff to be very friendly, and we enjoyed the amenities that the resort offered. We would rate the resort an 8 and would definitely return.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good

This place had character. When you walked in, there was a down-home mom-and-pop feel. The limited menus were left on the tables. For $19, you got warm rolls with melted butter (the butter was in a mustard squeeze bottle) and a pot of shrimp or crawfish seasoned to your liking mixed with corn, red potatoes, and sausage. The waiter covered your table with rolled towels and poured your dinner on the table in front of you. No need for plates! Dessert was a huge slice of homemade layer cake (it was lemon the day we were there). There was also gumbo, sausage, and turkey legs on the menu. It was fun for the whole family. Cash only.

We liked this restaurant so much that we ate here twice! There are nice views of the Guadelupe River from many of the tables. Depending on the weather, you can eat inside or out. The menu had a little bit of everything, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, and more. The fresh-squeezed lime margaritas and tenderloin sandwich were excellent, as were the burgers and ribs. We found the service to be especially friendly.