Highland Lakes in a day: spring edition

Take a stroll around the Highland Lakes this spring and visit some of the most iconic spots for food, sights, drinks, and more. Staff photos by Caden Senn

The Highland Lakes area is an endless source of activities and fun, and with wildflowers blooming and the spring breeze blowing, there’s no better time than the present to explore the region.

Spanning two counties, tons of towns, and dozens of fan-favorite destinations, it is impossible to experience all that the hills have to offer in one day, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

From morning java and peaceful hikes, to thrifting antiques and watching the sun set on the many lakes, a single day can hold many adventures if you plan accordingly.

Still not a believer? Follow along on this five-stop springtime journey to see just how much of the Highland Lakes you can discover in one day.

Highland Lakes map — A map of the stops taken for the Highland Lakes in a day: spring edition. (From A) Mojo Coffee, Bertram Library Thrift, Doeskin Ranch Trailhead, Blue Bonnet Cafe, and Wakepoint LBJ. Google Maps photo

Mojo Coffee

609 E. Polk Street, Burnet

Mojo Coffee has served fresh brews in the Highland Lakes since opening in 2015, expanding into a chain of 10 storefronts throughout the Hill Country and the broader Austin area.

Renovated from a 400-square-foot taco shack, the original Burnet drive-thru location has been a community-favorite stop for over a decade, and almost always has a line of thirsty customers waiting outside.

Mojo Coffee shop — The original Mojo Coffee location is situated about a mile from downtown Burnet, and was converted from a 400-square-foot taco shack in 2015 into the mecca of java it is today.

Bertram Library Thrift Store

140 N. Gabriel Street, Bertram

You can take your pick from dozens of charming shops in the communities of the Highland Lakes, but on our journey we’ll head to downtown Bertram and sift through the many racks of clothes, trinkets, and oddities that await at Bertram Library Thrift.

After you shop to your heart’s content, be sure to take a chance to enjoy the cool spring weather and stroll through the rest of Bertram’s quaint downtown, and snap a picture or two of the famous water tower and historic Globe Theatre.

Globe Theater — The Globe Theatre in downtown Bertram is a perfect historic site to stop at and grab a quick few shots to remember your travels, and is located a short distance from the thrift store.

Doeskin Ranch Trailhead

10645 FM 1174, Bertram

Quiet, serene, and green, the Doeskin Ranch Trailhead provides a glimpse into the beauty of the Highland Lakes on a small and manageable scale for those interested in discovering why the area is called the Hill Country.

Several trails are open for the public to explore year-round during daylight hours, ranging from 0.5-1.6 miles long. Explore secluded creeks, rock-layered hills, and breathtaking views of the nature surrounding Marble Falls, Bertram, and Burnet.

As is in the rest of the Highland Lakes during the spring, bountiful wildflowers bloom along the trail and everywhere in between, so make sure to have your phone or camera on hand for once-a-year photo opportunities.

You can also do a tech detox and just embrace the sounds of busy spring birds, babbling brooks, and windswept hills throughout the trail system.

Various scenes around the Doeskin Ranch Trailhead including a scenic outlook of the Hill Country, a hummingbird moth looking for nectar, bright purple wildflowers, and a small creek dividing a trail path.

Blue Bonnet Cafe

211 N. U.S. 281, Marble Falls

What’s better than a beautiful spring day? A beautiful spring day with a slice of pie! Lucky for you, country cooking can’t get more classic than at this legendary Marble Falls diner.

Operating since 1929, Blue Bonnet Cafe serves up every kind of southern comfort dish under the sun, like chicken and dumplings, chicken-fried steak, and pot roast. Diners can also go the breakfast route if they so choose, and pick from a loaded menu of morning-time favorites served all day long.

Above all, make sure you save room for the cafe’s world-famous pies, known for their copious quantities of meringue and whipped cream.

Blue Bonnet Cafe food — Blue Bonnet Cafe serves up good country eats, all-day breakfast, and delicious pies loaded with meringue and whipped cream.

Wakepoint LBJ

14757 W. FM 1431, Kingsland

End your day with an evening snack and drink at Wakepoint LBJ while taking in the fresh, crisp air and watching the sun set across Lake Lyndon B. Johnson.

This all-in-one gas station, restaurant, lounge space, music venue, and boat dock is one of the most interesting hangout spots in the Hill Country, providing guests with a smorgasbord of ways to enjoy their time on the lake.

If you time things right, you can grab a drink, shade up, watch the sun set, then groove to some live music for the rest of the evening.

Wakepoint LBJ is a gas station, restaurant, and music venue wrapped into one, and serves as one of the most interesting spots to spend an evening in the Highland Lakes.

There’s more to see in the Highland Lakes

If these spots don’t meet your standards, be sure to peruse the other dozens of destinations in the area and create your own spring day in the Highland Lakes.

More coffee pit stops