The Highland Lakes is awash in vibrant colors and activities all year long, so keep your phone ready to snap breathtaking photos and be the envy of your social media followers. Whether on the lake, in a field of wildflowers, or chowing down at an iconic diner, this piece of the Texas Hill Country is Instagram-worthy.
When you post your travel photos online, be sure to tag #101HighlandLakes. We’d love to see them! Follow 101HighlandLakes.com on Instagram.
Here’s a short list of picture-perfect places to stop on your Highland Lakes vacation. Keep turning the pages of this magazine for even more.
Bluebonnet House
The most famous structure in Marble Falls is most assuredly the so-called Bluebonnet House. Remnants of the 1853 homestead make for a picturesque photo, especially during bluebonnet season. Off-highway parking is allowed on the road next to the house at 4554 U.S. 281 North.
Blue Bonnet Cafe
You cannot simply drive past Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls without stopping for a photo and a slice — Pie Happy Hour is 3-5 p.m. weekdays. In the spring, the restaurant is surrounded by waves of everyone’s favorite wildflower, the bluebonnet. Blue Bonnet Cafe is located at 211 U.S. 281. Staff photo
Downtown Burnet bluebonnets
The saying “everything is bigger in Texas” is certainly true for the colossal metal bluebonnet sculpture standing proudly next to the Visitor Center at the Burnet Chamber of Commerce, 101 N. Pierce St. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell
Sweet Berry Farm sunflowers
Strike a pose in a field of pickable sunflowers — or tulips or ranunculus. Sweet Berry Farm blooms with tulips from late February through March, ranunculus in March and April, and sunflowers in June. The pick-your-own attraction is located at 1801 FM 1980 in Marble Falls. In season, it’s open every day except Wednesday. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Lookout Mountain overlook
Lookout Mountain is a favorite photo stop for travelers on RR 1431 in Kingsland. This highway pull-off puts you in the perfect place for a sweeping view of what the area is famous for: lakes and hills, with Lake LBJ in the foreground and Packsaddle Mountain in the background. The overlook is located between Scenic Loop and Bluff Road in Kingsland. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Historic Texas 29 bridge
Take a swing and a shot on the 1937 Old Buchanan Dam Bridge, which connects Burnet and Llano counties on Texas 29. Open only to pedestrian traffic and the occasional bicycle or skateboard, the structure sports a red swing that makes for a fun photo. Find the bridge on the highway between Buchanan Dam and Inks Lake. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell
Shakedown Street
This might be the most colorful spot in Llano (aside from the wildflowers). The Grateful Dead-themed, alleyway bar showcases multiple mural tributes to the psychedelic band and its founder, Jerry Garcia. Shakedown Street is located at 118 E. Main St. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Falkenstein Castle
Those traveling along Park Road 4 in Burnet often do a double take after spotting a castle in the Texas Hill Country. Designed by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, it remained on paper for over a century until a Texas developer discovered the plans and started building. A great place to view Falkenstein Castle is from the Park Road 4 rest area between Longhorn Cavern and Inks Lake state parks near Burnet. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell
Fort Croghan cannon
Step back in time and take a shot next to a working cannon on the grounds of Fort Croghan Museum, 703 Buchanan Drive in Burnet. Other photo-worthy spots at the fort include original cabins that date to the 1800s. The museum is open Thursday-Saturday, April through early October, and again on a day in December for Christmas at Old Fort Croghan. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Llano County Historical Museum
Join the ranks of notables at the Llano County Historical Museum. Silhouettes of several Llano County pioneers line the wall of the museum, located at 310 Bessemer Ave. in Llano. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
WWII aircraft
Ground yourself next to one of the World War II-era planes at Kate Craddock Field in Burnet for a high-flying picture. The planes are part of the collection of the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force, which has a museum at the Burnet Municipal Airport, 2302 U.S. 281 South. Photo by Stennis Shotts
“Before I Die” wall
If it’s the last thing you do, write an item from your bucket list on the “Before I Die” wall in downtown Marble Falls and commemorate it with a photo. The collaborative and ever-changing artwork is part of a global project that encourages passersby to think about the things that matter most in life. Find the wall at 300 Main St. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell
SHOTS & SOCIAL
TAKE PICTURE-PERFECT PHOTOS
- Use colors that complement each other.
- Optimize your lighting.
- Use your phone’s camera grid.
- For photos with moving objects, bust out your phone’s “burst mode” to ensure you don’t miss a millisecond of the action.
- Avoid using flash.
- Capitalize on the “golden hour,” taking photos in the last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise.
EDIT YOUR SNAPS
Include graphics.
- Use filters from third-party apps such as Adobe Lightroom, Facetune, or Snapseed.
- Adjust the contrast.
- Touch up with saturation.
- Remove blemishes and other distractions.
- Crop your photos to an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 4:5 to ensure total “Instagram-ability.”
BOOST ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
- Post often.
- Have a consistent theme.
- Choose the right hashtags.
- Use emojis effectively.
- Interact with your followers.
- Know your audience.