Meet This Place

There’s no shortage of outdoor clothes and gear in the world. The hard part is finding the stuff that fits how you actually live, holds up, and still feels like you. That’s where having somebody who knows the gear—and knows what works—really helps.

Tell them what you’re doing. Maybe you’re headed to the river. Maybe you need shoes, a new hat, something for an upcoming trip, or you simply spotted something you like. Ask what works. Their crew can help you sort through it and find something you’ll actually keep reaching for. Gruene Outfitters lets you spend less time guessing and more time outside.

Maybe that’s the trick with boutique shopping.

You want to find something distinctive enough to feel special, but wearable enough for everyday life.

The Pomegranate carries women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories, and the whole place feels more like browsing with somebody who has good taste than digging through racks hoping you get lucky.

You don’t need a shopping list.

Look around. Try on whatever catches your eye. If you’re unsure, ask the folks there what they think. They’re nice, trust me.

Maybe you find a top you’ll wear with jeans all the time. Maybe it’s shoes, something for the kids, or one small thing that just feels like you.

That’s what I’d look for here: something special enough to remember you bought it in Gruene, but easy enough to keep reaching for once you get home.

Don’t settle for something that never really feels like you.

The menu covers a lot of ground—steaks, burgers, chicken-fried steak, ribs, fish, sandwiches, salads, and plenty more. So even when you’re trying to keep a table full of people happy, there’s a pretty good chance everybody can find something they want.

And be sure to look around as your server walks you to your table.

The restaurant spreads out from the old burned down cotton gin to the river bluff beneath the trees. The setting is part of the meal here. You couldn’t pick this place up and drop it beside an interstate somewhere and have it feel the same.

Even the wait can be part of the experience.

Let them know you’re here, grab a drink, find some shade, and visit a bit while they get your table ready.

Then sit down, enjoy your meal, and enjoy the people you came with.

A good meal fills you up. A place like this gives you something to remember too.

Your time together’s special. Eat somewhere you’ll remember.

When you’re experiencing a live show, it’s about more than the band. Places like this can make it seem magical.

That’s what makes Gruene Hall special. Not just for those of us here to enjoy it. It’s a rite of passage and an honor to be on that stage. It changes the whole experience. People have been gathering here for live music since 1878, and much of what gives the place its character is still right in front of you—the high-pitched tin roof, the open-air side flaps, the bar up front, and that little stage in back.

And that stage has seen a lot. Gruene Hall has hosted some of Texas music’s best-known performers, along with plenty of artists before everybody knew their names.

So see who’s playing and be sure to get tickets if you need them. Shows here sell out. When you’re at the show, notice how the crowd and the hall become part of the music.

When you catch a show here, you don’t just remember who you heard. You remember where you heard ’em.

Don’t miss a chance to catch someone live at Gruene Hall.

I think “home base” is exactly the right way to think about Mozie’s.

Maybe you want to cool off. Maybe you want to catch the game, grab a bite before a show, or hang around afterward.

Step inside, get comfortable, order something to eat and drink, and you still feel like you’re right in the middle of everything.

Stay for a meal. Stay for the game. Stay until you’re ready to head back out.

It’s the kind of break that helps you enjoy more of Gruene.

Don’t let needing a break pull you away before you’re ready.

That’s the part I think makes this place work.

If it’s just the two of you, you can have your own quiet place close to Gruene. If you’ve got kids, there’s room to spread out. And if you’re bringing a bigger group, everybody can have separate cottages or guest rooms while still staying on the same property.

You can reserve just what you need or, if you’ve got enough people coming, take over the whole property.

And historic Gruene is just a short walk away.

That gets especially useful with a group. Fewer cars, fewer “Where are y’all?” texts, and less time spent coordinating everybody when you could already be enjoying Gruene.

Stay close. Spread out when you want to. Then come back together.

Don’t let where you stay turn your time in Gruene into driving and coordinating instead of enjoying it.

You gotta go inside and look around, because one of the coolest things about this place is seeing the connection between what you’re buying and where it came from.

You may even find a potter working while you’re there.

Most of the pottery around you is made right here, alongside work from other Central Texas artists.

And this isn’t the kind of handmade pottery you’re supposed to be afraid to touch.

The whole idea is to make beautiful things substantial enough to use. A mug for your morning coffee. A bowl for your cereal. A serving piece for Thanksgiving dinner.

Pretty soon it isn’t just something you bought in Gruene.

It’s part of breakfast, dinner, holidays, and ordinary Tuesdays—and every now and then it reminds you where it came from.

If you’re going to take something home from Gruene, I like that a whole lot better than another piece of clutter.

You don’t have to walk in here knowing plant names or pretending you have a green thumb.

Start with what you like.

Then tell the folks here where you’re thinking about putting it. How much light does the room get? How often are you realistically going to remember to water it? Do you need something fairly forgiving?

Ask questions.

That little bit of help can be the difference between taking home a plant you love today and taking home one you still love six months from now.

There’s plenty to wander through too—houseplants, succulents, unusual cacti, vessels, garden goods, and all kinds of other things that go with them. They also do potting help, workshops, and other plant services.

So don’t worry about knowing exactly what you’re looking for.

Find something that catches your eye and let the friendly folks here help you with the rest.

Bring home something living that makes your home feel more alive.

Don’t let another big-box plant wither and die.

They’ve got classic flavors you already know you’ll love, but Rhea’s also has the kind of combinations that make you stop and read the little sign twice.

The playful approach goes back to the recipes the original owner, Rhea Ortamond, started creating before Rhea’s ever made its way to Gruene.

So look through the case.

Ask for a sample if you can’t decide. Get it in a cup, a homemade waffle cone, or my favorite way—a cone upside down in a cup. That way you still get that delicious cone, but you can take your time and savor every bite.

Don’t be afraid to get two scoops either. Circus animal cookie and caramel sea salt is my favorite combo.

Find yourself a spot under the pecan trees and enjoy it.

Not everything that makes a day memorable has to be complicated.

Sometimes it’s just really good ice cream with the right people.

Don’t leave Gruene wishing you’d made room for something sweet. You deserve a Rhea’s!

Come see the giant duck.

Seriously. You can’t miss it. It’s huge!

Now step inside and wander around.

A kid might find a toy they’ve never seen before. You might turn a corner and spot a game you had when you were little. A grandparent might pick something up and immediately start telling everybody about the one they used to have. It connects generations.

There are classic tin toys, retro games, educational toys, joke gifts, newer stuff, and plenty of things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.

Don’t rush through it.

Let everybody wander. Laugh at the weird stuff. See who finds something first.

You don’t need kids to stop here—it brings out your inner child.

Don’t skip this stop. I’ve never seen another toy store like Got Toys.