Spring break is hiding in plain sight
Recent news
Eleven nearby destinations for spring days filled with river bends, walkable towns, quiet parks and unexpected finds
By Alyssa Meinke l Photos by Sarah Beal
Spring in Central Texas gently announces its arrival with wildflowers coloring the roadsides, creeks running a little fuller and families feeling the itch to get out of the house.
Before you plan a distant getaway for this year’s spring break, consider our suggestions for close-to-home destinations.
We’ve spotlighted 11 sites scattered across the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative service area. Odds are good you haven’t visited them all.
In our illustration at right, you can find visual clues to all 11 of the parks, museums, trails and family-friendly attractions in seven counties. Then read our brief guides to each destination. If you want to turn the visit into a day-trip-worthy adventure, we've added a short list of extra nearby and notable stops.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN A YETI COOLER!
From limestone caverns and riverfront parks to historic cabins, orchards, quirky museums and walkable downtowns, these locations offer plenty of places to wander and discover. Kids can run, grandparents can reminisce, and travelers of all ages can enjoy a mix of nature, history and small-town charm.
Whether you just hit the highlights or pick and choose different destinations along the way, there are entertaining options to fit every schedule, interest and age.
THE DINOSAUR PARK
Address: 893 Union Chapel Road, Cedar Creek
Hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday
Phone: 512-321-6262
Website: thedinopark.com
Admission: $11 for adults and teens; $10 for children ages 2 to 12; free for children under 2
What to expect: Walk along the shaded half-mile trail to view life-sized dinosaur statues, ranging in length from 2 to 123 feet, with realistic skin-color variations. Kids can dig for “fossils” and enjoy the playground. Bring a snack or lunch to eat at one of many picnic tables; browse the gift shop.
Tips for visitors: Bring a water bottle and comfortable shoes.
Nearby: Make a day of it in Cedar Creek with the Capital of Texas Zoo (family-friendly exhibits featuring local and exotic animals), Cedar Creek Park (a quiet spot for outdoor recreation) or Zip Lost Pines (ziplines and aerial adventures).
ZEDLER MILL MUSEUM & PARK
Address: 1170 S. Laurel Ave., Luling
Hours: 8 a.m.–3 p.m. daily
Phone: 512-227-1724
Website: cityofluling.net/273/Zedler-Mill-Historical-Museum
Admission: Free to public daily
What to expect: Walk on-site trails to admire the restored remnants of the mill; then look at artifacts inside the museum, read historical interpretive panels or use your phone to take an audio tour detailing the mill’s early operations. The site offers landscaped grounds with walking paths, butterfly gardens, native shrubs and a picnic area overlooking the river.
Tip for visitors: Bring water and snacks for a relaxed riverside visit.
Nearby: The Fritz Zedler Home, Downtown Luling, Luling Oil Museum
WONDER WORLD CAVE & ADVENTURE PARK
Address: 1000 Prospect St., San Marcos
Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily in the spring
Phone: 512-392-6711
Website: wonderworldpark.com
Admission: Adult passes $25-$35; children’s passes $20-$25; train ride $16 for general admission visitors and $12 for San Marcos residents
What to expect: Take a guided tour through Balcones Fault Line Cave to explore rock formations, crystal pools and ancient fossils. Visitors can hop on a train traveling through cascading waterfalls and visit the Texas Wildlife Petting Park.
Tips for visitors: Pack a lunch for indoor and outdoor picnic areas throughout the property; wear closed-toe shoes; bring a light jacket (cave is 72 degrees year-round).
Nearby: The San Marcos River, Rio Vista Park, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
MCKINNEY ROUGHS NATURE PARK
Address: 1884 State Highway 71 W., Cedar Creek
Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily; varies seasonally
Phone: 512-303-5073
Website: lcraparks.com/parks/mckinney-roughs-nature-park
Admission: $5 for adults; $2 for adults 65 and older, as well as military and disabled; free for children under 12 and park pass holders; extra fees for adventure activities such as zip-lining
What to expect: Connect with nature by exploring 21 forested trails covering 17.6 miles. Travel by foot, bike, utility terrain vehicle or horseback to check out wildflower patches, river trails and overlooks, and native Central Texas flora and fauna. Optional adventure courses for a fee include a zip line and high ropes course.
Tips for visitors: Plan your route by studying the 1,140-acre park’s map before you head out; pack a water bottle and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Nearby: Bastrop State Park, Lake Bastrop
JAMES H. LONG RAILROAD PARK AND MUSEUM
Address: 100 NW First St., Smithville
Hours: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday; contact the museum before visiting
Phone: 512-237-2313
Website: smithvilletx.org/parks
Admission: Free
What to expect: Exhibits trace Smithville’s railroad history from 1886 from its earliest one-room office through the second and third depots and years of passenger service. Visit the park that features a playground nestled between two cabooses.
Tip for visitors: Capture photos of the historic cabooses in the outdoor park.
Nearby: Buescher State Park, Riverbend Park, Main Street
GIDDINGS VETERANS HONOR PARK
Address: 198 N. Montgomery Ave., Giddings
Hours: 5 a.m.–11 p.m. daily
Phone: 979-540-2710
Website: giddings.net/parks-of-giddings
Admission: Free
What to expect: Honor area veterans by visiting the granite monuments and military fleet vehicles on display. Pickleball and tennis courts, a playscape and a splash pad are directly across the street for some fun in the sun.
Tip for visitors: Visit in the morning or late afternoon for shade and comfortable viewing.
Nearby: Lee County Museum at the Schubert-Fletcher House, Simmang Park
TEXAS WENDISH HERITAGE MUSEUM
Address: 1011 CR 212, Giddings
Hours: 1–5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Phone: 979-366-2441
Website: texaswendish.org/museum
Admission: $5 for adults; free for children under 12
What to expect: Explore the rich history of Wendish immigrants who settled in Texas in the 1800s. The museum features artifacts, photographs, textiles and historic documents that trace the community’s language, religion and traditions. Visitors can tour restored buildings, including a traditional log cabin and barn with antique farming tools, for a hands-on glimpse of 19th-century Wendish life.
Tip for visitors: The gift shop sells dried Wendish noodles you can use to make a delicious, traditional meal.
JOHN E. HEJL PARK AT DAVIDSON CREEK
Address: 560 Davidson Creek Park, Caldwell
Hours: Dawn to dusk daily
Phone: 979-567-3271
Website: caldwelltx.gov/parksandrec
Admission: Free
What to expect: Play a round of disc golf, practice your swing in the batting cages, or shoot hoops and play soccer on the courts and fields. Kids can splash in the water play area or climb at the playground while their families relax under covered pavilions with picnic tables and grills. Anglers can cast a line in any of the three fully stocked ponds, where fishing is free and open to the public (visitors must follow Texas Parks & Wildlife fishing regulations).
Tip for visitors: Bring snacks or treats to enjoy a picnic.
Nearby: Burleson County Czech Heritage Museum, open on Saturdays
TEXAS QUILT MUSEUM
Address: 140 W. Colorado St., La Grange
Hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
Phone: 979-968-3104
Website: texasquiltmuseum.org
Admission: $10 for general admission; $8 for seniors and students
What to expect: Explore two restored 1890s buildings showcasing antique and contemporary quilts. Browse thousands of publications and rare textile samples in the Pearce Memorial Library, then step into an adjoining period garden inspired by early Central Texas city gardens. Nearby, a striking 13-by-85-foot mural highlights classic quilt designs. Kids can join a scavenger hunt to spot shapes and patterns throughout the galleries.
Tip for visitors: Free street parking nearby; restaurants within walking distance.
Nearby: Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives, Texas Heroes Museum, Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum
WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS STATE HISTORIC SITE
Address: 23400 Park Road 12, Washington
Hours: Grounds: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily; Washington Townsite Experience, Star of the Republic Museum and Barrington Living History Farm: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday
Phone: 936-878-2214
Website: wheretexasbecametexas.org
Admission: $10 for adults; $6 for children ages 6-17, free for children 5 and younger
What to expect: The 293-acre site is home to Independence Hall, where delegates gathered in 1836 to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence while the Alamo was under siege. Visitors can enjoy Barrington Living History Farm, a self-paced experience showcasing plantation life, and the Star of the Republic Museum, which highlights early settlers and the diverse communities of the Republic of Texas era.
Tip for visitors: Bring sunscreen and water — much of the site is outdoors.
BLUE BELL CREAMERY
Address: 1101 S. Blue Bell Road, Brenham
Hours: Visitor center, parlor and country store: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-Friday; observation deck open 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Friday
Phone: 800-327-8135
Website: bluebell.com
Admission: Free
What to expect: Take a self-guided tour through more than 100 years of the company’s history at the Blue Bell Museum, where exhibits showcase vintage equipment, memorabilia and photos. From the observation deck, watch as daily ice cream flavors are produced and packaged, with an employee on hand to answer questions about the production process. After the tour, enjoy a scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor in the parlor; then browse the County Store for souvenirs.
Tip for visitors: Pack a cooler — the parlor often features flavors you won’t find in stores yet.
Nearby: Old Baylor Park, Antique Rose Emporium
While some appliances have slimmed down, others still overindulge. Here’s the truth about the current coursing through your home’s devices
By Sharon Jayson
Chris and Michelle Birnbaum live about 6 miles outside Giddings in Lee County with two adult children in the 2,000-square-foot “barndominium” home they built in 2015. The metal barn-style buildings are known for open floor plans, affordable construction costs and energy efficiency.
When it comes to appliance purchases for their four bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home, Chris looks closely at how much electricity each appliance will use. “I look at Energy Star labels on everything we buy,” he said, referring to the blue-and-white stickers on appliances that meet energy efficiency guidelines set by the federal government.
Most buyers look at an appliance’s price, size, brand and performance before they factor in energy efficiency and features, according to Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative-area retailers and national consumer research groups.
Every appliance uses electricity. But some are energy hogs that eat more than their share of your electric bill. Others are electricity heroes that use less power or can help you cut your electric use.
Because our summers are hotter, Texas homes use at least 25% more electricity than the national average, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration report. The biggest power hog in your house is the air-conditioning and heating, or HVAC, system. It’s a pain in your wallet in the summer and a strain on the electric grid on winter’s coldest days.
A typical 2,000-square-foot home uses an average of about 1,200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month. That amount of electricity costs about $115 a month, or $1,381 a year. That amount does not include additional charges that appear on the bill. Of that, an all-electric HVAC system can eat up an estimated 40% to 50% — from $456 to $690 — of that annual cost for electricity, according to consumer sites, state and federal sources, and other Texas utilities.
The energy efficiency of your system and house are big factors, especially during summer’s triple-digit heat. Window AC units may be worse: An older, inefficient unit could use 1,300 kWh in just three hot Texas months. A newer energy-efficient window unit could use 30% to 50% less electricity.
Next on the list of power hogs are older swimming pool pumps, your home electric water heater, refrigerator/freezer, clothes dryer, range and oven, then the dishwasher. The clothes washer is ranked last, but its power use varies depending on the type of washer and its age. How often you use most of these appliances is another variable — except for the refrigerator/freezer, which is always running.
Replacing appliances such as old water heaters, refrigerators or single-speed pool pumps with newer, more energy-efficient versions can have a significant impact on your electricity costs.
Dryers, long considered high on the energy hog list, have improved in the last decade with sensors that control heat and cycle time, as well as some that have their own heat-pump technology. How often you use a dryer and the size of the loads you toss into it also impact the electric bill.
Then there are energy heroes. Some are familiar appliances like the microwave oven, which uses less than a third of the electricity of a standard oven for small meals, or a newer dishwasher, which can use less water and electricity than washing dishes by hand. The energy-saving mini-split style air conditioner/heater can replace a window AC unit. It costs less to operate and can circulate air efficiently even when it’s not cooling or heating. The trusty ceiling fan, operated at a medium speed for about six hours a day, uses 150 to 200 kWh a year (about $17). It cools you, not your room, and can help you save 10% of the electricity your HVAC would use.
Old energy hogs have slimmed down in recent years. A newer laptop uses less power than a desktop computer, and today’s gaming consoles cost pennies when in standby mode, compared with their older “always-on” counterparts.
On the smaller side, the electric kettle is faster and more efficient than heating water on the stovetop, and a multicooker (the Instant Pot is a popular one) uses much less energy than the oven or stove, cooking slowly with less electricity.
Then there are energy-saving devices: A smart thermostat can reduce HVAC consumption by as much as 15%, switching to all-LED lighting can take a big bite out of your electric bill, and smart plugs and strips let you schedule or remotely turn off electronics or groups of plugged-in devices.
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (eia.gov); EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey; energystar.gov; U.S. Department of Energy (energy.gov); federalregister.gov; bluebonnet.coop, consumerreports.org; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory standby load studies; ecoflow.com; howstuffworks.com; energysage.com; airconditionerlab.com; consumer, manufacturer, retailer and utility websites
APPLIANCE INSIGHTS & TIPS
Appliances made in 2001 or earlier can use 40%–50% more electricity than new, more efficient models. Appliances that are more than 10 years old may use 28%–36% more electricity.
Seals, motors and insulation degrade over time, increasing electricity use.
Always-on devices continue to draw power: Refrigerators, pool pumps, desktop computers, gaming consoles, routers and digital displays.
Appliances with the greatest leaps in efficiency: HVAC systems, refrigerators, water heaters, pool pumps and dryers.
Worst in class: Old refrigerators and outdated HVAC systems (leaky ducts can cost hundreds annually). The Department of Energy has a refrigerator-rating tool on
energy.gov for year-by-year comparisons.
More tips: Texas PUC’s Power to Save website, www.puc.texas.gov/waystosave. Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Department of Energy; Energy Star; EPA; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab; EnergySage; NRDC; appliance manufacturers; consumer product testing; Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative residential rates
SALES TAX HOLIDAY
In Texas, an energy-saving incentive is the three-day Energy Star sales tax holiday — scheduled for May 23-25 in 2026 — that lets shoppers buy many types of large appliances tax-free. Learn more at here.
Program prepares apprentice lineworkers to keep 13,000 miles of line and 144,000 meters safe and reliable
By Connie Juarez
During the last several years, Gunnar Schwartz learned that a lineworker’s job involves more than putting up poles and stringing wire.
“You learn how the control center and substations operate, which helps you see the bigger picture of how everything connects,” Schwartz said. He and 11 other Bluebonnet apprentices learned how to build overhead and underground lines, troubleshoot and restore power during outages, maintain electrical equipment and install and repair meters.
Beyond the technical skills, the program emphasizes the importance of working with a team and building on others’ experience and strengths.
Schwartz, who is based in Giddings, is proud to have finished the program, but he is also aware of the expectations that come with the job.
“Now you’re the one people look to for answers,” the 30-year-old graduate said. “It’s a good feeling, but it comes with more responsibility.”
Schwartz and the other 11 apprentice lineworkers at Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative completed their training in 2025 and joined the co-op’s experienced team of journeyman lineworkers. They work to ensure members have safe, reliable power across the cooperative’s 3,800-square-mile service area.
Completing Bluebonnet’s lineworker apprentice program requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 672 hours of technical instruction, typically requiring four years. Graduates earn certification from the U.S. Department of Labor and are prepared to handle a wide range of fieldwork.
Joining Schwartz in earning journeyman certification were Huston Burgess, Colton Harris, Cooper Lucherk, Thomas Medrano, Tanner Meuth, Darrin Ott, Ryan Smith, Terry Swonke, Brett Wellmann, Brent Westbrook and Trevor Williams. Lucherk, Swonke, Wellmann and Williams began their careers as lineworker interns in 2021, completing a six-month training program before beginning the apprentice training.
Harris, who is based in Bastrop, said the apprentice program showed him the value of building on a team’s strengths.
“There are things I’m not as good at as others, and things I’m better at,” he said. “It’s all about working with people and understanding there are many ways to do things.”
Working to restore power during ice storms gave Harris his most meaningful experiences on the job. “Seeing people’s relief when the lights came back on — that’s what makes it all worth it,” he said.
Reaching journeyman status was important to Harris. “In my family, there’s a long tradition of line work,” he said. “It’s exciting to reach this point, but the journey is just beginning. There is so much more to learn and accomplish.”
Including the 2025 graduating class, 165 apprentices have completed Bluebonnet’s lineworker program since it began in 2004.
Chad Weiss, operations superintendent in Brenham, said the apprentice program provides a solid career path that is close to home.
“The majority of the candidates who take part in our program are from Bluebonnet’s service area,” Weiss said. “The program produces skilled, safety-driven, dependable lineworkers who take pride in their work. It’s great to see them building a future in the same communities they’re helping every day.”
The Bluebonnet intern program, which started in 2018, provides six months of technical instruction in line work. To advance into the apprentice program, participants must also obtain power-pole climbing certification and a commercial driver’s license.
To learn more about Bluebonnet’s lineworker internship and apprenticeship programs, visit bluebonnet.coop/careers.
