GRAPHIC: Wanderlust on a budget blog series photo. Graphic by The Signal Managing Editor Dave Silverio. — Wanderlust on a budget blog series photo. Graphic by The Signal Managing Editor Dave Silverio.

Goodbye Houston, hello Hill Country

By Jaclynn Abatecola Last updated Feb 10, 2016 219 0

I am a person who truly feels one of the best ways to get some refreshing time away from the everyday hustle of work, school and responsibilities is to spend some time in nature. I usually choose the Texas Hill Country for these trips, and this time was no exception, so we headed to Leakey, Texas.

PHOTO: Frio River Cabins in Leakey, TX. Photo by The Signal reporter Jackie Abatecola. — Frio River Cabins in Leakey, Texas. *Photo by The Signal reporter Jackie Abatecola.*

For a cabin rental, my boyfriend and I, along with another couple, rented a cabin with Frio River Cabins. Usually for rentals like this I use flipkey.com and have always been exceedingly pleased with the deals I have found. However, this trip we wanted to be close to Garner State Park for some great hiking, and this location was less than two miles away, making it the perfect choice. This is a family-owned property that had 17 unique cabins that can accommodate anywhere from 2 to 16 people. The cabin we chose had over 60 acres of secluded woods and a river to enjoy for a total of $115 per night, which makes this stay extremely affordable when splitting it between four people. We purchased groceries and drinks ahead of time and cooked all of our meals at the cabin to save on food costs.

Best Part: For an additional $15 a day, you can bring your dog. I brought my golden retriever who is used to the city and he was in heaven.

PHOTO: Maximus, Golden Retriever, at Lost Maples State Park. Photo by The Signal reporter Jackie Abatecola. — Maximus, Golden Retriever, at Lost Maples State Park. *Photo by The Signal reporter Jackie Abatecola.*

The manager of the cabins recommended we visit Lost Maples State Park since it was only a 30-minute drive, and this was the best time of year to go since the leaves were changing. We left Saturday morning for the park, which took us through a scenic drive of the hills, complete with winding road. The park is famous for its fall foliage, and from the moment we entered I understood why. Being from Houston, I always feel a bit season-deprived at this time of year, and this park fixed that right up. The trees were full of color and the river water was crystal clear. The hike was beautiful, the air flawlessly crisp. I would recommend this park to anyone.

Best Part: Entrance fees are only $6 a person – money well spent when it means you are supporting the conservation of the park.

Lost Maples Winery just so happens to be less than 4 miles from the park, so we stopped in on our way back. This winery was not only pretty but also very cool. There was a one-man band who was great at the guitar playing on a trailer hitch in front of the tasting room. Locals brought their own chairs, drank wine and sat around the fire pits while they enjoyed the music. Wine tasting here was $10 per person and it was well worth it. We really enjoyed our time here and it was an excellent way to finish the day.

Best Part: The free entertainment was great and the people could not have been nicer.

On Sunday, we woke up early and headed to Garner State Park, a favorite Texas state park of mine. This park can accommodate anything from a daily hike to weekend stays and the views and stars are spectacular. The park also has 10 trails ranked from easy to challenging depending on the type of hiker you are.

Best Part: Though some of the hikes are slightly challenging, the views make it well worth it.

This trip was great and very affordable. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and foliage. For meals, we stayed at the cabin and cooked, roasted s’mores and drank hot toddies. This is an especially great trip for groups of friends or families to spend quality time together at a great price!