Spanning more than 122 acres, the 18-hole Landa Park Golf Course is not only a challenging, fun course—it's also a habitat for wildlife in the area. The course offers daily play options, private and group lessons for adults and kids as young as 5, and club rentals for those who might not have their own. Don’t forget to ask for your Landa Player Club Card, which is free for New Braunfels residents and only $70 for non-residents, as it will award you discounts on play and the pro shop. When you become hooked, look into their membership options as well.

Landa Park Golf Course offers much more than just standard daily play and mixes it up with family-friendly events throughout the week. Holiday tournaments, spring break deals, par 3 challenges, a “foot golf league” and other special events keep things interesting.

Visit their website and social media pages for full details. Landa Park Golf Course is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to dusk.

Landa Park Golf Course
180 Golf Course Road
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 221-4340
www.landaparkgolfcourse.com
www.yelp.com/biz/landa-park-golf-course-new-braunfels

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Parker Knight

The Gristmill Restaurant is not only a restaurant, but a true landmark of Gruene, housed in a historic cotton gin right under the Gruene water tower. Stone walls with weathered bricks and wooden beams are paired with modern light fixtures to create a historic-meets-contemporary aesthetic that's hard to replicate.

From “small” onion rings that could feed a whole family to chicken fried steak and strawberry shortcake, the menu is authentically Texan. Crisp salads and juicy burgers are offered, too. On a nice day, be sure to request a seat on the wooden deck or on the multi-level outdoor patio.

The Gristmill River Restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. There are extended hours in the summer, so check their website for more information. Because this is a popular spot, you might have to wait for a table. (Enjoying a margarita in the outdoor beer garden makes the wait fly by!)

The Gristmill River Restaurant
1287 Gruene Road
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 625-0684
www.gristmillrestaurant.com

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr stu_spivack

Even if you drink tea every day, you may not be brewing it properly. Don’t sweat it, however; simply read up on these simple tips for brewing the perfect cuppa.

• For hot teas, such as black tea, you’ll want to first bring cold, filtered water to a boil to ensure the best possible taste. Add the tea bag to the cup first, and then gently pour the now-boiling water on top of it, using wide circular motions. Let the tea brew for three to five minutes, no more, and then serve with milk, sugar or by itself.
• For large batches of iced teas, bring one quart of cold water to a rolling boil in a pot or kettle. Remove it from the stove and add eight to ten tea bags, depending on how dark you like your tea. Let it brew for three to five minutes, and then immediately pour it over a large quantity of ice cubes. You’ll also want to pop the whole thing in the refrigerator to get it completely cold.
• For green tea, there is an entirely unique process. Because this tea is much more delicate, it can easily burn. Once the water starts boiling, you’ll want to let it sit for about 10 minutes to cool off. Then, pour it over the tea bag and let it brew for just one minute before serving.

How to Steep Hot Tea [The Republic of Tea]
Tea 101 [Teavana]
Brewing Tea [Tea Association]
Make a Perfect Brew [UK Tea & Infusions]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Aramek