When Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels came upon the beautiful Comal River in March 1845, he purchased land at the site and named the settlement New Braunfels in honor of his German estate back home. “It is a cheerful sight to see this beauty spot of nature developing,” he later reported to his superiors, “and the land becoming occupied.”

Then and now, the crystal-clear waters of both the Comal and nearby Guadalupe rivers continue to draw people to this charming Hill Country city that brims with unique museums, fun shops, top-notch restaurants and water sports. Snakes, too.

Snakes?

Yep. During a recent visit to New Braunfels, my friend, Shena, and I met a few but more on them later. Around town, we also enjoyed a more laid-back atmosphere since Schlitterbahn was closed for the winter and the hugely popular Wurstfest had passed. With so many other things to do and see, we headed first for downtown New Braunfels, a vibrant hub for entertainment, business and government.

Out and about–day one

On West San Antonio Street, we started with a quick stroll through the Red Rooster, a combo antique store, cafe, soda fountain and coffee bar. Inside the 1912 building that once housed a car dealership, vintage furniture, house wares and collectibles share the showroom floor with the café’s booths and tables. The lengthy menu listed salads, sandwiches, wraps, seafood, steaks and more.

(Pssst! Love antiques? Don’t miss the nearby Downtown Antique Mall, chock full of merchandise spread across more than 12,000 square feet of floor space.)

Across the railroad tracks, we stepped into the restored 1907 train depot, home of the New Braunfels Railroad Museum. Two exhibit rooms feature historic photos, telegraph equipment, timetables and uniforms. Past a doorway, we spied volunteer Kevin Temme, who manned the museum’s model railroad. Built at chest-high level, the miniature world of countrysides and towns spans across most of the room.

At our request, Kevin swit ...

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