I was searching for a quick family getaway from Austin into the country and nature and found Camp Blanco in Blanco, TX only an hour away! Since there was so much space, I invited another couple and their three sons. So there were nine of us total and let me tell you, there was PLENTY of space to spread out and have fun!
The history of the place being a Girl Scout camp in the 1940's was so cool and the drive there was beautiful. The property is gated and sits on 18 acres of natural beauty. Each family had their very own house and the kids had a HUGE bunkhouse that sleeps 6 attached to an incredible game room with doors that open up to an outdoor patio/play area. We brought our bikes and the kids loved riding around all over the land and over to the Teepees for some "me-time."
That's right - I said Tee-pees...there are two huge tents set up for real camping if you want. No bathroom or electricity, but the houses are closeby if you need those modern amenities. ;-) The kids loved using their imaginations inside and had a blast exploring.
We watched shows and listened to music on the enormous gameroom TV while playing cards, shuffleboard, pool and foosball. We hiked down the very steep hill (not for biking) to the property's riverside space which is like having an entire park to yourself! The Blanco River is crystal clear and we all took turns catching fish and kayaking! We even hired Lodgewell's exclusive fly fishing guide who brought his boat straight to us and took two people out at a time fishing on the river. My son caught his first Guadalupe Bass on a fly!
At night we used the outdoor pavilion by the river to build a fire and enjoy the starry sky while catching up together as families. The paved hill down to the river is steep, but makes great exercise going back up if that's your thing! We grilled burgers and hot dogs on their awesome gas/charcoal/smoker and enjoyed the firepit up by the house after with campfire songs.
The homes are equipped with everything you can think of and the service from Lodgewell was top notch. The trip was too quick to go into town and check out Blanco, but we have already been planning a longer trip back here because it was absolutely heaven. A place for kids, and grown-up kids, to reconnect outside of the city and slow down was something we all desperately needed and we can't wait to go back!