--- title: "Things to Do in New Braunfels Beyond Schlitterbahn" description: "Tubing, cabins, river floats and quieter Hill Country alternatives twenty minutes from New Braunfels — the local guide that doesn't start with Schlitterbahn." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "LodgingBusiness", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "alternateName": [ "Sons Blue River Camp", "Blue River Camp", "Son's Blue River" ], "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com/", "logo": "https://bluerivercamp.com/favicon-192x192.png", "image": "https://bluerivercamp.com/og-image.png", "telephone": "+1-(877) 577-7667", "priceRange": "$$", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "2769 Sherrill Rd", "addressLocality": "Kingsbury", "addressRegion": "TX", "postalCode": "78638", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 29.72751, "longitude": -97.76306 }, "parentOrganization": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Getaways", "url": "https://sonsgetaways.com" }, "sameAs": [ "https://sonsriverranch.com", "https://sonsgetaways.com", "https://www.facebook.com/sonsblueriver", "https://www.instagram.com/sonsblueriver" ], "amenityFeature": [ { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Air-conditioned glamping cabins", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Spring-fed San Marcos River access", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Private riverside cabanas", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "On-site tubing and kayaking", "value": true } ] }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Things to Do in New Braunfels Beyond Schlitterbahn", "image": "/assets/river-beach-property-DimfzXs_.webp", "datePublished": "2026-05-09", "dateModified": "2026-05-09", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com/og-image.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog/things-to-do-new-braunfels", "description": "What to actually do in and around New Braunfels — including the quieter river trip 20 minutes northeast." }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Things to Do New Braunfels", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog/things-to-do-new-braunfels" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's there to do in New Braunfels besides Schlitterbahn?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Tubing the Comal, dancing at Gruene Hall, German food on the square — plus a 20-minute drive to the quieter San Marcos River at Son's Blue River Camp." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is there a less crowded alternative to the Comal River?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — the San Marcos River at Son's Blue River Camp is 20 minutes east in Kingsbury, with private river access and gentler crowds." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I day-trip from New Braunfels?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Absolutely — Son's offers day passes for tubing, kayaking, cabanas and picnic tables." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where to eat in New Braunfels?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Krause's Cafe, Gristmill, Naegelin's Bakery, and Huisache Grill are local staples." } } ] } ] ] --- [🎉 $29.99 Tubing & Kayaking Today at Son's River Ranch! — BOOK NOW! 🎉 $29.99 Tubing & Kayaking Today at Son's River Ranch! — BOOK NOW! ](https://sonsriverranch.com/book-now) [![Son's Blue River Camp](/assets/logo-transparent-CYNVRjE4.webp)](/) [Stay Overnight](/stay-overnight) [Day Rentals](/day-rentals) [Tubing & Kayaking](/day-rentals#tubing-kayaking) [Property Map](/property-map) [Plan Your Visit](/plan-your-visit) [About](/about) [Specials](/specials) [Contact](/contact)[(877) 577-7667](tel:+18775777667)Book Now Book Now ![Things to do in New Braunfels — quiet riverfront beach 20 minutes east](/assets/river-beach-property-DimfzXs_.webp) [Back to Blog](/blog) # Things to Do in New Braunfels Beyond Schlitterbahn May 9, 2026 16 min read Schlitterbahn is great. Schlitterbahn is also $80 a head, three hours of lines, and you'll never set foot in actual New Braunfels. This is a guide to everything else — the river floats, the German bakery, the dance hall, and the spring-fed alternative twenty minutes east at [Son's Blue River Camp](/). ## In Town ### Float the Comal The Comal is the shortest navigable river in the country. Outfitters along Union Avenue rent tubes, you walk to the put-in, you exit at Prince Solms Park. Two hours, three or four chutes, very crowded on summer weekends. ### Float the Guadalupe Six miles north at Gruene. Outfitters between Gruene Road and Hueco Springs put you on a 2–3 hour float. The Horseshoe Loop is the famous stretch. ### Gruene Historic District Gruene Hall — oldest dance hall in Texas, opened 1878. Live music seven nights a week. Grab a longneck at the bar, listen to whoever is playing, dance badly. ### Naegelin's Bakery Oldest continuously operating bakery in Texas. Buy strudel, eat it on the sidewalk. ### Krause's Biergarten Eighty taps, schnitzel, oompah on weekends. Bring kids; everyone does. ![Tubing on the spring-fed San Marcos River near New Braunfels](/assets/gallery-tubing-woman-BC17G8fw.webp) ## Twenty Minutes East: The Quieter Alternative If the Comal is sold out or you want a less party-heavy float, drive east on Highway 46 to Kingsbury. Twenty minutes, no traffic, and you're at [Son's Blue River Camp](/) on the San Marcos River. Same spring-fed water source as the Comal (the Edwards Aquifer), but a private 8-acre property instead of a public chute. Kids float it. Grandparents float it. The vibe is "river day with friends," not "spring break." ## Float Twenty Minutes East Skip the Comal lines. Day-pass tubing on the spring-fed San Marcos at Son's Blue River Camp. [Day Pass](/day-rentals)[Stay Overnight](/book-now/blue-river-camp-overnight) ## Day Trips From New Braunfels ### Wimberley 30 minutes northwest. Jacob's Well, Blue Hole, the square. Best on a weekday. ### San Marcos 20 minutes north. Outlets, the Meadows Center glass-bottom boats, Sewell Park. ### Natural Bridge Caverns 20 minutes south. The biggest commercial show cave in Texas. ![Friends tubing the San Marcos River near New Braunfels](/assets/gallery-friends-tubes-DFUeVXhY.webp)![Riverfront cabin near New Braunfels](/assets/log-cabin-1-D8l1QTss.webp) ## Where to Eat Gristmill (riverside), Krause's (German), Naegelin's (bakery), Huisache (date night), New Braunfels Smokehouse (BBQ + diner). Krause's pretzel and Gristmill chicken-fried steak are the two locals will defend. ## Where to Stay In-town hotels are abundant but generic. For a real river weekend, drive twenty minutes east to a riverfront [log cabin](/log-cabins) or [glamping cabin](/glamping) on the San Marcos. Wake up to the river, not a parking lot. ![River near New Braunfels alternative](/assets/hero-river-4FpxTDr4.webp) ## Best Time to Visit Wurstfest (early November) is the city's biggest event. Spring break and July 4 are the most crowded. October weekends are the secret window — warm river, no Schlitterbahn lines. ## FAQ ### Is the Comal or the San Marcos better? Comal is closer and shorter; San Marcos is quieter, gentler, and more scenic. Both are great. We'll defend the San Marcos for families. ### Can I float in winter? Yes — the spring-fed water is 72°F all year. Wear a rash guard. ### Glass on the river? Banned everywhere — Comal, Guadalupe, San Marcos. Aluminum cans only. ![Family near New Braunfels at the river](/assets/testimonial-5-BgRoNc9X.webp) ## The Quieter River Twenty Minutes East When the Comal is sold out, drive east. Spring-fed San Marcos River, private property, gentle floats. [Day Pass](/day-rentals)[Stay Overnight](/book-now/blue-river-camp-overnight) ### Related reading - [San Marcos vs Comal River](/blog/san-marcos-vs-comal-river) - [Guadalupe vs San Marcos River](/blog/guadalupe-vs-san-marcos-river) - [Best Hill Country rivers for families](/blog/best-hill-country-rivers-families) - [Tubing near Austin](/blog/tubing-near-austin) ![Son's Blue River Camp](/assets/logo-transparent-CYNVRjE4.webp) 8 acres of family-friendly river paradise on the San Marcos River. Float, grill, relax — then fall asleep to the sound of the river. 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