We spent the weekend in New Braunfels visiting our oldest. (If you like uncrowded weekends and slow travel, you might also enjoy my story from a morning desert safari in Abu Dhabi.) There was no real plan beyond being together, eating a few meals out, and seeing what the days turned into.
That ended up being enough.
- Lunch at Naturally in Gruene
- An Afternoon at Downtown Social
- Dinner and Music at Krause’s
- What Stayed With Me
Lunch at Naturally in Gruene
Lunch was at Naturally Cafe in Gruene. I appreciated right away that the menu clearly marked gluten-free options, which made ordering feel easy. The guys ordered sandwiches and were genuinely impressed. I had soup and salad, both fresh and straightforward in the best way.
The space itself is laid back and a little kitschy. Comfortable, casual, and the kind of place that works whether you are local or just passing through. It felt like somewhere we would return without hesitation.
An Afternoon at Downtown Social
Later, we stopped by Downtown Social for drinks, bowling, and football. It is one of those places that has a lot going on, but it somehow works. Bowling lanes, pool tables, arcade games, a bar, and plenty of TVs showing sports.
The crowd felt mixed and easy. The service was attentive without hovering. We bowled three games in about an hour, each of them winning one, which felt fair. We never made it to the pool tables or arcades, but it did not matter. Everyone found something they enjoyed.
Dinner and Music at Krause’s
Dinner was at Krause’s, where we sat in the beer garden to listen to live music. I hesitated at first because it was cold, but the space heaters made it comfortable.
The menu was clearly marked gluten-free, which I always notice. Two ordered venison and said it was excellent. One had schnitzel. I made a vegetable plate from the sides. My food was good, though a little greasier than I prefer, and the rest was quickly taken care of by the family.
The band, X Factory, played classic rock, blues, and country. All three musicians sang, each with a different voice. We sang along more than expected and stayed longer than planned.
What Stayed With Me
Nothing about the weekend felt rushed or overdone. We did not try to fit everything in. We did not chase highlights.
It was just time together in places that made things easy enough to enjoy. That is often what I end up appreciating most.
Jess, Out and About 