Feel like you’re in the heart of Tuscany in one of Wimberley’s finest Italian restaurants. Owners Damian and Trina Mandola embrace hallmarks of the trattoria of the Italian countryside including a love of family, friends, food, and wine. Enjoy a variety of handmade pasta and sauces, house-cured meats, and fresh local seafood made with care. Sit at the kitchen bar for a front-row seat to the action as your meal is prepared – pizzas stretched by hand, steaks grilled over an open flame, and more! Recognized as one of OpenTable’s 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America 2018 and 2019, and as one of the 100 Best Restaurants for Wine Lovers in America 2018, Trattoria Lisina is definitely a must on your honeymoon itinerary.

Since 1992, Wimberley Glassworks has created exclusive artisan glass collections that are featured in luxury and commercial properties nationwide. Owner Tim De Jong was born in Canada and studied glass at Alfred University in New York and Temple University in Pennsylvania. After visiting the Texas Hill Country while on vacation, he fell in love and decided to set up his shop in Wimberley. At Wimberley Glassworks, you can see Jong’s team put their passion into their work right before your eyes in their free live glass blowing demonstrations. The team is extremely dedicated to their craft, believing that “When you make a glass piece, you can’t just go in and make a glass piece…You just can’t work the material without pouring your soul into it.” One blogger even said that it reminded her of being in Murano, Italy, where they are famous for their hand-blown glass art. Wimberley Glassworks is one-of-a-kind experience 25 years in the making, and their work will “blow” you away.

The Central Texas Bonsai Exhibit at Jade Gardens is a “Bonsai nursery that examines the possibility of creating good Bonsai from many kinds of trees.” At Jade Gardens, the Japanese practice of Bonsai is used to create miniature versions of over 100 varieties of trees, with a constant focus on developing Bonsai versions of all different kinds of native trees. See a combination of traditional Bonsai trees of maple, elm, and pine, as well as an amazing display of trees native to Central and South Texas. Experience Asian culture and Texas scenery as they are blended together to create The Central Texas Bonsai Exhibit’s beautiful display. Also, be sure to pick up a souvenir at the gift shop, where you can find unique items made from jade, cloisonné, porcelain, wood, soapstone. For those interested in botany and gardening, you can find a wide selection of pots including Japanese, Korean, Chinese, American, and Mica. The Bonsai exhibit is a unique and educational experience for travelers with a curious mind!

Immerse Immerse yourself in Texas’ very own slice of the Mediterranean at Bella Vista Ranch. Designed to reflect a traditional Italian family farm, the ranch is home to over 1,200 producing olive trees, an olive press, a winery, a tasting room, and a gift shop. Bella Vista Ranch was a serendipitous discovery for founder Jack Dougherty, who realized the Hill Country’s underground potential with weather and soil extremely similar to that of the Mediterranean. Since the first olives were pressed in 2001, people have flocked to Bella Vista Ranch for the educational guided tours, gourmet olive oils, vinegar, wine, and delicious food. As TripAdvisor’s top-rated winery in Wimberley, Bella Vista Ranch is a wine lover’s paradise. Bella Vista Ranch is a perfect stop on your romantic getaway.

Blue Hole is a gem in the heart of Wimberley. The people of Wimberley care deeply about the natural environment around them and have fought to preserve places like Blue Hole and Old Baldy Mountain for future generations. Friends of Blue Hole formed in 2003 to prevent a subdivision from being built around the beloved swimming hole and in turn helped make Blue Hole Regional Park what it is today. The clear water and sunshine feel like a piece of the Caribbean, but the beautiful cypress trees surrounding the swimming hole provide plenty of Texas charm. Relax and sunbathe by the water, or show off your skills on the rope swings – one for beginners and one for the seasoned rope-swingers! Surrounded by 126 acres of natural forests, Blue Hole will provide a brief escape from the hustle and bustle of civilization, and when you’re ready to return, you’ll find plenty of food and shopping at Wimberley Square. During your stay in Wimberley, don’t miss out on visiting Blue Hole, one of Texas’ top treasures.

Written by Abbey Wagner