Living in the Uvalde | Medina | Bandera Area

For such small regions compared to the rest of Texas, Bandera, Medina, and Uvalde have great big personalities that draw in crowds from across the country. Bandera is nestled in the Texas Hill Country, just 40 miles northwest of San Antonio. The even smaller cities of Uvalde and Medina run alongside Bandera on its southern border.

Burrowed deep in the Texas Hill Country and surrounded by rolling plains, wide open land, and rushing rivers, it’s no surprise that the town of Bandera has been deemed the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” Its immersive Western culture will seem to jump right out of the movie screen, making it one of the most exciting places in Texas. Newcomers can ride through the picturesque countryside on horseback, enjoy the National Professional Bull Riders at the Celebrate Bandera Rodeo, or even become enthralled in gripping gunfights during the weekly historical reenactment “Cowboys on Main” courtesy of the Bandera Cattle Company. As you travel further through Bandera, you’ll leave the cowboy country behind and find some of the town’s most precious urban and natural areas. City residents rush to Bandera City Park, a lovely metropolitan greenspace come summertime to enjoy the cool waters of the Medina River running alongside, hike native plant trails, and relish in warm sunny weather. For the avid explorers, over 5,000 stunning acres of multi-use trails in the Hill Country State Natural Area and 2,100 acres of limestone canyons, grasslands, forest, and clear blue streams at Lost Maples State Natural Area are within easy driving distance of Bandera.

The “Apple Capital of Texas,” Medina, is a quaint town in Bandera County known for its abundance of apple orchards that produce some of the state’s sweetest-tasting fruits. An hour west of San Antonio and just off Highway 16, this community is unmatched in its charm and suburban feel. Many families relocate to this area to enjoy its captivating views, vibrant culture, and enchanting neighborhoods. Travelers from far and wide come to Medina to enjoy over eleven different kinds of fresh apples from the acclaimed Love Creek Orchard and The Apple Store’s mouth-watering baked goods and tasty apple treats.

A little over an hour west of Medina lies a green canopy of simple pleasures. Uvalde, Texas, sports chalk cliffs, three stunning rivers, and beautiful greenland, all blanketed under a sky of Cypress trees. Historically known as the “Honey Capital of the World” in the late 1800s for its production of huajillo honey, Uvalde has recently taken on acclaim for its unique rushing rivers. The spring-fed waters of the Frio River run through the heart of the Texas Hill Country, enveloping visitors with magnificent limestone bluffs, the Sabinal river carries travelers through majestic sights such as the Sabinal Canyon, and the Nueces River is known for pecan trees dotting its riverbanks.