Re: tubing - Rockin R will drive you and your tubes to a place up river and drop you off. You get out of the river when you get to Rockin R. Usually they will ask you how long you want to be on the river - 2 hours? 4? I personally would suggest 4 hours MAX. Wear plenty of sunscreen.

I don't like the tubes with the bottoms either - except if you will take a cooler.

If you don't get a tube with a bottom, at least wear shorts over your suit. I have torn many a suit in the Gudalupe. You can drive up River Rd and find many river outfitters also. Have used Rockin R and severalup RR and have enjoyed all of them. Definitely go to Gruene and eat at Gristmill. You can also walk the town for great shops. Have a great time. New Braunfels is my favorite place in Texas.

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info. Schlitterbaun was SO CROWDED. Insanely crowded. We went on Monday and Tuesday and Tuesday was even more crowded than the day before. It was still fun and we had a good time, but I was unprepared for just the sheer number of people packed into the parks - ALL day long. Early, late, etc. No escape from being elbow to elbow with a million people.

We tubed the Comal and I did get a tube with a bottom, my son did not. We each were pleased with our choices. One cool thing was that Rockin' R lets you go down the river as many times as you want once you pay so we did it several times (good escape from the crowds at Schlitterbaun, although I'd like to give a big shout out to the drunk girl on the river who thought it was funny to scream every obscenity she could think of every time she floated near a group with small children. Nice!) We tried to eat at the Gristmill in Gruene but after being in the heat all day - my mother balked at eating in a restaurant without A/C so we ate at the Gruene River Grill which we enjoyed. We also drove up the "river road" and it is beautiful and I'd like to stay in that area next time.

We also went on and spent several days at the Hyatt Lost Pines resort in Bastrop and really enjoyed it. Very relaxing compared to Schlitterbaun. Thanks again for your help!

Hi Kath,
We are going to New Braunfels in a couple of weeks and doing much of the same things you did. You didn't mention if you made it to Natural Bridge Caverns. If so, how was it?

jayne, I know Kath hasn't answered yet, but let me tell you- wear some shoes with very good rubber soles (athletic shoes) for the Natural Bridge Caverns. Unlike most other (very cool and dry) caverns I've been to, these are humid and not as cool. The humidity is incredible, so there are some slippery places if you are not careful. Wear good shoes! The caverns, as most caverns are, were pretty neat. :)

Thanks, Sarge. I sure wouldn't have thought about taking tennis shoes on this trip!

jayne, I just found their website and it says the relative humidity is 99%. :)

See other "tips" for visitors:

http://naturalbridgecaverns.com/tips.aspx