Must-do Fall Activities

5 ways to celebrate fall in the Texas Hill Country

By most people's standards, triple-digit temperatures, charred grass and ozone action days don't necessarily conjure a Rockwellian vision of autumn. Even so, September is the official start of fall, and there are plenty of ways to exploit the season throughout the great state of Texas.

From sailboat rentals to music festivals and trail rides, here are the top ways to celebrate autumn in the Texas Hill Country.

Texas Trail Rides
Various dates and times
If cowboy culture is sewn into the fabric of Texan identity, then Texas Trail Rides is a steadfast needleworker. The "posse" of ranchers offers guided excursions to suit every skill level and a broad range of tastes. Excursions include ranch trail rides, sunset and romantic rides, a vineyard ride, and special occasion expeditions. For more information, visit the Texas Trail Rides website.

Austin Sailboat Rentals
Various dates and times
When it comes to sailing, Austin isn't anywhere close to Nantucket. In the temperate months of autumn and early winter, however, it may even be a bit better. Austin Sailboat Rentals offers affordable rentals of centerboard dinghy sailboats, a Catalina Capri 14.2, Chrysler Man-O-War, and Glastron Alpha for use on Lady Bird Lake or Lake Austin. Just add wine, wind and a few close friends.

Lost Maples Natural Area
This tiny State Natural Area in Vanderpool (about three hours southwest of Austin) is perched on the banks of the Sabinal River. Lost Maples boasts a rich population of Uvalde Bigtooth Maples, which annually yield a kaleidoscopic display of burnt oranges, reds and yellows. These leaves are best seen along the East Trail of the Natural Area in the late autumn months. Be sure to check foliage reports before heading out.

ACL Music Festival
October 4-6 and 11-13
Anyone with two ears and a heartbeat has heard of the ACL Music Festival. This year, big-name acts such as Depeche Mode, The National, Neko Case, Wilco, Lionel Ritchie, and many more join the roster of performing artists taking over Zilker Park for two weekends. Tickets for the first weekend are sold out; prices for the latter dates, at $225, are hefty but totally worth it.

Wurstfest
November 1-10
Nothing says autumn in the Hill Country like a 10-day celebration of sausage, beer, rickety carnival rides and old men in tiny lederhosen in New Braunfels. Events include daily (and nightly) dances, marathon eating, children's activities and more. For admission information and directions, visit the official Wurstfest website.

Lost Maples offers a colorful view of fall in Texas.

Photo by Bruce Lemmons Panoramio

Lost Maples offers a colorful view of fall in Texas.

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Holiday News

American Airlines expects record-setting travel on Thanksgiving 2024

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

American Airlines ready for takeoff.

The holidays are looming and American Airlines is ramping up. Over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, the Fort Worth-based airline expects to process nearly 8.3 million customers across more than 77,000 flights.

According to a statement from American's COO David Seymour, the airline is having a good fall season and canceled fewer flights than its peers during October.

“Thanks to the hard work of our 130,000 team members, we canceled fewer flights than any of our major competitors this October and beat our own records for on-time departures and arrivals,” Seymour says.

That's surely good news. One hates to rain on their parade, but in June 2024, the only flight I booked this year, my flight was canceled less than 24 hours before take-off. I had made hotel reservations, scheduled a pet sitter, planned events, and arranged for a friend to pick me up at the destination airport. One employee speculated that it may have been "insufficient crew." Their only solution offered was: Feel free to reschedule your flight.

Thanksgiving facts and figures
The travel window runs from November 21 to December 3, and the airline expects to carry more than 500,000 more customers than it did last year.

The most-traveled day will be Sunday, December 1. The second most-traveled day will be Monday, December 2.

The peak of peak: 1,035 mainline and regional aircraft will be enroute at 10:45 am on Sunday, December 1 — the highest number of flights handled at any given time during American’s travel period.

The airline expects to serve more than 6.8 million Biscoff cookies on board from November 21 to December 3.

Travel tips
Download the American Airlines app and check in for your flight, noting added any bags to your trip. This will save you time at the airport.

If traveling internationally, download the Mobile Passport Control app, which can speed up your entry into the U.S. Global Entry members can download the Global Entry app, which allows you to submit your entry and go straight to the officer.

Upon arrival at the airport lobby, scan your mobile boarding pass to print bag tags quickly at a kiosk. If you’re not checking bags, go straight to TSA security with your mobile boarding pass.

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