Family Friendly Activities Around Pipe Creek, Texas

Pipe Creek, Texas sits in the scenic Hill Country, offering families a quiet place to stay while enjoying a variety of attractions close by. Just a short drive from the heart of Pipe Creek, you’ll discover activities that entertain and educate visitors of all ages. From underground caverns to interactive museums, families have plenty of options to choose from during their stay. Here’s a current look at family activities near Pipe Creek, including Cascade Caverns, Cave Without a Name, the Bandera Natural History and Art Museum, and the Frontier Times Museum.

Cascade Caverns is a well-known show cave about 18 miles from Pipe Creek, south of Boerne. The cave has welcomed visitors since 1932 and is known as one of Texas’s oldest public caverns. It is part of the Glen Rose Formation, and the cave’s passages reach up to 132 feet deep, with a half-mile of walkable corridors. Inside, the temperature remains cool year-round, usually between 60 and 63 degrees. Visitors can spot classic cave formations like soda straws, stalactites, and flowstones, plus evidence of ancient coral reefs along the walls. The cave is also home to unique wildlife, including the Cascade Caverns salamander, a rare species found only in this region, and colonies of tricolored bats. Cascade Caverns offers several tour options, including standard guided tours, aquifer tours, and a popular flashlight tour after dark. The tours usually last about an hour and are best for families with children over age five, since walking paths are uneven and some crouching is required. The cave is not wheelchair accessible, and pets are not allowed on tours. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and a light jacket for comfort.

Cave Without a Name, located northeast of Boerne, is about 25 miles from Pipe Creek and recognized as a National Natural Landmark. The cave was opened to the public in 1939 and offers guided tours down a stairway that descends 126 steps into six main chambers. Each chamber features striking natural formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, draperies, and rimstone dams. Temperatures inside the cave are a steady 66 degrees throughout the year. Wildlife in the cave includes the blind Kendall County salamander and seasonal colonies of tricolored bats. One chamber, called the Queen’s Throne Room, is known for its unique acoustics and is occasionally used for live music concerts and special events. In addition to cave tours, families can enjoy gem-panning, hiking trails, and a gift shop with geodes and local crafts. Reservations for tours are strongly encouraged, especially on weekends or during concert events.

The Bandera Natural History and Art Museum is around 14 miles from Pipe Creek, in the town of Bandera. The museum is situated on eight acres and is designed for hands-on learning, with exhibits focused on wildlife, natural history, and art. Children can explore outdoor trails lined with more than 100 full-body animal mounts, as well as life-sized dinosaur and Ice Age animal replicas. Inside, there are hand-painted dioramas, educational play stations, and a significant collection of colonial-era Spanish art and artifacts. The museum’s art collection includes sculptures, paintings, and antiques from the Spanish Viceregal period. Museum hours vary by season, but it is generally open Tuesday through Sunday, and parking is always free. Families can expect to spend about one to two hours exploring the exhibits and outdoor spaces.

Frontier Times Museum is also in Bandera, about 14 miles from Pipe Creek, and has been sharing the region’s cowboy and Western heritage since the 1930s. The museum’s founder, J. Marvin Hunter, established it to preserve artifacts and stories from Texas’s early days. Today, exhibits include Native American regalia, branding irons, longhorn horns, ranching gear, and original Western artwork displayed in the Doane Western Art Gallery. Other highlights include the Texas Heroes Hall of Honor, which celebrates notable Texas cowboys and cowgirls, and galleries devoted to Bandera’s rodeo stars. Admission prices are modest, and the museum participates in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to active-duty military families from May through September. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, with extended evening hours on Thursdays.

Travel between Pipe Creek and these attractions is straightforward. Cascade Caverns and Cave Without a Name are within 30 to 35 minutes by car, and both museums in Bandera are less than half an hour’s drive from Pipe Creek. For the best experience, families might consider visiting Cascade Caverns in the morning to avoid crowds, then exploring other local attractions later in the day. Many families pair a visit to one of the caves with an afternoon in Bandera, where they can enjoy museums and local dining. Each location suggests wearing comfortable walking shoes, bringing a jacket for cave tours, and carrying water or snacks for younger children.



Pipe Creek’s central location in the Hill Country means families can explore a mix of natural wonders and cultural sites without spending much time in the car. With updated amenities, interesting wildlife, and plenty of interactive exhibits, the area offers something for every family looking for adventure or education near Pipe Creek.