Celebrating Summer: A Boerne Bucket List

Written by Jean Tierney / Shawna Holly

For a  year that has been filled with a pandemic, job loss, stimulus checks and vaccinations, it has flown by surprisingly fast. With life getting back to normal and school coming to a close, it's been wonderful to have in-person proms, graduations, award ceremonies and sporting events to look forward to…and the opportunity to hug our friends and family again!

And while traveling somewhere exotic sounds divine to most of us right about now, there’s certainly no shortage of things to do, see, and enjoy right here in our own backyard:

Are you an outdoorsy type?

• Explore the beautiful Cibolo Center for Conservation on your own or take a guided night hike

• Head to Boerne City Lake for stand up paddle boarding or sailing lessons

• Explore underground at Cave without a Name or Cascade Caverns 

• Relax under the stars while enjoying a Boerne Parks & Recreation Movie in the Park 

Do you love art, books and museums?

• Download the Boerne Art Al Fresco map, then enjoy a self-guided, scenic outdoor art tour

• Wander through the aisles of Boerne’s cozy Independent bookstore, The Boerne Bookshop 

• Stop by the Kendall County Historic Jail Museum for a tour of the Old Jail and a Kendall County history lesson

• Hunt for second-hand treasures at The Bookshop Under the Windmill

• Take a Boerne art stroll by visiting Gallery 195 of Boerne, Carriage House Gallery, Texas Treasures Fine Art Gallery, & The Loft by BH Originals

Feeling a bit creative yourself?

• Maker's Place, Gina Marie's Art Studio, and Board & Brush all offer art classes and fun events for adults and kids alike

Looking for live music?

• Check out one of many recurring Bluegrass Jams at The Agricultural Museum & Arts Center

• Head to the Patrick Heath Public Library to enjoy one of their (free) Live at the Library concerts

• Venture underground for a Music in the Cave concert at Cave Without A Name

• Return to the Cibolo Center for Conservation…this time for a live show as part of their Moondance Outdoor Concert Series 

• Experience a Boerne Concert Band performance at Boerne Main Plaza

And if you work up a craving for a tasty treat while exploring our great town, head to:

• Salty & Sweet - for handmade pretzels, popcorn, and ice cream, as well as vintage candy and soda

• Roc N Ritas - for your choice of oh-so-many frozen margaritas and treats—to go!

• Kelani Yogurt - for froyo, smoothies, and more

• Sno Biz Hawaiian Shaved Ice - for all the snow cone flavors you could possibly dream of

• Richter Bakhaus - for baked goods, coffee, and ice cream (boozy flavors, too!)

• The Bubble Tea Factory - for your customized bubble tea favorites, coffee, smoothies, and snacks

And let’s not forget about all the amazing restaurant options we have—many of them with outdoor seating, playgrounds, pet-friendly patios, live music, and even craft beer. That list could be an entire blog post on its own!

All of this to say, that coming off the heels of a tumultuous season, now is certainly the time to get out and support all our local businesses; to play tourist in our own town. Many of these hard-working folks have suffered serious losses and are ready to see your smiling faces…and to get back to business as usual. Aren’t we all?

Also, we’d be remiss if we didn’t congratulate all of our now-graduated high school seniors who have worked so hard to get things done in an era of total uncertainty. And we’d like to especially congratulate and thank our two seniors who interned with us this year at Corner Cartel:

Leah Smith, who is an Architecture major heading to UTSA. Leah helped us work on designs to revitalize the second story of our building—no small feat with a historic building as treasured as ours! And Jane Ann Anderson, who is an Interior Design major heading to Texas Christian University to do great things.

Congratulations to all (yes, especially you steadfast parents who’ve guided your little ones through these unchartered waters) and now, get out there and have some (local) summer fun!

For more than thirty years now, Corner Cartel has housed seven-thousand square feet of vintage finds, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade bath and body products, home decor, candles, souvenirs, and more…right in the beautiful heart of Boerne. Whether you're looking for one of a kind vintage treasures, classic antiques, or on-trend home decor, you're sure to find something to love inside our doors.